Adapting to Rising Repair Costs: Smart Strategies for Body Shops

In 2024, the average repairable estimate in Canada rose by more than 8%, reaching $3,718. With inflation, OEM complexity, and insurer guidelines tightening across the board, body shops face a new reality: doing more with the same resources.

However, for progressive shops, rising costs can lead to more revenue if the right systems are in place.

Triage Early, Book Smarter

Not every car in your workflow needs a full teardown. Using AI-powered photo assessments, like those in Trueclaim, you can triage damage before the car even arrives.

• Just a few scratches? Book the repair directly and save an estimator's time.

• Clear structural damage? Allocate the right time slot and start the repair planning process.

• Looks like a total loss? Flag it early and skip wasting resources on estimating and tearing down.

  
  

This smarter scheduling means fewer bottlenecks, shorter cycle times, and more space for real repair work in your bay.

Never Miss a Billable Line

Many shops unknowingly leave money on the table, especially with ADAS operations and safety-related procedures. Modern vehicles come with dozens of calibrations and system resets that should be performed and paid for when affected.

The problem? With so many different rules and time to research OEM requirements, it's easy to overlook reimbursable operations.

Trueclaim's built-in intelligence does the work for you:

• Automatically detects ADAS-related components and calibration needs

• Matches the damage to the OEM requirements and provides documentation

• Flag every reimbursable operation and provide a report for the insurer.

Built-In Compliance with Every Insurer

Following the correct insurer protocol can be time-consuming and error-prone, especially when managing multiple DRPs. With Trueclaim, all relevant insurer, regional, and compliance rules are embedded into the estimate creation process.

No more second-guessing:

• Is this line formatted correctly for this insurer?

• What insurer-specific lines am I allowed to add for this damage?

• Trueclaim helps ensure you don't miss a cent.

  
  

Aligning each estimate with the appropriate insurer's guidelines allows you to identify potential overlooked items and money left on the table. This approach minimizes the need for supplements, enhances approval rates, and ensures audit readiness, all without additional administrative effort.

Efficiency = Profitability

Trueclaim isn't about replacing your estimators; it's about making them faster, sharper, and more consistent. When you triage early, write smarter estimates, capture every paid operation, and stay compliant from the start:

• You reduce wasted time

• You improve margins

• You open the door to handle more claims with the same staff.

  
  

In today's high-pressure environment, staying profitable isn't just about cutting costs; it's about working smarter at every step.