Monterey Collision & Auto Repair

Photo by Mat Napo on UnsplashBlog Updated 11/13/23 This blog post is an updated version of a piece originally written in 2021. The holidays are a magical time for creating cherished memories with family and friends. Whether you're traveling just around the corner or across state lines, hitting the road is often a part of the festive season. However, unforeseen events, such as accidents, can disrupt the joyous journey. In this updated blog, we revisit the essentials of a well-prepared road kit and introduce new aspects of our business, emphasizing our expertise in auto body work to assist you in vehicle mishaps. Road Kit Essentials A well-equipped road kit can be the difference between inconvenience and disaster. Here's a c ... read more

Photo by Holly Mandarich on Unsplash Living in the wonderful climate of Monterey County, it is all too easy to overlook the importance of preparing our vehicles for winter conditions. We spend the majority of our year in wonderfully temperate weather, sunshiny days, and seaside charm. However, winter conditions can surprise us, and we want our vehicles to be ready for them when they do.  You don’t want to be stuck in a dangerous situation, thinking to yourself, “I shoulda done this,” or “man, I coulda done that.” Here are two major things to consider as the wetter months roll into Monterey County. Blinded By The Rain - One of the most dangerous things that could happen to you in Monterey countr ... read more

Photo by Tekton on Unsplash Our old buddy Benjamin Franklin has a legendary quote that goes like this "For want of a nail, the shoe was lost." What it boils down to this; a seemingly small thing that we could easily overlook can turn into a much bigger problem, causing a cascading waterfall of events that all stem from one tiny omission. The auto industry is the perfect example of old Benjamin's wisdom! Our vehicles are highly sophisticated marvels of engineering that need each and every part to function well. Overlooking a smaller detail can put you at risk and end up doing serious damage to your pocketbook. Take this story of a forgotten tire rotation as a cautionary tale. I Shoulda Rotated My Tires: A man and his family get ... read more

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash   Holiday travel can be stressful; between all the deadlines, time off of work, kids home from school, and money-spent on gifts & travel. However, it's important to sit back, relax, and remember that this is the time to appreciate what we have and, more importantly, who we share it with. Our holiday road trip is ahead of us, so let's take this time to think of some ways to prepare for it.   Between the kids, the food, and the traffic, holiday travel can be a really tiring situation for us. We might not be able to control the traffic situation, but we can prepare ourselves for the other scenarios by considering a couple of things. Here are a few ways to prepare for your hol ... read more

Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash   Have any of you been involved in a car accident, and you didn't have insurance? Driving without insurance can put you and those around you at risk, leaving you open to financial hardship and legal consequences! At CARSTAR Auto Body Repair, we partner with the best insurance companies available to keep you and your family protected!. This month we are proud to spotlight our partners at Farmers Insurance!   Farmers Insurance has been serving the United States for almost 100 years, since 1928! Making them a legacy brand "tried and trued" and trusted by American citizens for generations. Their motto of "Whenever & Wherev ... read more

Photo by Alexandre Boucher on Unsplash Collisions are one of the most dangerous situations drivers face daily. In fact, car accidents are the leading cause of significant injuries to Americans. As we navigate life, it’s easy to get distracted by cell phones, daily routines, and the chaos of our schedules. These distractions, though common, pose serious risks on the road. It’s crucial that we stay alert and “keep our heads on a swivel” to recognize and avoid potential hazards.   By understanding the common causes of collisions, we can take steps to ensure safer travels. Here are some of the most frequent culprits behind car accidents in the United States:   Speeding: The Danger of ... read more

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash   With the weather feeling just right and the leaves turning their autumn shades of color, now is a great time to hit the road and enjoy a road trip! Some of our favorite memories on a road trip centered around the music we were listening to on the road. We were blasting "Bohemian Rhapsody" with everyone in the car singing along. These are some of our fondest memories, and a good playlist can make your trip that much better!   Spotify has a huge compendium of amazing playlists, and many of them are built especially for road trips! They have a playlist for every generation and every genre of music! Got a car full of millennials who want to relive the 90's? They have you cov ... read more

Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash   Tomorrow is October 5th, national "Do Something Nice for Someone" day! A day that reminds us to reach out to strangers and those we love to perform simple acts of kindness. These small gestures of kindness can make a big impact on the world around you, hopefully starting a chain reaction of people "paying it forward." The world would be a better place if we all took the time to do something nice from time to time!   How many times have you been stranded on the side of the road, dialing AAA and wishing someone would stop and help you out instead! I know we all have stories like this, standing under the pounding sun, dead battery, and cars keep on flying by! This is the ... read more

Photo by Michael Jin on Unsplash  This week's blog brings us to our partner spotlight, Coast Auto Insurance! Going beyond expectations, Coast Auto Insurance sets a new standard for excellent coverage and benefits. Knowing an outstanding insurance company covers you can bring ease of mind and reassurance that you will be covered when the unexpected comes.  Coast Auto Insurance was founded in 1986 in Seaside, CA. Since then, they have expanded to offering coverage for cars and other vehicles, homes, personal property, businesses, and more! Being a part of a stellar company such as Coast Auto Insurance can bring several benefits to you and your family. These are a few ex ... read more

    Photo by Holly Mandarich on Unsplash  For this week's blog, we want to highlight some of the more common causes of auto collisions so that you can avoid being in an accident yourself. While commuting to work or going about your day, you may have witnessed an accident on the road and wondered why it happened. At CARSTAR Robert's Collision in Monterey, we care about your safety and want to point out some things to avoid while on the road.  Being able to identify hazards on the road or having the ability to react to avoid accidents requires attention and focus. It is important to remember that your life, your passenger's life, and the lives of other drivers around you can be affected ... read more

Photo by Matt Chesin on Unsplash Greetings from our second blog of the month! This week’s blog is all about what you should do if you find yourself involved in a vehicle accident. The National Highway Traffic Administration records that there is a vehicular accident approximately every 60 seconds, equating to an estimated amount of 5.25 million accidents per year.  While we hope you never have to put these tips to practice, it is essential to know how to act in these stressful situations. Continue reading to learn more about important steps that you can take to ease the stress of being in an unfortunate situation. Stay calm and assess the situation - One of the first things to consider when in an accident is to stay calm and ... read more

from the website This first Monday of this September is better known as Labor Day! This holiday serves as a symbol of the progress and achievement of the working people. There is also a second meaning to Labor Day in which most Americans consider Labor Day to mark the end of summer!    This labor day, we want to acknowledge our hard-working employees who contribute directly towards the amazing work done here at CARSTAR Robert's Collision in Monterey. Without the dedication and commitment of our employees, we would not be able to provide the exceptional service in which we take pride in ourselves.    We encourage you to check out our reviews which highlight the fantastic work done by the leading auto repair team in the Monterey peninsula! We would also like to invite you to check out this video about our customer service!  If you have any questions regarding ... read more

Photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash    Did you get into a car accident, and you didn't have auto insurance? Not having your vehicle secured by company insurance can cost you lots of money when it comes to a car accident. But here at CARSTAR Auto Body Repair experts, we can help you find the perfect auto insurance for your vehicle. And for this month's blog, our partner spotlight of this month is 21st Century Insurance.    Having auto insurance can protect yourself and others; it can help you protect your family members, passengers, and other drivers during a car accident on the road. 21st Century Insurance has taken pride in providing customers superior coverage and quality service since ... read more

Photo by Deleece Cook on Unsplash    Is your vehicle ready for back-to-school season? Going back to school in person after being away for a long time can be exciting! And because of this it is important to have your vehicle ready and make sure everything is working perfectly, especially the brakes.    Having your car ready for back to school can save you lots of time and money. Your kids or probably yourself are going back to school, which means the hours you spend in the car have just significantly increased! You will be driving from home to school, to work, and back and forth. Below are some of the steps you should consider to have your vehicle and brakes ready for back to school:   Keep an eye on your tires: Your vehicle tires are like your feet; they need to be in go ... read more

