FREE PREPARATION RESOURCE
Auto-body damage brief and repair-scope comparison worksheet
Free fillable auto-body worksheets to organize vehicle and incident facts, visible areas, estimate assumptions, authorizations, repair handoff, and comparable scopes.
View the checklist and download the fillable PDF ↗FIND HELP. COMPARE OFFERS. YOU CHOOSE.
Auto Body & Collision
Tell us what you need. Pros can review your request and send you offers. You decide who to hire.
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What kind of help do you need?
Choose an option to learn more. Not sure? You can describe the problem in your request.
What information helps?
Share what you know. You do not need to know every detail.
- The problem or the result you want
- Where you need the service
- When you would like help
- Your budget, if you have one
Do not guess measurements or costs. You can ask a pro to check them.
Want to learn more before you start?
Open the guide for costs, useful questions and planning tools. You can start your request without reading it all.
Automotive · THE PROJECT GUIDE
Auto Body & Collision.
Get the details right.
A collision estimate can change after disassembly. Ask how hidden findings, parts choices, calibration and finish work will be documented and approved.
Explore freely · Compare thoughtfully · You choose the professional
THE WORK BEHIND THE WORDS
Choose the work you actually need.
Explore a specific project type for a more focused brief. Related tasks may belong in one combined request; separate them in the scope so providers can explain the price.
Collision repair
Compare structural, mechanical and finish scope.
Plan this service ↗Bumper repair
Clarify repair versus replacement and sensor work.
Plan this service ↗Paint repair
Specify panels and blending boundaries.
Plan this service ↗Panel replacement
Ask about fit, finish and related components.
Plan this service ↗Repair-estimate comparisons
Identify allowances and expected investigation.
Plan this service ↗| Detail | Get this in writing | Keep the comparison fair |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle, impact and estimate stage | Record VIN or exact year/make/model/trim, relevant factory equipment, mileage, impact areas, warning indicators, prior repairs, evidence supplied and whether the estimate is visual, pre-disassembly or post-disassembly. | Compare the same known facts and the same investigation boundary. |
| Parts and repair operations | List every affected part or system, repair-versus-replace decision, part type and identifier, applicable vehicle-maker information, attachment method, included fasteners and expressly excluded work. | Compare actual lines and assumptions rather than a bottom-line estimate. |
| Structure, finish and electronics | Define measurements, structural/mechanical work, alignment, corrosion protection, seam sealing, refinish and blend panels, scans, calibrations, sublet work and prerequisite conditions. | Make safety-system, finish and outside-vendor dependencies visible. |
| Supplements and handover | State teardown permission, storage or reassembly terms, change evidence, approval contact, supplements, final records, unresolved items and written warranty terms. | Compare authorization controls and verifiable closeout, not a promised result. |
UNDERSTAND THE PRICE
See the parts. Then compare the total.
A useful budget explains what the money covers. Keep these cost areas visible rather than relying on a package name or headline figure.
Specified parts or products
Repair and installation labor
Associated services and disposal
What changes the scope?
A collision estimate can change after disassembly. Ask how hidden findings, parts choices, calibration and finish work will be documented and approved.
Ask providers to explain how damage areas and parts choices affect their assumptions. Separate confirmed information from items still awaiting assessment.
What does the chart show?
The planning tool compares amounts you enter over the same period. Fixed charges, rate × quantity, monthly charges and extras stay separate. Its cumulative-cost graph makes different upfront and recurring arrangements easier to understand.
Published references, where available below, show their own units, source and period. They remain separate from your calculator inputs. Employee wages and producer-price indexes are context, not the price a provider will charge. Ask for current proposals for your actual scope.
Explore employee wages by state
Related occupation: Automotive Body and Related Repairers. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. These are employee wages, not contractor billing rates, business fees or an installed-project estimate.
$17.74U.S. · 10th percentile
$26.39U.S. · Median hourly wage
$42.28U.S. · 90th percentile
The median divides employees into two equal groups. The percentile figures describe the wage distribution; they are not minimum and maximum prices. Unpublished or suppressed estimates remain “Not published.”
Mean wages and interpretation
| Area | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $26.39 | $28.70 |
A provider’s charge also covers costs such as nonbillable time, supervision, vehicles, equipment, insurance, administration and profit. The selected occupation may cover only part of a multitrade project. OEWS does not measure self-employed contractors’ fees. No wage-to-quote multiplier is applied, and these snapshots do not establish a current labor-price trend.
BLS national and state source tables ↗ · SOC 49-3021 · Reviewed October 8, 2026.
YOUR PLANNING DESK
A clearer brief. A better starting point.
Build your request, compare entered costs and download a branded planning pack. Your selections stay here until you choose to continue.
Start with the details that matter.
No account needed to plan. Keep private documents, account numbers, credentials and sensitive case details out of this brief.
