Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - March 7, 2026 - Hour 1 - Diminished Value After an Accident & The Northeast Automotive Trade Show
Ron Ananian The Car Doctor
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - March 7, 2026 - Hour 1 - Diminished Value After an Accident & The Northeast Automotive Trade Show
Annotations will appear as you listen
0:00
34:59
Term
diminished value
Diminished value means a car is worth less money after it has been in an accident and fixed, even if it looks like new again.
Term
price of entry point
Price of entry point means the lowest price you usually have to pay to buy a certain type of car.
Car
Chrysler V6
Chrysler V6 means a six-cylinder engine made by Chrysler, which some cars have and can have certain problems.
Part
oil filter adapter housing
The oil filter adapter housing is a part that holds the oil filter on the engine and helps oil flow; if it leaks, it can cause problems.
Part
ignition coils
Ignition coils are parts that help make the spark needed to start the car's engine.
Term
Carfax
Carfax is like a report card for used cars that shows if the car has been in accidents or had problems before.
Term
fender
The fender is the curved part around the car's wheel that helps keep dirt and rocks from hitting the car.
Concept
Lease turn-in
When you lease a car, at the end you have to give it back. The company checks if the car is in good shape, and if not, you might have to pay extra.
Term
OEM parts
OEM parts are the original parts made by the car company, so they fit better and work like the parts the car came with.
Term
lane keep assist systems
Lane keep assist helps your car stay in its lane by gently steering or warning you if you start to drift off the road line.
Term
advanced cruise control
Advanced cruise control helps your car keep a safe distance from the car in front by slowing down or speeding up automatically, so you don't have to do it yourself.
Term
radar calibration
Radar calibration means fixing the sensors on your car that help it detect other cars and obstacles, so safety features work properly after repairs.
Term
wheel alignment
Wheel alignment means adjusting your car's wheels so they point the right way, helping your car drive straight and your tires last longer.
Term
VIN
A VIN is like a car's fingerprint, a special number that helps people know everything about the car's past. It helps buyers and sellers see if the car has been in accidents or had problems.
Term
accident report
An accident report is a paper that tells what happened when a car got hurt in a crash, so people know how bad the damage was.
Term
insurance event
An insurance event is when something happens to a car, like damage, and the insurance company gets involved to help fix it or pay for it.
Concept
vehicle depreciation
Depreciation means a car becomes worth less money as it gets older or if it has been damaged, even if fixed.
Concept
vehicle history tools
These are websites or reports that tell you what happened to a car before, like if it was in a crash or fixed, but sometimes they don't show the whole story.
Concept
module programming
Cars have computers called modules that control different parts. Module programming means updating or setting up these computers so the car works right.
Company
iCar
iCar is a company that helps people and shops figure out how much it costs to fix cars using computers and software.
Concept
right to appraisal
If your car gets damaged, right to appraisal means you can have someone check how much it will cost to fix it, so you get a fair price.
Concept
estimate approvals
Before fixing a car, someone has to agree on how much it will cost. This agreement is called estimate approval.
Concept
estimator
An estimator is someone who looks at your car after a crash and figures out how much it will cost to fix it.
Concept
surround view camera system
A surround view camera system is a set of cameras on your car that lets you see all around it on a screen, making parking and driving easier.
Car
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a small, reliable car that many people drive. It's often talked about when discussing how much it costs to fix cars and how much they're worth.
Car
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is a fancy sports car that many people want. If it gets damaged, it can lose a lot of its value because it's an expensive car.
Term
paintless dent repair
Paintless dent repair is a way to fix small dents on your car without having to repaint it. This means the dent goes away and the paint stays the same, which can save money and time.
Concept
mechanical repair
Mechanical repair means fixing the parts of a car that make it run, like the engine and brakes.
LIVE
This is an iHeart podcast, guaranteed human.
No one knows what the future holds, but you deserve a weather app that can help.
Weatherbug is easy to use and provides forecasts for your every need,
from storm warnings to pollen levels right at your fingertips.
Get the fastest local alerts and comprehensive 10-day forecasts wherever you are.
It's hyper-local real-time customizable alerts.
Make sure the weather never takes you by surprise so you can plan every day with confidence.
Download the free Weatherbug app from the App Store today
and start getting accurate weather forecasts 24-7.
Studies show that 100% of everybody in the world wants to curl up indoors and do nothing
because it's so darn cold out there.
That's why many people are turning to bombas,
whose pillowy-plush slippers and warm merino wool socks have been said to be
the most comfortable in the history of feed.
Bomba's products have been found to boost coziness by up to 1 million percent.
Okay, enough fake statistics.
But could bomba socks and slippers really be the cure?
Time for a sofa upgrade.
Introducing AnaVay Sofas, where designer style meets budget-friendly prices.
AnaVay brings you the ultimate in furniture innovation,
with a modular design that allows you to rearrange your space effortlessly.
Perfect for both small and large spaces,
AnaVay is the only machine-washable sofa inside and out.
Say goodbye to stains and messes with liquid and stain-resistant fabrics that make cleaning easy.
Liquid simply slide right off.
Designed for custom comfort, our high-resilience foam lets you choose between a sink and feel
or a supportive memory foam blend.
Plus, our pet-friendly stain-resistant fabrics ensure your sofa stays beautiful for years.
Don't compromise quality for price.
Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your living space today.
Sofas start at just $699, with no risk returns and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Get up to 60% off, less free shipping and free returns.
Shop now at washablesofas.com.
Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.
You're listening to Ron Ananey and the Car Doctor,
nationally recognized auto expert trusted by mechanics, weekend renters, and vehicle owners alike.
