ASPTRACS & Cost Recovery
ASPTRACS stands for Total Reimbursement Accounting Collection Software. It is ASP Clips' proprietary web-based software platform designed for auto body shops and collision centers to create itemized fastener invoices, manage parts inventory, track technician usage, and streamline ordering. ASPTRACS is accessible from any device with internet access.
ASPTRACS allows shops to log every fastener, clip, and hardware item used in a repair and generate itemized invoices for cost recovery — ensuring shops are reimbursed for replacement parts rather than absorbing those costs as overhead. The platform also manages parts inventory, tracks technician usage by repair job, and provides an ordering interface for qualifying customers.
ASPTRACS is accessed at asptracs.com. Login credentials are provided when a shop account is created through ASP Clips. The platform is browser-based and accessible from any device — desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone — with internet access.
ASPTRACS access is part of ASP Clips' customer account offering. Contact ASP Clips at (512) 259-8044 or customerservice@aspclips.com to set up an account and discuss ASPTRACS access and configuration for your shop.
Cost recovery in auto body repair refers to the process of documenting and invoicing for all parts used in a repair — including small components like clips, retainers, fasteners, and hardware — so that the shop is reimbursed for those materials through the insurance claim or customer invoice. Shops that do not document replacement fasteners absorb those costs as un-recovered overhead.
Many shops fail to recover fastener costs because they lack a systematic way to document and invoice individual clips and hardware used in each repair. When technicians pull and replace dozens of clips during a repair job without recording each item, those parts become an unrecoverable cost. ASPTRACS solves this by providing a simple per-job documentation and invoice generation system.
Yes. ASPTRACS includes export capability compatible with common automotive estimating software platforms. This allows the itemized fastener costs documented in ASPTRACS to be incorporated into the full repair estimate, reducing manual re-entry and ensuring consistency between the parts record and the customer or insurance invoice.
Yes. ASPTRACS supports barcode scanning functionality, allowing shops to scan products for faster and more accurate parts documentation. This reduces manual entry errors and speeds up the process of recording fastener usage per repair job.
Yes. ASPTRACS is designed for multi-technician shop environments. The platform allows shops to create individual technician profiles and track parts usage by tech and by repair job, providing visibility into per-job material costs across the whole shop.
The Virtual Assortment is ASPTRACS's online ordering interface available to Warehouse Direct and MSO Direct ASP Clips customers. It allows shops to place fastener orders directly through the platform without paper order forms — selecting products, adding them to an order, and submitting digitally. This eliminates manual order-taking, reduces errors, and gives shops direct control over what they order and when.
Multi-shop operators benefit from ASPTRACS by gaining a centralized platform to manage parts inventory, invoicing, and ordering across multiple locations. Usage data across locations provides insight into consumption patterns that can inform bulk purchasing decisions and inventory standardization. MSO Direct ordering access provides additional supply chain efficiency for qualifying accounts.
Automotive Rivets
Automotive rivets are permanent mechanical fasteners used to join body panels, brackets, structural reinforcements, and trim components. Unlike clips or threaded fasteners, rivets create a fixed joint that resists loosening from vibration, heat cycles, and mechanical stress. They are commonly used in areas requiring permanent attachment or in tight-access locations where only one side of the material is accessible.
A blind rivet — commonly called a pop rivet — is a fastener that can be fully installed from one side of the material. A hollow rivet body is inserted into a pre-drilled hole and an installation tool pulls the mandrel stem through the rivet body, causing the tail to collapse and expand on the blind side of the material, creating a secure mechanical joint. The mandrel snaps off flush once the rivet is set.
Aluminum rivets are lightweight and corrosion-resistant, making them appropriate for trim components, exterior applications, and aluminum panel joining where galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals must be avoided. Steel rivets provide higher shear strength and load-bearing capacity suited to structural bracket and frame connections. The correct choice depends on the material being joined and the load requirements of the application.
No. Using steel rivets on aluminum panels creates a galvanic couple — electrochemical contact between dissimilar metals — that accelerates corrosion at the joint. Aluminum panels must be joined with aluminum rivets or approved bi-metallic fasteners specified in the OEM repair procedure.
The required drill bit diameter matches the rivet body diameter plus a small clearance — typically 1/32 to 1/16 inch larger than the nominal rivet diameter depending on the rivet specification. The hole must be large enough to allow clean rivet insertion but not so large that the rivet head cannot bridge the gap. Always consult the rivet manufacturer's specification for the recommended hole diameter.
