Busy Repair Shops | Video

Alex Hagan | 1/23/2013

This winter has already shaped up to be more severe than last. While keeping yourself safe from cold temperatures is the number one priority, residents also need to make sure their car is ready. That means auto-repair shops are constantly busy with drivers every day.

With dangerous road conditions and a more brutal winter, you`re bound to end up at a auto-repair shop at some point.

"Someone rear-ended me in a parking lot," said Bismarck resident Courtney Joe Peterson.

"Just needed to get an oil change for my car," said Bismarck resident Elroa Roy.

"Get tune-ups, oil changes," said Bismarck resident Bill Matthews.

No matter what the case is, the winter is bringing more drivers in for car repairs. When wind chills are well into the negatives, Tire Plus in Bismarck is slammed around the clock. "There have been days where we get four to five tow trucks pulling up in front here with vehicles that have flat tire repairs or won`t start," said service advisor Clifton Puma.

Puma says the majority of customers are coming in for heater and battery checks. "If it`s busy, it`s hard to get everybody in right away."

Abra Auto Body and Glass deals with more collision accidents because of slippery roads. The shop usually gets 10 to 15 people a day coming in for damage estimates along with five to six tow-ins a week. "We`ve seen everything from rear-end hits to animal collisions, just a lot of them," said manager Ken Lammers.

Lammers says scheduling appointments at his shop is crucial for damage estimates. "Peak time of the day, we have a lot of appointments. They may end up waiting an hour, an hour and a half, before they can get an estimate. When they have an appointment, it`s a very minor wait before they get back on the road very quickly."

But if the weather stays the same?

"Ice or rain or something like that, that would bring on an influx of business. It will be even more busy."

Others say more out of state drivers results in more accidents.

"They don`t know how to drive in winters because they`ve never been in winter," Peterson said.

Either way, repair shops are busy.

Tires Plus can check batteries, tire pressure, and coolant. Abra Auto Body Shop will give a damage estimate for free, but both shops highly recommend scheduling in advance.

COMMENT ON THIS STORY

BACK TO NEWS | BACK TO BISMARCK STORIES