13505
Dulles Technology Drive, Suite 2
Herndon, VA 20171-3421
703-713-3800
FAX 703-713-0727
webmaster@asecert.org
Betterment:
The additional charge for a repair that improves the vehicle beyond
its pre-accident condition. Betterment can be charged as a percentage
or a dollar value.
CAPA:
A consumer advocates group, located in Washington, DC, that certifies
aftermarket parts (funded by the insurance industry and manufacturers
of aftermarket parts).
Depreciation:
A decrease in the value of property through wear, etc.
Diminished
Value: The value established by comparing the pre-accident
value of a vehicle, the amount of damage to the vehicle, and the
post-repair value of the vehicle.
Final
Bill: Itemized repair invoice detailing what repairs were
actually performed (not just an estimate of repairs). Included
in the itemized statement will be codes designating the type of
parts used.
First
Party Claimant: Vehicle owner's insurance company will be
paying for the costs of the repairs.
Frame:
The square, rectangular, or tubular steel undercarriage that
has the suspension, drive train, engine and body bolted to it.
I-CAR:
(Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair) An international,
nonprofit training organization dedicated to improving the quality,
safety and efficiency of auto collision repair for the benefit
of the consumer. 800-422-7456 or webmaster@i-car.com
Insurance
Estimate: The preliminary assessment of damages and costs
of repairs that will be used as a guideline for making repairs
to the vehicle.
LKQ:
(Parts of Like Kind and Quality) Parts other than new manufacturer's
parts.
OEM:
(Original Equipment Manufacturer) New factory parts built by the
manufacturer of vehicle.
Pre-Loss
Condition: Overall condition of vehicle immediately preceding
collision, vandalism or theft.
QRP:
(Quality Replacement Parts) Used, aftermarket, or remanufactured
parts.
R&L:
(Remove and Install) To remove and install existing components.
R&R:
(Remove and Replace) To remove old components and replace with
different ones.
Shop
Estimate: The preliminary assessment of damages and costs
of repairs that will be used as a guideline for making repairs
to the vehicle.
Steering:
Illegal practice whereby a representative of the party paying
the bill tries to influence a vehicle owner to take their vehicle
to a particular person or body shop for repairs.
Sublet:
To contract services to be performed by an outside company, i.e.
alignments, glass replacement, theft recovery.
Supplement:
An already calculated estimate to which a change has been
made. Supplements occur after a vehicle has been torn down and
it is determined that additional repairs and/or procedures will
be needed to repair the vehicle to pre-loss condition.
Third
Party Claimant: The other party's insurance company is responsible
for paying for the costs of the repairs.
Unibody:
A type of body construction that doesn't require a separate frame
to provide structural support for the vehicle's mechanical components.
Also called "unitized."
