Begin the inspection
Now you know what types of damage there may be and the sequence of predicted damage that may be present, we can begin to write the auto repair estimate. We have all of the customer information, vehicle information, and insurance information recorded on the estimate form. We have asked the driver of the vehicle all of the questions to determine what happened during the accident and any additional information that you may need. Now it is time to start writing the auto repair estimate. First you want to inspect the vehicle looking for all direct and secondary damage.
This may include:
-
Raising the vehicle up to look underneath the vehicle
-
Looking inside the passenger compartment, measuring to determine if any frame or unibody damage is present, determine the severity of the damage.
-
Visual inspect all body gaps for misalignment’s, popped loose spot welds, cracked seam sealer, etc.
Once you have the big picture you can start writing the damage estimate report. Start with the the damage that is near the front of the vehicle first and move backwards. For example, if the door, rocker panel and rear quarter panel are damages, write in that sequence. Most estimating guides and computer estimating systems follow the same sequence, front to back. Record everything that needs repaired or replaced on the estimate. This may require removing parts to determine if there is damage to the parts that we can not see. Open all doors, hoods, and the deck lid. However, if the customer is going to be driving the vehicle after your inspection, you may not want to pry or wedge any parts open to gain access. This may lead to a panel that will not shut properly, which may be a safety hazard. Be sure to explain to the customer your concerns and let them know there will probably be hidden damage upon tear down, which will require a supplement estimate to be generated. As we mentioned in an earlier post, you may consider helping arrange rental or providing a ride for the customer once you have all of the necessary information from them. If you get the customer to go ahead and sign authorization for repairs, you can take your time and thoroughly write a clean estimate, which may require partial tear down. Once you have an auto damage estimate generated, you can consult with the customer and insurance adjuster to determine the next step of action to take.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.