A standard blind rivet is appropriate for non-structural joining — brackets, trim, and component attachment. A structural blind rivet or lock-bolt fastener is engineered for load-bearing applications with significantly higher tensile and shear strength ratings. OEM structural repair procedures will specify when a structural rivet is required. Substituting a standard blind rivet in a structural application is not appropriate.
Yes. Aluminum-intensive vehicle platforms — including several Ford, Ram, and high-end European models — use rivet bonding as a primary structural joining method. Shops performing OEM-compliant structural repairs on aluminum vehicles must use the specific rivet type and installation process outlined in the manufacturer's repair procedure. Improper rivet substitution on these platforms can affect structural integrity.
Yes. ASP Clips supplies automotive rivets in bulk quantities for professional shops. Contact the ASP Clips team at (512) 259-8044 or customerservice@aspclips.com to discuss bulk pricing and order options for blind rivets, aluminum rivets, steel rivets, and specialty automotive rivet applications.
Rivets are permanent fasteners and removal requires drilling out the rivet head and body. Use a drill bit matched to the rivet's body diameter and drill through the center of the rivet head until the head separates. The remaining rivet body can then be pushed through or removed with pliers. Take care to drill only through the rivet and not deeper into the underlying panel material.
ASP Clips carries blind rivets (pop rivets), aluminum rivets, steel rivets, and specialty automotive rivets for platform-specific and OEM-specification repair applications. Contact ASP Clips at (512) 259-8044 to discuss specific rivet types required for your repair application or vehicle platform.
Body Fasteners
Automotive body fasteners are specialized clips, retainers, pins, and hardware used to attach exterior body panels, trim components, and structural elements to a vehicle's frame and body structure. Common body fasteners include push-type retainers, Christmas tree clips, panel clips, fender fasteners, bumper cover clips, and quarter panel retainers.
ASP Clips carries a broad range of body panel clips including push-type retainers, Christmas tree clips, fender clips, door trim retainers, bumper cover fasteners, quarter panel clips, and platform-specific body clips. The catalog covers domestic, Japanese, Korean, and European vehicle applications.
A Christmas tree clip is a push-type body fastener named for its stepped triangular profile which resembles a Christmas tree. The stepped design allows the clip to grip multiple panel thicknesses as it is pushed into a mounting hole. Christmas tree clips are widely used in bumper covers, door panels, and body trim attachment across domestic and import vehicles.
In automotive applications, clips and retainers are often used interchangeably, but retainer typically refers to a fastener designed for secure, repeated attachment where a component may need to be removed during service. Both serve the function of holding body panels, trim components, and interior elements in place without traditional threaded hardware.
The most commonly needed body fasteners in collision repair include bumper cover push-type retainers, door panel clips, fender fasteners, rocker panel molding clips, and hood and trunk trim retainers. Heat-damaged, UV-degraded, and physically broken clips also create high replacement demand — particularly on vehicles in Sun Belt states.
Yes. ASP Clips carries OEM-equivalent body fasteners for a wide range of domestic and import vehicle platforms. These are replacement fasteners that match the original equipment specification for size, retention force, and material — ensuring proper fitment without requiring original OEM parts at OEM prices.
ASP Clips' body fastener catalog covers domestic platforms including Ford, GM, Chrysler, and Stellantis vehicles, as well as Japanese platforms like Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, and Mazda; Korean platforms including Hyundai and Kia; and European platforms including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Audi. Coverage extends across multiple model years, including older platforms still in active service.
Body clips fail for several reasons including UV exposure and heat in Sun Belt climates, physical stress during panel removal, incorrect clip substitution, corrosion from road salt and moisture, and aging of the plastic polymer material. UV degradation is the leading cause in hot, dry climates where clips become brittle and snap during routine trim removal.
The correct body fastener is determined by the vehicle's make, model, and year, as well as the specific panel location. Key dimensions include hole diameter, shank length, and flange diameter. ASP Clips' team can help identify the correct OEM-equivalent clip based on vehicle information and physical measurements if the original part number is unavailable. Call (512) 259-8044 for assistance.
Yes. ASP Clips supplies body fasteners in bulk quantities to auto body shops, collision centers, dealerships, and distributors. Bulk ordering is available for high-volume SKUs, and pre-made assortments are available for shops that need a ready starting inventory across multiple fastener categories.
Push-pin fasteners — also called push-type retainers — are used throughout the vehicle interior and exterior to attach panels, trim components, and body elements. They install by pushing into a pre-formed hole and the retention legs expand behind the substrate to hold the panel in place. They require no additional tools for installation and can be removed cleanly with a trim panel tool.
Distributor Network
Yes. ASP Clips operates a regional distributor network across the United States. Local distributors carry ASP Clips inventory in their markets, providing auto body shops and collision centers with faster delivery, local stocking support, and relationship-based service backed by the full ASP Clips product catalog and warehouse.
