PA Motor Vehicle Damage Appraiser's License-Exam Questions and Answers

Applicant Age - ANSWER-18 years or older How long do you have to wait to be eligible to retake an examination if you fail? - ANSWER-30 days The Commissioner will prescribe the form of the appraiser's license and it will contain: - ANSWER-Name of the appraiser Address of the appraiser's place of business Date of issuance and expiration date of license Any other information which the commissioner determines is necessary Experience and Fitness requirements for Licensing - ANSWER--A minimum of six months' continuous experience within the previous three years at an occupation, such as body repair, that directly involves the estimation of physical damage to motor vehicles. -Successful completion of education or training related to appraising motor vehicle physical damage taken within the previous three years. An application for a license may be denied for any of the following - ANSWER--The applicant has provided incorrect, misleading or incomplete answers to interrogatories on forms incidental to applying for a license. -The applicant has been denied a license or has had an existing license revoked, suspended or not renewed by the Department or a regulatory authority in another state, territory, or possession of the United States, or in the District of Columbia, or the Canadian Provinces. -The applicant does not possess the professional competence and trustworthiness required to engage in conducting motor vehicle appraisals. -An applicant has been found guilty of a felony or of criminal conduct which relates to the applicant's suitability to conduct motor vehicle appraisals. An applicant has been found guilty of a felony or of criminal conduct which relates to the applicant's suitability to conduct motor vehicle appraisals. - ANSWER-ex: unlawful practices, embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, conspiracy to defraud, bribery, or corrupt influence, perjury or false swearing, unlicensed activity or criminal offence involving moral turpitude or harm to another. -Examples of violations or incidents which the Department will not consider related to the applicant's suitability to engage in the business of an appraiser are all summary offenses, records of arrests if there is no conviction of a crime based on the arrest, convictions which have been annulled or expunged or convictions for which the applicant has received a pardon from the Governor. The Commissioner may deny initial issuance of, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew any appraiser's license for any cause specified in any other provision of this act, or for any of the following causes: - ANSWER-1. For any cause for which issuance of the license could have been refused had it been existent and been known to the Commissioner. 2. If the licensee willfully violates or fails to comply with or knowingly participates in the violation of or failure to comply with any provision of this act or any rule or regulation promulgated there under. 3. If the licensee has obtained or attempted to obtain any such license through willful misrepresentation or fraud, or has failed to pass any examination required under this act. 4. If the licensee has, with intent, to deceive, materially misrepresented the terms or effect of any insurance contact; or has engaged or is about to engage in any fraudulent transaction. 5. If the licensee has been convicted, by final judgement, of a felony. 6. If in the conduct of his affairs under the license, the licensee has shown himself to be, and is so deemed by the Commissioner, incompetent, or untrustworthy, or a source of injury and loss to the public. How often should you carry your appraisal license? - ANSWER-Each appraiser, while engage in appraisal duties, must carry the license issued to him by the Insurance Department and display it, upon request, to an owner whose vehicle is being inspected, to the repair shop representative involved, or to any authorized representative of the insurance department. What should an appraiser leave with the shop? - ANSWER--The appraiser must leave a legible copy of his appraisal with that f the repair shop selected by the consumer to make the repairs and also furnish a copy to the owner of the vehicle. What if there is prior damage to the vehicle? - ANSWER-Should be clearly indicated on the appraisal. What should be on the appraisal? - ANSWER-Itemized listing of all damages, specifying those parts to be replaced or repaired. **Because an appraiser is charged with a high degree of regard for the public safety, the operational safety of the vehicle must be paramount in considering the specification of the new parts.** How is an appraisal written properly? - ANSWER-No appraiser may secure or use repair estimates that have been obtained by the use of photographs, telephone calls, or in any manner other than a personal inspection. Steering - ANSWER-No appraiser or his employer may require that repairs be made in a specified repair shop. What if the repairs are in question? - ANSWER-Every appraiser must promptly reinspect damaged vehicles prior to the repairs in question when supplementary allowances are requested by repair shops and the amount or extent of damage is in dispute. How long does an appraiser have to inspect a vehicle? - ANSWER-six working days of the assignment to the appraiser unless intervening circumstances render such inspection possible. ex. catastrophe, death, failure of the parties to cooperate. No appraiser may: - ANSWER--Receive directly or indirectly any gratuity or another consideration in connection with his appraisal services from any person except his employer or, if self-employed, his customer. -Traffic in automobile salvage if such salvage is obtained in any way as a result of appraisal services rendered by him for his own benefit. Expiration - ANSWER--An appraiser's license will expire annually at midnight on June 30th next following the date of issuance. -any license may be renewed for another annual period commencing the first day of July by filing with the commissioner on or before the expiration date accompanied with payment of the renewal fee. If the renewal of a license is denied, how long is a licensee allowed to continue to practice after being notified? - ANSWER-five days after the Commissioner was refused to renew the license and has mailed notice of such refusal to licensee. What is the maximum amount of time that a license can be suspended for? - ANSWER-12 months Any person who violates any of the provisions of this act is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, for each offence, will be sentenced to pay fine not exceeding __ or _______. - ANSWER-$500 or undergo imprisonment not exceeding one year or both. The appraisal must: - ANSWER--be signed by the appraiser before the appraisal is submitted to the insurer, the consumer, or another uninvolved party. (may utilize the electronic signature) -Not use abbreviations or symbols to describe work to be done or parts to be repaired or replaced unless an explanation of the abbreviations and symbols are included. -The dollar amount -A statement informing the consumer that information regarding repair facilities which will be able to repair the vehicle for the appraised amount is available from the insurer. If the consumer recieves information from the insurer, the information must include discolosure that there is no requirement to use any specified repair shop. If salvage value is listed, the appraiser must disclose to the consumer in writing: - ANSWER--the name and address of each salvage bidder -the amount -the expiration date of each salvage bid known Guide Source Method - ANSWER-The appraiser must calculate the average of two figures reflecting the retail book value of a vehicle of like kind and condition, as provided by guide sources approved by the Commissioner. Actual Cost Method - ANSWER-The appraiser must determine the actual cost of purchase of an available motor vehicle of like kind and quality in condition similar to or better than the motor vehicle being appraised in its pre-damaged condition. Dealer quotation method - ANSWER-The appraiser will consult with dealers or other persons knowledgeable in the field to secure quotations as to the value of the motor vehicle being appraised. How many guide sources must the motor vehicle be listed in? - ANSWER-Two- approved by the Commissioner What methods can a replacement cost be calculated by? - ANSWER--Guide Source Method -Actual Cost Method Hood and Hood Latch Inspection - ANSWER--The entire motor compartment of a vehicle must be covered by a hood. -Hood must be equipped with a double latch system to hold it in it's closed position if the hood was originally so equipped -Hood latches that are repaired must be done so in accordance with state law (federal and state laws require working latches- otherwise the vehicle will not pass inspection.) Reasons to reject an Under the Hood Inspection - ANSWER-- the latch does not hold securely in the full-closed position -the latch release mechanism or its parts are broken, missing, or so poorly adjusted that the hood cannot be closed properly. -The double latch mechanism is not operating as originally equipped. -If motor mounts are broken, cracked, or missing. How to replace a headlamp cover - ANSWER-