An accident can take seconds to occur but overseeing the entire claims repair process may take days. Traditionally, drivers have been responsible for reporting the claim, arranging for the rental car, getting estimates on the repair work, checking with the shop to see when the work will be done, inspecting the car, picking up the car and returning the rental car.

Fortunately, this does not have to be the case and that’s why it’s a smart idea to investigate car insurance companies carefully.

For example, The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies offers drivers an accident claims repair process that takes only minutes-not days-of their time. Here’s how the process works:

• The customer calls to report a claim at any time of the day or night and brings the vehicle to a specially designed service center.

• In about 15 minutes, the customer is in a rental car, if needed, with the assurance that the company will update the status of his or her claim.

• A claims representative prepares a repair estimate and contacts an auto body shop that has met strict quality requirements. The insurance company and the shop reach agreement on the cost of the repairs; the shop transports the vehicle back to the facility and the repair process begins.

• When the work is finished, the vehicle is returned to the service center where representatives from the insurance company and the body shop inspect the quality of repairs.

• Once the insurance company is satisfied with the repairs, the customer is called to schedule a pickup. Repairs are inspected and the customer drives off with a written document, saying that the repair facility and the insurance company guarantee the repairs for as long as the customer owns the vehicle.

Progressive has 25 Claims Service Centers open and plans to open 50 more sites across the country over the next few years.

Running a car can be an expensive business these days, especially with the continually rising cost of petrolgas. The last thing that most car owners need is the added expense of replacing worn out parts. The majority of people rely on their local auto shop to find the parts, and then fit them. There is a far cheaper way, and that is to source your own parts from an auto salvage yard.

Auto salvage yards, as their name suggests, specialise in salvaging autos, or more specifically auto parts. The way that they work is simple; they take junk cars and strip them down, keeping any parts that are still in working order. These parts are then sold to anyone who wants to buy them at a much lower price than a new part would be. You could find the part that you are looking for, and save yourself a lot of money. Of course, it would be ideal if you could fit the part on your car yourself, but just buying the part from an auto salvage yard can save you a considerable amount even if you have to pay a mechanic to fit it.

The key to buying from an auto salvage yard is to spend a lot of time looking for the part that you need. There may be a lot, or a little, but you should always shop around to find the best part for you. Some auto salvage yards will recondition parts, while others will simply sell them as seen. If you dont know much about cars it is a good idea to take a friend with you who does. The last thing you want to do is to buy a part from an auto salvage yard and think that you have found a bargain, but then find that it isnt the right part for your car or not in working order.

The other way that you can use an auto salvage yard is to actually sell them your scrap car. All cars eventually reach the end of their working life, but you may find that you might get a little money from a salvage yard for your rusting hulk. At the end of the day, thats better than nothing. Be prepared to negotiate a price and dont take the first offer that they make you.