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The National Insurance Crime Bureau announced its Hot Wheels report last week, the bureau’s annual release of the ten most stolen vehicles in the United States. The list features a perfect split between import and domestic automakers, with Honda’s Accord and Civic cars topping the list. Full-size pickups made up a considerable chunk of the list, taking the Nos. 3, 4 and 6 spots. Two other Japanese automakers also made the list with two from Toyota and one from Nissan. The following lists include figures with total thefts based on data submitted by law enforcement to the National Crime Information Center. NICB’s 2013 Hot Wheels Top-Ten Most Stolen Cars in the U.S. Honda Accord (53,995) Honda Civic (45,001) Chevrolet Pickup, Full Size (27,809) Ford Pickup, Full Size (26,494) Toyota Camry (14,420) Dodge Pickup, Full Size (11,347) Dodge Caravan (10,911) Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee (9,272) Toyota Corolla (9,010) Nissan Altima (8,892) The report also included the top 10 model-year 2013 vehicles stolen in the same year. NICB’s 2013 Hot Wheels Top-Ten Most Stolen MY 2013s in 2013 in the U.S. Nissan Altima (810) Ford Fusion (793) Ford Pickup, Full Size (775) Toyota Corolla (669) Chevrolet Impala (654) Hyundai Elantra (541) Dodge Charger (536) Chevrolet Malibu (529) Chevrolet Cruze (499) Ford Focus (483)

The summer heat is upon us and as it arrives everyone will try to keep cool.  Just as heat will have an impact on people it will also have an impact on car reliability and safety.  You can easily reduce the risk of tire blowouts if you follow some of these simple maintenance tips.  Something as little as having your tires properly inflated will go a long way in helping to avoid failures!   Hot weather causes heat build up and weakens the tire, potentially leading to abrupt failure.  On a 90-degree day surface temperatures can easily hit 150-degrees. First you should check the inflation pressure in each tire, including the spare tire.  You should do these when the tires are cold or have been sitting for more than three hours You should also inflate the tires to the recommended setting outlined on the tire information placard found most often on the driver’s door jamb and or the vehicle owner’s manual. Check your tires monthly.  Tires can typically lose up to 1 psi per month.  The pressure in the tire drops about 1 psi for every 10-degree drop in the air temperature. You should invest in a good tire gauge.  It is even a good idea to also buy a portable compressor that works off of the cars power outlet. Tires also lose air to common punctures.  If you find you are always adding air to your tire than you might have a slow leak in your tire.  Have this checked at your local service garage which includes the many service departments with the Preston Automotive Group.

This winter brought on a lot of snow, sleet and ice.  With these types of conditions the roads worsen, not just when this bad weather is happening but after the bad weather has cleared.  The brutal winter has created crater sized potholes that weren’t seen before winter came around.  Driving into a pothole puts enormous strain on your tires, wheels, and suspension.  The speed you are going and the depth of the road all play a part in the severity of the damage that can be done.  Potholes are caused when relentless freezing and thawing of water under the pavement weakens the road and causes large cracks which when combined with the weight of a vehicle driving over eventually turn into potholes. Any direct hit in a pothole could bring about instant air loss in your tire and this will require your tire to be replaced. There are different ways to survive these pothole infested roads! Slow down and pay attention to road conditions.  Some potholes might appear smaller than they are if they are filled with water.  You should also keep an eye on the distance between you and the car in front of you.  This will give them time to react as well as you if there is a pothole ahead. If the impact of the pothole is inevitable try to at least partly slow down and drive straight into the pothole.  Turning into the pothole could create more sidewall damage.  Also make sure that you have a firm grip on the steering wheel to avoid losing control. After encountering a pothole be sure to stop or pull over and check your car for visible signs or wheel or tire damage.  Keep in mind that if the front tire hit the pothole than the back tire more than likely did as well. Keep tires inflated to the recommended inflation pressure.  This is one of the best guards for minimizing pothole damage.  Most cars are now equipped with a inflation pressure monitor.  Under or overinflated tires can affect a tires resistance to pothole damage. A great way of avoiding potholes is to take roads that you know well.  When you take the roads you are familiar with then you will know exactly where the potholes are.  Also try to drive on well-lit roads when driving at night so that you can see any potholes. The potholes can damage much more than just your tires, these include: Tire puncture, damage or wear Wheel rim damage Premature wear on shocks and struts Suspension damage, including broken components Steering system misalignment Exhaust system damage Engine Damage

