Do I have to take my vehicle to an insurance company drive-in claims facility for an estimate?
You are not required to take your vehicle to a drive-in claims facility. It is your right as the vehicle owner to obtain an estimate wherever you choose. You are only required to notify your insurance company of the vehicle's location so that it may be examined by the claims adjuster. However, if you have already gone to a drive-in claims facility, make sure you take a copy of the insurance adjuster's estimate with you when obtaining repair shop estimates and choosing a facility to repair your vehicle.

If I go to an insurance company's drive-in claims facility, do I have to take my vehicle to one of its preferred shops for repair?
There are no laws or regulations requiring you to go to any specific repair shop, however, some insurance companies practice the policy of only paying for vehicle damages equal to the estimate amount prepared at one of its preferred shops. However, keep in mind that you are the vehicle owner. Don't let your insurance company take away your freedom of choice!

Thanks to recent technology advances, may liquid formulations will last as long as paste waxes. The real key is selecting the right quality formulation for your car.

First do not use household detergents. These were designed to strip off grease and grim and can actually strip off some of your wax protection and accelerate oxidation. Use quality can wash products that are pH balanced to gently clean your car.

Second use a large bucket (at least 5 gallons) so that dirt particles sink to the bottom and the fresh suds you apply are free of major contamination. Some people may want to use two buckets.. one for rinsing and one for the suds.

Third make sure your car is in the shade, and hose the entire car down starting at the top. Apply suds to the upper areas first using thick terry toweling (it is better than a sponge because it safely lifts off dirt particles that can cause scratches). You might find that you have less water to dry off particles that can cause scratches). You might find that you have less water to dry off your car if you stream the water from the hose rather than use a sprayer.

When drying, remember to keep your towel "flat" to the surfaces. Folding it into quarters gives you eight clean working surfaces.

Automatic car washes very greatly. Some are better than others. Avoid any automatic car washes that use brushes and drying materials which can scratch the paint finish. Also, be careful about car washes with poor water recycling systems and harsh soaps.

If you have a dark car, it usually is best to have your car washed by hand. Dark colors quickly show small scratches.

Because these waxes have to be diluted with water to be sprayed on your car, you are getting minimal protection. Not to mention, if it was durable, the wax would be visible on your windows. It is far better to apply wax by hand to insure maximum protection. Plus if you use a one-step cleaner/wax, it will also deep clean the paint and remove contamination and oxidation. These things cannot be removed from an automatic car wash.

Emissions from chemical plants, fossil fuel burning power plants, and the internal combustion engine are transported and altered in our atmosphere.

When deposited onto your car's surface in a dry state if may seem like simple dust but mix it with a little bit of dew, sprinklers, or rainfall, and you now have a mixture of sulfuric acid on your paint finish. Left on the surface for any period of time, and especially if placed in the direct sunlight, you now have etching on your paint finish. Typical acid rain damage may first look like water droplets which have dried on the paint and caused discoloration. In some cases, damage appears as a white ring with a dull center. Severe cases show pitting.

This is a daily battle and the question cannot be answered without asking how often you are willing to spend taking care of your car. A simple mist-n-wipe product can save a lot of time and leave your finish in a beautiful state. The faster you can remove contamination, the better.

First try a simple mist-n-wipe product and wipe the surface down with a terry cloth towel. If the wax stain remains...

"Microwave peanut butter, agitate with soft tooth brush... peanut butter dissolves the wax and the abrasiveness of peanut butter lifts stains off"

-Ric Nanni 3/7/93
-Robb Report

"Use Simple Green... if that doesn't do it, use 00 steel wool and mineral spirits."

-Suchmann, Prodigy 1/31/93

The secret to good looking tires is to clean the tire... not just shine the tires. Most silicone emulsion protectants cover the surface contamination with a shiny coating that can cause discoloration and decay in the long run.

Professional use a product that cleans, conditions and protects the vinyl or rubber. This leaves the surface looking like new, not like it's been coated in shiny plastic.