RESOURCES

Your vehicle will likely be the second largest investment that you make. With that said, it deserves the utmost attention and care. Informing you on various topics regarding your vehicle will help you make good decisions regarding repairs should you ever need them. We will also give you some food for thought with various other topics.

Fresh Paint Care

  • Do not use a commercial car wash. Stiff brushes or sponges mar the finish and damage the surface. Wash the vehicle by hand with cool water and a very mild car wash solution. Be sure to use a soft cloth or sponge.
  • Wash the vehicle in the shade – Never in the sun.
  • Do not “dry wipe” the vehicle-Always use clean water. Dry wiping could scratch the finish.
  • Extreme heat and cold are to be avoided. Keep the vehicle in the shade when possible.
  • Do not drive on gravel roads. Chipping the finish is easily done in the first 30 days.
  • Do not park under trees which drop sap or near factories with heavy smoke fallout.
    • Sap and industrial fallout mar or spot a freshly painted surface.
    • Trees are also likely to attract birds. Bird droppings have a high acid content and will damage a freshly painted surface. They should be washed off as soon as possible.
  • Do not spill gasoline, oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid or windshield solvent on the new finish. If you do IMMEDIATELY rinse off with water. DO NOT WIPE.
  • Do not scrape ice or snow from the surface. Your snow scraper can act like a paint scraper if the finish is new. Brush off the loose material with a soft snow brush.
  • Do not wax or polish the vehicle-this will allow the finish to dry and harden completely.
  • Do not use waxes or polishes containing silicone.

Forms You Can Print and Bring With You

Relevant Regulations

Controlled by the EPA, NESHAP stands for National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. Subpart 6H applies, in part, to spray application of coatings to a plastic and/or metal substrate where the coatings contain compounds of chromium, lead, manganese, nickel, or cadmium. Auto body shops and other facilities with spray operations are affected.

Link Library

The Iowa Insurance Division (IID) supervises all insurance business transacted in the state. This is a good resource for all things insurance.

This company reports market value prices for new and used automobiles of all types, as well as motorcycles.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provides information regarding NESHAP.

A resource for assistance, information and expertise regarding air emissions, community right-to-know, hazardous waste, painting and coating, pollution prevention, solid waste, storm water and wastewater.

NADA exists to provide automotive information and advocacy. Consumers are served by their NADA Guides which provide information about vehicle pricing for new, used, and classic automobiles in addition to motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and manufactured homes.

Provider of automotive information.

Information about distracted driving.

Resources & tools to keep kids safe in and around cars.