Distributor coverage information is available at aspclips.com/distributors. You can also contact ASP Clips directly at (512) 259-8044 or customerservice@aspclips.com to ask about distributor availability in your specific market area.
Ordering directly from ASP Clips provides access to the full product catalog and warehouse inventory with nationwide shipping. Ordering through a local ASP Clips distributor provides faster turnaround, local delivery options, and a personal relationship with a distributor who understands your market's specific needs. Both options draw from the same ASP Clips product line.
ASP Clips provides distributors with product training, inventory support, marketing materials, and the ASPTRACS ordering and inventory management platform. The company's service-first philosophy extends to its distributor relationships — ASP Clips works with distributors as partners, not just as end-point resellers.
Yes. Many shops use both channels depending on the situation — sourcing routine high-volume items through a local distributor for fast turnaround and placing direct orders with ASP Clips for specialty items, deeper catalog SKUs, or bulk purchases. Contact ASP Clips to discuss what arrangement works best for your shop.
Prospective distributors should contact ASP Clips directly at (512) 259-8044 or customerservice@aspclips.com. The ASP Clips team evaluates distribution opportunities based on market coverage needs and will discuss the requirements, structure, and support available for new distributor partners.
Local distributors typically carry the highest-velocity SKUs and product categories most relevant to their specific market's vehicle mix. The full ASP Clips catalog — including specialty and lower-velocity items — is accessible through direct warehouse orders. Distributors work with ASP Clips to optimize their local stocking configuration for their customers' needs.
ASP Clips has distributor coverage across multiple U.S. regions with concentration in the South and South-Central United States where the company has operated longest. Coverage has expanded as the distributor network has grown. Contact ASP Clips or visit aspclips.com/distributors for current coverage information.
Yes. ASPTRACS is available to distributors as well as shop-level customers. The platform supports distributor-level inventory management, ordering, and account oversight in addition to shop-level parts documentation and invoicing.
Delivery speed through a local distributor depends on the distributor's location, inventory, and delivery schedule for your area. Local distribution is generally faster than direct warehouse shipping for routine orders. Contact your local ASP Clips distributor directly to understand their delivery capabilities and schedule.
Drill Bits & Tools
Auto body and collision repair shops use drill bits as consumables — they wear out, dull, and break under daily demands of fastener removal, rivet prep, and panel drilling. Buying in bulk reduces per-unit cost, minimizes emergency reorders, ensures each technician bay is always stocked, and reduces downtime caused by hunting for the right size or waiting on small-quantity deliveries.
Auto body shops use:
- Jobber drill bits — general drilling
- Split-point bits — precision work on body panels
- Cobalt bits — hardened fasteners, broken bolt removal, spot weld drilling
- Step drill bits — grommet and access holes in thin sheet metal
- Double-ended bits — extended life in high-repetition applications
A split-point drill bit has a modified tip geometry that self-centers on entry — eliminating the tendency of standard drill points to walk or skate on smooth, curved, or thin surfaces before they begin cutting. On body panels where precise hole placement matters and center-punching is often impractical, split-point bits produce cleaner, more accurate results than conventional 118-degree point bits.
Cobalt drill bits are best used for applications involving hardened fasteners, broken bolt removal, spot weld drilling, and high-strength structural steel. Cobalt's higher heat resistance allows the bit to maintain its cutting edge at temperatures that would soften and dull a standard high-speed steel bit. For routine drilling on mild steel, aluminum, and body panels, standard HSS jobber bits are typically sufficient.
The most common drill bit sizes in collision repair cover the small-to-mid diameter range for fastener removal prep and rivet hole drilling — typically 1/8 inch through 3/8 inch in fractional sizing, or the equivalent metric sizes for import platform work. The exact sizes most critical to a shop will depend on the rivet specifications and fastener systems most common to the shop's vehicle mix.
Step drill bits — sometimes called unibits — have a conical stepped profile that cuts multiple hole diameters in sequence with a single bit. In auto body work they are used to create grommet holes and access holes in thin-gauge sheet metal, and for situations where a precise hole diameter is needed in thin material without the risk of tearing or deforming the substrate.
Drill bit replacement should be based on performance and usage rather than visible failure. Signs that a bit needs replacement include increased heat generation while drilling, slower cutting speed, visible wandering on entry, rough hole finish, and increased torque or resistance. Waiting for a bit to break mid-hole is poor practice — dull bits damage work and waste time.