Frog Watch is a program offered at the Preston, Snow Hill, and Cambridge Auto Bodys.  It allows customers to see the repair process and receive updates on the repairs happening to their vehicles.  Customers can also send emails to the Auto Body shop with any questions.  They can check their repair status daily or weekly and call with any questions.  There are many different steps that a vehicle goes through in order to get repaired from a collision.  At every step of the way the customers vehicle will be able to be followed through Frog Watch. The first step of the repair process is the repair estimate.  This is the step where the vehicle is assessed and inspected for damage.  With the customer’s permission the vehicle is taken apart to make sure there isn’t any unseen damage.  This is also the step where the Insurance Company’s report is used to ensure the lowest estimate for repairs. Step two is the authorization, this step is to obtain the customer’s signature so that repairs can begin.  Next the insurance must approve, this also must be done before any repairs can begin.  Step four is to order any parts needed for the repair and Step five is to receive the parts. Finally Step 6 is where the vehicle is scheduled for repair.  The customer is contacted to schedule the most convenient time for them to get their vehicle repaired.  If the vehicle is already in the shop then the repairs begin immediately. At step 7 the vehicle is completely dissembled and re-inspected.  The vehicle will be taken completely apart, all the parts involved are placed on a parts car which is designated just for that vehicle.  As the vehicle’s outer parts are removed, the physical structure will often reveal damage that originally could not be seen.  The hidden damage could alter the repair costs.  When hidden damage is found a supplemental damage report is written.  As hidden damage occurs the customer and the insurance company are notified in order to proceed. The next step is for all metal work and initial tests to be done.  The technicians begin to make sure systems work and they also perform quality control of the structural repairs.  The vehicle is then prepped, primed and blocked.  After this step the vehicle is ready to be masked, taped and placed in the paint booth. Once through the paint booth the vehicle is chemically cleaned and tacked.  Chemical cleaning removes all outside contaminates and tacking removes the dust particles that remain.  Now it is ready for the refinishing process.  This is a multi-step process to ensure a quality finish, using only products that meet or exceed the manufacturer’s specifications and are backed by a lifetime paint performance guarantee. The last and final step is the reassembly, alignment, wash, inspection and test drive.  The Auto Bodys with Preston Automotive Group want to assure the customer that the vehicle is fixed properly.  Once these steps have been completed the customer is notified that their vehicle is ready for pick up.

Snow Hill Auto Body in Snow Hill, Maryland has just been approved as a Honda and Acura Collision and Refinish Facility.  American Honda launched the ProFirst Shop Recognition Program in 2012.  This program became open to dealer-owned and independent collision repair shops.  The program is meant to promote the correct, complete, and safe repair of Honda and Acura vehicles and provide support to shops that have a commitment to a high level of customer care and satisfaction.  In order to qualify Auto Body shops must conduct a minimum number of transactions using CollisionLink software, be a designated I-Car Gold Class Professionals business and have at least one person who is presently employed by the shop who has completed the I-Car Course.  The staff at Snow Hill Auto Body is very excited about this new.  Snow Hill Auto Body opened in May of 2013 specializing in collision repair, custom and classic paint work along with classic car restoration.  They are conveniently located just minutes from Salisbury, Pittsville, Ocean City, and Millsboro.  Their facility is fully equipped with state of the art technology that helps better serve customers.  Snow Hill Auto Body can repair everything from a small scratch to major damage.  Their certified technicians work to make every experience pleasant and as easy as possible. There are many reasons why Snow Hill Auto Body is set apart from other Auto Body’s.  They offer free refreshments while you are waiting to receive your vehicle.  They also have a complimentary shuttle service.  After a vehicle is repaired it gets a free wash and vacuum so that a customer gets back into a clean fixed car without the dust from doing the repairs.  Snow Hill Auto Body also offers a free limited lifetime warranty where certain restrictions apply.  Another great thing that Snow Hill Auto Body offers is free mobile estimating within a 50 mile radius.  Since all of the Auto Body shops with Preston Automotive Group offer this service customers all over Delmarva can get free mobile estimating. Snow Hill Auto Body also offers the Frog Watch Program.  Frog Watch allows a customer to see exactly where their vehicle is during the repair process.  Frog Watch is a program offered at the Preston, Snow Hill, and Cambridge Auto Bodies. It allows customers to see the repair process and receive updates on the repairs happening to their vehicles. Customers can also send emails to the Auto Body shop with any questions. Customers can check their repair status daily or weekly and call with any questions. There are many different steps that a vehicle goes through in order to get repaired from a collision. At every step of the way the customer's vehicle will be able to be followed through Frog Watch.

