Repair Cost Estimating Flashcards
7 cards from real CALA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Repair Cost Estimating flashcards as text
In estimating, what is 'door time' or 'access time' added to an estimate for?
Answer: Extra time needed to access damaged components through restricted or difficult-to-reach areas
Access time accounts for the additional labor required to reach damaged components in locations that are difficult to access during the repair process.
What is the function of an estimating database's 'labor rate' field?
Answer: The shop's posted labor rate charged per hour for each labor category
The labor rate is the shop's posted hourly charge for each labor category (body, frame, paint, mechanical) used to calculate total labor costs on an estimate.
When a repair requires replacing a side curtain airbag, the estimator should also consider:
Answer: Replacement of the headliner, pillars, and any other components damaged during deployment
Airbag deployment typically damages surrounding components like headliners and pillars that must also be included in a complete repair estimate.
A vehicle requires a new bumper cover. The damaged cover had a factory-installed rear parking sensor. The estimator should:
Answer: Include the transfer, calibration, or replacement of the parking sensor in the estimate
Factory-installed sensors must be transferred or replaced and may require calibration, which must be captured in the estimate for a complete repair.
When is it appropriate to use an aftermarket (non-OEM) part in a repair estimate?
Answer: When the vehicle is beyond the manufacturer's warranty period and the part meets quality standards per applicable guidelines
Aftermarket parts may be appropriate for out-of-warranty vehicles when the parts meet quality standards, subject to state laws and insurer/shop agreements.
A vehicle sustains damage that requires sectioning a rocker panel. What does 'sectioning' mean in this context?
Answer: Cutting out and replacing only the damaged portion of the rocker panel rather than full replacement
Sectioning involves cutting out only the damaged portion of a structural component and welding in a replacement section per OEM or I-CAR repair procedures.
What is 'betterment' in the context of a vehicle repair estimate?
Answer: A charge applied when a repair restores a worn component to better-than-pre-loss condition
Betterment is a cost reduction applied to compensate for the fact that a new part replaces a worn one, improving the vehicle's condition beyond its pre-loss state.