Also consider: Vehicle location, access and preferred timing. Leave unknown details for the provider to assess.
Review your starting brief
Review before continuing. You can edit the wording below. Manual edits stay in place until you choose to regenerate from your answers.
300 characters
Next, review the request in PickYourPro.ai. An account is required to complete it. This step does not send invitations or commit you to a provider. Service availability and provider participation vary.
Opt-in saves form answers only. Manual brief edits, comparison values and checklist selections are not saved. Download a copy to keep them; avoid saving on shared devices.
FROM FIRST QUESTION TO HANDOVER
Know what happens next.
- 1
Describe
State the vehicle details and observable symptoms.
- 2
Diagnose
Agree what the initial charge covers.
- 3
Authorize
Review findings, parts, labor and the approval limit.
- 4
Collect
Keep the itemized record and written service terms.
A planning sequence, not a promised duration. Actual timing depends on the service, the information available and the provider's agreed scope.
WHEN YOU WANT THE DEEPER VIEW
The details worth resolving early.
A collision estimate is a documented starting scope, not proof that every damaged component is visible. Give each shop the same exact vehicle identity, factory equipment, impact history, warning indicators, prior repairs and available photos or reports. Then compare what the estimate assumes before disassembly, what investigation is authorized, how parts and repair methods are identified, and what requires a supplement. This guide helps organize a repair conversation; it cannot determine hidden damage, whether a vehicle is safe to drive, the repair method for a specific structure, insurance coverage, diminished value or a guaranteed cosmetic or safety outcome.
- 01Identify vehicle & impact
- 02Map known damage
- 03Disassemble & measure
- 04Authorize & repair
- 05Verify, document & hand over
What can be scoped before disassembly?
Ask the shop to map visible damage and separate the preliminary visual estimate from measurements, scans, roadworthiness decisions and damage found only after authorized disassembly. Record the panels and systems inspected, access limits, prior repairs and unrelated conditions. Define the teardown authorization, storage or reassembly terms, evidence you receive, and the exact point at which work pauses for an updated scope instead of treating a photo estimate as final.
Repair, replace or investigate further?
Require a line-by-line explanation of which panels, reinforcements, brackets, absorbers, lamps, glass, restraints, suspension, cooling, electrical and sensor components are repaired, replaced, measured or excluded. For every repair or replacement, ask which current vehicle-maker procedure and material identification apply. Record part type, source and identifier—new original-equipment, new non-original, recycled, remanufactured or another disclosed option—without assuming that unlike parts or procedures are interchangeable.
How are structure, finish and driver-assistance work connected?
Ask for separate structural, mechanical, corrosion-protection, refinishing and electronic work lines. Identify panel sectioning or attachment boundaries, measurement and alignment needs, seam sealer, cavity wax or other restored protection, refinish panels and blend boundaries. List cameras, radar, ultrasonic sensors, restraint components and other affected equipment; ask what pre-scan, post-scan, aiming, initialization or calibration the vehicle maker requires, who performs it and what prerequisite conditions or reports are included.
Who authorizes changes, and what proves completion?
An insurer's estimate, a shop repair authorization and the owner's approval are related but not identical documents. Name the person who can authorize work, the written supplement process, price or scope limits and treatment of insurer, owner or shop disagreements. At handover, reconcile the initial estimate, supplements and final repair order; collect parts identifiers, measurements, alignment, scan and calibration reports, refinishing and corrosion-protection records, warning-light status, unresolved conditions and written warranty terms.
What changes with location and conditions?
- Estimate, parts-disclosure, authorization, replaced-part, lien, storage and insurance-claim rules vary by state and locality. Ask the shop and insurer to identify the documents and deadlines that apply; this planning guide is not legal or coverage advice.
- Road salt, coastal exposure, flooding, prior corrosion, heat and earlier body repairs can change visible condition and corrosion-protection work. Give each shop the same history and ask it to document actual findings rather than assume a regional condition is present.
- Paint-product rules, spray operations, waste handling and facility requirements vary by jurisdiction. Ask who performs refinishing and sublet work and where; federal EPA and OSHA material is background for shop controls, not a consumer recipe or proof of local compliance.
Documents to collect at completion
- Initial estimate, approved supplements and final itemized repair order
- Vehicle identification, odometer, impact map and retained inspection evidence
- Installed-part types, sources and identifiers with replaced-part disposition
- Vehicle-maker repair information or procedure references used
- Structural measurements and wheel-alignment report where included
- Pre/post scan, aiming, initialization and calibration reports where required
- Refinish panels, blend boundaries and restored corrosion-protection record
- Final warning-light status, unresolved items and written warranty terms
Compare these promised records before choosing a provider. Keep the originals alongside your planning pack.
PICKYOURPRO.AI · YOUR NEXT STEP
Explain it once.
