Vehicle Damage Assessment & Estimation Flashcards
7 cards from real CAIA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Vehicle Damage Assessment & Estimation flashcards as text
A vehicle sustains rear-end damage causing the trunk lid to misalign. Which condition best describes this issue in estimating terms?
Answer: Panel fit and finish misalignment
Panel fit and finish misalignment refers to gaps, flushness issues, or improper panel alignment resulting from collision damage.
What is the purpose of a 'not-included' operation in collision repair estimating?
Answer: To identify labor operations not automatically included in standard labor times
Not-included operations are additional labor tasks (such as removing undercoating or masking) that must be manually added to an estimate because they are not part of the standard database labor time.
Which of the following best describes the 'betterment' concept in auto insurance claims?
Answer: Requiring the insured to pay a portion of repair costs when new parts replace worn components
Betterment is applied when a new part replaces a worn component, meaning the insured contributes toward the cost since the vehicle is improved beyond its pre-loss condition.
When calculating the actual cash value (ACV) of a total loss vehicle, which factor is NOT typically considered?
Answer: Owner's original purchase price
ACV is based on current market value, not the owner's original purchase price, which is irrelevant to what the vehicle is worth at the time of loss.
A shop requests additional labor time for accessing a door intrusion beam during repairs. How should an adjuster evaluate this request?
Answer: Research whether the estimating database includes or excludes this operation
The adjuster must verify whether the estimating system includes or excludes intrusion beam access labor to determine if the additional time is justified.
Which type of vehicle damage would most likely require a unibody pull to restore structural geometry?
Answer: Collapsed quarter panel from a side-impact collision
A collapsed quarter panel from a side impact can distort unibody geometry, requiring frame equipment to pull the structure back to factory specifications.
What is the primary reason an adjuster documents the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) during a damage inspection?
Answer: To verify the vehicle's identity, options, and factory specifications for accurate estimating
The VIN provides critical information about the vehicle's year, make, model, trim level, and factory options that directly affect parts pricing and labor times.