Ron brings over 40 years of hands-on experience and deep industry insight
to help you understand your vehicle.
Join the conversation live every Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. eastern by calling 855-560-9900.
That's 855-560-9900.
You're a direct line to honest answers and practical advice.
Looking for more?
Visit cardoctorshow.com for past episodes, repair tips, and Ron's latest insights.
And be sure to subscribe to the Car Doctor YouTube channel for exclusive videos,
real repair footage, and more.
Now, start your engines.
The Car Doctor is in the garage and ready to take your call.
It is an interesting term, and welcome listeners, that diminished value.
And I've learned the technical term because of our next guest,
and he's a return guest.
We're always happy to talk to Ken Miller of 821 Collision, North Held in New Jersey.
And this originally started as a conversation regarding the Northeast trade show,
which is coming up March 20th, a couple of weeks away.
And we started talking about diminished value.
I'll tell you what, let me get Ken in here.
Ken, welcome aboard, sir.
It's good to have you back.
Hey, Ron.
Thanks for having me back.
You know, we started our conversation off air.
I was telling Ken the story about something I've noticed in the last couple of years,
in that it seems that the price of entry point of a car, Ken, is 50 grand today, right?
There's just no, and it used to be 30 grand.
It used to be 20 grand, a few short five years ago.
It just seems like the price of a reasonably sized, well-equipped luxury,
not even let's say luxury, but family sedan type of thing, family SUV I'm dating myself,
you know, was in that 45 to 50 grand number.
Now it's, all of a sudden, it's there.
It's like it's 50 Gs.
And what I mentioned to Ken was, you know, it's not hard to spend money on a car mechanically,
right?
You know, we've had a run in the shop lately of the infamous Chrysler oil filter adapter housing leak.
That oil filter adapter housing leak on the V6 Chrysler becomes the housing, the switches,
you know, it's typically, it's in that 80 to 90,000 mile range.
So you're doing spark plugs, you're going to do at least three ignition coils,
likely all six ignition coils, because gaining access to them after the fact,
you have to take apart half of what you took apart to do the oil filter adapter housing.
Anyway, long story short, all of a sudden, you've got a $2,500, $3,000 repair.
And people are, well, maybe I'll just go buy a new car.
And then you start looking at that number, that 45 to $50,000 number of a new vehicle.
And all of a sudden, you wonder,
but what really triggered me, and I think that's the word to use, what really triggered me in
all this was I started looking at the value of cars and how things affected.
And we had a customer recently that was involved in a minor collision.
It was about two grand worth of damage to their one year old $45,000 car.
And she came to me and said, do I go through insurance or do I pay for it out of pocket?
And I started to consider the fact that that's diminished value conversation, right, Ken?
Yeah, yeah, that's definitely can go there.
And it really depends, putting it through your insurance or not.
And oftentimes it's thought of, well, if I don't put it on my insurance,
then it won't hit the car fax, right? And then I won't have that diminution of value of my vehicle.
But that's no longer the case because they get information from different sources.
And oftentimes that is still going to hit either from police reports or from estimating systems.
That's still going to hit the vehicle car fax and you still have that diminution of value.
Well, this person, they did some, they actually hit the side of the garage pulling in.
And it was fender damage, like they scraped the left front fender and banged it up.
And they had an estimate of about two grand to fix.
And I sat there and I thought about, and I was trying to explain to them,
because I don't know the exact number, but if it was a $45,000 car,
had $2,000 worth of body damage, it's less than two years old.
That goes on the car fax. Then when they go to turn that in, as I believe this was a lease,
you know, that hurts them on that end. The consumer is caught in the middle, right?
All of a sudden that car is now worthless and it may affect that lease turn in.
And, you know, they're just getting hit from both sides.
Or do they pay for that out of pocket? But as you say, paying for it out of pocket,
doesn't necessarily keep it out of the clutches of car fax or the other reporting agencies.
Yeah. That's a tough one. So in the instance of a lease vehicle,
they wouldn't receive the demutation of value. Really, it's not their vehicle.
The financial would have that loss in value. Where they own the vehicle,
or they finance the vehicle, that's a different story. They do have that. That is their loss of
value. It's such a broad topic. We can go, but there's so many different ways that that conversation
can go. So if they've leased the vehicle, I wonder how that affects them. If they've leased the vehicle
and, you know, they go to turn it in that the less see is expecting you to get back this
2026 XYZ automobile in good mechanical, good body, no accident condition. And if it's worth X,
now it's worth X minus whatever they decide to depreciate the value of the vehicle as a result
of the accident. Does the person that leased the vehicle have to pay that difference?
Potentially. And that is something that anybody that leases the vehicle should know. I know my
wife, we just got her a new Lincoln over the summertime and right in the contract with Lincoln
says that any repairs must be performed by whatever facility. I don't know if they said
an actual certified facility, but utilizing all OEM parts, the original equipment manufacturer
parts. Now that is something that is not always typical in body repair anymore. They'll get the
least expensive parts they can. And that could create a issue at turn in for the less see.
So, so wait a minute. So if your wife, heaven forbid, gets into an accident with her new Lincoln
and you take it to the designated Lincoln repair facility and they use OE parts, you know,
manufacturer, fenders, doors, whatever, is that going to diminish the value of that vehicle?
Or when she turns it in, they'll accept that as a just as good a vehicle as if it wasn't hit.
