The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) is a non-profit parts certification organization that is dedicated to improving parts quality and safety while also reducing fraud and waste in the auto repair industry.
In addition to improving the quality of parts available in the auto repair industry, CAPA also helps consumers identify counterfeit or unsafe products to have confidence in their vehicle repairs.
How do I know if a part is CAPA certified?
If you want to ensure that the part you buy is CAPA certified, there are a few ways to do this. First and foremost, if you see a CAPA certification mark on the packaging or box of a part, it means that it has been certified as compliant with CAPA standards.
- Check the estimate for CAPA Certified parts
(most estimates indicate the use of a CAPA Certified part by the use of a “C”). - When ordering parts, you need to specify that the parts be CAPA Certified. Indicate that parts without CAPA seals will be returned.
- Look for the unique CAPA Packaging and the CAPA Quality Seal on each part upon delivery.
- Reject parts without CAPA Quality Seals. Return them to the distributor immediately for full credit.
(They are NOT CAPA Certified no matter what the seller claims.)
Where to find the CAPA Quality Seal
The illustrations below represent the recommended location of the CAPA seal, manufacturer’s name, and lot number. Remember, only parts with a CAPA Quality Seal can be considered CAPA Certified. (It pays to heed the advice of collision professionals who warn, “If it’s not on the part, don’t even start.”)
Source: https://www.capacertified.org/TheCapaQualitySeal
Additionally, you can search for parts or by seal number on the CAPA website.
CAPA-certified auto body parts
Although CAPA certification can be found on many types of automotive parts, only body parts are required to carry the CAPA certification mark to be sold in any state in the United States.
In addition to being a requirement for sale within a state, having your product certified by CAPA means that it has met all applicable federal safety standards and regulations and provided an additional layer of protection for consumers who purchase these products.
The CAPA certification mark looks like this:
The CAPA certification mark looks like this:
The seal proves that a replacement part is CAPA certified to fit, perform, and last.
Parts Packaging
Participating manufacturers will also designate on the packaging that a CAPA part is inside, easily identified by the designation strip on the part of the packaging.
On the flip side, watch the video below for an example of a non-CAPA-certified aftermarket part.
Why do many insurance companies require CAPA-certified parts?
Many insurance companies require you use certified parts to repair collision damage. CAPA protects insurance companies and policyholders from inferior replacement parts. CAPA certifies parts for fitment, as well as the composition of all materials. In addition, CAPA checks weld integrity and delivers the high-quality of original parts for a fair price.
Insurers or adjusters can also ask the collision shop to attach the CAPA seal tab to the repair order as proof they provided their policyholders with high-quality CAPA-certified parts.
A part with a CAPA certification mark means it has passed rigorous tests that ensure it’s fit for resale.
CAPA certification is a good thing. It means the part has passed rigorous tests that ensure it’s fit for resale. It also means that the part isn’t counterfeit, which you want to avoid when buying parts online. And while it may not seem like much of a distinction at first glance, having your parts CAPA certified is an essential step toward ensuring you’re getting exactly what you came for: good quality products.
With the ever-increasing complexity of our cars, it’s important to know that every part is safe and reliable. The CAPA certification mark guarantees that your car will be as good as new when you get it back from the repair shop.