The Three Elements of a Car Repair Estimate

Dec 1
08:15

2011

Antoinette Ayana

Antoinette Ayana

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If you need body work performed on your motor vehicle because you were in a crash then there are three elements that go into the car repair estimate.

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You have been in an automobile accident. Thankfully you were not seriously hurt but your car now requires some body work. It can be difficult to understand what is involved in getting a car repair estimate when the body has been damaged. What you need to do is to find out what materials will be required for the entire car repair process. It really helps to be aware of what is involved in getting such an estimate for body work.

Estimates for body repairs are not the same everywhere you go. They vary according to a number of factors. For instance labor rates are different,The Three Elements of a Car Repair Estimate Articles as are prices for parts and the span of time that the repair will take to be completed. The dominant elements that make up a car repair estimate include:

- Initial estimates
- Supplemental estimates
- Agreed tariff

The initial estimates for a body repair on a vehicle will be prepared by a claim agent in order that the fixing process can get underway without delay. The claim agent should also be there to explain your car fix-it options to you. For instance you could choose to have your automobile fixed at a local garage, a syndicated shop or a different type of claim service.

The supplemental estimates for a car repair for the body is different than the initial estimates. If the service center that you choose finds that your vehicle is damaged worse than originally anticipated following the accident and needs extra work, then the claim agent will request to inspect it a second time. This re-inspection is actually quite common and not something to be concerned about. Motor vehicles that are involved in accidents may end up with parts that are damaged but go undetected when the initial estimates take place. If these damages are found after the work has started then a supplemental body repair estimate is needed.

The claim agent will work with the car repair facility to take another look at the damages to the motor vehicle and then will make the required revisions to the initial estimates. Included in this will be a list of the damaged parts that were found upon the re-inspection.

The agreed tariff (or agreed price) is the third element of a motor vehicle repair estimate. Once the initial and supplemental estimates have been completed the claim agent will write up the final estimate for the repairs that need to be done to get the vehicle back in working order. The final estimate will be based upon the prices for the parts as well as the costs for labor that are connected to the repairs that need to be completed.

If the estimate from the repair shop is much higher or lower in comparison to the estimate drawn up by the claim agent then the two parties must get together and come up with a price that they can agree upon. It is essential that the two parties are able to come to a consensus about the price before anything more can be done.