Automobile Tips For Chicago’s Brutal Winters: Part 2

Tony Mers • January 17, 2018

Winter driving in Chicago is no joke. You already read about the importance of driving slowly at all times , staying in contact with an auto body repair and collision repair shop, and making sure your vehicle is always filled with gas if it's going to sit in the snow for a while. But there are plenty more things you should be aware of if you want to get through another brutal Chicago winter.

Here are some additional tips for Chicago winter drivers to keep in mind:

Stay up to date with your car’s maintenance
If you aren't taking care of your vehicle yourself, you're risking a lot every time you get behind the wheel -- especially during the winter. In a recent survey, researchers found that an estimated 77% of vehicles were in need of maintenance or repairs. These cars can break down at any time on the roadways and can lead to major accidents. Visiting an auto body repairshop after a collision is one thing, but you need to take care of your car at all times, not just when something goes wrong.

Pack extra clothes and emergency items
Another major mistake Chicago drivers make during the winter is not storing important items inside their vehicles. You never know when you're going to crash or spin off the road, so you should be fully prepared just in case. Pack some extra clothes and blankets in your car just in case you have to brave the snow for a while. You should also keep some snacks and beverages inside at all times as well as a first-aid kit.

Avoid side roads if you can
Plows are doing their best, but they can't get to every single road in the city. If you really need to be somewhere during a winter storm, your best bet is to stay on the main roads and hope you can get behind a snowplow. If you try to get to your destination by side roads, you'll likely encounter much more snow and run the risk of getting stuck.

Hopefully, these tips will help you this winter and every year going forward. Stay safe and take good care of your car! Whether you are in need of auto glass repair services, auto body repair, or auto paint shop assistance, River North Collision Repair is here to help get your vehicle back to normal and ready for more winter driving.

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Why Ignoring Small Dents Can Lead to Bigger Problems

January 30, 2026

It is an awful feeling when you walk out to your car after a long day and see a small dent on your passenger door. While it may appear to be just a cosmetic issue, you should still get it fixed, because ignoring small dents can lead to bigger problems for your vehicle. Don’t let small dents on your car go untreated; let's talk about why you need to tackle these issues ASAP. Rust Loves Chicago Winters We all know the drill here in the Windy City. We have beautiful summers, sure, but we also pay the price with brutal winters. And what comes with winter? Salt. Tons of it. Your car’s paint job acts as a suit of armor protecting the metal body underneath. Even a minor dent often comes with microscopic cracks in the paint—sometimes too small to see with the naked eye. Once that seal is broken, moisture and road salt sneak in. They settle against the bare metal and start a chemical party you definitely don’t want to host. Oxidation begins immediately. By the time you notice bubbling paint or that tell-tale orange stain a few months later, the rust has already been eating away at your door panel from the inside out. Resale Value Takes a Nosedive For many people, maintaining their car is a valuable part of purchasing a new vehicle. When that day comes, curb appeal is everything. Used car buyers (and dealership appraisers) will judge your car by its exterior appearance. If they see a vehicle riddled with door dings, bumper scrapes, and ignored scratches, they see a car that wasn't cared for. They assume that if you didn't care enough to fix the outside, you probably didn't care about the rest of it either. It lowers the perceived value instantly. Maintaining your car’s body and its paint is an investment in your future trade-in value. Paint Damage Spreads Like a Virus When a dent or scrape compromises the integrity of the paint, the surrounding paint loses its grip. High-pressure car washes, wind, and temperature fluctuations cause the paint to flake away from the initial injury site. A scratch the size of a quarter can grow into a patch the size of a softball over a couple of seasons. It’s Easier (and Cheaper) Than You Think Here is the good news: fixing these things early is surprisingly affordable. Modern body shop technology is amazing. For many small dings where the paint isn't cracked, we can use techniques that massage the metal back into place without spraying a drop of paint. River North Collision Repair offers paintless dent repair in Chicago to fix minor dents. Regardless of what nicked your door, we can help remove the dents and maintain a seamless look for your vehicle. Don’t Wait for Problems Don't let minor dents turn into a big nightmare. Save your future self the headache (and the cash). Swing by River North Collision Repair for your quick and easy repairs. Because driving a car you’re proud of? That’s a feeling you can’t put a price on.