In my last article, Advanced Vehicle Technology Is Killing Collision Repair Jobs, I explained how ADAS improvement and usage is raising repair costs and encouraging insurers to approve fewer repairs and declare more total losses (payouts) after vehicle collisions. Here is what auto body shops should do next to protect their business against this trend.
Accuracy is the name of the game.
Shops must write the most realistic estimate from the start, including the full cost of ADAS-related repairs. Insurers look for auto body shops that can consistently deliver the same quality of repair, supported by clear and complete documentation.
To ensure consistent and accurate estimates, auto body shops should create and follow a standard repair process that includes ADAS-related work, such as required scans, calibrations, OEM procedures, and inspections. This process should apply to every vehicle, old or new. It helps keep paperwork and pricing consistent and clear.
This works because insurance decisions rely on consistency and documentation.
When auto body shops follow the same process on every repair and document each required step, insurers are more likely to view the work as mandatory rather than optional.
By preparing accurate paperwork and records, insurers can evaluate total-loss decisions using the true cost of modern repairs rather than incomplete estimates. Resulting in reduced unnecessary disagreement and delayed approvals.
Luckily, ADAS is not the only technology getting an upgrade. Unlike before, auto body shops now have access to a wide range of digital tools borrowed from other industries. While most of these tools are not built specifically for collision repair, adopting technology into daily operations can still improve accuracy and record-keeping in a short amount of time.
Have you experienced a rising repair difficulty in your shop? What tools are you using today to track repair orders and documentation? Let me know.
