Vehicle Damage Assessment Flashcards
7 cards from real CAADE 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 flashcards as text
When appraising a total loss vehicle, Actual Cash Value (ACV) is best defined as:
Answer: The cost to replace the vehicle with a comparable one in the same pre-loss condition in the local market
ACV reflects what it would cost to purchase a comparable vehicle locally, accounting for year, make, model, mileage, condition, and market factors.
A high-strength steel (HSS) rocker panel that has been bent in a collision should be:
Answer: Replaced because HSS cannot be safely straightened after yielding
HSS loses its engineered tensile properties when deformed; straightening reduces its ability to absorb crash energy, making replacement the correct repair procedure.
Which documentation is essential when writing a supplement for additional damage found during teardown?
Answer: Photographs of the newly discovered damage with part numbers and updated labor times
Supplement documentation requires photos of hidden damage, identification of affected parts, and revised labor and parts pricing to support the additional claim.
When a vehicle's airbag system deploys, which component must always be replaced even if it shows no visible damage?
Answer: The clockspring (spiral cable)
Deployment subjects the clockspring to electrical and mechanical stress; OEM procedures require replacement to ensure reliable airbag system function after repair.
An appraiser is evaluating a rear-end collision. Which measurement point is checked to identify if the rear torque box has been pushed forward?
Answer: Distance from the rear strut tower to a center reference point
Measuring from the rear strut (shock) tower to a fixed centerline reference reveals whether the rear structure has been compressed or displaced forward.
According to industry estimating guides, 'refinish overlap' discounts apply when:
Answer: Adjacent panels are painted at the same time, reducing setup and blending steps
Painting neighboring panels simultaneously eliminates redundant mask-and-mix setups, and guides reduce the refinish time for the second and subsequent panels accordingly.
Which condition indicates that a vehicle's unibody has sustained 'mash' damage?
Answer: Compression of the structure along its longitudinal axis shortening its overall length
Mash damage compresses the vehicle along its length, shortening the wheelbase or crush zones and requiring pulling equipment to restore proper dimensions.