What is an estimator?
An estimator is a person who writes car repair estimates on vehicles that have been involved in an accident. The estimator must understand the basic design of the car and know the nomenclature of a vehicle. The estimator must also have good communication skills, as he deals with clients on a daily basis. Not only does the estimator have to communicate with the customers, but they will also be the contact person for the insurance companies, the store managers, and the store foreman or technicians. Therefore, communications are a must for an automatic estimator. This career path is definitely for a people person. In fact, I would even say that a person who writes auto repair estimates for a body repair center must be part of a salesperson. Their job is to sell themselves, the company, the technicians, and the service the shop provides. Not all technicians are good estimators, but it is a good idea for the estimator to have experience as a technician. However, there have been people hired without experience and trained by the shop to write estimates.
Who will hire you?
There are two different industries that hire automatic estimators. One is auto body repair shops and the other is insurance companies. This can also be divided into other categories in each industry. Collision stores can be dealerships, franchise stores, or independent stores. Some insurance companies hire their own auto estimators, while other insurance companies hire independent auto estimators. When you write estimates for the insurance company, your title may be a car appraiser rather than a car estimator.
What can you hope to win?
This may vary based on your experience and whether you work for a small auto body shop or insurance company. However, according to O * Net, the national median for an Auto Damage Assessor is $ 53,440 and had a growth rate of 7% to 10% over a ten-year period. (2006 – 2016) Some collision repair centers will pay their estimators a salary and a percentage of each job they sell. Therefore, the more estimated sales the estimator produces, the more income you can earn if you receive one of these types of bonus incentives.
What is the first step towards this career?
The first thing you will need is to learn the basics. You can do this by enrolling in a collision repair program. Many local colleges and universities offer these programs. This will allow you to learn the basics of the entire industry. Everything from body repair, structural or frame repair to painting. Most programs incorporate a basic estimation course into the automated program. This will give you an idea of the industry and determine where you best fit. You may decide to become a collision or paint technician rather than a person who writes auto repair estimates. Whatever you decide, this training is the first step in securing a job in car accident repair or estimating careers. Some insurance companies require you to have a bachelor’s degree, but many do not. Experience also weighs heavily on insurance companies. Training is your foundation and how you build the building is up to you. What I mean is that once you have mastered its basics, you will have many opportunities and directions to explore.
Where do I find a facility to get training?
The best training for your money will be at a high school or community college. Community colleges typically focus on smaller groups, offering a lower student-to-instructor ratio. This leads to a deeper level of learning. They also receive state and federal funds, allowing them to offer quality programs at a much lower cost to the student. Other training facilities include privately owned technical schools and schools. Check with your local community college to see if they offer collision repair. If not, ask if there is a nearby tech school that does. They most likely know where to point you in the right direction. Once enrolled in a collision repair program, you will be well on your way to a career as a writer. auto repair estimates or many other careers that collision repair offers.
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