They should accept it as, as providing the repairs were done properly, right? There's so
much to do in repairs properly nowadays because it's not only body work is no longer just the
outside appearance of the vehicle. Now it's the safety systems. You guys are starting to see it
now also with advanced cruise control, lane keep assist systems, all of the other stuff. So that
simple fender job might not be a simple fender job anymore because you've taken off the front bumper,
that disturbs the mounting of the radar. You have to do a calibration of the radar.
You potentially may have to do a wheel alignment before you do the calibration of the radar. It
just goes on and on and on. So simple repairs are no longer simple. So, and that kind of brings me
to the point of what we were going to really talk about today. The Northeast trade shows coming up
and, you know, I mean, a little bit of history, right? The Northeast trade show has been around,
gosh, I think since the early 80s, right, in one form or another. I remember as a gentleman,
George Threffel, long gone, who started this as a tabletop show. I want to say at the metal lands
back in the early 80s. And it's now grown into what it's become. It's the largest regional
trade show regarding auto body and mechanical in the country. It's the largest regional show there
is. And, you know, you go to the show, you get certified, you learn all you can learn, you attend
all the classes that you guys have. And we're going to talk about that in a little bit. And then,
you know, the industry says, well, wait, your car gets into an accident, still not as good as
it is. It's kind of mind boggling, isn't it? Yeah, it's hard to, you know, especially if we go back
to the original part of the conversation about that diminished value and those agencies that
are recording these events against the vehicle's win number, it lives with it forever. And you
can't unring the bell. Once that, you know, once that goes on there, it stays there, it lives there
in perpetuity. And now it has affected that vehicle. But we got off subject there.
No, that's okay. Listen, this is a body and collision conversation. And, you know, the listeners
are here for that as well as anything else they can glean from us. But I'll tell you what, let's
pull over and take a quick pause. And when we come back, I want to talk a little bit about that
VIN and the process of how Carfax gets that information. So, you know, it's just food for
thought, you know, it's big brothers always watching. And it's starting to cost us more,
it is costing us money. It's not starting to, it is costing us money. And that's what I want this
to be about. So, I'm Ron and Annie in the car doctor. I'm here with Ken Miller of 821 Collision,
North Held in New Jersey. We'll be back right after this.
No one knows what the future holds, but you deserve a weather app that can help.
Weatherbug is easy to use and provides forecasts for your every need, from storm
warnings to pollen levels, right at your fingertips. Get the fastest local alerts and
comprehensive 10-day forecasts wherever you are. It's hyper-local, real-time customizable alerts.
Make sure the weather never takes you by surprise, so you can plan every day with confidence.
Download the free Weatherbug app from the app store today and start getting accurate weather
forecasts 24-7. For period protection, you can put on and forget about nothing beats
Nix Leakproof Underwear, North America's number one leakproof underwear brand. Let's face it,
life can be unpredictable, but your leakproof underwear shouldn't be. That's why millions
of people choose Nix. For periods, for light leaks, for everyday freshness. Nix undies are super
comfy, super absorbent, and made to handle whatever your day throws at you. Day two of your period?
Covered. Your daily run? No problem. That big sneeze? You know the one. Yep, we've got you.
And with styles like bikinis, boy shorts, thongs, and high-rise, plus sizes from
extra small to 4XL, Nix makes it easy to find your perfect fit. Say goodbye to stress and leaks,
and say hello to undies that work just as hard as you do. No matter the leak,
find the style and level of protection you want at nix.com and use code flow15 for 15% off. That's
knix.com code flow15 for 15% off. Nix, for your leaks, for your life. Support for the show comes
from public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public, you can build a
multi-asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto, and now generated assets which allow you
to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable
energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20%
year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of
stocks, builds a one-of-a-kind index, and lets you backtest it against the S&P 500. Then you can
invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely
customizable, and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com slash podcast and earn
an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com slash podcast,
paid for by public investing, brokerage services by open to the public investing ink, member FINRA
and SIPC, advisory services by public advisors LLC, SEC registered advisor. Generated assets is an
interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation
or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com slash disclosures.
Sink into affordable luxury. Anabey is the only machine washable sofa inside and out. With
stain resistant slip covers and a cloud like frame duvet, everything goes right in the wash.
Plus, the modular design lets you change the look of your space any time. Visit washablesofas.com
to upgrade your home. Shop up to 60% off site wide with sofas starting at just $699 and a 30-day
money back guarantee. Shop now at washable sofas.com. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions
may apply. When people turn to telehealth or weight loss, they're looking for real support.
That's why more people are choosing orderlymeds.com. Orderly meds connect you with real doctors and
access to proven GLP-1 medications like semi-glutide and terseptitide. No guessing,
just a more supportive experience and all ship directly to your door in discreet packaging.
Do your research, ask questions, then visit orderlymeds.com slash podcast for an exclusive offer.
That's orderlymeds.com slash podcast. Individual results may vary not medical advice,
eligibility required, seasight for details.
So, when we pulled over and took the pause, welcome back by the way, Ken Miller,
821 Cleveland, NJ. And you know what I realized, Ken? You're really here today in an official
capacity as president of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey.
We started talking. That's the problem. You put a couple of car guys together,
they start talking shop and the world comes to an end in the sense of their first objective.
We were kind of talking, you know, the trade show coming up in a couple of weeks, the Northeast
trade show 2026 down there in the Meadowlands, same place.
Same place, the Meadowlands Exposition Center. Right. In Sococcus, New Jersey, I believe it is,
right? It starts Friday, March 20th. It goes through the weekend through the 22nd.
But we really started this conversation talking about diminished value and the complexity. And
then we were talking about, you know, so Mrs. Jones takes out her left driver's side mirror.
And she comes into your shop and she says, you know, Mr. Miller, I want to fix this.