High-speed steel jobber bits work on both steel and aluminum, though aluminum drilling benefits from a higher rake angle geometry and cutting fluid to prevent chip buildup. Cobalt bits designed for hardened steel can also drill aluminum, but their geometry is not optimized for it. Split-point bits work well across both materials for precision entry.
Yes. ASP Clips offers drill bit options suited for auto body and collision shop supply in multiple quantities. Contact ASP Clips at (512) 259-8044 or customerservice@aspclips.com to discuss bulk drill bit purchasing options and which configurations are best suited for your shop's volume and application mix.
Every rivet specification includes a recommended hole diameter for proper installation. Using an oversized hole produces a loose, poorly set joint with inadequate clamping force. An undersized hole prevents the rivet from seating correctly. When sourcing rivets and drill bits together — both available through ASP Clips — the bit size should always be confirmed against the rivet manufacturer's specification before drilling.
Electrical Components
ASP Clips supplies wiring harness clips, cable management retainers, conduit brackets, and electrical fasteners used in automotive body and electrical system repair. These components secure wiring looms, protect cable routing, and maintain the organized electrical architecture of modern vehicles during and after body and collision repair.
Wiring harness clips secure the vehicle's wiring looms to the body structure, chassis, and interior panels. When body panels are replaced or repaired, the wiring harness must be correctly re-routed and refastened to its original path. Missing or broken harness clips allow wiring to contact sharp edges, heat sources, and moving components — creating conditions for chafing, electrical shorts, and long-term wiring failure.
A wiring harness retainer is a clip, bracket, or push-type fastener designed to hold one or more wiring harnesses or conduits in a fixed position against the vehicle's body structure or chassis. Retainers vary in design based on the diameter of the harness, the surface they mount to, and the retention force required for the application.
Electric vehicles and hybrids use high-voltage wiring and cabling that requires specific routing and protection hardware — including high-voltage conduit clips, specialized grommet fasteners, and retention hardware designed for the larger diameter and weight of HV cable assemblies. As EV and hybrid vehicle repair volume increases in body shops, having the correct electrical fastener inventory for these platforms becomes increasingly important.
Wiring harness clip identification requires knowing the harness outer diameter, the mounting surface type (body sheet metal, interior plastic, bracket, etc.), and the mounting hole diameter or stud size. ASP Clips' team can assist with identification when the original part number is unavailable. Call (512) 259-8044 for help with identification.
Wiring harnesses that are not properly re-clipped after a body repair will move, vibrate, and potentially contact adjacent components over time. This causes chafing of the wiring insulation, which leads to intermittent electrical faults, shorts, blown fuses, and in severe cases, wiring fires. All harness routing clips disturbed during a repair should be replaced.
Yes. Flood-damaged vehicles typically require extensive replacement of electrical fasteners and wiring hardware. Water intrusion destroys plastic clip components, corrodes metal retainers, and degrades the adhesive on tape-wrapped harnesses. Shops performing flood repair should plan for full wiring clip and harness retainer replacement throughout the affected areas of the vehicle.
ASP Clips carries cable management products as part of its electrical component line. Contact the team at (512) 259-8044 or customerservice@aspclips.com for specific cable tie and bundling product availability and to discuss the formats most commonly used in professional collision and body repair applications.
Yes. Improper routing or inadequate retention of wiring harnesses can affect airbag system integrity, vehicle safety systems, and onboard diagnostics. OEM repair procedures specify harness routing and clip locations for safety-critical wiring. Following these specifications is essential for restoring the vehicle to proper operating condition and maintaining compliance with repair standards.
Electrical fasteners, clips, and wiring retainers replaced during a collision repair are parts that should be documented and itemized in the repair estimate. ASPTRACS — ASP Clips' cost recovery and invoicing software — allows shops to create itemized invoices for all replacement fasteners including electrical components, ensuring shops are reimbursed for every part used in the repair.
General / About ASP Clips
ASP Clips — formally known as Automotive Specialty Products — is one of the largest independently owned automotive fastener distributors in the United States. Founded in 1990 by Doug Lindquist in Liberty Hill, Texas, ASP Clips supplies auto body shops, collision centers, dealerships, and distributors with clips, retainers, body fasteners, hardware, electrical components, and shop supplies.
ASP Clips is headquartered at 3251 County Road 321, Bertram, TX 78605. The company operates a warehouse and distribution facility in Bertram, Texas, and serves customers nationwide through direct shipping and a regional distributor network.
ASP Clips was founded in 1990, making it over 35 years in the automotive fastener industry. The company started as a single-person mobile distribution operation in the Austin, Texas metro and has grown into one of the largest independent fastener distributors in the country.