Photo by Michael Jin on Unsplash Have you ever been in a car accident and don't know what to do? For this month's blog, we will teach you some of the accident checklists you should know when a car accident happens! Driving can be something that sounds fun to do, but it can also be risky if we don't take precautions and are focused on the road. Traffic accidents can happen anytime, to anyone, and for this reason, it is essential to be prepared and know what to do when it happens.    When people suffer a car accident, the first thing they do is get paranoid and leave the scene, which is reasonable. But trying to leave the place of the accident without even calling the police or making sure the other people on the vehicle are okay can be the most common mistake people make in ... read more

Photo by Jan Baborák on Unsplash    Welcome to our August blog! For this blog, we will be talking about relieving your first year of driving and some of the things you can do to calm your nerves and help you drive, like if you have been doing so for years.    The fear of driving is incredibly common among first-time drivers and can be mild or severe. It takes its time, probably up to three months or even more. Even if you start driving on the regular roads, it might take months before becoming really good, but it's all about practice. We all had the experience of having one family member or friend yelling at us while trying to teach us how to drive, but in the end, we all learned how to do it successfully.    Our friends at CARSTAR Robert's want you ... read more

In this week’s blog, we want to spotlight one of our insurance partners: Unitrin Insurance. However, Kemper Direct recently purchased Unitrin, so anyone who signed up with Unitrin Insurance will now be filing auto insurance claims through Kemper Direct:  https://direct.kemper.com/home.aspx?source=kemperselect Kemper Direct is part of Kemper Corporation (NYSE:KMPR), one of the nation’s leading financial service providers. They provide both auto and home insurance.  If you want to see a review of Unitrin Insurance, check out this link: https://www.autoinsurance.org/companies/unitrin-direct-auto-insurance-review/ At CARSTAR Robert’s Collision, we work closely with insurance providers to provide easy, convenient service and communication to our mutual clients. Our combined goal is to make your auto ... read more

Sunburnt paint. We've all seen it. That beautiful brightly colored car paint fades and chips away when exposed to the elements for too long. Most people would say that this is a process everybody goes through sooner or later. However, it should not be like that! If we just followed a couple of simple steps, we could prevent ourselves from the headaches of repairing the car paint of a sun-damaged car. Here's what to do. Park under trees.  In most cases, wherever you go, there's usually a tree or two by the parking lot. The trees help shade your car, which keeps your car cooler. But watch out for tree sap getting on your paint job!  But what if there are no trees?  Whenever possible, seek out covered parking lots or garages that block out the sun's UV rays. These covered parking places may not be offered for free. However, most stores allow you to park for free for 2 hours. This is more than enough time to conduct your business and keep your car fresh ... read more

Photo by Foundry Co from Pixabay   California is arguably one of the most iconic states. Besides incredible opportunities to do business and a high standard of living, California is also known for its tourist-friendly cities and places.    In this article, we’ll reveal a couple of the best travel destinations if you want to see the beauty of our “Golden State”!   Enjoy the ride, and drive safely!   San Francisco Besides the well-known Silicon Valley area and Alcatraz Island, San Francisco is a cultural paradise. It houses the ... read more

  Independence Day is one of the most important days for American families. However, as data from The National Safety Council (NSC) shows, it can also be one of the deadliest.    Over 300 people are expected to die during this year’s Independence Day due to traffic accidents. As depressing as this may seem, we can prevent that by sticking to the simple rules of safe driving.   The basics:   Wear a seatbelt. Wearing a seatbelt prevents over 45% of the potential fatalities in car crashes. This “Lives Saved” statistic shows that over 100 people can be saved just this Independence Day if people just wore their seat belts.   Don’t drink and drive. Over 40% of fatal incidents on Independence Day occur because of alcohol usage ... read more