Compare with more clarity.
Turn what you have learned into a focused request. Give providers the same starting information, review their responses and ask questions about differences in scope, timing and fees.
- 1
Build a clear brief
Describe the service, your priorities and what needs assessment.
- 2
Review responses
Compare what each provider proposes and clarify open questions.
- 3
Choose your provider
Consider relevant experience, scope and terms—not just the lowest number.
Requesting and comparing proposals is free for clients. Provider participation, availability and response times vary. Confirm any separate consultation or inspection charge. Review project unlock terms for later project stages.
GOOD QUESTIONS, CLEARER CHOICES
Before you choose.
What should I include in a auto body & collision request?
A collision estimate can change after disassembly. Ask how hidden findings, parts choices, calibration and finish work will be documented and approved. Include damage areas, parts choices, paint and blending, supplement approvals where known. Leave unknowns for the professional to assess.
Can I compare prices before an assessment?
You can compare the stated assumptions, scope and fee basis. Ask what must be checked before an offer is final and whether a consultation, inspection or diagnostic visit has a separate charge. For this service, start by clarifying damage areas.
How should I handle a lower price?
Ask which tasks, deliverables and terms differ. Use the cost tool to compare the same period and quantities, then review exclusions and professional fit. The smallest calculated number is not a recommendation.
Does the planning pack create an agreement?
No. It records your brief and entered scenarios. You still need to review and agree the provider’s actual proposal and terms. Keep original documents and approvals.
What happens after I continue to my request?
Your reviewed brief enters the existing PickYourPro.ai request process. You will need an account and can confirm the remaining details before completing the request. Provider participation and availability vary.
Are these live market prices?
The planning calculator uses your entered figures. Published references elsewhere on the page are separate, dated observations with their own sources and limitations. Neither is a live provider quote. Employee wages are not billable labor rates, and a producer-price index is not an installed project price.
TRANSPARENT BY DESIGN
Sources and editorial notes.
Prepared by PickYourPro.ai with AI assistance · Framework published October 7, 2026. Expanded research review: Sources checked October 11, 2026. These service-planning questions have not been independently reviewed by a licensed specialist. Local requirements and professional suitability need individual verification.
- FTC: auto repair basics ↗
Background on estimates, diagnosis and repair authorization. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- NHTSA: Driver Assistance Technologies ↗
Federal background on camera- and sensor-supported warning, braking, steering and visibility features; the page helps identify equipment to discuss but does not specify a vehicle's collision-repair or calibration procedure. Source checked October 11, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- NHTSA: Recalls ↗
Official VIN-based safety-recall lookup and recall background; recall remedies should be checked separately rather than folded into paid collision work without confirmation. Source checked October 11, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- U.S. EPA: Collision Repair Campaign to Reduce Air Toxics ↗
Federal background on toxic-air exposure and the Auto Body Rule for collision-repair refinishing operations; it is not a consumer refinishing procedure or verification that a facility complies. Source checked October 11, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- OSHA: Autobody Repair and Refinishing ↗
Federal workplace-safety overview covering paint, solvent, sanding, welding, cutting, noise, lift and related autobody hazards; it supports asking where work occurs, not do-it-yourself instructions. Source checked October 11, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- I-CAR Repairability Technical Support: OEM Information ↗
Industry portal organizing current vehicle-maker collision-repair information by brand; the exact vehicle and latest vehicle-maker technical information still control a repair decision. Source checked October 11, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- I-CAR Repairability Technical Support: Best Practices ↗
Industry-developed background on damage analysis, ADAS identification and calibration, diagnostics, sectioning and repair practices; current vehicle-maker instructions supersede generic planning guidance. Source checked October 11, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- I-CAR: ADAS ↗
Industry education on identifying cameras and sensors and locating vehicle-maker repair and calibration requirements; it does not establish which operations a specific vehicle requires. Source checked October 11, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
Methodology and updates
Scope questions are organized by service and buying process. The planning calculator uses only entered values. Separately labelled reference charts use public source observations; no private PickYourPro project history is used. A permanent page address does not make a dated reference permanently current. Substantive changes should update the editorial record.
October 7, 2026: initial guide, service-specific scope, planning worksheet and cost-comparison tools published.
Sources checked October 11, 2026: expanded option comparisons, project-specific buying questions, regional considerations and completion records.
KEEP EXPLORING
Related planning guides.
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Describe symptoms and provide vehicle details. Compare diagnostic authorization, parts specification and repair labor before approving work.
Explore ↗Tires
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Explore ↗Brakes
Ask for documented findings and an axle-by-axle repair scope. Compare specified parts, labor and any additional authorized work.
Explore ↗Oil & Maintenance
Use the vehicle's maintenance information to define the requested service. Compare fluid specifications, quantities, filters and additional checks.
Explore ↗