ASP Clips was founded by Doug Lindquist, a former IBM professional who transitioned into the automotive specialty products industry. He started the business with a converted tool truck servicing auto shops in the Austin, Texas area and built it into a nationally recognized independent distributor.
ASP stands for Automotive Specialty Products, which is the formal company name. ASP Clips is the brand name used across the company's product line and marketing.
ASP Clips is a distributor of automotive fasteners and specialty products. The company sources clips, retainers, hardware, rivets, drill bits, electrical components, and shop supplies and distributes them to professional automotive businesses including body shops, collision centers, dealerships, and regional distributors.
ASP Clips primarily serves the automotive repair and collision industry. Core customers include auto body shops, collision repair centers, dealerships, mechanical repair shops, and independent automotive distributors. The company also supplies commercial fleet shops and industrial vehicle maintenance operations.
ASP Clips is independently owned, which allows for competitive pricing without large corporate overhead. The company emphasizes a service-first distribution model — meaning product knowledge and getting the order right are prioritized over transaction volume. With over 35 years of industry experience, ASP Clips brings expertise that commodity distributors typically don't offer.
ASP Clips operates on the founding principle that service should be the goal of every sale. This service-first philosophy means helping shops find the right product for their specific application rather than simply shipping whatever is in stock. The company slogan — More Than Half Nuts. More Than Your Average Supplier. — reflects this commitment.
ASP Clips can be reached by phone at (512) 259-8044 or by email at customerservice@aspclips.com. Customer service hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM CST. A contact form is also available at aspclips.com/contact.
Yes. ASP Clips maintains active profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. Links to all social channels are available in the footer of aspclips.com.
Yes. ASP Clips has remained independently and family-affiliated throughout its history. The company was built by Doug Lindquist and has grown while maintaining its independent ownership structure — which is a key part of how ASP Clips keeps pricing competitive and service personal.
Hardware (Grade 5, Grade 8, Metric, Stainless)
Grade 5 and Grade 8 are SAE strength designations for inch-series bolts. Grade 5 bolts have a minimum tensile strength of 120,000 psi and are marked with three radial lines on the head. Grade 8 bolts are stronger with a minimum tensile strength of 150,000 psi and are marked with six radial lines. Grade 8 is appropriate for higher-stress structural, mechanical, and suspension applications while Grade 5 covers a broad range of general automotive fastening needs.
Metric hardware refers to bolts, nuts, and washers manufactured to ISO metric thread and dimensional standards rather than SAE inch-series standards. Nearly all Japanese, Korean, and European vehicles — and an increasing number of American vehicles — use metric fasteners throughout the drivetrain, body, and chassis. Metric and inch-series fasteners are not interchangeable, even when they appear similar in size.
Stainless steel hardware should be used in applications where corrosion resistance is a priority — coastal environments exposed to salt air, high-humidity markets, vehicles that have experienced flood damage or water intrusion, and exterior mounting points exposed to weather. Stainless fasteners resist oxidation significantly longer than zinc-plated or uncoated carbon steel hardware.
No. Grade designations are part of the engineering specification for a fastener application. Substituting Grade 5 hardware in a Grade 8 application reduces the joint's tensile and shear strength capacity, which can lead to fastener failure under load. Always match or exceed the grade specified in the OEM repair procedure or engineering documentation.
Metric property class 8.8 is roughly equivalent to SAE Grade 5 in tensile strength. Metric property class 10.9 is roughly equivalent to SAE Grade 8. Property class 12.9 exceeds Grade 8. These designations are stamped or embossed directly on the fastener head for identification.
Yes. ASP Clips stocks both metric and SAE inch-series hardware across Grade 5, Grade 8, and stainless categories. This coverage reflects the full range of vehicle platforms — domestic vehicles using inch-series fasteners and the broad population of import vehicles requiring metric hardware — that professional shops work on daily.
Suspension and frame repair applications typically require Grade 8 (or metric equivalent class 10.9) bolts, nuts, and washers. These high-stress applications demand fasteners with sufficient tensile and shear strength to maintain joint integrity under dynamic load. Torque specifications from the OEM repair procedure should be followed, and fasteners should be replaced rather than reused in critical suspension and frame locations.
Metric fasteners come in coarse and fine thread pitch variants for the same nominal diameter. Using the wrong thread pitch damages threads in the mating part (stripping or cross-threading) and produces a joint that appears assembled but has inadequate clamping force. Thread pitch should always be confirmed against the vehicle's fastener specification before installation.
Yes. ASP Clips supplies Grade 5, Grade 8, metric, and stainless hardware in bulk quantities for shops, distributors, and fleet operations with consistent fastener demand. Contact the sales team at (512) 259-8044 to discuss bulk pricing and ordering.
