CAPA Certified: What It Means And Why It’s Important To Auto Parts Buyers

CAPA Certified means that a replacement automotive part has been pre-tested by the nation’s leading independent non-profit replacement parts certification authority, the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA). Since 1987, CAPA has been dedicated to ensuring that replacement auto parts conform to the auto industry’s highest standards for quality control and comparability to an automaker’s genuine OEM parts, as well as meeting the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety requirements and standards.

Here are four reasons to insist on CAPA certified replacement automotive parts for your vehicle:

1. CAPA Certified parts combine OEM quality with aftermarket affordability, helping to keep car repair costs down without compromising standards of excellence.

2. A part that carries the CAPA Seal has been compared to its OEM counterpart to ensure the part is made from the right materials, with exacting size and dimension, and proper assembly, including welds in the proper position and all the gaps and flush measurements on target.

3. Collision replacement auto parts like hoods, fenders, and bumpers with CAPA Certification meet the crash-safety performance requirements of the original OEM and OE parts.

4. The CAPA Seal is proof that a replacement part is CAPA Certified to fit, perform, and last like the original. No test fitting required.

What does CAPA certify?

All auto parts are not created equal, and determining quality in a replacement auto part isn't about how it looks or feels. Quality can be determined only by subjecting it to proven, objective methods of testing and evaluation and CAPA certification is the most effective standards-setting, quality assurance program of its kind. It establishes objective, measurable quality standards and specifications for replacement parts for metals, plastics, lights, bumpers, and more. All test procedures utilize nationally recognized tests such as those of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). CAPA continually reviews, updates, and refines its standards as required to assure the continued high quality of CAPA Seal certified parts. Some of the specific replacement parts tested include:

· Deck lids and shells

· Grilles

· Hoods and liners

· Pickup Beds

· Tailgates

· Bumper covers

· Fenders, liners, and mounting brackets

· Front and rear bumpers, bumper reinforcements, brackets, and energy absorbers

· Front Support Parts, radiator supports, and upper fender rails

· Quarter panels and door shells

· Headlamps, taillights, and brackets

· High-mounted brake lights

· Windshields, side mirror assemblies

· Exterior rearview and sideview cameras

· AC Condensers

· Replica wheels

· Sensors

How to shop for CAPA certified auto parts

When you’re in the market for replacement auto parts, you’ll either DIY the repairs or have a professional mechanic do the work. The CAPA blue and yellow seal is proof positive that the part has been tested and certified for excellence. The top portion is permanently affixed to the specific part and the bottom portion is removed and applied to the purchase invoice to confirm the certified part.

· If you shop in-store for parts, ask specifically for CAPA certified parts and double-check that they have the blue and yellow certification seal. If there’s no seal, they are not CAPA certified replacement auto parts.

· For online shopping, begin your search by inputting your car’s year, make, model, and VIN number, and select the part you’re looking for. Available options will populate, with descriptions of each part that should include any certification. If the search has filtering options, you can select only those parts that are CAPA certified to narrow your search. If you can’t find any indication of parts certifications, live chat or email with a customer service representative to see if they carry CAPA certified car parts.

· When your mechanic is doing the parts shopping for you, clarify that you want CAPA certified to save money over genuine OEM or OE replacement parts. If it’s a collision repair involving insurance, make sure that the claims adjuster knows your preference for CAPA certified replacement parts.

LKQ Online offers CAPA Certified replacement auto parts

When you shop for replacement auto parts with LKQ Online, you can restrict your search to CAPA certified parts by using our search filters. While not all auto parts are certified, you’ll find that bumpers, hoods, quarter panel assemblies, headlights, taillights, and fog lights can be CAPA certified.

Additionally, you will find that we carry new aftermarket parts, reconditioned parts, and used parts that have certifications other than CAPA. These parts also have been thoroughly tested by a third-party entity to ensure the highest standards for quality, safety, and comparability to a car company’s original OEM and OE brand parts. Where certifications are indicated, you can opt to see only available certified parts by selecting one or all valid certification designations, including CAPA, Platinum Plus, NSF, and Diamond Standard.