I expect it to be a couple of thousand dollars because, you know, mirrors today are not simple,
right? They've got heating elements in them. They've got cameras. They've got crash avoidance.
You know, to spend a thousand dollars or more on a mirror is kind of a common thing, right?
Sure. And, you know, I don't want to put this on insurance because I don't want my
insurance to go up. I don't want the value of the car to go down. Maybe it's somebody very savvy.
Maybe they've thought about that. Maybe not. And boom, Ken steps up and he plugs Mrs. Smith's
mirror, Mrs. Jones, whoever I made her to be, then the vehicles then into an estimator
to go price out that mirror. Then what happens?
Well, there have been instances that that information, even as a quotation,
shows up on a car fax. And that's problematic as far as I'm concerned, because there you go,
it's not a collision, right? This is just maybe she brushed it against the door,
garage door. She was pulling the vehicle out or something like that, cracked the housing or
whatever. So, that tool is great, but it has its limitations and it also has its errors. So,
you know, you have to be careful of all the agencies that are recording data against the
VIN number. So, you know, it records the VIN, but they don't know who Mrs. Jones is,
do they? Or do they trace the VIN through the manufacturer or who they sold it to? Or do they
look at, do they search, you know, motor vehicle databases to find who's got that vehicle registered?
No, not to my knowledge. Who knows what Big Brother's doing that we don't know about,
but no, not to my knowledge. So, when Mrs. Jones goes to trade her car in,
that VIN just pops up somehow in a car fax. They've recorded that VIN that it matches,
so if the dealership goes to look for that VIN, the car fax comes back and says, yeah,
at some point this vehicle was repaired at a 21 collision for a mirror.
Yes. And, you know, if it were a collision, you'd have an accident report tied to it,
you'd have an insurance event tied to it. You might have an oil change at a speedy lube or
whomever tied to it. They get their information from all over different sources.
So, you know, can that $2,000 mirror that the customer thought, the owner thought,
because they owned the vehicle in this instance, right? That the owner thought they were doing
the right thing by paying for it out of pocket because everybody's worried about their insurance
going up. In a lot of cases, they don't think about the value of the car. Some of us, some
are getting smarter about it now and they're learning. They're listening to this show because
we explain all these things. And, you know, that $45,000 car with the $2,000 worth of damage
against it after depreciation, after it's, I don't know, three years old, what's that $45,000 car
worth, $30,000 round numbers, right? Yeah. But that $2,000 accident may make that $30,000 car
worth $25,000. Yep. And yet it was restored to like new factory condition. Yep. Yeah, that's the
part that the tools don't consider. Right. It seems that, I'm going to say it, that it seems
like the agencies are reaching with both hands. They want it fixed to a certain level, but they
also want to penalize you just because you had that accident, you know, maybe that minor collision
with the garage, you know, the side of the door, the side of the mirror. And it doesn't seem right.
Well, I would suggest the consumer who, this tool was, in its inception, was designed to aid
consumers and help consumers. But it also hurts them at the same time, almost as much.
Right. It's a conversation to have, right? And maybe I've got to get car facts on here.
And maybe this conversation will generate them to motivate them to come on and talk to us,
because we surely open the microphone to everybody that, you know, let's have that
conversation. Are they, are they reporting? Is it, is it good information? Is it bad information?
Do I care? Because, you know, I understand what it takes to fix a car. I've been to the
Northeast Trade Show. Look at that segue, huh? You know, I've got, I've got two minutes left in
this segment, Ken. You know, real quick off the top of your head, what are the seminars this year?
You know, this year, Ron, is the first year that we're, we have a much bigger mechanical contingent
in, in the AASP of New Jersey. So we have a whole separate division that is now geared to
mechanical. Largely, it's been collision in the past. So we've got different stuff on both sides.
We've got, you know, no start issues, how to diagnose no start issues on the mechanical side,
the module programming on the mechanical side. We've got all sorts of stuff on the collision
side of estimating best practices, how to defend your estimate. It goes on and on. There's,
there's probably 20 different, different seminars and, and training going on. How to run your business.
I'm just scrolling through here real quickly. But Ford is doing something with iCar about
repairability of their vehicles of right to appraisal, which is kind of ties into some of
what we were just kind of talking about loosely. Right. You know, when you talk about estimates
and, you know, writing estimates and getting estimates approvals and that's a whole universe
unto itself. And the poor consumer has to go through that and they have to count on somebody
in the body shop to do the right thing. And, and because that person in the body shop becomes
their liaison, right? I always thought of that. It becomes their defender, right, of that vehicle.
So, you know, let's, let's talk about that when we return. Ken, let's pull over, take a pause.
I'm Ron Ananey in the car doctor. I'm here with Ken Miller, president of the AASPNJ,
talking about the Northeast trade show diminished value and a bunch of other things.
We'll both be back right after this.
No one knows what the future holds, but you deserve a weather app that can help.
Weatherbug is easy to use and provides forecasts for your every need, from storm mornings to
pollen levels right at your fingertips. Get the fastest local alerts and comprehensive 10-day
forecasts wherever you are. It's hyper-local real-time customizable alerts. Make sure the
weather never takes you by surprise so you can plan every day with confidence.
Download the free Weatherbug app from the app store today and start getting accurate weather
forecasts 24-7.
That big sneeze, you know the one. Yep, we've got you.
And with styles like bikinis, boy shorts, thongs, and high-rise,
plus sizes from extra small to 4XL, Nix makes it easy to find your perfect fit.
Say goodbye to stress and leaks and say hello to undies that work just as hard as you do.
