Here are some definitions of common terms used in collision repair estimates. These definitions will help you understand your estimate by making you familiar with these terms and their meanings.

Anticorrosive
Materials applied to metal to give corrosion resistance.

Assembly
A number of auto body parts that are either bolted or welded together forming a single unit.

Basecoat/Clearcoat
Type of paint coating

Betterment Factor
Term used in the insurance industry when a part such as a tire is replaced, and the insurance company pays for the unworn part and the customer pays for the amount that was worn.

Blending
Mixing together of two or more materials or the gradual shading of paint from one panel to the next to assure color consistency.

Blistering
Bubbling up of the paint film in the form of small blisters.

Buffing
Technique used to polish an area to remove sanding marks of surface imperfections.

Buffing Compound
Soft paste containing fine abrasive in a neutral medium, used to eliminate fine scratches and polish the top coat.

Camber
Inward or outward tilt of the wheel at the top. It is the tire wearing angle measured in degrees and is the amount the center line of the wheel is tilted from true vertical.

Caster
Backward or forward tilt of the king pin or spindle support arm at the top. It is the directional control angle measured in degrees and is the amount the center line of the spindle support arm is tilted from the true vertical.

Catalyst
Substance that causes or speeds up a chemical reaction when it is mixed with another substance and that does not change by itself.

Caulking Compound
Semi or slow-drying plastic material used to fill crevices or seal joints.

Centerplane or Centerline
Line in the center of vehicle from which all side measurements are taken.

Checking
Small, irregular cracks going partly or completely through a paint film.

Chemical Staining
Spotty staining or discoloration of the paint topcoat caused by atmospheric conditions (acid rain, tree sap, etc.).

Chipping
Condition of the finish flaking off or chipping away from the surface underneath.

Clear Coat
A clear, shiny coat of paint (e.g. urethane or acrylic enamel) applied over the base or color coat of paint on a vehicle.

Clip
A group of related vehicle parts purchased from a salvage yard as an assembly (usually the complete front or complete rear section of a vehicle). Also known as Salvage Clip.

Color Coat
The single stage or BASECOAT that provides the final color of a coating system.

Comprehensive Coverage
Term used to describe a type of insurance protection designed to cover loss from accidental damage caused by other than collision.

Contaminants
Any polish, wax, tree sap, tar, oil, and the like that would damage the paint film or spoil the adhesion of a new paint film.

Cooling System
System of parts and fluid used to cool the engine.

Corrective Pull
Application of force to remove collision damage.

Corrosion
Chemical reaction of oxygen and moisture, or corrosive materials on a metal surface. Usually referred to as rusting or oxidation.

Corrosion Resistant
Material that resists the effects of corrosion.

Coverage
Quality some colors have to cover other colors and the area a certain quantity of paint will cover.

Cowl
Front part of the vehicle passenger compartment.

Crush Zone
Part designed to bend or crush when involved in a collision.

Curing
Term used to explain the hardening process of paint or resins.

Dedicated Bench
Type of frame repair equipment using jigs to allign a unibody vehicle.

Dog Tracking
Condition in which a vehicle's wheels do not follow in direct line but at an angle.

Economy Part
Any new vehicle part of accessory that is purchased from a source other than the Original Equipment Manufacturer parts distribution network.

Emblem
Decorative piece of plastic or metal attached to the a vehicle.

Energy Absorber
Device used on bumpers to absorb energy from a collision.

Estimate
The written determination made by an appraiser or estimator, upon inspection of a damaged vehicle, regarding the cost required to restore the vehicle to the condition it was in prior to the Loss.

Estimate Document
Form on which the cost of accomplishing repairs is written; often used as the basis for repairs.

Estimated Time
Amount of time given to repair or remove and replace an item or part.

Estimating Manual
Manual that has the information on the replacement of parts and their standardized lab or times on a vehicle.

Estimator
An appraiser or insurance company representative who inspects a damaged vehicle and determines the cost required to restore the vehicle to the condition prior to the Loss.

