Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG) inquiries made during the first quarter of 2025 have resulted in 281 database changes, and nearly 337 additional units of labor across the updated resolutions from CCC, Mitchell and Audatex.

“The power of 1 cent being corrected in the database is going to help your bottom line to be more accurate and be more successful in writing a repair plan,” said Danny Gredinberg, DEG administrator, during an open board meeting of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) earlier this month.

DEG is a free online resource that helps identify, address, and resolve omitted and inaccurate information in estimating programs through a standardized inquiry process for all three estimating systems. The database can also be used to verify and document necessary operations addressed by other users and confirmed by the information provider.

Gredinberg said 30% of all DEG inquiries this year have resulted in some sort of change.

About 40% to 50% of all CCC inquiries resulted in a change, he said. 

Gredinberg highlighted example inquiries that he found of interest. 

DEG Inquiry 38543 noted that when removing and installing the headlight is selected in CCC, there is no prompt from the system to “aim lights.” The inquiry asks MOTOR to provide a position or recommendation on when to aim lights. 

Gredinberg noted that anytime you replace a headlight, you must perform an aiming procedure to ensure the headlights are aimed to the road properly. However, there wasn’t mention of aiming while removing and installing a headlight. 

The electronic service manual will often state that the lights need to be aimed during the removal and installation of a light, Gredinberg added. 

MOTOR responded to the inquiry to say, “After review, anytime the headlamp assembly is removed from the vehicle, the ‘aim headlamps’ operation should be performed and added to the estimate.” 

It goes on to note that if only the removal and installation of the headlamp operation is being performed, the aim headlamp operation can be selected from the additional operations tab at the bottom of the headlamp group. 

Gredinberg said that this response can help provide documentation to bill payers that the procedure is a not-included operation. 

Inquiry 37943 changed the labor allowance for removal and replacement of a roof panel on a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta from 13 hours to 23.4 hours, Gredinberg said. 

Gredinberg said the shop noticed that the time to perform the operation in Audatex was not enough labor. 

“Instead of guessing, they just documented the process,” Gredinberg said. “They took photos along the way, and they were able to submit this inquiry through the DEG.” 

The shop was able to get a resolution within three to four days, he said. With the confirmation, the billpayer accepted the labor time with no arguments, he added.

To file an inquiry with the DEG, visit www.degweb.org.

IMAGE

Danny Gredinberg, DEG administrator, presents during the SCRS open meeting on May 1, 2025/Teresa Moss