A collision can leave your car looking perfectly straight while its wheels, steering or suspension geometry tell a different story. Even relatively minor impact damage can alter wheel angles, affect how the vehicle tracks along the road and create uneven tyre wear that only becomes obvious weeks or months later. The important points at a glance: Wheel alignment should be checked after accident damage, particularly where a wheel, tyre, suspension component or corner of the vehicle has taken an...

When your car needs repairing, there’s often more than one way to put it right. You might be offered an original part, an OEM replacement, an aftermarket alternative or even a used component. They can all look remarkably similar on paper — but price, fitment, quality, availability and long-term reliability can be very different. The short version: OEM parts are manufactured to meet the vehicle maker’s specified requirements, while aftermarket parts come from manufacturers outside that...

Accident repairs can affect a car’s resale value, even when the vehicle has been professionally restored. How much value is lost depends on several factors: the severity of the original accident damage, whether there was structural damage, the quality of repairs, the vehicle’s age and mileage, its make and model, and whether the incident resulted in an insurance write-off. There is, however, an important distinction between a car that has been repaired and a car that has been repaired well....