Chicago's early snowstorm has brought a surge of tire blowouts, dead batteries, and accidents on the roads, with auto body shops seeing an uptick in business as a result. For drivers like 27-year-old Matt Songler of Bronzeville, who was forced to tow his car after discovering a flat tire, the chaos is all too familiar.
Songler's tale is not unique, however, as the city's residents have been experiencing increased numbers of flat tires, dead batteries, and accidents in recent weeks. The cold weather, combined with icy roads, has made driving conditions hazardous, leading to an increase in calls for motorist assistance from the Illinois State Police.
Business at auto body shops like River North Collision Repair and Paul Ries and Sons is booming, with workers reporting a 40% increase in business over the past couple of weeks. "People need body work," said Bill DeMaio, co-owner of the shop. "We've seen everything from minor fender-benders to very large accidents. With the ice, cars are sliding, people are hitting things, hitting other cars. Everyone forgets how to drive in the weather."
The surge in business has put a strain on auto body shops' operations, with some owners saying that parts are more expensive due to recent tariff increases and take longer to get. Gateway Auto Service and Collision owner Shadi Qattawi noted that while his shop is seeing a boost in business from winter tune-ups, the cold weather also increases operational costs.
"We have to pass the costs on to our customers, we have no choice, and it takes longer to fix their cars because the availability of a lot of parts has decreased," Qattawi said. As for whether body shops may be rooting for bad weather, Gomez laughed, saying "No, we never root for bad weather but we know when it comes, we'll be busy."
The impact on consumers is evident in higher prices across the board, with car batteries ranging from around $179 to more than $400 at Auto Zone. The cost of auto repairs was up 7.7% in September from the year before, according to government metrics.
As for Songler, he learned a valuable lesson about winter driving after his first flat tire and is now taking extra precautions on the road. "I'll be more careful next time," he said. While it's unlikely that body shops will be rooting for bad weather anytime soon, they are making the most of the situation by being prepared to handle the increased demand.
With the Chicago AAA reporting an increase in calls for dead batteries over the last two weeks, residents can expect to see higher prices and longer wait times at auto repair shops throughout the winter.
Songler's tale is not unique, however, as the city's residents have been experiencing increased numbers of flat tires, dead batteries, and accidents in recent weeks. The cold weather, combined with icy roads, has made driving conditions hazardous, leading to an increase in calls for motorist assistance from the Illinois State Police.
Business at auto body shops like River North Collision Repair and Paul Ries and Sons is booming, with workers reporting a 40% increase in business over the past couple of weeks. "People need body work," said Bill DeMaio, co-owner of the shop. "We've seen everything from minor fender-benders to very large accidents. With the ice, cars are sliding, people are hitting things, hitting other cars. Everyone forgets how to drive in the weather."
The surge in business has put a strain on auto body shops' operations, with some owners saying that parts are more expensive due to recent tariff increases and take longer to get. Gateway Auto Service and Collision owner Shadi Qattawi noted that while his shop is seeing a boost in business from winter tune-ups, the cold weather also increases operational costs.
"We have to pass the costs on to our customers, we have no choice, and it takes longer to fix their cars because the availability of a lot of parts has decreased," Qattawi said. As for whether body shops may be rooting for bad weather, Gomez laughed, saying "No, we never root for bad weather but we know when it comes, we'll be busy."
The impact on consumers is evident in higher prices across the board, with car batteries ranging from around $179 to more than $400 at Auto Zone. The cost of auto repairs was up 7.7% in September from the year before, according to government metrics.
As for Songler, he learned a valuable lesson about winter driving after his first flat tire and is now taking extra precautions on the road. "I'll be more careful next time," he said. While it's unlikely that body shops will be rooting for bad weather anytime soon, they are making the most of the situation by being prepared to handle the increased demand.
With the Chicago AAA reporting an increase in calls for dead batteries over the last two weeks, residents can expect to see higher prices and longer wait times at auto repair shops throughout the winter.
, it's crazy how bad weather affects car owners in Chicago right now! I mean, who wants to deal with a flat tire on icy roads? It's like they say, 'winter is coming'... and with that comes car trouble 
. 40% increase in business for auto body shops? That's wild. And higher prices for car batteries too? Not fun at all 
. I remember when I was young, we didn't have all these new-fangled car safety features like airbags and whatnot. We just had to know how to drive in the snow 
.
. That's just the way the economy works sometimes. But at the end of the day, it's all about being prepared for winter driving. If you're not used to driving in snow and ice, it's gonna take some getting used to 
️.
, it means people are taking care of their cars and staying safe on the road. And yeah, maybe they won't be rooting for more bad weather 
. This snowstorm is like the ultimate excuse for people to forget how to drive 
. And now we gotta pay more for car batteries because of tariffs? Thanks for nothing 
. On a serious note though, I hope all you road warriors out there take it easy and stay safe 
. Don't be like Matt Songler and get stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire 
. Just sayin' 
.
my car died on me and i had to call my friend who works at an auto shop to come and tow it for me. anyway, i think its kinda funny that all these body shops are getting slammed with business because of the weather lol... but at the same time its not ideal for the owners who have to deal with higher costs and longer wait times 
oh man, this snowstorm is like a nightmare out there! I feel so bad for Matt and everyone else who had to deal with tire blowouts and accidents on the roads 
. Auto body shops are getting slammed, but it's also putting a strain on their operations... parts are harder to come by and prices are going up 
. On one hand, I get it, they need to charge more for all the extra work they're doing 
. Nowadays, it's like you need a Ph.D. in auto repair to get your car running again 
.