Don't overpay for someone else's car problems.
Don't overpay for someone else's car problems.
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Clear definitions for the condition terms, paint defects, and inspection vocabulary used in Dr.Vin assessments.
- Condition Grade
- A 0-100 score representing the overall visible condition of a vehicle based on photo analysis. Higher scores indicate better condition with fewer issues detected.
- Component Grade
- An individual condition rating for a specific area of the vehicle (paint, body, tires, interior, glass, undercarriage). Each component is graded independently to show where issues are concentrated.
- Clear Coat
- The transparent protective layer over a vehicle's paint. Clear coat failure appears as white, cloudy, or flaking patches, most commonly on horizontal surfaces like the hood and roof.
- Orange Peel
- A textured, bumpy paint surface resembling the skin of an orange. Often indicates a respray or factory paint defect. Visible under certain lighting angles in photos.
- Panel Gap
- The spacing between adjacent body panels (doors, hood, trunk, fenders). Inconsistent panel gaps can indicate prior collision repair or poor body work.
- Paint Depth
- The thickness of paint on a body panel, measured in mils or microns. Abnormally thick paint suggests a panel has been repainted, possibly to cover damage.
- Curb Rash
- Damage to wheel rims from contact with curbs during parking. Appears as scratches, scrapes, or gouges along the outer edge of the wheel.
- Tread Depth
- The remaining depth of the grooves in a tire's tread pattern. New tires have 10/32" of tread. Below 4/32" indicates the tire should be replaced soon. Below 2/32" is unsafe and illegal in most states.
- Pre-Purchase Inspection
- A hands-on mechanical inspection performed by an independent mechanic before buying a used vehicle. Covers engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, and other systems that cannot be assessed from photos alone.
- Confidence Indicator
- A rating attached to each finding in a Dr.Vin assessment reflecting how certain the AI is about the detection. Higher confidence means clearer visual evidence. Not a statistical probability.
- Dollar Impact
- An estimated cost range for a detected issue, based on typical repair and reconditioning costs. Calculated using Monte Carlo simulation with publicly available industry data.
- Repaint Evidence
- Visual signs that a body panel has been repainted, including color mismatch between panels, overspray on trim or rubber seals, orange peel texture differences, and tape lines.
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