the itemized invoice to document the repairs performed.

insurance company representative that is responsible for coverage confirmation as well as the settlement of the claim.

a new part not produced by the vehicles manufacturer. These parts are generally considered substandard to O.E.M. parts.

insurance company representative that does the appraisal or estimate of damages.

national institute for automotive service excellence- a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of automotive service and repair through testing and certification of automotive technicians.

Bureau of Automotive Repair.

many insurance carriers will charge the customer for actually providing a part or assembly (usually a commonly replaced item subject to wear over the life expectancy of the vehicle) that is better than what the owner had at the time of loss. i.e. tires, battery

a painting method used to disperse color to adjacent panels in such a way that a mis-match in color is undectable. Once the color has been blended to adjacent panels, a clear coat is applied to the panel.

person that reports a claim against another party’s insurance company. I.e. this person was not at fault, but hit by another party.

Color sand is the process of sanding a new finish to remove dust particles and other contaminants. Polishing painted surfaces by hand or with a machine is then used to eliminate surface scratches and restore gloss after the color sanding process.