Monterey Collision & Auto Repair

Lucky for us on the Monterey Peninsula, we can take a road trip to Big Sur in less than an hour. Photo by Spencer Davis on Unsplash   Now that the pandemic appears to be under control for the moment and it’s summertime, so many folks are itching to travel. We can’t blame them, for we like to travel, too.    Lucky for us, we live here in paradise on the Monterey Peninsula and there’s no real need for us to get out of town. But when we do travel, we like to have our favorite road trip playlists on tap for summertime fun.    Here are some of our fave road trip playlists on Spotify:   Summer Road Trip 2021 on Spotify, a playlist created by Hugo Deroussent ... read more

Photo by Will Porada on Unsplash   Do you know what the most important safety feature is on your car, truck, or SUV? If you think it’s your air bags, you’re wrong. If you think it’s your seat belt, think again. Maybe it’s the ADAS (Advanced Driver Assist System) on that newer vehicle you own? Nope. How about the headlights that run day and night? Nice try, but no. Windshield wipers? Nyet. Safety glass? Nuh-uh.   What is the most important safety feature on your vehicle?   The number one safety feature is your braking system. All of the other safety features are secondary to your brakes, which are responsible for stopping you in time before a collision.   When was the last time you had y ... read more

Photo by Denin Lawley on Unsplash   Have you ever seen how a car’s paint job can fade and peel over time? What causes the paint on an automobile to lose its brightness and start to flake off? Can it be prevented?   The short answer is yes, you can protect your truck’s paint from fading, cracking, peeling, and oxidizing. But first, let’s explain why car paint peels and fades over time.   Exposure to the sun and salt water will make the color -- especially red, which is the fastest of all colors to fade -- lose its shine and reduce the saturation of the paint color. This is caused by oxidation. Over time, oxidation will cause the paint to peel and chip away.   Dings, scratches, and dents ... read more

The team at CARSTAR Robert’s Collision wishes to remember those who protected our country on Memorial Day. Located in Monterey, California, we are only a short distance away from the Naval Postgraduate School and the Army’s Defense Language Institute.  Here is a moving tribute to those who have served and sacrificed. Please be careful while traveling this holiday, for health is your greatest wealth

This month, CARSTAR Robert’s Collision wants to highlight and celebrate one of our partners: Metlife Insurance.  Metlife Insurance is possibly the largest insurance company around the world with over 90 million clients in 60 countries. Their Metlife Auto & Home Insurance division was recently acquired by the Farmers Insurance Group.  Here is a statement from Metlife’s Facebook page:   “MetLife has completed the sale of its Auto & Home business to Zurich Insurance Group subsidiary Farmers Group, Inc. The companies will operate a 10-year strategic partnership through which Farmers Insurance will offer P&C products on MetLife’s leading U.S. Group Benefits platform ... read more

These are exciting times! For over a year, we’ve been under COVID restrictions and many events throughout Monterey County were canceled. Now that more people across the country have been vaccinated, there are positive reports that Monterey Car Week will be taking place in August. That’s wonderful news!!! If the pandemic has taught us anything, however, it’s not to make huge plans until we know for certain. So far, things look up and we may get back to having car shows in Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, and Pebble Beach again. Getting back to “normal” is so close, we can almost taste it! To celebrate this small win, here are a few videos we made from Monterey Car Week in previous years. We’ve seen some real beauties throughout the Monterey Peninsula and we hope you enjoy these special moments we once took for granted. Enjoy!       If you are looking to get your vehicle car-show ready with some touch up paint, dent repair, or auto bo ... read more

*UPDATED 10/16/23* Zoom Calls and Road Safety: CARSTAR Robert's Collision's Updated Perspective At CARSTAR Robert's Collision, your safety on the road is our top priority. In a world where technology has become an integral part of our lives, we understand the challenges that come with it. In a world that's constantly evolving, we've adapted too. We've narrowed our focus to become the go-to experts for collision repair and bodywork, and we're now known as CARSTAR Robert's Collision. Our commitment to your safety remains unwavering. In a previous blog post, we discussed the "Zoom Zombie" effect, a term coined to describe the challenges people face when transitioning from a video conference call to driving. The data showed that many individuals have trouble concentrating on the road after being engrossed in a virtual meeting. Studies conducted in various metropolitan areas across the country revealed some intriguing findings, and the statistics ... read more

This month, CARSTAR Robert’s Collision wants to highlight and celebrate one of our partners: Bristol West Insurance.  Bristol West Insurance is a Farmers Insurance Company. Bristol West is an insurance company that helps customers with poor credit — and no credit — find the auto insurance they’re seeking. If you have made a few late payments on your car insurance or have a DUI on your driving record, Bristol West Insurance could be your ideal solution. Together, we do our part to provide easy, convenient service and communication to our mutual clients. Our combined goal is to make your auto body repairs seamless and hassle-free, with high-quality customer service. Here are some videos showing the entire customer service experience and repair process when you work with CARSTAR Robert’s Collision: For additional information about Bristol West Ins ... read more

Throughout the pandemic, we have seen quite a bit of cruising around the Monterey Peninsula. Even though Monterey County has not left the purple tier of shelter in place restrictions, many visitors from outside the area visit us and cruise around in their classic, souped-up, exotic, or everyday cars.  Cruising is a relatively safe, socially distanced activity that has regained popularity among people who need to get out of the house. We cannot blame them for wanting to drive their beautiful vehicles to see the breathtaking beauty of Monterey Bay. Here are a few photos of some exceptional cruising cars that were parked along Cannery Row in 2020. If you want to go on an adventure, here's our advice. Hop in the car and head out for some cruising along the Monterey Peninsula. However, we ask you to please be considerate of our COVID restrictions, social distancing requirements, outdoor dining restrictions, limited access to public restrooms, and -- most importantly -- wear your ... read more

Over time, our vehicles can acquire a few dents. Remember when you parked a little too close to the other car and got a door ding? What about that time you accidentally backed up into something? Lots of cars accumulate small dents and scratches over the years, which is normal wear and tear. However, dent repair matters to those who care about their vehicles looking good. For example, an automotive aficionado who enters her car into one of the car shows at Monterey Car Week has an obvious desire to remove dents from her car. For people who love their cars and want to preserve the value of their vehicles, dent repair matters. Since 1996, CARSTAR Robert’s Collision has been serving the Monterey Peninsula with premium auto body repair, dent repair, and detailing services. Because we are known in the area to be the premier collision repair shop, our auto repair team has provided dent repair to many cars, including one-of-a-kind, multimillion-dollar cars that are for sale at Concours ... read more

This month, CARSTAR Robert’s Collision wants to highlight and celebrate one of our partners: Progressive Insurance.  Unless you’ve been living under a rock somewhere, you probably know Flo, the spokeswoman for Progressive Insurance. She’s quite a character, as you can see from this commercial compilation: Together, we do our part to provide easy, convenient service and communication to our mutual clients. Our combined goal is to make your auto body repairs seamless and hassle-free, with high-quality customer service. Here are some videos showing the entire customer service experience and repair process when you work with CARSTAR Robert’s Collision: For additional information about Progressive Insurance and how to place a claim after you suffer an auto accident, you’ll find a wealth of material here: https://www.progressive.com/c ... read more

When it’s time for Spring Break, we like to go and explore. Of course, we’re not out of the woods with the COVID pandemic, so California is not completely open yet. However, it’s still possible for us to hop in the car and take a day trip or a camping trip for a week. When traveling in the car for a few hours each day, we like to play songs that make us reflect, get into the road trip groove, and create new memories. To help you with your own Spring Break road trip planning, here are a few of our favorite road trip music playlists for Spring. If you like Indie, Pop, Folk, and Rock, try this YouTube playlist from alexrainbirdMusic: If you prefer a relaxing, downtempo, deep house, chill music, check out this YouTube playlist from ChillYourMind: If you have a Spotify account, here is a popular Spring Break road trip playlist:  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4LdOTo2Wrw9a ... read more

Have you ever been to a chiropractor? If you have, you'll soon understand why wheel alignments are so important. If a chiropractor has not treated you to remove kinks or subluxations from your spine, you may not know how good it feels to get that sense of release. By eliminating the misalignments from your spine, the nerves are no longer pinched, causing dis-ease. When you ignore your spine's alignment, other problems in your body start to develop, like achy shoulders, a bad knee, and other things that cause pain in the body. Believe it or not, wheel alignments are as important to your vehicle as an aligned spine. If you don't align your wheels, your car can develop systemic issues that wear out your tires. Poor alignment will also affect your ability to turn quickly, possibly create odd noises & funky vibrations (that aren't coming from your radio), and eventually reduce your vehicle's driveability. That is why, at CARSTAR Robert's Collision in Monterey ... read more

