ASE B6 Damage Analysis & Estimating cheat sheet

Estimating is a written prediction of repair cost; the final invoice is the actual charge, and the two differ whenever hidden damage is found.

Three estimate types: preliminary (visual only), insurance/DRP (per carrier guidelines and labor rates), and customer-pay (may include optional or betterment items).

Labor time is the manufacturer's or guide's published allowance for a defined operation, expressed in hours; it is not the technician's actual clock time.

Overlap (double-up) is deducted when two operations share the same disassembly, access, or refinish area; the deduction is taken once, not twice.

A damage report documents what is broken; an estimate documents the cost to restore; a repair order authorizes the work and captures the customer's signature.

Best practice sequence: identify vehicle, inspect and document damage, determine repair vs. replace, price parts and materials, apply labor and refinish, add tax and fees.

A supplement is a documented addition to an approved estimate for damage not visible or not known at the original write-up.

The 17-character VIN excludes the letters I, O, and Q; position 9 is a check digit and position 10 is the model year code.

Model year codes cycle: 2001-2009 use digits 1-9, 2010-2030 use letters A-Y (skipping I, O, Q), so 'L' is 2020 and 'P' is 2023.

The VIN plate is visible through the windshield at the driver-side dash; door jamb and firewall labels carry paint code and trim information.

Paint code and two-tone or lower-body color codes must be recorded because refinish material pricing depends on them.

Odometer reading, license plate, production date, and engine or trim designation belong on every damage report.

Photograph documentation should include overall views from four corners, close-ups of each damaged panel, and the VIN and odometer.

Documentation must distinguish pre-existing damage (rust, prior repair, wear) from loss-related damage to avoid paying for unrelated conditions.

Damage classifications: direct (contact point), indirect (transferred through the panel), and inertia (from occupant or component movement).

A dent with stretched metal or a sharp crease usually requires replacement or panel beating rather than paintless dent repair.

Panel gap and flush measurements compare body lines to adjacent panels and reveal misalignment from underlying structural movement.

Refinish operations are priced by panel area, not by dent count: a panel is typically base coat, clear coat, and blend within adjacent panels.

Corrosion protection must be restored on any panel that is welded, replaced, or has fasteners disturbed (cavity wax, seam sealer, zinc-rich primer).

Plastic bumper covers are repaired when the damage is a tear or scuff in a repairable zone; replacement is chosen for cracks through mounting tabs or sensor areas.

Glass, trim, and emblem removal and installation are separate line items when required to refinish or replace an adjacent panel.

Unibody and full-frame vehicles differ: unibody uses the body shell as the load path, while body-on-frame uses a separate ladder frame.

Structural damage is measured against the manufacturer's control-point dimensions; published tolerance is commonly ±3 mm.

Sway, diamond, mash, and sag are frame conditions; a diamond is a lateral offset of one side of the frame relative to the other.

Crush zones and sectioning locations are specified by the manufacturer; sectioning outside an approved location is not an acceptable repair.

A vehicle with structural damage must be measured on a frame machine or bench system before and after pulling to verify restoration.

Welded structural joints require squeeze-type resistance spot welding or manufacturer-approved methods; MIG or rivet substitution must follow OEM procedures.

Airbag deployment, seat belt pretensioner firing, and impact sensor replacement are structural-adjacent items that must be added to the estimate.

Pre-scan and post-scan with a scan tool are separate labor operations; pre-scan captures stored codes before repair and post-scan verifies calibration.

ADAS features (forward collision, lane keep, blind spot) require static or dynamic recalibration after windshield replacement, bumper work, or alignment.

SRS components are one-time-use: deployed airbags, pretensioners, and impact sensors must be replaced, not reset.

Cooling system, condenser, radiator, and AC lines are commonly damaged in frontal impacts; refrigerant recovery and recharge are separate operations.

Interior damage from occupant loading, airbag deployment, or water intrusion includes seat frames, trim panels, headliners, and dash pads.

Battery electric and hybrid vehicles require high-voltage system disable procedures before any body or structural work near HV components.

Fluid checks, wheel alignment, and suspension inspection are recommended line items whenever structural pulling or suspension contact occurred.

Repair is chosen when the panel can be restored to pre-loss condition within the labor allowance and safety is not compromised.

Replace is chosen when the panel is creased through a body line, has torn metal, is a structural member, or repair labor exceeds replacement labor.

Include all required operations when replacing a panel: removal, installation, refinish, corrosion protection, and adjacent blend.

A used or salvage part may be an option only when it meets OEM quality and safety standards and the customer agrees.

Sectioning labor is priced as a separate operation from full panel replacement and only at manufacturer-approved locations.

The estimate must include the cost of any parts that are one-time-use fasteners, clips, or adhesives specified by the OEM procedure.

A repair that cannot restore the vehicle to pre-loss condition or meet manufacturer requirements must be documented as a replacement.

Parts categories: OEM new, OEM remanufactured, aftermarket (CAPA certified), salvage/used, and reconditioned; price and warranty differ by category.

Labor rate types: body, refinish, frame, mechanical, and aluminum; each may carry a different hourly rate in the estimate.

Refinish material is priced by a formula: paint and materials per refinish hour, plus a multiplier for color, panel size, or three-stage finishes.

Tax is applied to parts and materials and, in some jurisdictions, to labor; taxability must be set per the local rules.

Betterment and prior damage deductions reduce the customer's or insurer's obligation for wear or pre-existing conditions.

A deductible and any customer-pay portion are shown separately from the insurance-paid total on the estimate.

Estimating systems apply labor guides and parts databases; manual overrides must be documented with a reason.

A supplement is filed when teardown or repair reveals damage not on the original estimate; it must be approved before the additional work is performed.

Total loss threshold is a state rule; common formulas are a percentage of actual cash value (ACV) or a salvage-value-based formula.

Actual cash value is the pre-loss market value of the vehicle, not the purchase price or the outstanding loan balance.

A constructive total loss occurs when repair cost plus salvage value exceeds the ACV even if repair cost alone is below the threshold.

Diminished value is the loss in market value after a properly repaired vehicle; it is separate from the repair cost.

Customer communication must explain the repair plan, the difference between estimate and final invoice, and any betterment or prior damage.

A signed authorization and documented repair order are required before work begins; changes require a revised authorization.

Every estimate line should trace to a documented damage finding, part number, and labor operation.

Estimates must list the estimator's name, date, vehicle information, and the labor rates used.

The estimate is a contract-like document; changes require a supplement or revised estimate signed by the customer.

Photos and measurements should be retained with the estimate to support the repair decision.

A final quality check compares the completed repair to the estimate and documents any variance.

Estimating accuracy depends on correct labor guides, current parts pricing, and accurate damage identification.

A repair order should state the scope of work, the customer authorization, and the payment responsibility.

Every estimate line should trace to a documented damage finding, part number, and labor operation.

Estimates must list the estimator's name, date, vehicle information, and the labor rates used.

The estimate is a contract-like document; changes require a supplement or revised estimate signed by the customer.

Photos and measurements should be retained with the estimate to support the repair decision.

A final quality check compares the completed repair to the estimate and documents any variance.

Estimating accuracy depends on correct labor guides, current parts pricing, and accurate damage identification.

A repair order should state the scope of work, the customer authorization, and the payment responsibility.