During 1946 the insurance industry surveyed the problem and found many auto body garagemen who recklessly inflated their repair estimates, consumers who exaggerated damages to insured vehicles, and insurance agents and adjusters who did not have the automotive technical skills needed to avoid paying inflated auto repair claims.

Founded in 1947 as the Independent Appraisal Plan, its mission was "to protect insurance consumers from overpaying for auto body repairs." This was done by having an unbiased automotive specialist "appraiser" assess vehicle damage and establish a fair cost of repair instead of relying on body shop estimates or estimates prepared by unqualified personnel. The Independent Appraisal Plan was approved in 1947 by the Association of Casualty and Surety Companies and the National Association of Mutual Companies. The Plan reorganized in 1964 as the Independent Automotive Damage Appraisers Association (IADA), a national not-for-profit organization.

The IADA is a nationwide network of appraiser specialists with the knowledge and experience to assess vehicle damage and to make unbiased repair decisions based on the manufacturer's specifications, accepted industry procedures, and safety concerns. Having the expert knowledge to make these important decisions without favoritism toward the insurance company, auto body shop, or vehicle owner is what sets the IADA appraiser apart.

For more than 50 years, the IADA has been setting the standard of excellence for vehicle appraising. Today, the vigor and forward-looking spirit of this association of independently-owned companies is exemplified by the rapid strides being made by the IADA in implementing the latest technology to continue to reduce the cost of vehicle repair without sacrificing repair quality or customer service. IADA is dedicated to the goal of highly professional, unbiased appraisals to protect our customers against unrealistic repair methods, inadequate or faulty repair procedures, and fraudulent practice.

IADA's on-going program features:

• 20-Point Appraisal Program
• Code of Ethics
• Membership Standards
• Service Time Standards
• Many Types of Appraisal
• Central Billing Plan
• Highly Trained Appraisers
• More Than 300 Service Locations
• Computerized Appraisals

IADA is a leader in the insurance/automotive industry in providing not only its members, but the entire industry, a forum for exchange of ideas and solutions to common problems in automotive appraisal and repair. Through national and regional educational seminars and the distribution of technical information, IADA members receive the diversity of training needed for appraisers to stay in the vanguard of this complex industry. Authoritative speakers address these seminars, not only on auto repair matters, but also on heavy trucks and equipment, motorcycles, boats, tires, plastics, high alloy metals, mig welding, new paints, measuring equipment, fire analysis, product failure -- a wide range of technical issues in our industry. For many years, claims executives of the self-insured and insurance industries have participated in these seminars so they may stay abreast of the fast-changing automotive field.

The IADA is also closely allied with other organizations whose goal is to upgrade the industry. Our members work closely with the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) -- we support it fully and have served on its executive board.

The IADA is in a class by itself. There is no other group of appraisers -- independent or otherwise -- who have consistently associated with each other for more than 50 years while furthering the goals and standards of the appraisal industry. IADA members have built a solid reputation based on their commitment to providing quality automotive damage appraisals and evaluations at competitive fees. Objective appraisals provided by competent automotive specialists will improve your auto claim or fleet operations productivity and reduce costs while maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction. So, if you are looking to avoid needless auto repair over-payments and improve the accuracy of total loss or lease-end settlement information, IADA is the answer. If you are ready to develop a national or regional automotive damage appraisal, direct repair reinspection, or fleet vehicle condition appraisal service program for your company, call 800-369-IADA.