Certified Automotive Parts AssociationCAPAcertified.org

A Guide for Claims Personneland Insurance Adjusters

Frequently Asked Questions About CAPA

Today, many insurance companies protect

their policyholders from the high cost of car

company brand parts as well as poor quality

alternatives by using parts meeting the standards of

the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA).

You may have heard of CAPA, but you may not fully

understand the benefits of using CAPA Certified Parts.

This guide provides an overview of the CAPA Program

by answering some important questions that you, your

customers, or the shops you work with may have.

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CAPA: Protection fromPoorQuality andOverpricedParts

What is CAPA?CAPA is a non-profit, third-party, ANSI-accredited, standard-setting organizationwhose sole purpose is to enable the market to identify high-quality,fairly-priced alternatives to expensive car company brand crash repair parts.

Why was CAPA created?To protect consumers from the high cost of car company brand parts whenthere is no competition (monopoly pricing) and poor-quality parts. Usingreasonably-priced parts keeps repair costs in check and prevents vehiclesfrom being “totaled.” CAPA quality certification gives you the choice of aless-expensive part without having to make a poor quality choice.

CAPA’s standards are approved by a multi-industry Technical Committeecomprised of collision repairers, part distributors, manufacturers, insurers,and quality experts. It meets regularly to review, develop and approve CAPA’spublicly available quality standards.The Committee operates on a consensus

basis and CAPA’s standard development process has been approved bythe American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Background

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What are aftermarket parts?Aftermarket parts are parts sold for use on a vehicle AFTER the vehicleenters the marketplace—thus, an aftermarket part. There are a varietyof types of aftermarket parts including those sold by the car companiesunder their own brand, independently-manufactured parts, recycled, andremanufactured parts.

Are all aftermarket parts CAPA Certified?No. Aftermarket parts from the car companies are not independentlycertified. Very few of the independently manufactured parts areCAPA Certified. In fact, only about 20% of the independently producedaftermarket parts have met CAPA’s Certification Standards. That meansthat 4 of 5 times when a collision repairer uses an independently-producedpart, they will be using a part that has not been CAPA Certified to becomparable to the car company brand part that it replaces.

What kind of repair parts does CAPA certify?CAPA has certification standards for most of the part types needed for crashrepair. There are 5 different CAPA Standards that insure that a wide varietyof part types can be certified.

Background

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Standard Part Type Parts Included

CAPA 101 Metal parts Fenders, hoods, tailgates, trunk lids, any metal part onthe exterior of the vehicle

CAPA 201 Plastic parts Fenders, hoods, grilles, trim parts—any plastic partused on the exterior of the vehicle

CAPA 301 Lighting parts Any exterior light used on the vehicle includingheadlamps, taillamps, turn signal lamps, side markerlamps. All parts are also tested to insure compliancewith Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 orother applicable standards.

CAPA 401 Foam Rubber Limited to flexible cellular rubber products known assponge rubber and expanded foam rubber,used as a seal.

CAPA 501 Metal, Plastic, Bumpers, bumper brackets, reinforcement bars,and Foam parts energy absorbers

The CAPA Certification Mark is the CAPA Seal

Is the CAPA Seal number unique to each part?Yes, each seal has its own unique seal number, which means that each parthas a unique number.

What is the CAPA Seal number used for?The CAPA Seal number can be used by anyone to track individual parts,trace the part to the manufacturer and determine date of manufacture. Inthe event of a quality issue, CAPA can use the number to get a completehistory of the part.

Who can apply the CAPA Seal to the part?Only an approved participating manufacturer can apply the seal to acertified part. CAPA tracks each seal from production of the seal toapplication on a particular part.

What is the purpose of the detachabletab at the bottom of the CAPA Seal?It is designed to be used as a trackingtool. By requiring their direct repair shopsand requesting independent repairers todetach it and put it on the repair order,an insurance company can easily monitoractual part usage during the re-inspectionof repair orders. If there is any questionwhether the seal on the repair order isfrom the right part, you can confirm it inseconds at CAPAcertified.org using theseal number.

What if a CAPA part has no CAPA Seal?Then it is not a CAPA Certified part and is not in the CAPA Program.Parts claiming to be CAPA Certified without the seal are simply notcertified — regardless of how that part may be listed in catalogs,estimates, or advertisements.

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CAPA Seals Are Tamper-Proof

Can a CAPA Seal be removed from one part and placed on another?No, the seal is tamper-proof and will destruct if removed from the originalcertified part.

Are there counterfeit CAPA Seals available in the marketplace?While occasional claims about counterfeit CAPA Seals have been made,in CAPA's 23-year history, not a single counterfeit CAPA Seal has beenidentified. The manufacturer is the only party who can order, receive,and apply CAPA Seals. Due to the unique number on each seal, thatprocess is easily monitored.

