How to deal with a cracked windshield

Picture it, you’re driving along your usual highway route to work or to the grocery store. You’re listening to your favorite music and jamming along when, all of a sudden, a rock flies from the road and hits your windshield. A crack starts to form and eventually spiderwebs and your jam session filled drive is ruined. Unfortunately, this happens to drivers everywhere and it’s always unexpected. Highways are filled with small rocks and debris that can leave you with a cracked windshield on your N Charlotte Toyota car. If this has happened to you, never fear! Toyota of N Charlotte is here with a guide on what to do if you wind up with a cracked windshield.

Dealing with a cracked windshield

While you may think your N Charlotte car insurance is just spending money every month for a card to keep in your glovebox, it can really help in situations like this. In fact, in North Carolina, there are several statutes in place that require auto insurance companies to waive the repair deductible for a cracked windshield repair or replacement. While this is great news for those of you driving around with a damaged windshield, there’s also a risk to put off this repair. In North Carolina, you could be pulled over.

You’re also required to pass a comprehensive inspection to verify that your N Charlotte Toyota vehicle is fit to drive without posing a threat to other drivers on the road. If your windshield is damaged with cracks and/or chips, then you’ll likely fail the inspection. You’ll then be required to fix the cracked windshield and make other necessary repairs to bring your vehicle up to compliance and then schedule a follow-up inspection.

Luckily, if you find a crack or chip quickly enough, you can have it repaired or replaced free of charge! Whether or not your cracked windshield should be repaired or replaced depends on the extent of the damage. Typically, your auto insurance company will refer you to a verified auto repair body shop and they’ll perform an evaluation to determine the extent of the repair or replacement. A good rule of thumb to determine if your cracked windshield will be fixed with either a replacement or a repair is to use a dollar bill. If the ding, crack, or mark fits under a dollar bill then you’ll likely just need a repair. If the damage extends over these size parameters, then you’ll likely need to replace your windshield entirely. But if you have comprehensive vehicle insurance then the replacement is covered at no cost to you!

Repair your cracked windshield with us at Toyota of N Charlotte

Don’t let a rock or highway debris ruin your day or your N Charlotte Toyota vehicle with a cracked windshield. Toyota of N Charlotte is here to help with our certified auto body shop. Give us a call at (704) 875 – 9199 or visit us at 13429 Statesville Road!

What is Vehicle Depreciation?

There’s no better feeling than sitting behind the wheel of your brand-new N Charlotte Toyota vehicle. That new car smell is gracing your nostrils, every surface is wiped down and cleaned perfectly, and the odometer is ready for a fresh beginning with you as the driver. Unfortunately, buying a new car doesn’t come without its share of financial fears and cautions. If you plan on keeping your vehicle for more than seven years, you’re in luck! But, if you want to upgrade your vehicle every few years, you’ll come across something called vehicle depreciation. This metric can make or break your vehicle’s resale value and hurt you when it comes to trading in and getting a new vehicle. If you’re not sure about what vehicle depreciation is and/or how it works, don’t worry! Toyota of N Charlotte is here to help make sense of all the financial confusion.

What you need to know about vehicle depreciation

At auto dealerships like Toyota of N Charlotte, vehicle depreciation plays a pivotal role in the car sale and trade in processes. For those purchasing a used car, it can work in your favor through a great price on your next ride. But, when purchasing a new vehicle and then trading it in, you’ll find yourself coming out upside-down. Before we get into the details about vehicle depreciation, first, a history lesson.

Depreciation was first introduced in the 19^th century by rail road companies wanting to maximize their profits on paper. Essentially, a value was assigned to a train car and that value was matched against the annual income of the railroad company. This value would degrade over time as it was used and showed a larger profit margin.