In the event that you are hit from behind in an accident Preston Automotive Group wants to make sure that you know what to do.  Things like these can happen when other drivers are not paying attention so it is important for you, as the driver, to stay alert at all times.  Regardless of whether you think there is a lot of damage or little to no damage to your vehicle it is still important to report a claim to your insurance company.  The other individual should involve their insurance company as well just to be safe.  The first step you should take when rear ended is to make sure that you and anyone in your vehicle is ok.  Once you have checked yourself out and the others in the vehicle you should get out of the vehicle and make sure the other person is ok as well. Once these steps are completed we recommend that you ask for the other parties contact information as well as insurance information.  It is up to both parties if the police wish to be called.  The general rule is that you don’t have to call the police if both parties are uninjured and there appears to be no damage over a specified amount.  After you have gotten the other parties insurance information that is involved you should contact your insurance company as soon as possible.  This allows you to be able to get your car repaired.  Often insurance companies will want to ask you a lot of question about the incident.  The other party’s insurance company might call you as well to verify things. Always remember that if there is any damage to your vehicle you get to make the decision as to where you take it to get repaired.  Many insurance companies will give you places that they recommend however, in the end it is ultimately the customer’s decision as to where they would like their vehicle repaired.  Luckily, Preston Automotive Group has three different body shops where they can repair your vehicle!  We have locations in Cambridge, Maryland, Snow Hill, Maryland and Preston, Maryland.  No repair is too big for our auto body shops.  They have the equipment and expertise in the shops to get jobs done to the best quality. Along with all collision repair Cambridge, Snow Hill and Preston Auto Body can also do custom work and restoration.  They can install things such as remote starts, DVD players, Bluetooth, navigation and much more!

Preston Auto Body is a part of the Preston Automotive Group which is an organization of approximately 300 employees.  Preston Auto Body has a lot of community involvement which is one of the reasons it is set apart from other companies.  The teams overall refer shop score is a 9.72 year to date in 2013.  Preston Auto Body keeps the desire to give the customers a winning experience.  The Auto Body has dedicated customer service personnel and uses advanced technology like Frog Watch.  Frog Watch is a program which allows the customer to watch the progress of their vehicle as it goes through the repair process.  Year to date their kept informed result is %97.82 with also a 10.0 in Customer Service.  A final numerical measure for them is the overall experience.  Year to date they have achieved an outstanding 9.90 surveys submitted from customers. Dave Wilson is a Provident State Bank Board Member and has served as a board member since 1989.  He has also served as the Chairman of the Eastern Shore’s Walk America.  Since 2009 he has raised over 230,000.00 for the March of Dimes.  He was awarded the Prestigious Award of being the #1 Fund Raiser in the country in 2000.  In 2002 he was the #1 fund raiser in the state of Maryland. Dave is also a participant in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Caroline County.  For the past fifteen years he has been involved in this even and Preston Automotive Group as a team has raised over $100,000.00 for the American Cancer Society. He is also involved in many other organizations as well.  Such as the Susan G. Komen Organization, a local group called Saving Second Base raises money for this organization and the Preston Automotive Group sponsors their events as well as helps raise money for them.  Preston Automotive Group will also be hosting the 2014 Mid Shore Walk for the March of Dimes.  Preston Automotive Group has also been involved with the Delmarva Shorebirds, Parks and Recs Programs, Paddlefest, Travel Baseball, Toys For Tots, Bears that Care, Operation White Tail, Kidney Foundation, Caroline County Humane Society and many more. Preston Auto Body is honored to accept such a prestigious award.  They pride themselves on providing excellent customer service and vouch every day to do better than they already are.