As we March into Spring, dirt, and pollen tends to dust our cars, inside and out. At CARSTAR Robert's Collision in Monterey, we have a detailing center that can help you Spring Clean the interior and exterior of your vehicle. Our goal is to make every vehicle sparkle and shine like they did before an accident scuffed them up at our auto body shop. That is why the CARSTAR Robert's Collision team are experts in cleaning a vehicle inside and out so we can prepare it for a fresh coat of paint. After the paint dries, our detailing team uses their tools and equipment to make your vehicle appear as good as new. But we realize that not everyone on the Monterey Peninsula is currently in need of auto body repair and complete auto detailing, inside and out. That is why we are sharing some videos teaching you how to Spring Clean both your vehicle's interior and exterior. If you want your engine compartment to be car-show ready, watch this video:   If you want to deep clean the ... read more

Have you ever noticed on a colder-than-average morning here in Monterey County, your vehicle notifies you that your tires are under-inflated?  If you have experienced that, it is a function of your car’s TPMS, which is the Tire Pressure Monitoring System. Cool, huh? Modern vehicles are pretty darned smart. There are numerous computer modules and sensors throughout your car, and the TPMS is one of them. But what exactly does your TPMS do, and what is it trying to tell you? To break it down to its essence, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System senses if your tires are under-inflated, over-inflated, or just right. Before the TPMS became a standard dashboard light feature in modern vehicles, drivers were taught to inspect their tires each time before they got in the car. That is why you hear colloquialisms like “tire kicking” and “kicking tires”. A visual inspection before each trip would give the driver an idea if the tires had a flat or if they were sa ... read more

Have you noticed there are fewer airline flights and less desire to fly in recent months? It’s no fault of the airline industry, of course, but the Coronavirus has opened up other travel opportunities. In today’s current events, road trips exploring your local region are what’s hot among those looking to get out of the house for a few days. Because road trips are trending, we have some suggestions for romantic drives in the COVID Era.  Now that we’re in February, many of us start to think about Valentine’s Day. Lucky for us, the Monterey Peninsula offers a host of romantic drives that we can choose from and enjoy in a day or two. But before you set off for romance on the road, here are some things to consider. Plan ahead for your romantic drive. Romantic drives don’t have to be lengthy, but in the COVID Era, there are various reasons to plan ahead. Bathrooms may not be open along the route you’re planning, for example. Hotels and cute ... read more

Lucky for us, not too many crazy things happen here on the Monterey Peninsula. However, that doesn’t mean we should blow off preparing for disaster. Monterey County has seen numerous wildfires, evacuations, car accidents, and other disasters. Why not prepare yourself, your family, and your car in case you need to leave your home on short notice? If you take the time to be prepared, the painful sting of unexpected accidents or emergencies can be reduced. Of course, one can never be fully prepared to a life-altering event, but advance preparation can remove some of the chaos that comes with it.  Earlier this month, we shared some helpful advice that can help you and your family prepare. Here’s a recap: Check your tires. Just a couple extra minutes in the morning, make sure your tires aren’t going flat on you. You can even use the penny trick! When your tires are properly inflated, not only will your tires last longer, but you will reduce your chances of a blowo ... read more

Every year, many of us promise to do better in the new year. A lot of us resolve to lose weight, change an old bad habit, or quit the things that no longer serve us. In 2021, we’re curious. What are your New Year’s Resolutions? Among them, will you resolve to drive better and safer this year? With the Coronavirus still affecting our local communities, our state, and our nation, many of our driving habits have changed. Some drivers report feeling that their driving skills have become rusty. Other drivers have confessed that since they’re more glued to their phones, the temptation to text and drive can be overwhelming. Here are some tips on how to stick to your New Year’s Resolutions for better driving and safer travels in 2021. Pack a personal health kit that includes two spare face masks, hand sanitizer, bottled water, and some Kleenex. Not only will this help you reduce your risk of exposure, but it may also come in handy for anyone who accidentally leaves th ... read more

In the past years, we have posted our annual letter titled “New Year’s Resolutions From Your Car”. Now that CARSTAR Robert’s Collision is no longer doing mechanical repair and exclusively handling auto body repair, we have updated the annual letter written from the perspective of your vehicle. Enjoy!   For us, it’s become a tradition to share a few New Year’s Resolutions with you. Sometimes resolutions are tough to stick to, but these 5 simple car care routines are quick and easy to maintain. Little reminders to do the simple things to keep your car running until next year! 1) Get your car washed regularly. This is one of those little things that fall to the side after a while. Keeping your car washed and clean can help maintain visibility and extend the life of your paint coat! When you wash your car, not only are you helping it look clean, but you are also rinsing away the salt and grime that could affect your brakes’ ability to ... read more