No matter the leak, find the style and level of protection you want at nix.com and use code
FLOW15 for 15% off. That's K-N-I-X dot com code FLOW15 for 15% off.
Nix, for your leaks, for your life.
Tired of spills and stains on your sofa? Wash away your worries with Anabey.
Anabey is the only machine-washable sofa inside and out where designer quality meets budget-friendly
prices. That's right, sofas start at just $699. Enjoy a no-risk experience with pet-friendly,
stain-resistant, and changeable slipcovers made with performance fabric. Experience
cloud-like comfort with high-resilience foam that's hypoallergenic and never needs fluffing.
The sturdy steel frame ensures longevity and the modular pieces can be rearranged anytime.
Shop washablesofas.com for up to 60% off site-wide. That's by a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
If you're not absolutely in love, send it back for a full refund.
No return shipping or restocking fees. Every penny back.
Upgrade now at washablesofas.com. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.
Orderlymeds.com now. Orderlymeds.com was built to be different. Here you connect with real doctors
who take the time to understand your goals, review your eligibility, and guide you through
a plan that's right for you. Orderlymeds provides access to proven GLP-1 medications
like semi-glutide and terzepotide, including both name brand options and personalized compound
versions when appropriate. So you have choices backed by clinical oversight, not guesswork.
It's a simpler, more supportive telehealth experience designed around people who want clarity,
care, and confidence in their weight loss journey. And your medication is delivered
directly to your home in discrete packaging. So your experience stays private from start to finish.
Do your research. Ask the right questions. Then visit orderlymeds.com
slash podcast for an exclusive offer. Again, that's orderlymeds.com slash podcast.
Individual results may vary, not medical advice eligibility required. See site for details.
the city street
to the open road tonight if you're right needs help run will keep you rolling right
yeah he's a car doctor
car advisor
so the conversation is about how the estimator is your liaison in the event of an accident body
repair you know repair to your vehicle at a collision shop ken millers with us
of course continuing with us this hour a 21 collision north held in new jersey also president
of a asp nj we're we really started off today talking about what we're supposed to be talking
about the northeast trade show coming up at the metal lands in so caucus new jersey of
friday march 20th through the 22nd a couple of weeks away and their slate of you know
seminars body and mechanical it's the largest regional trade show in the country but we've
kind of gotten off topic but i guess it shows the complexity of the industry ken and and and
the need for why you want to be at that trade show to get education because there's just a
bunch of topics here we we pulled away last segment we were talking about your your you've
gotten an accident event that person in the body shop that estimator you know what are you looking
for in that you know how do you know asc i can tell you you know you're an ac certified tech
but is there is there certifications for estimators are there better ones or
their worst ones how do you know if the person's doing it right if the shop is approaching it
correctly that's such a difficult topic now especially as the cars have become more complex
i'd like to say start with a manufacturer certified collision center that's different
between mechanical and and uh and collision obviously the the manufacturers will have programs
that they say okay this this center has gone through xyz training and they have the proper
equipment their facility meet certain standards so you have some level of confidence now that being
said it's not the oh yeah once i i see that i'm good but it's a start so you know maybe a body
shop a collision center i'll use i'll try to use that term to show uh you know paying attention
that a collision center is certified in lincoln for gm but maybe they don't have chrysler
certification still could probably fix the car but their insurance company may not be in such a rush
to work with that facility well that's a whole another conversation once you mentioned the
insurance thing you know insurance has changed dramatically since covid and there's all sorts
of other things that are going on behind the scenes ai claims handling and stuff like that but
get back to the original point when you have an estimator that has been trained they have
gone through the train especially manufacturer training they understand what needs to be done
and they can defend it that's the most important part they have the documentation they'll be able
to prove it show it defend it and that is your best resource for having somebody that's going to be
able to get the claim reimbursed for you go go back to mrs jones with her with her mirror that
she knocked off we were talking about so you know she pulls in with her late model lincoln
i'll use your wife's car all right if she knocks a mirror off the car can i'm sorry
as a result of this sometimes you that happens in the universe right um and that that that
$2,000 mirror when she put when you plug in the vent right and we we're we're going to acknowledge
that yeah that vent then generates car faxes and all other kinds of reports even though you're
trying to pay for this out of pocket to keep it out of the insurance company's eye and the the
value of the vehicle's eye and that's a whole another diminished value conversation to have
someday um that estimator program you're using that gets down into the nuts and bolts will it
you know to tell you well this mirror if the mirror's got to be replaced you need to do
this this and this you need to do calibration does it does it go into that depth if you're if
you're a good body shop if you're an equipped a collision center no no unfortunately not it is
merely telling the shop what that component costs and then the associated labor times
it doesn't go into the repair procedures per se there may be some instances but
you know it take that lincoln mirror you may have a surround view like if you have that when
you're sitting in the car you can see all around you uh or at least the it looks like you can see
all around you're looking at the top of the car and everything around it like that's a camera in
the mirror that requires calibration what's involved in that none of that stuff is listed there
so you have to know it as the estimator you have to know that well listen you know you're talking
to the insurance company you've got to say hey listen we're replacing the mirror change the
mirrors two hours uh if there's paint involved there's an hour plus material that's sort of
expected but you've got to know hey by the way we've got to do a calibration to this
and and you know that's got to be included in that estimate otherwise then that estimator
as the liaison for the person that owns the vehicle has to go back to the insurance company
and start you know make a supplement to the to the original claim yep and and and then it it just
goes up from there so you brought up a good point we were talking about diminished value
during the last pause and you also you you said ron there's some there's some good
in what car fax is doing or what you know that reporting is doing talk to us about that
