What This Lesson Covers

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This lesson covers what an auto estimate and a supplement are, how they are generated, who needs auto estimators, and provides tips for setting up an estimating environment.

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Why This Is Important

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As an estimator, it is important to fully understand what all purposes the estimate serves.  It’s also important to properly set up the estimating environment to become efficient at generating thorough auto estimates.

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Topics Covered In This Chapter Include:

• Auto Repair Estimates

• Supplements

• Methods Used To Write Estimates

• The Sequence of Writing an Estimate

• Who Needs Estimates

• Setting Up The Estimating Environment

• Tools Needed To Generate Auto Estimates

 

What Is An Auto Repair Estimate

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Auto repair estimates are called different names, including damage report, damage estimate, and auto estimate, but they are all basically the same thing.  A damage estimate, however, is more than just a sheet of paper listing the total cost of repairs.  An estimate is a contract or a mutual agreement between two people.  As with real estate, the owner and buyer must agree on a price and sign a contract of their agreement.  An auto damage estimate is done the same way, as there should be an agreement between the repair shop and customer, and the customer should sign the agreement to authorize the repair shop to repair the vehicle. 

One thing the estimator must explain to the customer, which is often misunderstood, is that the total amount is just an estimate.  Auto repair estimates do not guarantee the exact amount of the final invoice.  There may be hidden damage, parts price adjustments, or many other factors that may change before the vehicle is completed.