Remote starts are excellent for cold winter days when a customer wants to get into a warm car. There are many benefits to using or installing remote starts in vehicles. The first benefit is for comfort.  It is comforting to have a car that is warm or cool before the customer gets into the vehicle.  By leaving the heater or the air conditioning on a driver can activate the remote starter then wait several minutes for the car to warm up.  Since the vehicle is running most remote starters include controls for locking the doors to secure the car as well. There is also a safety benefit to having a remote starter.  By allowing an icy car to warm up before driving it is easier to scrape or defrost the windows which results in greater visibility for the driver and passengers.  Warming the vehicle also melts snow and ice that can obstruct the headlights or the brake lights making the vehicle more visible to other drivers especially in snowy or icy conditions. Engine care is also a benefit to having a remote start.  Warming the vehicle before driving is beneficial for the engine.  For the heating system to start producing warm air the engine must first warm up as it runs.  Since the vehicle idles for several minutes before being driven the engine oil provides better lubrication once the driver is ready to go.  This period where the vehicle is warming up is especially beneficial for cars or truck that run off diesel however gas engines also benefit from having a remote start. When the customer buys a vehicle with a remote start or gets one installed it will increase the resale value.  If the customer lives in an area with rough climate conditions then the remote start will have a greater resale value.  It will be an extremely useful selling point when looking for a new vehicle. Remote Starts work by the push of a button.  From outside the vehicle press a button or two depending which kind of remote start and your ignition will start.  The vehicle will remain locked until the driver unlocks the vehicle.  The remote starter can also turn off the ignition as the customer wishes.  The brake pedal can also act as a way to turn the engine off.  Remote Starts can include a complete security system with alarm, two way alarm notification, a different frequency each time the remote is used,  and the ability to transmit up to a mile and through concrete walls. Preston Auto Body installs remote starts in all makes and models.  They can also install leather seats, back up cameras, radios, Bluetooth, and many more items to customize the vehicle the way the customer would like it. By: April Green

If you would like to customize your ride just the way you like it then you should consider coming to Preston Customs at Preston Autobody!  We can add those special touches to your vehicle that you desire. When the weather gets cold you might want to think about having leather seats with heat installed in your vehicle.  If you only want leather seats without the heat then that is available as well.  Leather seats are a nice addition to a vehicle, they add value.  Leather is also more durable than fabric and vinyl.  When it comes to maintenance lather is also better than fabric.  All you need to clean leather is a damp cloth and a little detergent.  Leather also does not soak up spilt drinks as cloth seats would.  Not only are leather seats more durable but they are also extremely comfortable.  If you spend a lot of time in your vehicle driving to work or going on roadtrips than leather seats would make your journey a lot more comfortable. Another custom we offer is remote starts.  Remote starts make for a great feature!  The biggest benefit of having a remote start is the comfort of knowing that your car can be warm or cool before you get in.  On those cold mornings when you are getting up for work you can use your remote start to start your car and thus your car will be warm by the time you are ready to leave for work.  This also works the same way if it is extremely hot outside.  You can start your vehicle and it can cool down while you are waiting to leave.  No more getting in a vehicle where your seats are too hot to sit on!  Remote starts can also offer you safety that you didn’t have before.  By allowing an icy car to warm up before driving it is easier to scrape or defrost your windows.  This results in greater visibility for the driver. Preston Customs also offers a back-up camera which can be installed in your dash or in your rearview mirror.  Back-up cameras have a lot of safety features.  Back up cameras can help prevent you from backing up over someone or something.  In larger vehicles without a backup camera your blind spot is 20 feet behind your vehicle.  It is also beneficial when hooking up a trailor.  The driver can easily navigate their way to the trailer, avoiding accidents as they may miss the mark or accidentally hurt the person helping them.  If you are in the city and need to parallel park then your new back-up camera from Preston Customs will significantly assist you with this. Some of our other options include Bluetooth and DVD systems which are available to be installed in a headrest of drop down, and navigation systems which come in handy when you are going on long trips.  To go along with your backup camera from Preston Customs you can also get backup sensors!  These beep everytime you get too close to an object.  In case you don’t have power windows and power locks we can install these for you as well as radios of your choice! For more information on Preston Customs please visit www.prestonautobody.com or stop by one our our body shops today in Cambridge, Snow Hill, and Preston!  We can help you with all your autobody needs!

