How A Bent Frame Is Costing You Money
by George Mason
So you've had a fender bender, which adds you to the more that 5.5 million other drivers in the U.S. who can claim the same or worse each year. It's not the end of the world, but considering your budget and the inconvenience, you might decide that fixing your car right now is not in the cards. This decision might still hold firm even if your insurance covers the cost, as it is quite likely that your insurance premiums will increase. Added to that is the fact that non-injury collisions can affect your premiums for up to 3 years and injury-related accidents for up to 5 years.
However, while your vehicle may still take you where you need to go, the continued use of it while it might have a bent frame, however minor, could actually be costing you money just as well. Here are two ways in which this might happen.
Fill it up
You, along with almost every American, are affected by the money you have to spend in getting fuel into your vehicle. Even when gas prices are as low as it is right now at an average of $2.40 per gallon, you still need to concerned about fuel efficiency and getting the most of the gas mileage from your vehicle. However, a bent frame can affect how hard your engine has to work and can increase your fuel consumption.
Even a vehicle, such as a car or a light-duty truck made since 2013, that boasts fuel economy and can get you an average of more than 24 mpg, may not be able to live up to its fuel ratings if it is sporting a bent or misaligned frame.
The beginning of other problems
A bent frame that is not taken in for straightening can lead to other problems over time. These problems can range from the mild to the severe but either way can cause further damage to your vehicle and lead to other accidents or mishaps on the road. The least dangerous of these is the effect of getting your tires out of alignment. Misaligned tires lead to faster wear that may have you replacing your tire before the average 6 years that is recommended.
More severe problems from a bent frame includes the vehicle's inability to continue to hold its weight which can lead to further structural damage. All these can add up to much more expenses down the road, not to mention the risk they pose to both you and your family - too expensive indeed.
For more information, contact Central Body Co Inc. or a similar company.
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About Me
When I started traveling a lot for work, I realized that my older vehicle might not make the grade as far as performance went. My car was old, outdated, and needed a lot of repairs. It was frustrating to deal with issues on the road, but unfortunately, I came across more than just a few. This blog is here for anyone who needs to improve their car's performance. By reading these articles, you might be able to hone in on problems that are ruining your vehicle, make the necessary steps to make things right, and protect yourself while you are traveling for work.