This month, CARSTAR Robert’s Collision wants to highlight and celebrate one of our partners: Permit General Insurance.    Permit General works with CARSTAR Robert’s Collision as a direct repair shop. Permit General Insurance offers automotive insurance that has a variety of coverage plans that help clients find the best auto insurance for their needs.   At CARSTAR Robert’s Collision, we work closely with insurance providers 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:   If your vehicle needs auto body repair and you have questions for our tea ... read more

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

If you are like a lot of us here on the Monterey Peninsula, you’re probably itching to start traveling again. Believe us, we feel you! After being under strict COVID regulations for over a year, we’re all starting to get the travel bug. The problem, however, is that once we start getting back to normal, we are going to see more cases of distracted driving again. Distracted driving can cause accidents. Some of those accidents are minor, and some of them end up with fatalities. No one wants to get into an accident, so here are five ideas about how you can lower your chances of getting distracted while driving.   Lock your phone in the glove compartment. If you easily get distracted by your phone, a simple solution is to stow it in your glove compartment. If your car’s Bluetooth system detects an incoming call, you can answer your phone via your steering wheel controls or your ear buds.   Restrain yourself from eating and drinking while driving. We know th ... 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

If you like paying attention to details, you’re going to love this week’s blog! It’s all about the details inside the Detailing Center of CARSTAR Robert’s Collision. Have you seen spiderwebs on your black car? No, we’re not talking real spiders! We’re not even talking about Halloween! We’re talking about those tiny scratches you see when the sun shines brightly on your black paint.  If you see spiderwebs in the black paint of your car -- or any dark-colored paint, for that matter -- come and see us at CARSTAR Robert’s Collision. Here, you will find out all of the services provided by our Detailing Center, where your vehicles can receive the ultimate detailing experience for the interior and exterior. Our Detailing Center is the ultimate final step in the auto body repair process. After your vehicle has been repaired and painted, our goal is to buff out scratches and protect the paint. We use various techniques, including a complet ... 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

One of the biggest reasons why people get into car accidents is because of poor visibility.  “I didn’t see it/him/her/them coming!” is a common statement uttered by the wayward driver who caused the accident.  To lower your risk of an unwanted collision, the auto body repair team at CARSTAR Robert’s Collision has 5 helpful tips to improve your visibility so you can have an easier time avoiding accidents. Keep your windows clean, inside and out. Change your windshield wipers when they get worn out. Adjust your mirrors to reduce blindspots. Wear the appropriate eyewear. Put on your sunglasses and lower your visors when facing direct sunlight. Wear anti-glare corrective lenses while driving at night. Prevent your passengers and cargo from blocking your view. Of course, weather can greatly contribute to poor visibility. To reduce your chances of not seeing what is in front of your while driving in fog, rain, snow, fleet, and more, check out this vid ... 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

This month, CARSTAR Robert’s Collision wants to highlight and celebrate one of our partners:  USAA Insurance.  USAA Insurance has been a longtime partner of our auto body shop. USAA Insurance is known to cover the property of military personnel. However, you can still qualify to get auto insurance from USAA Insurance if you are a retired veteran, honorably separated officers and enlisted personnel of the U.S. military. This program also covers Officer candidates in commissioning programs (Academy, ROTC, OCS/OTS) and the adult children (18+) of USAA members who have or had a USAA auto or property insurance policy.   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 a ... 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

What Does Your Car Suspension Have To Do With Safety? Here at CARSTAR Robert’s Collision, your safety means the world to us. That’s why we are updating the blogs in our archive to provide you more information on the various topics we’ve discussed with our Monterey community over the past fifteen years. This week, we want to update this blog on suspensions. We are sure that those warm, adventurous weather days are coming–and if you plan on doing any traveling, your suspension is crucial. Here’s our update: Understanding Your Car's Suspension Your car's suspension is a crucial component that plays a vital role in ensuring a smooth and safe driving experience. Located between the vehicle's frame and the wheels, the suspension system consists of various parts, including springs, shock absorbers, struts, control arms, and sway bars. Together, these components work to absorb shocks from the road, support the vehicle's weight, and provide stabi ... 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

