How to Prepare for a Collision Repair Estimate

Vehicle details to gather

A few basics make the first conversation about your vehicle quicker and more accurate. Before you request a collision repair estimate, have these ready:

• Year, make, and model — plus the trim level if you know it.
• How you plan to pay: through an insurance claim or out of pocket. The estimate form asks for this.
• The best phone number to reach you.
• Where the vehicle is now, and whether it is drivable.

Describe visible damage

Describe what you can actually see and hear — that is what an estimate conversation starts from:

• Which areas are affected: bumper, fender, door, hood, or other panels.
• Photos from a few angles in good light — one wide shot of the whole vehicle and close-ups of each damaged area.
• Anything that changed after the damage: a door, hood, or trunk that no longer closes smoothly, or a new noise while driving.
• When you first noticed the damage, if you know.

Stick to what you can observe. Some damage is not visible from the outside, so the shop may need to see the vehicle before the full scope of collision repair is clear.

Compare estimate scope

An estimate is a scope of work, not just a number. When you review one — or compare more than one — look at what each actually includes:

• Which panels and areas of the vehicle the estimate covers.
• Whether paint and refinishing work is listed for the repaired areas.
• How the shop confirms damage that cannot be seen from the outside.
• How you will hear about it if additional damage is found and the scope changes.

If you are paying through a claim, read about insurance claim assistance and ask what applies to your situation.

Questions before a visit

A few questions worth asking before or during your first conversation:

• What should I bring or send — photos, or the vehicle itself?
• What does the estimate include, and how will I hear about it if the scope changes?
• Can the estimate start from photos, or does the shop need to see the vehicle first?
• How do I indicate whether I am paying through an insurance claim or out of pocket?

More general questions about estimates, damage, paint, and claims are answered in the FAQ. When you are ready, request an estimate online or call (818) 472-9222 — our team will follow up.