A great career in Collision Estimating has endless growth opportunities – and you don’t need a university degree

Following is a review of the entry level collision estimating positions you can expect to hold after graduation and where your career could lead in just a few years.

Collision Estimating Employment opportunities

• New Car Dealers
• Pre-owned car dealerships
• Retail automotive repair facilities
• Automotive collision repair facilities
• Insurance companies
• Contract your services and enjoy the freedom of working for yourself

Entry-level collision estimating jobs

• Collision Estimator
• Insurance Company Estimator
• Independent Estimator
• Heavy Duty Estimator
• Possible occupational advancements
• Insurance Adjustor
• Fleet Rental Specialist
• Assistant Manager
• Body Shop Manager or Owner
• Fixed Operations Manager

Typical job description for a Collision Estimator

• Inspects vehicles to determine the amount of structural, body, mechanical or interior damage using mechanical testing devices, questioning customers about the vehicle or by visual inspection
• Calculates cost of labor and parts to fix or replace each affected item and estimate the salvage value of the total vehicle loss
• Analyzes repair cost estimates
• Consults with the collision repair manager or foreman
• Reviews cost effectiveness of repair versus replacement of parts
• Determines fees associated with repainting
• Fills out insurance claim forms to indicate repair or replacement cost estimates and recommendations
• Determines feasibility of repair versus pre-accident market value
• Prepares work orders