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CAPA Seal for Lighting PartsWhile smaller than the seal used for metaland plastic parts, the CAPA seal for light-ing parts is designed to be used just likethe larger seal.

Are parts tested before becoming CAPA Certified?Yes. In order to become CAPA Certified, acandidate part is subjected to a comprehensiverange of tests that include materials,dimensions, appearance, and vehicle fit thatdirectly compare it to the car companybrand part it is replacing. CAPA does not“grandfather” parts into the program. Each andevery part submitted for certification must bethoroughly tested. Just because a manufactureris CAPA-approved does not mean all its partsare CAPA Certified. Typically, relatively fewparts sold by a CAPA-approved manufacturerare CAPA Certified.

What type of material testing does CAPA do?Specific tests include: corrosion resistance; thickness; chemistry;weld integrity; yield strength; malleability and adhesive strength. Alltests are conducted by approved, independent labs meetingnationally-recognized standards.

Are CAPA parts galvanized?Yes. For a metal part to be certified to CAPA 101, ifthe material thickness is 2.00 mm or less, then thematerial surface must be galvanized. If the materialthickness is greater than 2.0 mm, then materialsurface must be galvanized if the car companybrand part is galvanized.

Are CAPA Cosmetic Parts crash-tested?Neither car company brand cosmetic service parts or CAPA Certifiedcosmetic parts undergo this type of testing. CAPA testing does ensure thatthe material and performance of the material matches the performance of thecar company service part material. In demonstration tests, CAPA Certifiedhoods performed comparably to the car company brand service hoods.CAPA Certified bumper parts are crash tested. For more information aboutbumper parts and crash testing see page 9.

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Testing

What about CAPA Certified lamps?Before a lamp can become CAPA Certified, inaddition to CAPA’s material, fit and appearancerequirements, each part number submitted to theprogram is fully tested for compliance to Federal Motor Vehicle SafetyStandard 108. Lamps not meeting the standard will not be certified. CAPAis the only certification program that requires independent verification thataftermarket lighting does, in fact, comply with FMVSS 108.

Are CAPA Parts fit on a vehicleprior to certification?Yes, parts submitted for CAPA Certification are fiton a vehicle and compared to both the originalcar company part and the car company servicepart. CAPA developed the process of testing thefit of aftermarket parts on vehicles and made it a

certification requirement in 1999. The Vehicle Test Fit (VTF) is a criticalfactor in insuring the proper fit of CAPA Certified parts.

What happens in a CAPAVehicle Test Fit (VTF)?The CAPA VTF, conducted in specially-equipped labs, is performed byASE-certified technicians. The appropriate vehicle is obtained andconfirmation is made to insure that it matches car company specificationsand that it has never been in an accident. After the vehicle is approved forVTF use, detailed gap and flush measurements are made on the carcompany part installed on the vehicle at the factory. Next a car companyservice part is mounted. Detailed gap and flush measurements arerepeated and the overall fit and appearance are assessed. Then theCAPA-candidate part is mounted and the process is repeated. In all cases,the CAPA-candidate part must properly fitthe vehicle and meet CAPA’s appearancerequirements. Even if the car company servicepart demonstrates fit or appearance defects,the CAPA-candidate part still has to pass theVTF in order to become certified.

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Testing

Testing

What about bumper parts?Originally, bumpers and their associated parts, e.g. energy absorbersand reinforcement bars, were designed to protect the vehicle, not theoccupant, in low-speed crash tests. As tests performed by the InsuranceInstitute for Highway Safety show, many bumpers and bumper systems do avery poor job of protecting the vehicle.

Are bumper parts crash tested?Yes. In order to become CAPA Certified, in addition to complying with ourrequirements for comparative material composition, mechanical properties,and construction techniques, bumper parts must perform comparably tothe car company brand part in a full-part stress test, which may be either alow-speed dynamic crash test or a quasi-static pole test.

CAPA requires full-part stess testing to insure comparative performanceto the car company brand version of the part. In developing the CAPA501 Bumper Parts Standard, CAPA discoveredthat many non-certified bumper parts weresimply not comparable to their car company brandcounterparts.You and your customers can beassured that bumper parts certified to the CAPA501 Standard are truly comparable alternatives tocar company brand bumper parts.

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Repair costs using car company brand parts after a low-speed crash

Front full crash Front corner crash Rear full crash Rear corner crash Total Damage

Kia Rio $3,701 $1,758 $3,148 $773 $9,380

ChevroletMalibu $2,092 $1,685 $3,494 $1,116 $8,387

Ford Fusion $2,529 $1,889 $2,610 $1,073 $8,101

Hyundai Accent $3,476 $839 $2,057 $831 $7,203

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Testing

Do bumper parts play a role in safety?Due to additional safety features built into today’s vehicles, bumpersystems may also have an impact on the operation of some of the safetyitems in a car. As a result of this potential, CAPA, in cooperation with theIIHS, conducted a series of demonstration tests to confirm that if a partmet requirements of the CAPA 501 Standard, it would perform in a mannercomparable to the car company brand part in both high- and low-speedcrash tests.

