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DAMAGE APPRAISAL
Accuracy, Thoroughness and Professionalism
As stipulated in the Automobile Insurance Act, the GAA ensures that
car damage appraisal is carried out according to best practices. The rigorous
standards applied to automobile damage appraisers working in GAA Approved
Appraisal Centres and GAA Accredited Firms, as well as to those working
directly for insurers or independent appraising firms leave no room for
improvisation or subjectivity.
The goal is to keep premiums reasonable, and to minimize compensation costs by
using precise and professional appraisal techniques.
Standards and Procedures
To oversee and regulate the professional appraisal of collision repair, the GAA
has set standards and procedures that all qualified appraisers must follow.
These standards and procedures are published in the Appraiser's Guide and the
Damage Appraisal Guide for Trucks and Heavy Equipment, two essential tools for
appraisers.
The GAA is offering, for free, both reference guides “on-line” in a PDF file
format from infozone, a web site dedicated to the benefit of insurers, appraisers and
repairers.
To ensure that car damage appraisal is carried out
according to best practices, the GAA has also developed a Code of ethics, that
all GAA-Qualified automobile damage appraisers must abide by.
Appraisal Centres and Firms
 In Quebec, the
Groupement des assureurs automobiles (GAA) oversees the activities of
18 Approved Appraisal Centres and
39 Accredited Firms. Together, they carried out no less than 78 117 damage
appraisals in 2005.
To access the lists of Approved Appraisal Centres or Accredited Firms, click on
the desired list:
Quality Control
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As part of its mandate regarding the regulation of collision
repair appraisal, the GAA also seeks to ensure policyholders' safety and
satisfaction. For this reason, it has implemented a quality control service.
Thus, on a timely basis and without prior notice, the GAA's quality controllers
verify the work done by automobile damage appraisers. Over the course of the
year, controllers check appraisal files before, during and after the repairs.
When a problem or deficiency is identified, corrective action is immediately
taken.
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Training and professional qualification of automobile
damage appraisers
In addition to offering basic training in appraising
techniques, the GAA produces technical newsletters, so as
to keep appraisers informed of the latest developments and technology, and of the latest repair methods.
The GAA also determines the minimum requirements to work as an appraiser. To
this day, the GAA has qualified approximately 500 automobile damage appraisers
working for appraising firms or insurance companies.
For information:
Mario Lépine, Supervisor, Automobile Appraisal Standards and Practices
Tel.: 514 288-1537, ext. 201, e-mail: estimation@gaa.qc.ca
Jacqueline Doucet, Assistant to the Director
Tel.: 514 288-1537, ext. 220, e-mail: estimation@gaa.qc.ca
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