Miscellaneous hardware at ASP Clips includes a range of fasteners and hardware components that fall outside the standard body fastener and structural hardware categories — specialty nuts, washers, brackets, and fastener configurations used in specific vehicle applications. Browse the Miscellaneous Hardware category at products.aspclips.com for the current product listing.
Ordering & Accounts
To set up an account, contact the customer service team at (512) 259-8044 or email customerservice@aspclips.com during business hours Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM CST. The team will walk you through account setup, discuss the product categories most relevant to your shop, and identify whether a direct account, local distributor, or both is the right fit.
ASP Clips offers several account types including direct shop accounts, distributor accounts, Warehouse Direct accounts, and MSO (multi-shop operator) Direct accounts. Each account type provides access to different ordering channels, pricing tiers, and ASPTRACS platform features. Contact ASP Clips to determine which account structure is appropriate for your operation.
Minimum order requirements vary by account type. Contact ASP Clips customer service at (512) 259-8044 to discuss minimums, pricing tiers, and order structures that work for your shop's volume.
Product browsing is available at products.aspclips.com. ASPTRACS customers with Virtual Assortment access can place orders directly through the ASPTRACS platform. For shops without Virtual Assortment access, orders are placed through the customer service team. Contact ASP Clips to discuss your ordering options.
Yes. ASP Clips offers volume pricing for shops, distributors, and operations with consistent bulk demand. Pricing tiers vary by product category and order volume. Contact the sales team at (512) 259-8044 to discuss bulk pricing for specific products or product categories.
Contact ASP Clips customer service at (512) 259-8044 or customerservice@aspclips.com for current payment method information. Payment terms and available methods are discussed during account setup.
Shipping timeframes depend on the destination, order size, and specific products ordered. ASP Clips ships nationwide from its Bertram, Texas warehouse. Contact customer service for estimated delivery times to your location or to discuss expedited shipping options.
Contact ASP Clips customer service at (512) 259-8044 or customerservice@aspclips.com for order status and tracking information. The ASPTRACS platform also provides order visibility for platform users.
Contact ASP Clips customer service immediately at (512) 259-8044 or customerservice@aspclips.com. The team will work to identify the discrepancy and arrange for the correct product to be supplied. ASP Clips' service-first philosophy means resolving order issues quickly and correctly is a priority.
Product categories and many individual items are browsable at products.aspclips.com. For a complete catalog discussion or to identify specific parts not easily found through the online product browser, contact ASP Clips customer service directly. The team's product knowledge often allows them to identify and source items that are difficult to locate through standard catalog search.
Pre-Made Assortments
Pre-made assortments are curated packages of high-velocity automotive fasteners and clips packaged together in predetermined quantities. They are designed to give body shops, collision centers, and distributors a ready working inventory of the most commonly used clips and fasteners without requiring the shop to build an individual SKU-by-SKU opening order.
Pre-made assortments are most useful for:
- New shop locations or new service bays
- Shops restocking after a high-volume period such as hail season
- Distributors setting up a new territory
- Shops transitioning to a more organized stocking model
They reduce the complexity of the initial order and ensure coverage across the most common repair applications from day one.
ASP Clips pre-made assortments include selections from the most commonly used body fastener categories — push-type retainers, Christmas tree clips, panel pins, and platform-specific clips that see the highest replacement demand in professional collision repair. Contact ASP Clips to review current assortment configurations.
ASP Clips works with shops and distributors to discuss inventory configurations appropriate for their specific vehicle mix and market. Contact the customer service team at (512) 259-8044 to discuss whether a standard assortment or a customized stocking package is the right fit for your operation.
Pre-made assortments reduce the administrative complexity of sourcing fasteners by providing a stocked starting point rather than requiring the shop to research and individually order each SKU. When combined with ASPTRACS inventory management software, shops can track assortment usage over time and reorder based on actual consumption data rather than guesswork.
For many shops, yes. Pre-made assortments are priced to reflect volume purchasing and eliminate the overhead of multiple small individual orders. The time saved in procurement and the reduced risk of running out of high-demand clips during a repair add practical value beyond the per-unit cost comparison.
ASP Clips assortments are designed to reflect real-world shop demand, which includes both domestic and import vehicle platforms. The specific mix of domestic versus import fasteners in a given assortment can be discussed with the ASP Clips team based on the vehicle mix your shop services most frequently.
Yes. Pre-made assortments are available to distributors as a stocking product. ASP Clips works with regional distributors to establish appropriate inventory configurations for their markets. Contact the ASP Clips team at (512) 259-8044 to discuss distributor pricing and assortment availability.
