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Jacob, Wardlaw and Pacesetter both have auto  programs. Check their websites for the information. Depending on where you are located, in the DFW area there was a local body shop chain that also held basic classes on auto estimating. I'm sure there are more, I'm discussing starting one with my company, but don't know if it will happen or not.

 

JWG

Go to U-Pull-It and find a car or light truck or a heavy truck, identify it, photograph it and then use the Mitchell Manual or local aftermarket parts houses or salvage yards to price the necessary body repair parts, fenders, hoods, quarters, bumpers, paint time. Mechanical parts, alternators, water pumps, fans, belts, hoses, can be priced at RockAuto on the internet or at any of the local parts houses, AutoZone, NAPA, O'Reilly's.

Do about a vehicle a day for about a month and you will know as much about vehicle estimate writing as anybody.

Thanks for the info guys. I was also wondering if any one has attended any of these schools and can give any kind of review. I'm trying to gain some understanding of what these schools do and what to expect. They say you receive CAT training but what about licencing? I live in TN which does not require licencing. Should I take a self study licence rep course as well as an in class CAT training course, or do you take you licencing exam at the CAT school? I'm going to speak with each school about it but I wanted to here from you guys first.
I probably should have said this earlier but I've been a body man for five years and have estimate writhing and damage scoping experience. I just want to make sure I choose a school that will teach more than just writing estimates but rather all the thing I need to know while on deployment as well as laws and regulations.
Thanks Again
Jacob

If you are handling hail damage to vehicles, as a Cat adjuster, generally the work will involve writing damage estimates at breakneck speed. Then a check will be issued and the claim is concluded. Most times the vendor sets up a drive in location and the insured brings the vehicle to the location.

As a vehicle damage appraiser working daily claims you will be assigned an appraisal and then travel to the vehicle and write a repair estimate. The vehicle could be a passenger vehicle or a light truck. To make a living requires break neck speed and lots of travel.

As a heavy equipment appraiser working daily claims you will be assigned an appraisal and then travel to the vehicle and write a repair estimate. The vehicle could be a medium or heavy truck or a range of construction equipment. Again lots of travel is required.

If you can write a sheet I don't see what it is that a school would teach you that you don't already know about writing a material damage appraisal. This work is brutal and the pay is nearly none existent.
I would evaluate the work and the pay in detail before I quit a paying job and tried to make a living as a material damage appraiser.

Also, in some states material damage appraisers don't have to be licensed, it is insurance adjusters that have to be licensed. Material damage appraisers generally pass their sheet on to an adjuster for negotiation and payment of the claim.

Posted By jspek9 on 13 Oct 2009 04:41 PM
I probably should have said this earlier but I've been a body man for five years and have estimate writhing and damage scoping experience.

 

Jacob,    These schools will probably be very elementary to you. If you can scope a veh and write a sheet then you will not need any school unless you are unfamiliar with PDR writing, Going to a class to learn where a fender is will bore you to tears and waste your time and money. Get with a good vendor, get on a list and wait for a deployment, if that what you are wanting. If you are looking for local claims, then learn to eat rice and beans, or beans and rice. You will make more money in a shop than working local auto claims. Like I said earlier, auto is OK to hit while driving to your money maker, but as a stand alone, unless you have a sweetheart deal, you will not make good money.

 

JWG

 

 

It,s been many years since I have seen a sheet from an independant auto damage appraiser, but I don,t ever remember the bottom line much more than about $75.00 and if you were on a 60/40 split thats lot of car in a 10 hour day to make more $30.00 per hour. This would be about 1,000 to 1.500 miles per week in milage at about .50 per mile and $2,00 photo;s are 8 to 10 bucks.

Get on the net and send your resume to all the big 4 5 companies   Pilot, Ebrels, Worley, Renfrow, Crawford & Company, GAB, Cunningham Lindsey and a few others and get on thier hail, flood teams, and write 25 sheets a day inder a tent in drivethrough, or a salvage yard for auto,s with water over the dash. You will not make what the dwelling adjusters are making, BUT you can learn dwelling and do BOTH someday.

Posted By Ray Hall on 14 Oct 2009 12:58 AM

Get on the net and send your resume to all the big 4 5 companies   Pilot, Ebrels, Worley, Renfrow, Crawford & Company, GAB, Cunningham Lindsey and a few others and get on thier hail, flood teams, and write 25 sheets a day inder a tent in drivethrough, or a salvage yard for auto,s with water over the dash. You will not make what the dwelling adjusters are making, BUT you can learn dwelling and do BOTH someday.

OK your economics make sense. But what about my license can I do that, just apply to these companies and expect to get a call someday? Or maybe once accepted to a team, I will get my license through the company? What is the best way to go about this?

Thanks

Jacob

 

Jacob, Check your messages and give me a call.

 

JWG