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Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage

Appraise automobile or other vehicle damage to determine repair costs for insurance claim settlement. Prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost or cost estimates and recommendations. May seek agreement with automotive repair shop on repair costs.

What you’d do

  • Evaluate practicality of repair as opposed to payment of market value of vehicle before accident.
  • Review repair cost estimates with automobile repair shop to secure agreement on cost of repairs.
  • Examine damaged vehicle to determine extent of structural, body, mechanical, electrical, or interior damage.
  • Prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost estimates and recommendations.
  • Estimate parts and labor to repair damage, using standard automotive labor and parts cost manuals and knowledge of automotive repair.
  • Determine salvage value on total-loss vehicle.
  • Arrange to have damage appraised by another appraiser to resolve disagreement with shop on repair cost.

Skills that matter

  • Speaking
  • Writing
  • Active Listening
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking
  • Time Management

How to get there

Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

Also called

  • Appraiser
  • Automobile Appraiser (Auto Appraiser)
  • Automobile Damage Appraiser (Auto Damage Appraiser)
  • Material Damage Appraiser
  • Damage Appraiser
  • Field Appraiser

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