yep so in a third party instance meaning if somebody else were to cause you damage and
even if you had that damage repaired and it was perfect you wouldn't have any repair related
diminished value but you still have the inherent diminished value the accident happened you can
unring that bell so now you're you sustain the loss of whatever it is your cars were $3,000 less
we're just going to use arbitrary numbers there are companies out there that can help you reclaim
that from the at fault parties insurer and that's not a common thing but it's paid all the time
and you are entitled to it so it's something that people can pursue and and i i i don't do that
it's not my in my wheelhouse but there are companies that do do it i can have make references of
people need that so in other words my $50,000 car gets hit i go i go to the supermarket and somebody
you know is careless with a shopping cart and they they dent the driver's door and it's got to be
repaired and that that it's a $2,000 repair that seems to be the number today yep probably not
for you so much um someday i want to have a conversation with you what's what's the least
expensive repair you've you've done or how have you someday we have to have the conversation about
you know you know when you first started what was the least expensive repair then versus now
because that's gotta be a story um so that $2,000 dent in my door you know it's the other part
i wasn't even in the car i was in the supermarket getting milk and the door got dented so now my
car has gone down in value as a result if if i'm doing this properly and i understand it correctly
my insurance company can go after their insurance company for that difference of value of what they
estimate the car is depreciated your uh you as an individual would go after their insurance
company for reclaiming that that cost because let's think about it if it's a $2,000 uh if it's
a $2,000 dent and it's a on the Civic well there's a certain amount of diminished value
but if it's a $2,000 dent and it's a new Porsche 911 like that $2,000 dent really hurts the value
of that vehicle so diminished value varies by vehicle sure sure wow um they're sure making
it difficult to drive a car aren't they you know it's complicated though for sure going going out
into the desert and finding something that's withstood the test of time like a 69 Chevy pick
up and just putting a modern drivetrain in it and you know who cares what happens to it the
thing's made out of solid steel and you know a shopping cart won't dent it makes it sure sure
looks appealing um in this mechanics opinion so i you know by the way what is that what is what
what do you remember is the cheapest repair can just out of curiosity you can go back to when
you know bumpers only cost a few hundred maybe less than a thousand dollars to put on right
you know that was that was simple aside from paintless dent repairs obviously right yeah that's
a different conversation and what do you think what do you think the cheapest repair now is
well if you were to to do an apples to apples comparison between putting a and i just wrote
an article about this uh putting a let's just call it a bumper cover on a uh let's call it a
2010 condos civic it had no um it had no a dash features in it so it was basically
take the bumper cover off and put it on that was really essentially it we're talking about a minor
incident with a bumper now that same job could be oh my god exponentially worse like we mentioned
earlier in the segment you know you you could have a radar that lives in that bumper cover once you
change the bumper cover you've affected the mounting of the radar that may quite require you to
aim or calibrate that radar uh you may have to perform in a wheel alignment before you can
aim or calibrate that radar you know there's so much that goes into it now that could be thousands
of dollars so a bumper replacement so all of a sudden a bumper is three grand yeah yeah i think
we're going to take a pause at this moment um let everybody absorb that when we come back
we have to finish up but put your thinking cap on i want you to sell us on why we want to go to
the northeast trade show down at the metal lands in sycaucus in two weeks and um maybe people will
glean some of what we've talked about here today and and understand the value of what attending
that that trade show is all about so can it's it's let me pull over take a pause when we come back
we'll finish this conversation i'm ronnie anion the car doctor we'll be back right after this
no one knows what the future holds but you deserve a weather app that can help
weather bug is easy to use and provides forecasts for your every need from storm mornings to pollen
levels right at your fingertips get the fastest local alerts and comprehensive 10 day forecasts
wherever you are it's hyper local real-time customizable alerts make sure the weather never
takes you by surprise so you can plan every day with confidence download the free weather bug
app from the app store today and start getting accurate weather forecasts 24 7 for period protection
you can put on and forget about nothing beats nix leakproof underwear north america's number one
leakproof underwear brand let's face it life can be unpredictable but your leakproof underwear
shouldn't be that's why millions of people choose nix for periods for light leaks for everyday
freshness nix undies are super comfy super absorbent and made to handle whatever your day
throws at you day two of your period covered your daily run no problem that big sneeze you know the
one yep we've got you and with styles like bikinis boy shorts thongs and high-rise plus sizes from
extra small to 4xl nix makes it easy to find your perfect fit say goodbye to stress and leaks and say
hello to undies that work just as hard as you do no matter the leak find the style and level of
protection you want at nix dot com and use code flow 15 for 15 off that's knix dot com
code flow 15 for 15 off nix for your leaks for your life support for the show comes from public
the investing platform for those who take it seriously on public you can build a multi asset
portfolio of stocks bonds options crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea
into an investable index with AI it all starts with your prompt from renewable energy companies
with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20 percent year over year
you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work it screens thousands of stocks builds a
one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the s and p 500 then you can invest in
a few clicks generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities completely customizable
and based on your thesis not someone else's go to public.com slash podcast and earn an uncapped
one percent bonus when you transfer your portfolio that's public.com slash podcast paid for by
public investing brokerage services by open to the public investing Inc member FINRA and SIPC
advisory services by public advisors LLC sec registered advisor generated assets is an interactive
analysis tool output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or
advice complete disclosures available at public.com slash disclosures tired of spills and stains on
your sofa wash away your worries with an abay an abay is the only machine washable sofa inside
and out where designer quality meets budget friendly prices that's right sofa started just