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A bumper part undergoes a dynamiccrash test to insure that it performscomparably to the car company brandpart in a 5 mph impact.

In order to insure that the CAPAstandard resulted in comparativeperformance, the IIHS conductedhigh-speed, off-set barrier tests onboth a car company brand part anda part meeting the critical elementsof the CAPA standard.

The result?

Nearly identical performance in thecriteria measured by IIHS to evaluatea vehicle’s crash safety.

Testing

How do CAPA Certified bumpers compare in damageability?Because the most important role that bumper parts are intended to playis protecting the vehicle in low-speed accidents, CAPA asked the IIHS toconduct full front vehicle low speed (5mph) tests using its standardbumper testing protocol. They found that a bumper part meeting the keyelements of the CAPA 501 Standard, performed nearly identically to thecar company brand part.

IIHS Low Speed (5 MPH) Crash Test

Damage and Repair Cost Results

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Car Company Brand Service Bumper AM Bumper MeetingKey CAPA Requirements

Damage and Repair Cost: $1,120Note: Total cost would be $1,053 with AM bumper.

Damage and Repair Cost: $1,120

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CAPA Parts in the Market

If a part is listed on an estimate as CAPA Certified, does that meanthe shop will get a CAPA Certified Part?No, it does not. Part distributors may choose todeliver a non-certified version of the same partassuming that the shop will not check for the CAPASeal. This is why it is important to insure that theshop confirms that they are actually using a CAPA-Certified part. Retaining the bottom half of the sealwith the repair paperwork is an easy way to do this.

Are all parts made by CAPA-approvedmanufacturers CAPA Certified?No, they are not. Just because a manufacturerhas been approved, does not mean that theparts they produce meet CAPA’s Standards.If fact, the majority of parts made by CAPAapproved manufacturers have not beensubmitted for CAPA Certification. Only partsthat have completed the certification process

may have CAPA Seals on them. It is important to look for the CAPA Seal asyour assurance of CAPA quality.

If the part has been certified by CAPA and the manufacturer makesnon-certified versions of the part, aren’t they just as good?There is no way to tell if a part meets a CAPA Standard unless the partis subject to CAPA testing and ongoing verification of compliance to ourstandards. And only these parts will have a CAPA Seal. Manufacturers arefree to make non-certified versions of the parts they also make as certified.This is why looking for the CAPA Seal is soimportant in terms of assuring the shop andpolicyholder that genuine CAPA Certifiedparts have been used in the repair.

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Part Complaints

Does CAPA have a complaint program?Yes, as part of its quality process, a complaint program is in place for thereporting of any quality issues or problems with CAPA parts. In fact, CAPAencourages complaints.

How is a complaint filed with CAPA?There are several ways in which a complaintcan be filed:� Phone: 800-505-CAPA (2272)

� Fax: 202-737-2214

� CAPAcertified.org

� Mail: CAPA1000 Vermont Avenue NW,Suite 1010Washington, DC 20005

For a copy of the CAPA Complaint form,go to CAPAcertified.org.

What happens when a complaint is filed?

� CAPA will contact the complainant within 24 hours and attempt topurchase the part for testing. (CAPA does not pay for labor or lost time.That is the responsibility of the seller of the part.)

� CAPA will send a made-to-order crate to the facility for part shippingat no cost to the complainant and arrange for pick-up.

� CAPA will test fit the part after it has been received at its testing facility.

� Problems confirmed during the test fit will beimmediately reviewed with the manufacturer forcorrective action.

� CAPA will notify the complainant of the test result.

QUALITY COMPLAINT REPORTFor CAPA Certified Parts ONLY-Parts Must Have Yellow CAPA Seal

Please complete all information and send to CAPA Quality Complaint Program:

Phone: (800) 505.CAPA (2272)

Fax: (202) 737.2214

Mail: Suite 306, 1518 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005

E-Mail: complaints@capacertified.org

Website: www.CAPAcertified.org Rev: 09/2009

FOR CAPA USE ONLY

Complaint # ___________

Date Received__________

Date:

Vehicle Make: Model: Year:

Part Information:

CAPA Seal Number: CAPA Part Number:

CAPA Manufacturer: Lot Number (stamped on part):

OEM Number:

Part Type:

