Insurer Estimate vs Shop Estimate Gap Explainer

Compares the insurance company's estimate with your shop's estimate and explains each difference to the customer in plain English.

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Before and after

BEFORE · what the owner typed

customer is Annika Skinner, her blue 2014 Subaru Crosstrek, front hit. insurance estimate came in 3712.50, ours is 4860.00, both before tax. labor rate is 60/hr on both. I'm Anton Stark at Summermoor Collision, 2522 Silvermoor St, Doveglen, 319-555-0160. differences: 1. front bumper reinforcement bar, we have it, insurance doesnt. part 286.00 plus 1.0 hr = 60. I marked it safety, its bent 2. extra body labor, we have 14.0 hrs they have 11.5, 2.5 hrs, inner fender apron needs straightening, we saw it once bumper was off 3. bracket behind the bumper cracked, found on teardown, 57.50 part plus 0.5 hr labor 4. headlamp, we wrote the original Subaru lamp 412.00, they wrote aftermarket 298.00. we want the original, fit 5. refinish labor, we have 1.5 more hrs, blending the fender so the color matches 6. paint and materials, we have 660.00 they have 300.00, goes with the extra refinish time I'll send a supplement to the insurance with photos. tell her its her call on everything.

AFTER · what the skill produced

Hi Annika,

Here is why the insurance estimate and our estimate for your blue 2014 Subaru Crosstrek are different. Both are before tax.

Insurance estimate: $3,712.50
Our estimate: $4,860.00
Gap: $1,147.50

Below is every line that makes up that gap.

Safety concern, recommended now

Front bumper reinforcement bar, $346.00. Our estimator found this bar is bent, and it is not on the insurance estimate. We marked it as a safety concern and recommend replacing it. This is $286.00 for the part and 1.0 hour of labor at $60 per hour.
Subtotal: $346.00

Recommended now

Extra body labor, $150.00. Our estimate has 14.0 hours and the insurance estimate has 11.5 hours. The extra 2.5 hours at $60 per hour is for straightening the inner fender apron, which we saw once the bumper was off. We recommend this repair.
Cracked bracket behind the bumper, $87.50. We found it cracked during teardown. This is $57.50 for the part and 0.5 hour of labor at $60 per hour ($30.00). We recommend replacing it.
Subtotal: $237.50

Also recommended

Headlamp, $114.00. We wrote the original Subaru headlamp at $412.00. The insurance estimate has an aftermarket headlamp at $298.00. We recommend the original lamp for fit.
Refinish labor, $90.00. This is 1.5 more hours at $60 per hour to blend the fender so the color matches. We recommend it.
Paint and materials, $360.00. We wrote $660.00 and the insurance estimate has $300.00. This goes with the extra refinish time.
Subtotal: $564.00

Check: $346.00 + $237.50 + $564.00 = $1,147.50, which matches the gap.

What happens next: We will send the insurance company a supplement with photos of these items. Whether the insurer approves each item is their decision, so we can't promise the outcome. Every item above is our recommendation, and the decision on each one is yours. If you decline an item, we will note it as your decision.

Call me with any questions at 319-555-0160, or stop by Summermoor Collision at 2522 Silvermoor St, Doveglen.

Anton Stark
Summermoor Collision

Questions for the owner

Do you want the customer's deductible or the insurance claim number mentioned?
Should the message say how long the supplement review usually takes at your shop?

What it does

Compares the insurance company's estimate with your shop's estimate and explains each difference to the customer in plain English. It shows where the money gap comes from, what the shop recommends, and what happens next.

Use it when: Use when a body shop needs to explain to a customer why the insurance company's estimate and the shop's estimate are different, such as: why is the insurance estimate lower, explain the difference between the two estimates, or write up the gap for the customer.