Evaporator
Part on a vehicle with an air-conditioning system which causes the refrigerant liquid under pressure to change to gas.

Exhaust System
System of many parts used on motor vehicles to move the gases from the engine to the rear of the vehicle into the atmosphere.

Face Bar
Large chrome-plated extrusions that provide protection for both front and rear of an automobile and which are generally held in position by means of brackets bolted to the side rails of the frame.

Featheredging
Sanding down a surface to a very fine edge; that is when one coat of material is made gradually thinner around the edge until it finally disappears.

Feathering
Action of moving a spray gun trigger lightly at each end of a stroke.

Flat Rate
Piecework method of paying for repair operations.

Frame Alignment
Procedure by which the frame of a car, truck or bus that has been damaged in an accident, or from wear, is restored to the manufacturer's specifications.

Frame Rack
Equipment used to repair damaged frame and unibody members.

Front-End Sheet Metal
All parts from the cowl assembly forward are considered front end sheet metal. This includes the grille, the hood, and right and left fender and the front bumper assembly.

Fusible Link
Wire designed to open a circuit by melting, when too much current flows through it.

Garnish Moldings
Moldings that fit around the inside of door, windshield and rear window openings, generally held in position by countersunk metal screws.

Grille
Open-work structure made out of plastic, die cast, aluminum or stamped out of sheet which covers the air intake opening

Hardness
Quality of the paint film that gives it resistance to surface damage.

Hatchback
Part used on a vehicle to close the rear section.

Header Bar
Framework or inner construction that joins the upper sections of the windshield, pillars, forms the upper portion of the windshield opening and reinforces the turret top panel.

Headlight
Light used to light the road ahead of a vehicle.

Hinge Pillar
Framework or inner construction to which the door hinges fasten.

Hood Panel
Large metal panel that generally fills in the space between the two fenders and covers over the engine compartment.

Indirect Damage
Any damage that occurs as a result of direct damage.

Inner Skirt
Part used in the front section of a vehicle between the upper and lower rails.

Jig
Mechanical device for holding work in its exact position while it is being welded.

Load Voltage Test
Test given to a battery to find its condition.

Lower Inner and Outer Rails
Parts used in the front structure of the vehicle to give the assembly the required strength to hold the other parts.

Mash
Type of frame damage in which a portion of the side rail is bent down causing buckles to be formed on the underside.

Masking
Application of paper or other material and masking tape to cover an object that must be protected from overspray.

Matching
In painting, to make colors look the same.

Metal Finishing
Operation in which hidden surface irregularities are detected and removed by means of filing and picking the straightened metal unil all low spots have been eliminated and a perfectly smooth and level surface is obtained.

Metallic
General term applied to finishes containing aluminum particles.

Moldings
Metal or plastic parts used to beautify a vehicle or to protect the panels from damage.

Nameplates
Ornaments with the vehicle's name that is used to identify the make of the vehicle.

O.E.M.
Original equipment manufacturer. Usually refers to replacement parts for a vehicle that were made by the same manufacturer as the car, rather than replacement parts made by a different manufacturer.

Open Time
Term used in repairs when the time cannot be estimated and the employee uses a clock to calculate the amount of time required to accomplish the repair.

Orange Peel
Uneven, pebbly surface somewhat resembling the skin of an orange; appears in a paint film that has been applied by spray.

Original Finish
Paint the car manufacturer applies at the factory.

Overall Repainting
Refinish repair job in which the whole vehicle is completely repainted.

Overlap
Amount of the spray pattern that covers the previous spray swath.

Overspray
This term is used if in applying a finish by spray the atomized paint is not absorbed in the film, leaving a rough, dryfinish.

Oxidation
The act or process of combining with oxygen.

Partial Repair Procedure
Procedure used in painting when only a part of the panel is painted.

Peeling
Loss of bond or adhesion of paint film from the surface to which it is applied.

Power Train
Motor, transmission, and drive assembly, on front-wheel drive vehicles especially.