This month, CARSTAR Robert’s Collision wants to highlight and celebrate one of our partners:  Geico Insurance.  Geico Insurance has been a longtime partner of our auto body shop. Even before the time of COVID-19, we had an on-site Geico representative who would assess the collision damage of their clients’ vehicles. 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 Geico and how to make a claim after you suffer an auto accident, you’ll find a wealth of material here: https://www.geico.com/claims/  ... 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 we reflect on 2020, we have hopes for a better year. Please, do not think that we are making any political statements in this week’s blog. Instead, our goal is to find the good in a yearlong, rough situation. We hope that in 2021, we will continue to remain healthy and fully employed, but we also wish for more travel opportunities and the ability to visit friends and family like we did before the Coronavirus. It’s a worthy goal, right?   It is easy to point out all of the things that didn’t go well in 2020. But there is a positive way to look at this year. This year forced us out of our comfort zones and made us find new ways of working, learning, and connecting with friends and family. We no longer take for granted live music, movie theaters, restaurants, amusement parks, and our very own Monterey Bay Aquarium. This year woke us up in many ways that we resisted. But we fully believe that the changes we saw due to COVID-19 are going to benefit us as we move ... read more

If you are staying home for the holidays on the Monterey Peninsula, that’s terrific! 2020 has been quite a year, and we are very fortunate to live in such a beautiful place on California’s Central Coast. If you are looking for places to hang out on the Monterey Peninsula during the 2020 Winter holidays, we have some ideas for you and your family to enjoy.   Enjoy the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail. If you like to walk, bike, skateboard, jog, or take a surrey ride along our rocky shore, our recreational trail is one of the best in the world. The majority of visitors stick to the portion of trail between Lovers Point in Pacific Grove to the Tides Hotel at the border of Monterey and Seaside. However, this trail continues further South to Asilomar State Beach and further North to Castroville. The entire trail is beautiful, so enjoy the view and be sure to wear your facemasks.   Go Golfing. We have world-class golf courses here on the Monterey Peninsula. The Monterey ... read more

It’s almost time to hit the road and go see the family for the holidays. To prepare your vehicle for holiday travel, we thought it would be wise to provide a checklist showing how you can prepare for smooth, stress-free driving.    We hope you enjoy this helpful pre-trip checklist.   Check your tires for proper tread and full inflation. Pack all the tools you would need to change a flat tire. If you’re planning to drive in the snow, be sure to bring tire chains. Make sure your battery is fully charged and shows no signs of corrosion. If your brakes are squeaking or squealing, have them checked. Is your car in need of oil change service? Get it done before you go. Do you have an emergency kit? If you’re driving in snow or plan to travel on isolated roads, do you have enough water, snacks, and warm blankets to keep you safe if you’re stranded? Is your Check Engine light on? If yes, make sure your auto mechanic checks it out. Have you pa ... read more

On Monday, December 7, 2020, we remember Pearl Harbor Day. If you are a longtime local you may know this, but Monterey experienced lasting effects after the Japanese attack. If you are new to the Monterey Peninsula or are a fan of history, this week’s blog centers around Pearl Harbor Day and what happened in the Monterey Peninsula.   The war was brought to California’s coast just eleven days after Pearl Harbor. Several areas were targeted by Japanese submarines, including Cape Mendocino, Monterey Bay, Estero Bay, and San Diego. Monterey Bay was on high alert all the way from Santa Cruz to Pacific Grove. According to the Mobile Ranger blog, submarines in these areas were an effort to scare the Americans into thinking a large attack on the mainland was coming next. The cities were chosen for their locations along commonly used shipping lanes and for the best opportunity to attack ... read more