Box Side R L Headlamp R L Side Moulding

Bracket Headlight Bezel Tailgate

Bumper Cover F R Hood Tail Lamp R L

Door Shell R L Lamp Cover Truck Bed

Fender R L Park / Signal Lamp R L Trunk Lid

Fog Lamp R L Quarter Panel R L Wheel House

Grille Radiator Support Other (Please Describe):

Header Panel Side Marker Lamp

Please PRINT your name & address: Please PRINT name & address of Distributor:

Your Name Company Name

Company Name Address

Address City, State, Zip

City, State, Zip Phone

Phone Fax

Fax Email Address

Email Address

May we release your name to the manufacturer? Yes No

Please check one:

Collision Repairer Insurance Adjustor

Distributor Other (please describe):

Please describe the type of problem observed:

Adhesive Too Little Too Much Latch Problems

Attachments Missing Did Not Work Length Too Short Too Long

Body Line / Contour – Poor Moisture / Humidity Inside Lens

Brackets / Holes Location Incorrect Size Orange Peel

Burrs Paint Adhesion Inconsistent / Missing

Color Scratches / Dents / Pits / Ripples

Contamination / Foreign Material Seal Missing

Flash – Sharp or Rough Edges Shipping Damage Evident

Flush Too High Too Low Studs – Inappropriate Location

Function of Lamp – Poor Surface – Wavy / Warped / Distorted

Gap Too Wide Too Narrow Welded Fastener – Inappropriate Location

Grind Marks / Tool Marks Welds Missing Weak

Installation Significantly Exceeded “Book Time” Width Too Wide Not Wide Enough

Location of Problem / Comments / Other:

Are photos available? Yes No

Is the part available for inspection, if necessary? Yes No

Was the part returned to the distributor? Yes No

Please email photos to complaints@capacertified.org.

Use CAPA Seal number for subject line.

What part was used for replacement? CAPA OEM Non-CAPA AM OEM Recycled N/A

Would you like a CAPA Representative to contact you? Yes No When would be most convenient?

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Once a part is certified by CAPA,is its quality continually monitored?Yes. Not only is the manufacturer requiredto conduct their own CAPA-requiredinspections, but CAPA also conducts regularinspections of checking fixtures, parts andfactories. Typically, CAPA will inspect someaspect of 70-80% of the lots produced. CAPA

also selects parts from the market for material testing and vehicle test fits.

What happens if a problem part is found?Problems found in the factory mean that the part will not appear in themarket with a CAPA Seal. If problems are found with parts or part lots inthe market, the part or part lot will be decertified and removed from theprogram. Information providers are notified of these changes on a weeklybasis to insure that these parts will not appear on estimates.

If a CAPA Part appears on an estimate or invoice, does thatguarantee that a CAPA Certified Part goes on the vehicle?No. It is important that claims personnel, when reviewing repair files andre-inspecting vehicles, look for the CAPA Seal on the part or the tear-off tabon the repair order. If there is any doubt about the authenticity of the part,then the seal number can be easily entered into the “Seal Search” page ofthe CAPA website to determine the manufacturer of the part as well as themake, model and year of the vehicle that the part was designed for.

Do policyholders like to use CAPA Parts?By taking the time to explain the benefits interms of high quality and lower costs, mostconsumers are very happy to acceptalternatives. In the grocery, drug store, anddepartment store, consumers appreciate savingmoney with ‘store’ brand items. By explainingthat reducing repair costs helps keep their premiums low, most consumersare happy to use alternative parts—as long as they meet the qualityStandards of the CAPA Certification program.

Monitoring Quality

Monitoring Quality

Do repair shops like to use CAPA parts?In the past repairers have complained aboutthe quality of aftermarket parts. Today, asmore repairers understand the importance ofkeeping vehicles from being totaled, they areseeing the need for fairly-priced alternatives.Nevertheless, poor quality parts slow themdown and make their jobs more difficult. As

such, leading repairers across the nation are very appreciative of the qualitybehind parts bearing the CAPA Certification Seal. By using CAPA parts,repairers know that parts have been tested in a variety of areas, many ofwhich are invisible to even the experienced eye.

What type of information can be found on the CAPAWebsite?The website contains CAPA press releases, reports and historical information, aswell as listings of CAPA’s members, Board of Directors, and Technical Committee.It also contains a listing of all CAPA-approved manufacturers and a searchablepart database of all parts in the CAPA Program.The database tracks all partsand their status (certified,decertified, etc.) by parttype (fender, hood, etc.),by make/model (e.g.Chevrolet Malibu), or byseal number.There is alsoa mechanism to contactCAPA officials as well as theability to file a complaint.

CAPAcertified.org

CAPA Website

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Want More Information?Go to CAPAcertified.org

Phone: 202-737-2212Fax: 202-737-2214

Certified Automotive Parts Association1000 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 1010

Washington, DC 20005