Between the dates of October 19 th and October 30 th Preston Automotive Group is proud to present their Trunk or Treat events! We have events going on at four of our wonderful locations! The first Trunk or Treat takes place on October 19 th at Denton Ford in Denton, Maryland.  This Trunk or Treat will be held from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. and will be fun for the whole family!  There will be a children's costume parade and after the parade is over judges will choose an overall best costume and a scariest costume!  These two lucky winners will receive a special prize!  There will be plenty of treats which are being provided by local businesses as well as face painting!  Also at Denton’s Trunk or Treat, Caroline County Humane Society will be on location with adoptable pets.  If you are looking for a new pet for your family make sure you make an appearance at Denton Ford's Trunk or Treat!  To help raise donations for the pet pantry there will be a vehicle to fill with pet food from October 1 st until October 31 st! Be sure to stop by Denton Ford at any time and make your contribution to the pet pantry! Let’s fill that trunk with plenty of animal food! Preston Hyundai's Trunk or Treat The next Trunk or Treat taking place is on October 26 th at Preston Hyundai located on the Preston Autoplex from 1 pm until 3 pm! Again there will be face painting and treats made by local businesses.  At Preston Hyundai there will also be a contest for the best decorated trunk! The lineup for the children’s costume parade will begin at 2pm.  There will be prizes for the 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd best costume. Along with all these fun activities there will also be pumpkin decorating, you can decorate your pumpkin however it suits you! The very next day on October 27 th there will be a Trunk or Treat at Cambridge Autobody!  At this time Cambridge Autobody will also be celebrating their one year anniversary.  This particular event will begin at 1 pm and end at 4 pm.  The line-up for the children’s costume parade will begin at 1:30 pm and prizes will be given to the scariest and the overall best costumes! There will also be face painting and treats provided by local businesses!  At Cambridge Autobody there will also be a classic car show! If you love classic cars this is the place to be on October 27 th! You don’t want to miss these fun activities and a spectacular car show! The final Trunk or Treat event of the month will be at Snow Hill Autobody from 6 pm until 8pm!  The line-up for the costume contest will begin at 6 pm.  Bring your children in their Halloween costume and looking scary!  Treats will be provided by the Preston Automotive Group, Pittsville Ford, and the Autobody’s of Preston and Cambridge!  Snow Hill Autobody didn’t want to forget about the parents at the event so there will be drawings for a free detail from Pittsville Ford.  There will also be drawings for a free oil change from Snow Hill Autobody! Be sure to look out for our Trunk or Treat events on Facebook!  All you have to do is like our Facebook pages and you will easily be able to find the event! We hope to see you there!

In the areas of Maryland and Delaware, deer are plentiful. In the event you hit a deer, Preston Auto Body can help. There are many road hazards that you need to pay attention to while driving. Of all the road hazards deer and other creatures can cause damage to your car or truck and may cause harm to you, your passengers, and possibly other drivers near you. With more than 1.5 million crashes involving deer that happen each year, it is important to know what to do when such an accident occurs. Of the 1.5 million crashes involving deer it is estimated that over 1 billion dollars are spent on repairing vehicles that hit the deer. Deer are usual sighted either early morning hours or late evening hours. The worst months for deer activity (deer breeding season) are October, November, and December, though late February and early March deer can be expected along side of the road looks for fresh green food. Most deer related crashes happen on rural and suburban roadways. Anytime one may be driving on these types of roadways it is important to continuously scan the roadways and the sides of the roads for deer in order to avoid collisions. The main thing to do to avoid or minimize a deer related collision is to “Pay Attention.” Once again be sure to scan the roadways, always slow down when deer are present, honking and blinking your heads lights may help may a deer out of the roadway, and remember if you see one deer, most likely there will be more to follow. Understanding common habits of deers and knowing what to do when a deer runs out in front of you can help you avoid serious injuries and serious auto body and collison repair bills. So what do you do when you actually hit a deer? If hitting an deer is unavoidable there are few things to remember. DO NOT speed up into a deer in order to point the hood upwards. You never want to take evasive actions either because you could run into a ditch, hit another un coming car, hit a telephone pole, or hit another object off the road. What you do want to do is apply your brakes firmly, hold on the steering wheel, and come to a controlled stop. Pull over to a safe place if your vehicle is able to be driven, if not turn on your hazards and exit the vehicle when able to do so and be sure to watch for oncoming traffic. The next best thing to do is dial 911 or the police depending on your situation and fill out a police report for your insurance company. For more information on what to do when you hit a deer, contact your insurance provider. Visit http://www.prestonautobody.com for more information on the Maryland and Delaware collision center. About Preston Automotive Group Preston Automotive Group services the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania area with Ford, Lincoln, Mazda, Hyundai and Nissan brands and used cars and trucks of all makes and models. The auto group carries the largest selection of new and used cars. Additionally, the dealership services all makes and models, both imported and domestic cars with ASE certified and factory trained technicians. To learn more, visit https://www.prestonmotor.com/