Automotive Damage Assessment 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 Automotive Damage Assessment flashcards as text
When assessing hail damage on a vehicle, which tool is most commonly used to measure dent size and severity?
Answer: PDR measuring card with dent mapping grid
PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) measuring cards with dent mapping grids are the standard tool for quantifying hail dent counts, sizes, and severity across panels.
A vehicle frame shows a 'diamond' deformation pattern. What does this indicate?
Answer: Side impact that has racked the frame out of square
Diamond deformation occurs when a side impact pushes one corner of the vehicle forward or backward, causing the frame to distort out of square into a diamond shape.
What is the primary purpose of a 'blueprinting' inspection in auto damage assessment?
Answer: Identifying all damage before disassembly to produce an accurate repair estimate
Blueprinting involves a thorough pre-repair inspection with partial disassembly to uncover all damage and produce a complete, accurate repair plan before work begins.
An adjuster notes corrosion along the lower rocker panel that existed before the covered loss. How should this be handled in the estimate?
Answer: Exclude pre-existing corrosion and betterment the repair cost accordingly
Pre-existing corrosion is not covered by the current loss; the adjuster must exclude or apply betterment to the portion of repair attributable to prior deterioration.
Which of the following best describes 'sectioning' a structural component?
Answer: Replacing only a portion of a structural part rather than the entire component
Sectioning involves cutting out and replacing only the damaged portion of a structural component at approved splice locations rather than replacing the entire part.
A total loss vehicle has a salvage value bid of $4,200 and an ACV of $14,500 with a $1,000 deductible. What is the insurer's net settlement to the insured?
Answer: $9,300
Net settlement = ACV − deductible − salvage value retained by insurer = $14,500 − $1,000 − $4,200 = $9,300.
When writing a supplement after hidden damage is discovered during repairs, what must the adjuster do first?
Answer: Inspect and document the newly found damage before approving additional costs
The adjuster must physically inspect and document the newly discovered damage before approving the supplement to verify it is related to the covered loss.