So, what does that mean for your N Charlotte Toyota vehicle? Essentially, that new vehicle you just purchased is losing value quickly and will continue to do so until it loses over half of its original value. Several factors can contribute to this process, including:

Initial car buying expenses

While it’s easy to get hung up on the sticker price of a N Charlotte Toyota car, there are more expenses in store. Tax, tag, title, dealer fees, and more contribute to the overall cost of the car you’re purchasing and its money you won’t be able to earn back when trading in. Not only that, but your new car starts the vehicle depreciation process as soon as you sign your last signature and drive it off the dealership lot.

Advancing Technology

With each model year that’s released for a N Charlotte Toyota vehicle, the previous model year loses value. Because of vehicle depreciation and the fact that drivers are purchasing the newer models, your 2015 model won’t get you as much of a return as a new 2019 model will when trading in.

You’re driving a less desirable vehicle

Just like fashion and technology goes in and out of style, N Charlotte Toyota vehicles do too. For example, SUVs are currently more popular than sedans and will get you a better resale value.

How to prevent vehicle depreciation

To help mitigate the affects of vehicle depreciation, our Toyota of N Charlotte auto sales specialists recommend these things:

• Stay up to date on routine auto service.
• If you have the budget, purchase a newer vehicle with better technology and safety features.
• Keep your vehicle’s odometer reading low by driving it less.

Still unsure about vehicle depreciation? Toyota of N Charlotte is here to help! Give us a call at (704) 875 – 9199 seven days a week with any questions. 

Toyota of North Charlotte’s guide to off-roading

With the holiday season ending its time to break in the new toys! If you happened to find a N Charlotte Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, or Tundra under the tree this year, then it’s time to take it off the beaten path for an off-roading adventure. But, before you hit the trailhead, you need to make sure that you and your vehicle are ready to handle the rough terrain. You’ll need things like, the right vehicle, specific tires and suspension, and more for a successful off-roading adventure. Lucky for you, Toyota of N Charlotte is here with an easy guide to make sense of all the intricacies to off-roading.

Off-roading 101

Driving on unpaved roads through mud, dirt, and rock is truly exciting and thrilling. However, it can also be dangerous between all the rough terrain and unknown territory. At Toyota of N Charlotte, we recommend paying attention to these critical pieces to off-roading:

Vehicle Type

While a N Charlotte Toyota Camry is capable, it’s not built to withstand the conditions of going off-roading (at least not without sustaining heavy damage). Before heading off the beaten path, make sure you’re driving a vehicle like the Toyota 4Runner, Tundra, or Tacoma. These vehicles are often equipped with off-road specific features like Multi-Terrain Select, Hill Start Assist, and more. They also have the ideal clearance height to avoid running over rocks and logs.

 Consider Using After-Market Parts

While these off-roading N Charlotte Toyota vehicles are equipped with excellent features, some of them able to handle the rough terrain, they could benefit from using after-market parts. To give your vehicle more power and grip on the ever-changing terrain, consider using all-terrain tires. Lift kits are also useful to give your car optimal clearance height. They can also protect your vehicle’s undercarriage from being damaged by taller objects on the ground.

Adding after-market parts to your vehicle for off-roading sounds like a good idea and will definitely help your car, it entails more than just installing a part. Often-times, adding one after-market part typically means involves replacing an additional part to compensate for the first one. For example, adding a new suspension system to your N Charlotte Toyota vehicles should be followed by new tires to compensate for the height. Make sure to plan out your part replacements strategically.

Find Groups to go with

Trekking through uncharted territory is sure to be a good time, but it can be intimidating if taken on by yourself. Having others to go with makes the experience fun and safe in the event that an emergency occurs. To find groups to go off-roading with, make sure to check online forums and local off-roading clubs.

Go on an off-roading adventure with Toyota of N Charlotte

Before you take to the trails, make sure you have these essential tools and supplies:

• Jumper cables
• Flashlight
• GPS and a physical map
• Food and water
• First Aid kit
• Tire pressure gauge
• Shovel
• A full-size spare tire

If you still have questions about taking on the trails, come visit us at Toyota of N Charlotte! You can reach us at (704) 659 – 2025 seven days a week!