Primer
Undercoat applied to improve the adhesion of the color coat.

Primer Coat
Used in a paint system to improve adhesion; requires sanding.

Primer-Sealer
Undercoat that improves the adhesion of the topcoat and seals the old painted surfaces.

Public Liability
Type of insurance that covers damage which can occur to other people.

Quarter Panel
Side panel which is generally a quarter of the total length of the vehicle and extends from the rear door to the end of the car.

Quartz Halogen
Headlight system noted for the extra amount of light it gives a driver if the vehicle is so equipped at night.

Radiator
Part of the vehicle through which the coolant flows to be cooled.

Recycled Parts
Parts of a vehicle that have been used and are bought from a recycler.

Refinish
Term used to designate that a part or a vehicle is to be repainted.

Rocker Panels
Assemblies of box type construction located directly below the doors, that are not only spot welded to the cowl assembly in front and to the rear quarter panel assembly at the rear but also to the side of the under body section.

Roof Rail
Reinforcements welded to the pillars and to which the roof panel is welded.

Rubbing and Polishing Compound
Special type of abrasive used to smooth out and polish a paint film.

Sealer
Paint product used to prevent bleed through of the previous coat or the sinking in of the new paint, resulting in loss of gloss.

Sectioning
Process of joining two different sections of a part or vehicle by welding to make one part.

Shroud
Sheet-metal or plastic part used on cars to direct the flow of cooling air.

Spot Repair
Small refinish repair job in which a small section of a panel is refinished.

Spray Booth
Enclosure used to paint a vehicle that has air moving through it.

Spray Gun
Device that mixes paint and compressed air to atomize and control the spray pattern as the paint leaves the fluid needle and cap.

Structural Adhesive
Adhesive used to repair the structure of a plastic part such as a bumper cover.

Sub-Assembly
An assembly within a multi-level assembly that is available individually from the vehicle manufacturer.

Sublet
To let work that one has contracted to do to a subordinate contractor.

Sublet Repairs
Repairs to be performed for a negotiated or contract price, or by a subcontractor. All applicable materials, labor, markup, and taxes should be included when a Sublet Repair is indicated.

Sun Roof Panel
Panel in the roof panel of a vehicle which can be raised up slightly or slid back in the opening to let the sun rays enter the vehicle.

Supplement
A Supplement is created if a change or addition must be made to an estimate where a final print has been produced.

Tie Rods
Rodlike component of the steering linkage composed of strong steel tubing that links a steering arm to the center link.

Tint
Mixture of two or more pigments.

Tinting Color
Finishing lacquer or enamel in which only one pigment or color is normally used.

Toe-In
Distance the front of the front wheels is closer together than the rear of the front wheels.

Topcoat
Last of final color coat.

Tracking
When the rear wheels of a vehicle follow the front wheels evenly on each side.

Transaxle
Drive system used mainly on front wheel drive vehicles.

Trunkid
Panel used to close the open area between the quarter-panels.

Turning Radius
Tire wearing angle measured in degrees. The amount one front wheel turns more sharply than the other on turns.

Two-Tone
Two different colors used on a single paint job.

Undercoat
Material used to protect the underbody sections of a vehicle.

Unitized Body Construction
Construction in which the frame and body are made out of a large number of sheetmetal

Used Clip
Section of a vehicle purchased from a recycler and welded or bolted to a vehicle.

Vandalized
Intentional damage to a vehicle.

Wet Sanding
Procedure of sanding paint film with sandpaper and water.

Wheel Alignment
Procedure of aligning wheels to the manufacturer's specifications.

Wheel Balancing
Proper distribution of weight around a tire and wheel assembly to counteract centrifugal forces acting upon the heavy areas in order to maintain a true running wheel perpendicular to its rotating axis.

Wheelhouses
Deep curved panels that form the compartments in which the wheels rotate. They are generally bolted to the front fenders and spot welded to the rear quarter panels.

Windshield
Glass installed on the front of a vehicle to protect the occupants from the elements.