I-CAR’s Professional Development Program (PDP) is a continuing education program, keeping repair techs up-to-date on the latest techniques in the industry. Their courses are built around four core roles: estimator, non-structural technician, steel structural technician and refinish technician. They also offer training for three specialty roles: production management, aluminum structural technician and electrical/mechanical technician.
For a shop to reach I-CAR Gold Class certification, all employees directly involved in vehicle repair need to train through I-CAR, and every employee involved in their four core roles must achieve Platinum status. That means everyone working on your car from start to finish at a Gold Class shop has the most up-to-date training available. Just 10% of body shops meet this standard.
CynCast, the company behind I-CAR, may not be a household name yet, but their software connects almost every part of the auto repair industry from insurers to rental car companies. To better understand collision repair, CynCast developed an objective evaluation to judge shops based on factors like repair quality, repair time, estimate accuracy and customer satisfaction. In 2013, they analyzed over 18,000 shops and found that on average Gold Class-certified shops scored 51% better than non-certified shops.
Moreover, shops that earned Gold Class status during the study greatly improved their work: the time technicians need to make repairs decreased by one third, while total time in the repair shop decreased by 11%. The number of overlooked repair issues also decreased by 11%. This means the initial estimate matched up with the actual repairs more frequently. When insurance companies fill claims, they prefer to have the work done at Gold Class shops because they know they’re paying for quality work, and the estimate they receive will be right the first time.
When you have your car repaired at a certified shop like DeNooyer Chevrolet, you can rest assured it will be done right, and you’ll be without your vehicle for the shortest time possible. Our crew of trained technicians will get you back on the road with a smile on your face. Stop by and let us show you the Gold Class difference!
