A collision estimator determines the cost of repairing or replacing a vehicle part, component, or the entire vehicle. Insurance companies, body shops, and car dealerships are all good places to look for collision estimator jobs. Anyone wishing to work as a collision estimator must have a thorough understanding of automobiles and how to repair them. This is due, in part, to the frequent replacement of several related parts when a single part fails or is damaged.
A collision estimator is the person who determines the extent of damage to a vehicle after it has been damaged in an accident, fire, or natural disaster. In most cases, the estimator will determine whether the vehicle needs to be repaired or replaced due to the damages. This determination will be made using a bank loan value book, reports of local vehicle sales for comparable vehicle models, and repair cost estimates from local repair shops, among other methods and utilities. An insurance agency estimator will typically compare the cost of repair to the cost of replacing a typical vehicle to determine the amount of repair that will be authorized for a specific incident.
In most cases, a dealership’s collision estimator will be tasked with determining the cost of repairing a damaged vehicle. The estimate is frequently given to a member of the sales staff and compared to the cost of a new car. Because the trade-in value is typically the same whether the repair is completed or not, this is a very effective sales tool for many auto dealerships. The customer is frequently led to believe that the trade-in value is much higher than it actually is, making the option of purchasing a new vehicle very appealing. When a new vehicle sale is not imminent, it is also common practice for many dealerships to reduce the cost of the repair slightly in order to ensure that the repair is completed through the dealership’s collision center.
Many jobs for collision estimators include a training period in which the new employee must travel to an estimator school. This ensures that the collision estimator is knowledgeable about all of the procedures involved in the various types of required repairs. The estimator course includes training in frame and chassis collision repair, as well as body panel and interior component repair. To be able to work in any type of collision estimation business, the estimator is typically trained in both foreign and domestic vehicle repair.