699 dollars enjoy a no risk experience with pet friendly stain resistant and changeable slip
covers made with performance fabric experience cloud like comfort with high resilience foam
that's hypoallergenic and never needs fluffing the sturdy steel frame ensures longevity
and the modular pieces can be rearranged anytime shop washable sofas.com for up to 60% off site
wide backed by a 30 day satisfaction guarantee if you're not absolutely in love send it back
for a full refund no return shipping or restocking fees every penny back upgrade now at washable
sofas dot com offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply when people turn
to telehealth or weight loss they're looking for real support that's why more people are choosing
orderly meds dot com orderly meds connect you with real doctors and access to proven glp1 medications
like semi-glutide and terseptitide no guessing just a more supportive experience and all shift
directly to your door and discrete packaging do your research ask questions then visit orderly meds
dot com slash podcast for an exclusive offer that's orderly meds dot com slash podcast individual
results may vary not medical advice eligibility required c-site for details
all right so if they've stayed with us up to this point 10 miller prison of AASPNJ
and they've realized how complicated collision repair and well they know how much mechanical
repair is uh regular listeners to this radio show um why do they want to go to the metal
lens and in two weeks if they're even somehow remotely connected to this industry if they're
entrenched in this industry both mechanical and body what do we have to look forward to there
so just start with the tray show floor because on the tray show floor you have all of the latest
and greatest equipment all the vendors that you could ever want to see in one place displaying
all their latest stuff so to keep up with all that technology whether it's scanners or um wheel
alignment equipment a dash equipment uh and all the calibration stuff that goes along with it
and then in addition to that we have the education component and the education component is a real
kind of big thing for me as president of ASP we are not educators however it is our job to bring
awareness to certain things and those issues just like what we were talking about earlier
those issues are things that we want to to identify bring them to our constituents and then
provide resources and educational avenues to learn about that so we raise up everybody in
the industry that's really my goal is to have a bunch of professionals fixing cars for people
so we can keep people safe on the road right you know it's and and i've got to chime in and say
you know the times i've gone to the trade show the equipment and i imagine it's it's so much more
now that it's it's it's kind of like star wars it's the future you're seeing things that you go
wow they make something that does that or look with look what has to be done there's education
in going from booth to booth just about processes and procedures and the ways that they go about
fixing cars you know i'll talk about hunter you know i look at the way hunter just has the ability
to change and dismount a tire right everybody thinks tires are so simple to do now and
they're not they're they're so involved the machinery required to change tires i was thinking
of somebody the other day a little off topic here but you know with a tesla that it's a foam-filled
tire and you need a special machine and you don't realize that as as the owner of the vehicle but
the shop doing the work does and you know the trade show the northeast trade show 2026 down at
the metallands in socaucas in two weeks is where they're going to learn about that tire machine
as well as everything else that's out there and you know that's that's the value and i think that's
what we want to kind of try and impress upon people um it's it's there friday night i think the i
think the show opens five or six five o'clock yeah five o'clock and it runs till nine that night
ten that night and then saturday morning it kicks open uh ten o'clock nine o'clock nine o'clock i
leave they start a training seminars earlier on saturday we have eight a.m right training starting
so if you get if you register and get your uh your training uh you know program you'll know
what training is available to you and all that stuff's available on a asp nj i'm sorry that's
the northeast one a asp northeast dot com they can find all that information and register for the
show as well a asp northeast dot com they can register for the show they can find out about
seminars and uh you know really take in something that's been a spectacular event oh the past i
bet it's 40 years 45 years um you know 50 years next year yeah these time flies so george george
would be so proud um yeah you know and cindy tersey and guy citro among them all gone now but
you know just just really hard and you guys are doing a great job keeping it up
so uh we appreciate that ken as always sir a pleasure let's um let's not let's come back i'm
going to try and circle back in a couple of months after the dust dies down from the trade show
and i think i want to continue some of these conversations because um i think there's a lot
here so um you know we'll look forward to seeing you again you have a great trade show sir thank
you for the time today appreciate it thank you ron you're very welcome i'm ronnie and the car
back right after this
weather forecast 24 7
no problem that big sneeze you know the one yep we've got you and with styles like bikinis
boy shorts thongs and high-rise plus sizes from extra small to 4xl nix makes it easy to find your
perfect fit say goodbye to stress and leaks and say hello to undies that work just as hard as you
do no matter the leak find the style and level of protection you want at nix.com and use code
flow 15 for 15 off that's knix.com code flow 15 for 15 off nix for your leaks for your life
growing revenue over 20 year over year you can literally type any prompt and put the ai to work
it screens thousands of stocks builds a one-of-a-kind index and lets you back test it against the s and
p 500 then you can invest in a few clicks generated assets are like etfs with infinite
possibilities completely customizable and based on your thesis not someone else's go to public.com
slash podcast and earn an uncapped one percent bonus when you transfer your portfolio that's
public.com slash podcast paid for by public investing brokerage services by open to the public
investing Inc member FINRA and SIPC advisory services by public advisors LLC sec registered
advisor generated assets is an interactive analysis tool output is for informational
purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice complete disclosures
available at public.com slash disclosures tired of spills and stains on your sofa wash away your
worries with anabey anabey is the only machine washable sofa inside and out where designer
quality meets budget friendly prices that's right sofa started just 699 dollars enjoy a no risk
experience with pet friendly stain resistant and changeable slip covers made with performance
fabric experience cloud like comfort with high resilience foam that's hypoallergenic and never
needs fluffing the sturdy steel frame ensures longevity and the modular pieces can be rearranged
anytime shop washable sofas.com for up to 60% off site wide backed by a 30 day satisfaction
