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When it comes to driving, western North Carolina is a great place to be. Tens of millions of people visit the area each year just to drive on some of the famous mountain roads and passes. Roads like the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Tail of the Dragon twist and turn their way through the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains, providing drivers with incredible views of stunning mountain vistas, waterfalls, and more.
For area residents, even the commute to work and school through the French Broad River Valley is surrounded by the tallest mountains on the East Coast.
Of course, driving isn’t always fun in the Asheville area. With the rapid growth our area has experienced in recent decades accelerating in the past twelve to eighteen months, the roads can get quite crowded during rush hour. Being a tourism destination, there are seasons when we experience even heavier traffic.
The weather can turn on drivers as well. From spring through fall, thunderstorms with high wind, heavy rain, and hail are common, often striking just at the height of the evening rush. During winter, snow and ice can make conditions slippery, leading to dangerous travel throughout the region. With the dramatically different elevations in the region, the same road might be wet in one place and covered in a sheet of ice just a few miles down the road.
All of the challenges of driving in the mountains are compounded when traveling at night. Weather, traffic, and twisty roads are all more difficult to deal with when the sun drops below the horizon. For drivers in our area, you need to take every step to ensure you can see as well as possible when you’re driving at night.
Over time you may notice your headlights are getting seemingly dimmer. Even when you replace the bulbs, you just aren’t seeing as well as you once did.
If you need to find a way to make your headlights brighter, you may be due for headlight restoration services.
Living in western North Carolina is a blessing. We are surrounded by beauty in every direction. From mile-high peaks to an abundance of waterfalls, there is no shortage of natural wonders. Asheville is known for its world-class art scene and fantastic restaurants. We have premier shopping, excellent schools, and top-notch medical care. There is a lot to love about living in this area.
However, every place has its downsides. While the pros far outweigh the cons, weather, dirt roads, and heavy traffic can wreak havoc on your vehicle’s exterior. Between the challenging terrain, heavy traffic, and potentially dangerous weather, maintaining your vehicle can feel like a full-time job.
If you have dents and dings, there are products and guides for how to DIY those repairs; however, you may not want to risk it.
There is a lot to love about life in western North Carolina. We have the highest mountains east of the Mississippi River. Those mountains provide endless miles to beautiful forests and landscapes to explore. From DuPont to Bent Creek, to Kanuga, to Tsali, to all of the other trail systems and bike parks, we have the highest collection of world-class mountain biking on the East Coast.
However, it is not just land activities that attract millions of visitors to our area.
People love their cars. Your vehicle is more than just a machine that helps you get from "Point A" to "Point B." It is your baby, an extension of yourself. You personalize it and care for it like a family member, so if it has been damaged by an accident, rogue shopping cart, hail storm, or general wear and tear, you want to make sure you take your car to a body shop you can trust.
But how do you choose the right shop?
One step to picking the right shop is to look for one that is ASE certified.
In this article, we are talking about the importance of choosing an ASE certified body shop.
What is ASE Certification?
The automotive industry has been around for over 100 years but really took off in the middle of the last century. With the increase in the popularity of the automobile came the need for body shops. However, it became quickly apparent that not all mechanics and shops are the same. There was a need for standards in the industry, and thus, the non-profit Automotive Service Excellence certification was born. Per their website:
"ASE exists to protect the automotive service customer, shop owner, and service professional...We certify the service individual so they can offer tangible proof of their technical knowledge."
In order to become ASE certified, applicants must have at least two years of experience within the automotive industry. Then the person must pass an ASE specialty test, choosing from a wide range of topics and specifications. There are also more advanced ASE Master certifications for those who want to pursue additional expertise.
Ultimately, this certification exists to prove a shop has the skill and experience to repair your car the way you expect. Here are a few more reasons to choose an ASE certified body shop.
When it comes to vehicles, there are few things more annoying than having a cracked windshield. It's inconvenient, while not necessarily affecting your car's performance. It is unsightly but not necessarily the cause for an immediate, emergency trip to the body shop. It can seem like an expensive repair without any measurable change to how your car handles.
Many drivers have questions about when and how to have their windshields repaired or replaced. Here is what you need to know about windshield repair and replacement.