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The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 to develop and oversee a testing and inspection program for certifying the quality of parts used for collision repairs. CAPA is not a manufacturing, marketing or sales organization. The program provides consumers, collision repair shops, part distributors and insurance companies with an object method for evaluating the quality of certified parts and their functional equivalency to similar parts made by car companies. CAPA was founded to promote price and quality competition in the collision part industry, thereby reducing the cost of crash repairs to consumers without sacrificing quality. CAPA’s purpose is to: Promote price and quality competition; Reduce the cost of crash repairs; Develop standards to compare the quality of aftermarket parts to car company parts; Provide consumers, body shops and insurance adjusters with an objective way of evaluating aftermarket part quality.

In order for a part to be certified by CAPA, a manufacturer must first allow a detailed review and inspection of its factory and manufacturing process. An independent testing laboratory determines whether the factory is able to meet CAPA’s Quality Standards. The laboratory evaluates the manufacturer's purchasing, painting, inspection, tooling, quality control and operating process to ensure that the Participant is capable of producing aftermarket parts that meet CAPA Quality Standards and are functionally equivalent to the car company parts. Once the factory has been approved, the manufacturer may submit individual parts for certification. Test procedure are based on nationally recognized tests such as those of ASTM and SAE. Sample of each part are tested for: Material Composition thickness mechanical properties paint adhesion adhesive and weld integrity quality control procedures coating performance corrosion form and fit appearance fasteners / hardware identifying markings If the sampled parts comply with all of CAPA's Quality Standards and are found to be functionally equivalent to the car company parts, then and only then, is the manufacturer allowed to apply a CAPA Quality Seal to that part - the final step in the certification process. Any part that does not have a CAPA Quality Seal is not considered certified, regardless of how that part is listed in the CAPA Directory or other information sources. The CAPA seal is your key to quality.