AI DamageThe Primary Damage label is one or two words an auction inspector picked from a list. It tells you where the main damage is, not how deep it goes. Secondary Damage adds a second zone. Everything else has to be read from the photos.
Labels by impact zone
| Label | Meaning | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Front End | Front impact | Hood and fender gaps, headlights, radiators, airbags. See Front End damage |
| Rear End | Rear impact | Rear panel, trunk floor, rear rails, trunk lid. See Rear impact |
| Side / Left Side / Right Side | Side impact | Pillars, sill, doors, side airbags and curtains. Side is counted from the driver's seat. See Side impact |
| Top/Roof | Roof damage | What fell on the roof or whether it rolled; pillars and windshield |
| Rollover | The car rolled over | Roof, all pillars, glass, curtain airbags. Usually several zones at once |
| All Over | Damage all over the body | Several impacts or a rollover; geometry is in question |
| Undercarriage | Underbody | Subframe, fuel tank, exhaust, control arms; on EVs, the battery |
| Front & Rear | Front and rear impacts | Often a chain collision: check both sets of rails |
Labels by cause of damage
| Label | Meaning | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Minor Dent/Scratches | Small dents and scratches | Lowest visible risk, but it is the inspector's subjective call |
| Normal Wear | Normal wear | No accident, often a lease return or trade-in. Mileage and interior condition matter more |
| Hail | Hail | Many dents on horizontal panels. See Hail |
| Water/Flood | Water | Delayed electrical faults and corrosion. See Flooded car |
| Burn / Burn – Engine / Burn – Interior | Fire | Wiring, plastics, glass. See Fire |
| Mechanical | Mechanical fault | Engine, transmission or drivetrain; the body may be intact |
| Electrical | Electrical fault | The cause is usually not given: anything from the battery to a control module |
| Vandalism | Vandalism | Scratches, broken glass, cut upholstery |
| Stripped | Stripped | Missing parts: wheels, lights, seats, modules. Count what is not on the photos |
| Biohazard/Chemical | Biological or chemical contamination | The interior needs special cleaning or new upholstery |
| Theft Recovery | Stolen and recovered | Parts may be missing, ignition may be damaged |
| Replaced VIN | VIN plate replaced | Legal risk for registration: check documents before bidding |
What the label does not tell you
- Depth. Front End is used both for a scratched bumper and for a car with deployed airbags and a broken frame rail.
- Hidden damage. It shows only through indirect signs: gaps, misalignment, deployed airbags.
- Damage outside the two main zones. A third zone does not go into the label.
- Powertrain condition. There are separate fields for that, see Run and Drive and Engine Start.
How to read the lot card as a whole
The order is: Primary and Secondary give the zones, the start status gives the powertrain, the title gives the legal status (see Titles), and the photos give the depth. Individual terms on the card are explained in How to read a damage description.