As holiday travel starts to ramp up in November, the risk of traffic accidents increases. We know you drive carefully, but what should you do if other drivers put you and your vehicle at risk of a collision? Here are the top five things you should do to avoid a collision. Drive defensively. They always stressed this tactic in driving school. The goal is to stay focused on the road, your speed, and where you are in relation to other objects. Distractions are bad, so you should avoid getting caught off guard. Driving takes a lot of mental focus, so it is in your best interest to be considerate of others but take care of yourself first. Keep your speed down. Speeding through neighborhoods isn’t safe, especially when pedestrians, children, pets, or local wildlife are nearby. You never know when an animal or bicyclist could jump out from behind a parked car and surprise you. When you keep your speed to the posted limit or slower, you are more likely to avoid hitting any objects ... read more

With holiday travel coming up, you may want to prepare a COVID-Era Emergency Kit for your family vehicle. To help you get started, we have created a checklist that will help you prepare for an emergency. Checklist If you’re headed to the mountains: Pack appropriate chains for your car  Current medications Gloves Warm blankets Shovel Jumper cables Spare tire, jack, and lug wrench A flashlight and extra batteries Battery jumper cables A basic first aid kit A blanket and warm clothing Bottled water and energy bars Safety flares A tool kit and a windshield ice scraper If you are not sure of what to do in the event of minor roadside emergencies, here are some helpful videos: How to change a flat tire:   <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tn-Xh5ldkXw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-pic ... read more

Years ago, our auto body repair shop was the first of all auto repair shops to receive Green certification from the Monterey Bay Area Green Business Program. To obtain this green certification, we had to employ various procedures that prove to be environmentally friendly. One of the major things that helped us earn that certification was our use of waterborne paint. CARSTAR Robert’s Collision was the first and only Green shop in the area using waterborne paint. This type of paint is water-based and the leading auto body paints in the industry that is eco-friendly. Using waterborne paint instead of more harmful kinds is better for the environment and your vehicle for several reasons:   First of all, we don’t have to sacrifice quality. This technology reduces hazardous waste that negatively impacts the environment as well as our employees. When waterborne paint is used, it serves an effective solution for lowering volatile organic compound emissions.  Waterbor ... read more

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash Though everyone’s summer plans have likely been upended due to COVID-19, that doesn’t mean that you can’t make summer fun for the kids! Many families have chosen to keep their kids home from summer camps, and some might have closed their doors for now. Whatever the situation, there’s no end to the great ideas that will keep your children busy and entertained all summer long. 1.       Make Your Own Camp: This one’s a no-brainer, but there’s nothing stopping you and the kids from making your own stay-at-home summer camp! With a little planning and preparation, you can keep the kids occupied with arts and crafts projects, fun science experiments, and even cooking lessons! Head to Google and plan your curriculum as you see fit. You can even pitch a tent in the backyard or the ... read more

Photo by Victor He on Unsplash Staying physically active is one of the best ways to keep your mind and body healthy, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic. For many people, especially during the summer, physical activity is usually something they’d be doing outside at parks, beaches, campgrounds, and a host of other summer destinations. Keep reading for places to go and ways to stay active, even while shelter-in-place restrictions are in place! Visit parks that are close to home! Places you can and should visit will ideally be close by and won’t require much traveling. Visit those parks that are closest to you and check with the park or recreation area well in advance to learn how to prepare safely. Find out if there are bathroom facilities and other services that are still open and available to the public. Beaches and othe ... read more

Photo by Maxwell Ridgeway on Unsplash Depending on where you live and what you do for a living, you might find that you spend an awful lot of time in your car on your way to and from work, drives to school, and every other little errand you might have. Unfortunately, commuting for more than 20 minutes a day can cause chronic stress. That's why the CARSTAR Robert's Collision and Repair team wants to help you de-stress and decompress while you drive with this list of tips and tricks to try! Healthy Habits While Driving: Most of us hop in the car first thing in the morning, with some toast or a bagel and coffee to try and beat the morning traffic. Try getting up a little earlier so your morning routine is calm, and you have plenty of time to make a healthy breakfast. You might even want to pack some snacks for the road, or blend up a sm ... read more