Pre-made assortments can be browsed at products.aspclips.com or ordered by contacting ASP Clips customer service at (512) 259-8044 or customerservice@aspclips.com. Shops with an ASPTRACS account can also access ordering through the Virtual Assortment ordering feature in the platform.
Standard pre-made assortments focus on the highest-volume general-use body fastener categories. Specialty items like rivets, hood clips, and door rod clips may be available as add-ons or separate orders. Contact ASP Clips to discuss building a complete inventory package that includes specialty categories alongside the standard assortment.
Shipping Areas
ASP Clips ships automotive fasteners and specialty products to auto shops, dealerships, collision centers, and distributors across all 50 states. The company has particular distribution depth in the South-Central United States, including Texas, and throughout the Southwest, South, and Midwest through its distributor network.
Yes. ASP Clips ships to auto shops, collision centers, dealerships, and distributors throughout California — including Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Valley, San Diego, and Sacramento. Local distributor coverage is also available in select California markets. See aspclips.com/shipping-area/automotive-fasteners-california for more information.
Yes. Texas is ASP Clips' home state and the market the company has served longest. ASP Clips has both direct warehouse shipping and the deepest local distributor network in Texas, covering Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, West Texas, the Rio Grande Valley, and markets statewide. See aspclips.com/shipping-area/automotive-fasteners-texas for more information.
Yes. ASP Clips ships to auto shops and collision centers throughout Nevada, including Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno, Carson City, and rural Nevada markets. See aspclips.com/shipping-area/automotive-fasteners-nevada for more information.
Yes. ASP Clips ships to automotive shops throughout Arizona including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott, and Yuma, with local distributor coverage available in select markets. See aspclips.com/shipping-area/automotive-fasteners-in-arizona for more information.
Yes. ASP Clips ships to auto body shops, collision centers, and distributors throughout New Mexico, including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Roswell, Farmington, and Clovis. See aspclips.com/shipping-area/automotive-fasteners-new-mexico for more information.
Yes. ASP Clips ships to automotive shops across Kansas, including Wichita, the Kansas City metro, Topeka, Salina, Hutchinson, and Dodge City, with local distributor coverage statewide. See aspclips.com/shipping-area/automotive-fasteners-kansas for more information.
Yes. ASP Clips ships to auto shops and collision centers throughout Arkansas, including Little Rock, Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville), Fort Smith, Jonesboro, and Texarkana, with local distributor coverage across the state. See aspclips.com/shipping-area/automotive-fasteners-arkansas for more information.
Yes. ASP Clips ships to automotive shops throughout Louisiana, including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Monroe, with local distributor coverage statewide. See aspclips.com/shipping-area/automotive-fasteners-louisiana for more information.
ASP Clips has distributor coverage across multiple U.S. states with the strongest network concentration in the South-Central and Southeastern United States. Visit aspclips.com/distributors or contact ASP Clips at (512) 259-8044 to find out if there is a local distributor serving your area.
Yes. ASP Clips ships directly to shops in small and rural markets as well as major metros. Direct warehouse shipping from Bertram, Texas reaches shops nationwide. For rural markets without a local distributor, direct ordering from ASP Clips provides access to the full product catalog.
Specialty Products
Hood clips — also called hood retainer clips — are fasteners that secure the hood insulation pad, weather seal, and hood liner components to the underside of a vehicle's hood panel. They hold these components in place through the repeated opening, closing, and road vibration that a hood experiences over the vehicle's service life. ASP Clips carries both standard and bulk hood clips for professional shop supply.
Door rod clips are retention fasteners that secure the metal rods that connect interior door handles, latch mechanisms, and lock actuators to their respective components within the door assembly. These clips snap onto the rod at a specific location to hold it in position against a bracket or mounting point. When door rod clips fail, interior door handles become unresponsive or feel loose and door latch operation is compromised.
Door rod clips are commonly broken or lost during door panel removal and interior repair work. When a door panel is pulled from the vehicle, the clips securing door rods often snap off or are damaged in the process. They must be replaced with the correct clips — sized to the rod diameter and bracket geometry — to restore proper door function before the panel is reinstalled.
U-clips — also called U-nuts, speed nuts, or clip nuts — are spring steel fasteners with a U-shaped profile that clips onto a panel flange or mounting tab and provides a pre-assembled threaded nut location. When a bolt is threaded into a U-clip, it draws the clip tight against the panel, creating a secure fastened joint without requiring a separate nut on the back side. They are widely used throughout vehicle body panels, door structures, and trim mounting applications.