guarantee if you're not absolutely in love send it back for a full refund no return shipping or
restocking fees every penny back upgrade now at washable sofas.com offers are subject to change
and certain restrictions may apply when people turn to health care for weight loss they're
looking for real support that's why more people are choosing orderly meds.com orderly meds connects
some aglutide enters epitide no guessing just a more supportive experience and all ship directly to
your door in discreet packaging do your research ask questions then visit orderly meds.com slash
podcast for an exclusive offer that's orderly meds.com slash podcast individual results may
vary not medical advice eligibility required to cite for details great interview right Ken Miller
that northeast trade show coming up two weeks always a good time I'm going to be there this year
actually I've gotten tickets for Danny and myself we're going to go down there probably
Friday night and walk the floor so that's the game plan real quick point about diminished value so
this week at the shop we had a customer with a 2025 Ford F-150 pickup truck 4700 miles driving along
minding his business got rear-ended in traffic on the highway and it did over $6,000 in damage to the
back of the truck the bumper the bed the rear quarter panel on the left side all kinds of
paint work he brought me the estimate we're talking about and I said you know and it was
fresh in my mind but I was aware of it the diminished value issue you know you really
need to go and talk to the other insurance company and he's going back to the body shop
and he's going to use his estimator and he actually called him while he was standing there at the
shop I talked to the estimator for him and we went back and forth a little bit talking about
how to proceed but the estimator is going to be his liaison and help guide him and help him get a
check out of the other insurance it's a brand new truck the truck's not four months old and it's already
got six seven thousand dollars worth of damage so diminished value is a real problem and it's
going to cost you money if you don't know how to deal with it I'm Ronanini and the car doctor
reminding you good mechanics aren't expensive they're priceless see you
no one knows what the future holds but you deserve a weather app that can help weather bug is easy
to use and provides forecasts for your every need from storm warnings to pollen levels right at your
fingertips get the fastest local alerts and comprehensive 10-day forecasts wherever you are
it's hyper local real-time customizable alerts make sure the weather never takes you by surprise
so you can plan every day with confidence download the free weather bug app from the app store today
and start getting accurate weather forecasts 24 7 t-mobile has the best plan on the best network
just ask Kevin Baker today business happens virtually everywhere that's why you need super
mobile from t-mobile the best plan on the best network letting you run your business from your
phone like never before in moments of high demand t-mobile's network adapts to put your business
connection first discover more at supermobile.com best business plan based on combination of advanced
network performance coverage layers and security features best network based on analysis by
if you love high stakes competition and incredible food don't miss america's culinary
cup premiering wednesday on cbs 16 of the most decorated chefs in the country go head to head
for an unprecedented one million dollar prize hosted by emmy nominated food expert pod malakshmi
this is a high pressure arena where every dish matters and one mistake sends you home america's
culinary cup premieres wednesday after survivor on cbs and streaming on paramount plus time for a
introducing ana bay sofas where designer style meets budget friendly prices ana bay brings you
the ultimate in furniture innovation with a modular design that allows you to rearrange your
space effortlessly perfect for both small and large spaces ana bay is the only machine washable
sofa inside and out say goodbye to stains and messes with liquid and stain resistant fabrics
that make cleaning easy liquid simply slide right off designed for custom comfort our high
resilience foam lets you choose between a sink and feel or a supportive memory foam blend plus
our pet friendly stain resistant fabrics ensure your sofa stays beautiful for years don't compromise
quality for price visit washable sofas dot com to upgrade your living space today sofas started just
699 dollars with no risk returns and a 30 day money back guarantee get up to 60 off less free
shipping and free returns shop now at washable sofas dot com offers are subject to change and
certain restrictions may apply at cbs it matters that we're not just in your community but that
we're part of it it matters that we're here for you when you need us day or night and we want
everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded it matters that cbs is here to fill your prescriptions and
here to fill your craving for a tasty and yeah healthy snack at cbs we're proud to serve your
community because we believe where you get your medicine matters so visit us at cbs.com or just
come by our store we can't wait to meet you store hours vary by location
About this episode
Ron Ananian and Ken Miller discuss the rising costs of vehicle repairs and the impact of diminished value after accidents, especially for newer, higher-priced cars. They explore how accident reports affect vehicle history records like Carfax, the challenges for leased vehicles, and the complexities of modern repairs involving advanced safety systems. The conversation also highlights the upcoming Northeast Automotive Trade Show, a major event for industry professionals to learn about certifications and new repair technologies.
Original notes
On this episode of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, Ron sits down with Ken Miller, President of Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP-NJ) and owner of 821 Collision, for an important conversation about diminished value — the loss in a vehicle’s market value after it has been involved in an accident.
Even when a vehicle is repaired properly, it may still be worth less simply because it now has an accident history. Ron and Ken explain what diminished value means, how insurance companies handle it, and what steps vehicle owners can take to pursue proper reimbursement.
They also discuss the upcoming Northeast Automotive Services Show, the largest regional auto body and mechanical trade show in the country, held each year in New Jersey. The event brings together technicians, shop owners, manufacturers, and industry leaders for training, new technology, and a look at the future of automotive repair.
If you’ve ever wondered how accidents affect your vehicle’s true value — or how the repair industry is evolving — this conversation offers valuable insight from the people who deal with it every day.
Good mechanics aren’t expensive — they’re priceless.
- Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com
-
Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes
-
Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel
-
Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560-9900
-
Join the conversation LIVE – Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ron Ananian The Car Doctor
iHeartPodcasts and Ron Ananian The Car Doctor
0:00
34:59