Photo by Luca Peng on Unsplash At CARSTAR Robert's Collision and Repair, we know that traveling with your beloved pets can be a constant struggle. To help you make the most of your driving time with your pets and keep your family's smaller extensions safe and happy, take a look at this list of tips and tricks to traveling with pets! Before any extended travel, you should always make sure your pets are healthy to do so. Take them to the veterinarian for a checkup, make sure all their vaccinations are up-to-date and copy those records with you. If you're planning on flying with an airline, these records are required. Making sure your pets stay healthy means you also need to bring along enough of their regular food, medication, and water for them to last the duration of the trip. Traveling for humans and pets is a little different depending on what kind of a ... read more

Photo by Frank Zhang on Unsplash Summer is in full swing, and unfortunately, big vacations might not be a possibility with continued shelter-in-place orders on the horizon. Luckily, there’s nothing like a family road trip to brighten everyone’s spirits and get out of the house. But because road trips involve extended time in the car, it can be tough to keep the kids occupied. Keep reading for some ideas to keep the kids entertained the next time you head out on a road trip! First up on the list is the ever-popular backseat-turned-movie theater. This tip is especially easy for those cars with built-in DVD players for the backseat. If you don’t have this nifty little feature, portable DVD players built for the vehicle ... read more

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash With COVID-19 causing record numbers of disinfectant and cleaning supply sales (and shortages) around the world, it’s natural to worry about getting your car’s interior clean as a whistle. The team at CARSTAR Robert’s Collision & Repair knows your family’s safety is your number one priority. Still, we don’t want you to ruin your car in the process! Read on to find out the best practices to use when disinfecting your vehicle.  First, a little bit of information about how COVID-19 reacts to certain surfaces: the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is passed from person to person when they cough or sneeze. Tiny droplets are released, carrying the virus, which a healthy person ... read more

Photo by Jim Strasma on Unsplash   Before having kids, you may well have kept your car in fantastic condition. But kids can be rough on vehicles, especially when they’re young and don’t know any better. While they’ll (hopefully) understand how to keep the car cleaner as they get older, here’s a list of 5 tips and tricks from the team at CARSTAR Robert’s Collision & Repair to help kid-proof your car.   Organize, Organize, Organize There are a million gizmos and gadgets on the market to keep your car neat and tidy. Still, the biggest lifesaver when you have kids is knowing where everything is in your vehicle. But before you can figure out where everything is, you need somewhere to put ... read more

Photo by Tai's Captures on Unsplash With COVID-19 on everyone’s minds and shelter-in-place orders predicted to remain in place for the foreseeable future, masks and gloves have become commonplace. Though social distancing includes staying 6 feet apart and wearing surgical masks and gloves when around others, you may have noticed that some people are continuing to wear them while driving around. Is this necessary? Read on to find out! Since the COVID-19 crisis began, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have recommended that people follow all social distancing guidelines, which includes wearing a cloth face covering while out in public. These face coverings range from scarves to N95 respirators, but the main question is, do we n ... read more

With the Shelter In Place Ordinance lasting until May 31st here on the Monterey Peninsula, the Memorial Day Weekend is expected to look a little different in 2020. We won’t be able to gather in large groups to celebrate the traditional kick-off to Summer, but we are very fortunate to live and work in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Living on the Monterey Peninsula has its benefits. The temperature is never too hot or too cold. Our Monterey Bay is breathtakingly beautiful. We have some of the most legendary golf courses in our backyard. Plus, we are a community filled with wonderful people who have added much richness to our long history. Truly, if we cannot go anywhere during the Memorial Day Weekend, staying here at home is not a bad thing at all. However, if you are looking to get outside and enjoy the sunshine, here are five ways to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend. Go camping in your own backyard. If you have a large enough backyard, why not set up a tent and ... read more

Window tint - Pros and Cons Tinted windows are great for a number of reasons. They can block dangerous UV rays, they look good, and also offer some privacy, so you don't feel like you are driving in a fishbowl when on the road. Keep in mind; there is such a thing as too dark of tint.   Is It Legal? In the south, we encounter many cars with really dark tinted windows. The advantage of dark tint is heat repellant and UV ray reduction. The intense heat of the south does tend to tax your air conditioner, so it is an advantage. As we move to the northern states, dark tint tends to signal that whoever is inside may have reason to hide. Many states have laws in place to limit the tinting of vehicle windows.   Vision Limitation Yes, tinted windows can keep your eyes from sun damage, on darker days, that same tint can impede your vision. Missing an animal crossing the road, a car without headlights, or worse yet, a child running into the way could mean ultimate disaster. It ... read more

