Damage assessment and documentation
How to become a peer tutor
Before any panel is straightened or a spare part is ordered, the damage must be assessed and documented. This is where the body technician determines what can be straightened, what needs to be replaced, and how long the work will take. According to the regulation on body technician training, you must be able to perform analysis and overall assessment of damage and extent of damage and use common damage assessment systems and prepare documentation — this is a competence in itself, separate from the panel work and welding.
§AutoTaks — the Industry's Joint Settlement System
In Denmark both insurance companies and around 4,500 workshops use the Autotaks system which is built on the Swiss Audatex system. Insurance & Pension has had the license since 1990 and the system contains standardized recommended working times and spare parts prices for virtually any type of vehicle damage. When you estimate a claim in Autotaks you use the same reference times the insurance company's assessor uses to judge your estimate — this makes the process transparent for both parties and reduces discussion about what a given task 'should' take.
The system covers everything from replacing a single bumper bracket to complete damage courses with panel work, painting and reassembly. For you as an apprentice, it's important to understand that the assessment is not a guessing game — it's a common industry language that makes it possible to compare quotes and assessments across workshops and insurance companies.
§From first glance to approved repair
- 01Visual inspection of the damage and the immediately visible damaged parts.
- 02Partial disassembly to uncover hidden damage behind bumpers, panels and under floor panels.
- 03Statement of working time, spare parts and materials in the damage assessment system.
- 04Submission to the insurance company's appraiser for approval.
- 05Possible discussion about additional damage if more is found during work.
- 06Only when the damage assessment is approved does actual repair begin.
§Total loss — the economic threshold
If the repair cost becomes disproportionately high in relation to the vehicle's market value before the damage, the case can end as a total loss. Registration tax law § 7 sets limits at 65-75% of market value above which a rebuild generally triggers new registration tax. As a body technician you are rarely the one who makes the final decision — that is done by the assessor and insurance company — but your estimate is often the basis for the decision so a fair and complete assessment is crucial so the customer gets a fair assessment.
§Documentation protects all parties
| Documentation type | When | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Photos before repair | Upon receipt of the car | Shows the scope of damage before anything is separated |
| Photos during separation | When hidden damage is found | Documents the basis for a supplementary statement |
| Spare parts invoices | At order and installation | Traceability for parts, especially safety-critical ones |
| Calibration report | After ADAS calibration. | Proves that safety systems work after repair |
| Signed statement. | Before work begins | Ensures agreement on scope and price between all parties |
Good documentation is not bureaucracy for bureaucracy's sake. It protects the customer against doubt about what has actually been done, the workshop against disputes over payment for work carried out, and you against later being held responsible for something you have never touched. If you get used to documenting as you go, it becomes a natural part of the craft rather than a burden at the end of the task.