Glossary

A short reference for the terms used across Autoentic reports, product copy, and the rest of these docs. Each entry is a definition, not an explanation of the underlying method. Follow the links for longer reads.

Autoentic

Autoentic is a measurement service that scores the factory-originality of a vehicle's paint by comparing coating thickness to factory specifications.

FOCS — Factory Originality Confidence Score

FOCS is the Factory Originality Confidence Score — a number from 0 to 100, reported per panel and per vehicle, that expresses how confident the measurement system is that the paint is factory-applied, after accounting for natural measurement variation. Every Autoentic report carries a FOCS. The measurement framework is GUM-compliant (Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement) and follows ISO/IEC 17025 calibration-lab practice.

DCA — Digital Certification Artifact

DCA is the Digital Certification Artifact — the signed, tamper-evident record of an inspection. Every inspection produces one, tied to the vehicle's VIN. See Reading your vehicle report for how to retrieve it.

Paint Passport

The Paint Passport is the collection of all Autoentic records attached to a single VIN, accumulated over time. It is viewable by anyone with the VIN.

Grade — Factory Original

A per-panel grade: every measurement on this panel is consistent with factory-applied paint. On formal documents this grade is sometimes written in full as Certified Factory Original; the short form is canonical everywhere else. See What is Autoentic certification?.

Grade — Factory Acceptable

A per-panel grade: readings fall within normal factory variation, with no clear evidence of aftermarket paint.

Grade — Refinished

A per-panel grade: coating thickness is higher than factory — consistent with aftermarket touch-up or repaint. The label is descriptive, not a quality judgement.

Grade — Extensively Repaired

A per-panel grade: multiple signs of refinishing or substrate work beyond routine touch-up.

Autoentic Inspected

A vehicle-level tier earned when every panel in the purchased scope has been measured, regardless of the per-panel grades. "Inspected" and "Certified" are two layers of the same hierarchy: the per-panel grades are the underlying measurement data, and "Inspected" means measurement completed.

Autoentic Certified

A vehicle-level tier earned when the per-panel profile meets the certification threshold across the purchased scope. Two scopes are offered: Metal Panels and All Panels (metal and plastic). See What is Autoentic certification?.

Panel

Autoentic measures the main body panels: the hood, the roof, the trunk or tailgate, the four doors, the two front fenders, the two rear quarter panels, and the front and rear bumpers. Panel names are plain English throughout reports and these docs.

Substrate

The material beneath the paint. Autoentic distinguishes between metal, aluminum, and plastic or composite panels.