  Tinted windows are great for a number of reasons. They can block dangerous UV rays, they look good, and also offer some privacy, so you don't feel like you are driving in a fishbowl when on the road. Keep in mind; there is such a thing as too dark of tint.   Is It Legal? In the south, we encounter many cars with really dark tinted windows. The advantage of dark tint is heat repellant and UV ray reduction. The intense heat of the south does tend to tax your air conditioner, so it is an advantage. As we move to the northern states, dark tint tends to signal that whoever is inside may have reason to hide. Many states have laws in place to limit the tinting of vehicle windows.   Vision Limitation Yes, tinted windows can keep your eyes from sun damage, on darker days, that same tint can impede your vision. Missing an animal crossing the road, a car without headlights, or worse yet, a child running into the way could mean ultimate disaster. It is a good idea to re ... read more

  When your car was new, its paint was pristine and glossy. Over time your vehicle becomes exposed to everyday wear and tear, and your paint begins to fade and full. Here is a list of 5 everyday things that can damage your car's paint, some of which may surprise you.   Bug Juice The front of your car seems to collect bugs splattered across the front, especially in summer. Once these bugs are dead, they can seem harmless; however, if you don't immediately remove them, you can find your car has permanently etched bug imprints in your paint. As soon as you are able, you can take a soft cloth and grab some bug and tar remover and get to work to prevent your car from becoming a graveyard of bug imprints.   Bird Poo Although we do love watching these majestic feathered friends of our soar across the sky, how many times have we heard a plop and a thud to find our car has been bird bombed? Bird droppings are grainy and often filled with seeds, and acidic berry rem ... read more

  You are most likely aware that computers now monitor and control nearly every component of your vehicle. Depending on your experience and knowledge, you may think that a car's computer will "tell" you what is going on with your vehicle. Others believe that when a scan tool is like magic; when plugged into their car that the issue is reset, never to come back again. Some folks are terrified of the entire diagnosing process, and some use the computer diagnosis process to seem like an auto whisperer of sorts.   The code reading process is quite simple when broken down. There is a scan tool called a DLC device (Diagnostic Link Connector). Many brands and types are available that have varying capabilities depending on quality. Simple scan tools are only code readers that scan your vehicle's memory for stored DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Codes).   It is a common misconception that the DTC codes stored in your car's computer will tell you precisely what ... read more

    Used parts from a junkyard can be a fantastic alternative to aftermarket parts, UNLESS that used part is also an aftermarket part. Cars can be in an accident more than once. If a vehicle that is in a wrecking yard, say, from a front-end impact and your vehicle requires a left rear door, this part could be a great option. What if that same car had been in an accident prior and was repaired before the front-end collision which made it a total loss? That used part is now not only pulled from the wrecking yard; it is also an aftermarket quality part. That is like doubling down on alternative parts.   Who finds these parts anyway? Used parts go through many hands before they reach a body shop. First, a vehicle has to hit 70% threshold of the resale value before qualifying as a total loss. Once a car is deemed a total loss, it is then towed to a wrecking yard to await tear down. Salvage yards usually have a big fenced-in area as well as different warehouses to store ve ... read more

  Aftermarket and alternative parts have their place in the repair process.   Believe it or not, some vehicles over four years of age begin encountering challenges when tracking down replacement parts. OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts may simply no longer be available, and the only option becomes aftermarket or salvaged parts to repair your vehicle.   Remember that for your monthly premium to remain affordable; insurance companies use aftermarket parts in the repair process. Would you use a cheaper part to save money if the two were nearly identical in every way? How about reusing a component that is still good? Insurance companies are faced with this same challenge, and so have come up with policies and protocols to streamline their approval process throughout your automobiles repair.   Collision shops love the fit and feel of an OEM part; it is the preferred part to work with. If aftermarket parts are available and insurance will not pay for an O ... read more

  When you need quality auto repair services, whether it’s for the outside body or what lays under the hood, you’ll want to turn to a reputable shop you can trust. It can be scary to leave your vehicle with just any shop and that’s why CARSTAR Robert’s Collision & Repair has worked so hard to earn a solid reputation for not only quality workmanship, but for also delivering the very best in customer service experiences. We are here for you and it shows in all that we do.  The entire team at CARSTAR Robert’s Collision & Repair follows up on our mission to ease your worries and help to decrease the stress around having your vehicle worked on to bring it back to its original splendor or simply help you get the most out of it in a way that you remain safe. We work on gaining and keeping your trust from the moment you drive onto our property and well beyond the moment you pull away. It’s a lifelong endeavor and one we take seriously. Th ... read more