Metal retainers are fasteners made from stamped spring steel or formed metal rather than plastic or nylon. They are used in applications where plastic clips would fail from heat load, vibration stress, or weight requirements. Common metal retainer applications include under-hood fastening, interior metal trim attachment, and structural clip applications where plastic material properties are insufficient.
Plastic retainers — typically made from nylon or glass-filled polymer — are used in the majority of interior and exterior trim applications because they are lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to install and remove. Metal retainers are used where higher strength, heat resistance, or vibration resistance is required. The choice between plastic and metal retainer is determined by the application's load, temperature, and access requirements.
Yes. ASP Clips offers bulk door rod clips for professional shop supply. Shops that work high volumes of door repair and interior teardown jobs benefit from keeping door rod clips stocked in quantity to avoid sourcing them individually for each job. See aspclips.com/supply/bulk-door-rod-clips or contact ASP Clips for current availability.
Yes. ASP Clips offers bulk hood clips for shops that need consistent supply for high-volume repair work. Hood insulation clip replacement is a common step in collision repair whenever a hood is replaced or repainted. See aspclips.com/supply/bulk-hood-clips or contact ASP Clips for current availability.
U-clips are spring steel fasteners that can often be reused if removed carefully without deforming the spring arms. However, clips that have been bent, over-compressed, or corroded should be replaced since the spring tension required for secure retention may be compromised. In professional collision repair, replacing U-clips during panel removal is recommended practice.
Door rod clip identification requires knowing the rod diameter, bracket or mounting tab thickness, and the engagement method (snap-on, slide-on, or end-cap style). Contact ASP Clips at (512) 259-8044 with the vehicle make, model, and year along with a description of the rod clip location and the team can assist with identification and sourcing.
Trim Panel Retainers
Trim panel retainers are specialized clips, pins, and push-type fasteners used to attach interior panels and trim components to a vehicle's body structure. They secure door panels, dashboard trim, pillar covers, headliners, cargo area panels, and interior moldings. Trim panel retainers must hold panels securely while remaining removable without damaging the surrounding interior material.
Trim panel retainers break during removal most often because they have become brittle from age or heat exposure, are the wrong type for the vehicle application, or are being removed with incorrect technique. Pulling at the wrong angle or at a panel corner before all retainers are released creates lateral stress that snaps the retainer or cracks the panel around the mounting point.
Proper door panel removal requires a dedicated trim panel removal tool rather than a screwdriver or pry bar. Insert the tool at each retainer location — not at the panel edge — and apply direct inward pressure to release each clip before moving to the next. Starting at a corner and pulling the entire panel puts lateral load on all retainers simultaneously and causes breakage.
Yes. Best practice in professional collision repair is to replace all trim panel retainers whenever a door panel or interior trim component is removed. Retainers lose retention force with each removal cycle as the expansion legs fatigue and fail to return to full spring tension. Reusing fatigued retainers results in loose panels, rattles, and customer callbacks.
Interior panel rattles after repair are most commonly caused by retainers that were not fully seated, retainers that are the wrong size or type for the vehicle, damaged mounting receptacles, or reused retainers that have lost their retention force. All retainer locations should be confirmed as fully seated before closing the panel.
Trim panel retainers are largely vehicle-specific. While some universal push-type configurations fit multiple applications, the specific dimensions — head diameter, shank length, leg design, and retention force — vary significantly between makes, models, and even between model years of the same vehicle. Using a close-but-incorrect substitute retainer commonly results in fitment problems and panel rattles.
Door panel retainers are designed to carry the load and repeated cycling of full door panel removal and installation — they are typically larger, higher-retention fasteners. Interior trim clips refer to the smaller fasteners used on bezels, moldings, pillar covers, and decorative trim pieces. Both categories are vehicle-specific, but door panel retainers generally have higher retention force requirements.
Yes. ASP Clips stocks trim retainers for European platforms including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Audi. European vehicles often use proprietary clip designs not interchangeable with other platforms. Contact ASP Clips at (512) 259-8044 with the specific vehicle make, model, and panel location to confirm availability for your application.
The number of retainers on a door panel varies by vehicle, but most passenger vehicle door panels use between 8 and 20 retainers depending on the panel size and mounting system design. Some vehicles also combine push-type retainers with screw fasteners hidden under trim covers. Consulting the OEM repair procedure or a vehicle-specific diagram is the most reliable way to identify all mounting points.
In some cases, yes. Minor damage to the plastic mounting receptacle can sometimes be repaired with adhesive or by installing a replacement clip receiver. Severely damaged receptacles often need to be replaced with a bonded repair or OEM replacement panel section. Installing a new retainer into a damaged receptacle will not produce a secure hold regardless of retainer quality.
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