CALA Repair Cost Estimating 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A used OEM part sourced from a salvage yard is called a:
- Aftermarket part
- LKQ part (Correct answer)
- Remanufactured part
- Non-OEM part
Correct answer: LKQ part
LKQ stands for 'Like Kind and Quality' and refers to used OEM parts from salvage yards that match the damaged part's specifications.
Question 2: When estimating repair time for a damaged aluminum hood versus a steel hood, the estimator should expect:
- Shorter repair time due to aluminum's lighter weight
- Longer repair time due to aluminum's specialized repair requirements (Correct answer)
- The same repair time regardless of material
- No repair time since aluminum hoods must always be replaced
Correct answer: Longer repair time due to aluminum's specialized repair requirements
Aluminum requires specialized tools, techniques, and equipment compared to steel, resulting in longer and more complex repair times.
Question 3: What does the term 'sublet' refer to in a repair estimate?
- Parts purchased at a discount from a secondary supplier
- Work sent to a specialized outside vendor and billed back through the repairing shop (Correct answer)
- Labor performed after normal business hours
- Repairs deferred to a future date
Correct answer: Work sent to a specialized outside vendor and billed back through the repairing shop
Sublet repairs are operations outsourced to specialized vendors (e.g., glass shops, alignment centers) whose charges are passed through the estimating shop.
Question 4: A vehicle's VIN reveals it has a factory sunroof. How should this affect the estimator's approach to replacing the headliner?
- No adjustment is needed; all headliners are estimated the same way
- The sunroof's presence may require additional R&I labor for the sunroof mechanism (Correct answer)
- A sunroof always reduces headliner replacement time
- The VIN sunroof option eliminates the need to blend adjacent panels
Correct answer: The sunroof's presence may require additional R&I labor for the sunroof mechanism
A factory sunroof requires additional removal and installation steps for the sunroof mechanism, adding labor time to headliner replacement.
Question 5: When an estimator identifies damage that was not visible during the initial estimate, this is documented as a:
- Hidden damage report
- Supplement (Correct answer)
- Addendum invoice
- Secondary claim
Correct answer: Supplement
A supplement is a revised or additional estimate that captures damage discovered after the initial estimate was written, typically found during disassembly.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes 'paint materials' on an estimate?
- The cost of the paint gun and equipment
- The cost of primers, sealers, base coat, clear coat, and related refinishing supplies (Correct answer)
- Only the cost of the color-matched base coat paint
- The labor charge for mixing custom colors
Correct answer: The cost of primers, sealers, base coat, clear coat, and related refinishing supplies
Paint materials encompass all refinishing supplies used during the paint process, including primers, sealers, base coats, clear coats, and related materials.
Question 7: An estimator is writing an estimate on a 5-year-old vehicle with pre-existing rust on a door that needs replacement. How should this affect the estimate?
- Pre-existing rust is always covered in full by the insurer
- The rust damage may be subject to betterment or prior damage exclusion (Correct answer)
- Rust never affects the repair estimate amount
- The estimator should replace the entire vehicle due to rust
Correct answer: The rust damage may be subject to betterment or prior damage exclusion
Pre-existing rust damage may result in betterment charges or prior damage exclusions since the insurer is only responsible for the loss-related damage.
CALA Repair Cost Estimating 3
A used OEM part sourced from a salvage yard is called a: