Know Before You Approve Your Collision Repairs

Trust Big Isle Auto Care for all your auto body and collision repair needs, including frame straightening and precision painting for both foreign and domestic cars.

It's your vehicle . . . it's your decision!

You have a decision to make -- price or quality.
Is it possible to have both?

What is a "crash part"? A "crash part" is a replacement part made from sheet metal or plastic, which constitutes the visible exterior of the vehicle, including inner and outer panels, which are commonly repaired or replaced as a result of a collision. The most common crash parts are bumpers, fenders, hoods, doors, and inner panels attached to the outer part.

Crash Parts

OEM Parts
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) crash parts are designed and tested for their crash-worthiness. They are intended to collapse in a manner that provides the greatest protection to the occupants of the vehicle. Welds are designed for the same purpose.

OEM parts are also manufactured to provide the greatest possible rust protection, and precise location of pre-drilled holes are critical for proper fit. Holes or attachments where the parts are affixed to other parts of the vehicle are designed and molded to fit properly and smoothly on any vehicle made by that manfuacturer.

Non-OEM Parts
Non-OEM parts are non-approved parts (by the vehicle manufacturer). Such parts are generally less expensive but may not be exactly like the manufacturer's parts.

CAPA (Certified Automotive Parts Association) is an association of non-OEM manufacturers and insurance companies that certify non-OEM parts to be functionally equivalent to OEM parts.

Not all non-OEM parts are CAPA certified, and although non-OEM parts may be certified by CAPA, they sometimes present problems to collision repair shops because of improper fit, distortion, mounting hole locations, waviness, and lines that are not sharp and crisp. Some tests have indicated that some non-OEM parts will rust faster than OEM parts.

Mechanics and Technicians

ASE-Certified
ASE offers a national certification program for mechanics and technicians, who must pass a knowledge and skills test in order to be licensed and certified in the State of Hawaii for any mechanical work conducted on motor vehicles at the consumer level.

Upgrading

Betterment
Betterment is a term used to indicate the part being installed is "better" than the one that was on the vehicle before the accident. It is generally used for parts that wear out, such as tires, batteries, and mechanical parts. Because the part is "better" the insurance company often pays a percentage and you pay the difference.

Inter-Industry Association

I-CAR
I-CAR is an association of collision repair facilities, insurance companies, vehicle manufacturers, paint manufacturers, and after-market parts manufacturers. The organization's purpose is to develop repair standards and train the industry.

Like Kind & Quality

LKQ
LKQ is a term that usually refers to an OEM part that has been recycled from a wrecked vehicle, or it can also mean an imitation after-market part manufactured in a third world country.

Preferred Provider Policy

PPP
This is a type of insurance policy where it is agreed upon in advance that all repairs will be done at a repair provider chosen by the insurance company.

Preferred Repair Provider

PRP
A PRP is a repair business that has a strategic partnership with an insurance provider to provide repairs to their insured customers at pre-agreed to standards. These standards may or may not include non-OEM parts, labor price agreements, or technical repair procedures.

Providers

Preferred Repair List
This is a list of repair providers that an insurance company may use in recommending a repair shop to their insured. The insurer may also guarantee that the repair provider meets certain standards that have been agreed to by the provider. You are not required to repair your vehicle at these providers.

Associations

ABPAH, SCRS and CAPA
ABPAH, The Automotive Body & Painting Association of Hawaii, is a trade association of collision repair shops in Hawaii that strive to promote the highest quality standards possible with regards to the safe performance of vehicles, and consumer satisfaction.

SCRS, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists, is a national non-profit association of businesses and state associations that serves to improve the industry. The ABPAH is a member of this Society.

CAPA, Certified Automotive Parts Association, is a non-profit organization established to develop and oversee an testing and inspection program for certifying the quality of parts used for auto body repairs. Any part that does not have a CAPA Quality Seal may not be considered certified.