When you get into an accident and your car is in desperate need of quality auto body repair, you’ll want the right team of auto body repair professionals on your side. You’ll also want that team to know how to partner with your insurance company to make certain that all goes well and that it happens as quickly as possible to get you back to your regular life.  When you bring your car into the professionals at Robert’s Collision & Repair in Monterey, you can breathe easy. Not only do you have the best auto body repair team on your side, but also a top-notch repair shop that knows how to best work with your insurance company to get it done right, quickly, and in the first go around.  Robert’s Collision & Repair is currently a preferred vendor for State Farm, Geico, USAA, Progressive, and Esurance. What this means to you is that we have already earned a solid reputation for being a trusted auto body repair facility in the Monterey area. The good ... read more

Robert’s Collision & Repair is well-known countywide and beyond for our auto detailing, auto body, and auto repair services. We have an awesome staff that is well trained in all of these areas. We truly specialize in the entire health and well-being of your vehicle.   If your vehicle has been involved in a minor or major accident, we are here to service you. Whether it’s a minor door ding or scratch to major repairs that include the need for replacing multiple car parts, repainting of the vehicle, and glass replacement, Robert’s Collision & Repair has the team of experienced and educated specialists to handle your car’s every need. We can handle it all.   Most of our customers choose to make an insurance claim to cover all the costs associated with all the necessary repairs. On occasion, a customer will decide to cover it out of pocket if their deductible is too high or the don’t want to influence their premium. When you invest in th ... read more

  The Valentine season is upon us and it is not reserved for humans alone. Sometimes we love our cars more than most humans we know and they give us love that simply cannot be offered from a guy or a gal. Who knows what I’m talking about? The feel of the steering wheel under our grip, the way we mold into the seats as she hugs a tight curve, the power we experience as we navigate our way through 17 Mile Drive… these are the gifts our car gives us every day. How can we reciprocate, you ask?   Take your car out for a drive. Hit 17 Mile Drive and let ‘er rip down our beautiful coastline. There’s no better feeling for you and your car than hitting the open road. We live in such a beautiful part of the world and there are so many wonderful places to explore right here in our own backyard. So, fill up your gas tank, check your fluids and your tire’s air pressure and hit the road for a freedom-filled afternoon or pedal-to-the-metal fun! A ... read more

We all love fun facts, don't we? Today, we thought it would be cool to share some fun facts about cars. Fact #1  Did you know that the very first car to hit the road was a Benz? No, really. It was. German Inventor Karl Benz bought that vision to fruition in 1886 (well, the first time it hit the road was New Year’s Eve 1879). It was the first stationary gasoline engine and was a one-cylinder two-stroke unit. One of the first cars designed and built for the masses was our very own Model T manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. Most of us already know that fun fact, but did you know these? Fact #2  The world's record for replacing a car engine is 45 seconds, completed on a Ford Escort in 1985. Hmmm… do think they got it all locked down right?? Fact #3  Cruise control was developed by an annoyed blind man. He was annoyed with his friend, who while they were on horseback, would speed up when listening and slow down when talking. Ralph Teetor wanted co ... read more

  What do you think about when buying a car? Money is usually the number one consideration, but safety falls right in behind. The average American will be in 4 automobile accidents in their lifetime. Knowing that makes a person want to find a car that is not only cost-effective, reliable, but SAFE!  So, what makes a car safe? A lot more goes into answering that question than most people think: Seat belts: adjustable upper belts to adjust for a person’s size; seat belt pretensioners to take the slack out (almost instantly) in a crash; energy management features to let the seat belt adjust during a crash to take the load off certain areas; rear center seat belts for those stuck riding in the middle. Airbags: front and side impact airbags should be used in conjunction with seat belts. Keep kiddos out of the front seat when an airbag can actually cause harm due to the height of a child. Keep 10 inches or more distance between you and the front airbag.  Anti-lock br ... read more

There’s so much that goes into choosing the right mechanic and the right automotive repair shop. Don’t be afraid to get in there and ask questions. This is a big decision that will impact you (your wallet!) and the health and longevity of your vehicle. Protect yourself and your auto as much as possible by digging into some tough questions. And if the shop is uncomfortable answering your questions or doesn’t have the time to talk to you, that should be your answer right there. Here are some suggestions of questions to ask, but don’t be afraid to ask anything! Do you specialize in my make of vehicle? What certifications/training do your mechanics have? How much experience do they have? How much will the diagnostic cost? Do you have a warranty on parts and labor? If so, what are the details? Can you help me prioritize the work that needs to be done? Are there extra fees with any of your services? How do you communicate with me throughout the repair/service ... read more

Proving that even a serious German automobile giant like Porsche has a sense of humor, just take a look at a news release the company issued on April 1, 2018:   Porsche announces Mission E Tractor Plugging into the future of all-electric agriculture.   Porsche AG is delighted to announce the latest addition to the Mission E model line. Following the successful debut of the Mission E Cross Turismo at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show, Porsche is heading even further off road with the all-electric Mission E Tractor.   This bold vision for 21st Century agriculture blends design cues from Porsche’s original mid 1950s tractors with the same advanced digital connectivity and 800v fast-charging architecture that powers the Mission E.   With a power output in excess of 700hp, the Mission E Tractor will be the fastest accelerating agricultural vehicle in the world, enabling farmers to harvest crops in record time with the added environmental benefits of ... read more

Did you play with Legos as a kid? Millions of children around the world did, and some never outgrew their obsession with the building block toys. Originally introduced by the Lego Group, a Danish company founded by carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen, the design was repeatedly tweaked until it became the familiar system we know today in 1958. They are made from ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) polymer. All kinds of objects have been constructed with Legos. It truly is a toy whose fun potential is limited only by its users’ imaginations. Here’s a recent example, a life-size Toyota Camry built entirely from Lego bricks…an astounding 500,000 of them:   This project took 900 hours in eight weeks to complete and is astounding in its detail. It weighs around 4,000 pounds, even more than the actual steel car upon which it is m ... read more

  We’ve all heard the stories about someone going into their grandparents’ barn to discover a rare classic car buried under a coating of dust and junk. One would think that by now, all those lucky finds would have been found, but they’re still cropping up. For instance, last year a one-of-a-kind 1969 Ferrari Daytona was found in a garage in Japan. The GTB/4, originally sold to a close friend of Enzo Ferrari himself, is the only remaining aluminum bodied example in existence. The odometer read 22,500 miles and it sold at auction in September 2017 for $2.17. Not bad for a car covered in dust and bird poop.   There are many more examples. Mad Lab posted an interesting YouTube video. Take a look here.   If you are lucky enough to have a barn find of your own, we at Robert’s Collision & Repair can help make it look new again. Call us or ... read more

We didn’t really experience much of a winter this year--there were weeks that felt more like spring in San Diego than winter in Monterey. And because the snowpack in the Sierra was below average, many Bay Area residents forsook the mountains chose to visit us instead. If you needed proof, just drive down and see the lines of cars parked along Highway 1 outside of Point Lobos on any given weekend day.   Now that the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am has folded up its tent for another year, we have a short period when tourism typically slows down a tad. And that means we can get out and enjoy our precious little slice of heaven without fighting the crowds that will be arriving in the coming months. And what better way to see the sights around here than from behind the wheel of your favorite car? Here are some suggested road trips.   Carmel Valley The route starting from Highway 1 and Carmel Valley is sublime. The valley enjoys some of the best weather in the area, and the ... read more

Happy New Year from our family at Robert’s Collision and Repair to yours. This year, we’re especially grateful for your loyalty and ongoing business. Every day we do our best to deliver exceptional auto repair with fantastic customer service. Still, we know you have a choice when it comes to auto repair and we appreciate your ongoing business because it enables us to make contributions to you and our community in different ways. Here are a few examples:     By delivering exceptional auto repair and preventative maintenance, we’re doing our part to prevent accidents and make our roads safer. When you commit to ongoing maintenance, we’re helping you get best possible value from your vehicle and, at the same time, enabling you to get wherever you need to be when you need to be there.   Your ongoing business also enables us to support sports programs at Monterey High School.     There’s more to collision and auto repair than turn ... read more

A lit up check engine light could mean a lot of things. Perhaps it’s a small issue or it could indicate the problem is more serious. If your car is not surging smoke, chances are that you are not in immediate danger. The check engine light is there to keep car drivers aware of engine irregularities and sensory malfunctions. The vehicle’s onboard computer, or engine control unit (ECU), can adjust to make sure that the engine is running efficiently. What do you do when the sensor is getting a bad reading and that “pesky” check engine light turns on?   It’s best to have a professional auto mechanic take a look at your vehicle when your check engine light comes on. They’ll use a code reader that plugs into the vehicle and gives a report. In some cases, there may be an easy solution and you can remedy the problem yourself. For example, not tightening your car’s gas cap all the was could result with a flashing check engine light. If you have ... read more