bring car in for estimates as seems like someone hit my car parking.

one shop quotes me $850, another $1100..first shop has 4 hrs labor other 8 for same work…wtf? do they have any logic in their total labor hours or do they just throw random numbers out there?

Some do. Some use a program that estimates how long it should take. Others are like, **** it, I know from experience.

They all have a book that tells them how long certain jobs will take. Insurance companies and shops use the same book.

One shop is likely accounting for additional work beyond what's seen on the surface.

I deal with estimates constantly. Sometimes shops will low ball estimates so they can get you in and then it you with a supplement afterwards. Some shops will give higher estimates on purpose if the job will be a pain or if they think they can get insurance to pay it

Nah. These guys are...

Range in price is common. Definitely get multiple quotes. Also helps to have a basic understanding of cars or someone who is an aficionado in your corner so you reduce the chances of getting fooked.

Lotta delays still in material and parts right now

I could imagine some shops are weeks to months behind while others are more current
Undoubtedly would affect the estimate

An actual, respectable shop goes "by the book" and by that I mean there is an actual book that tells them how long a job should take.

Shop rates will vary though.

Depending on your location some shops will probably try to push it to see if you'll go for it, do the work and maybe make you feel better and say "well, we quoted you $1100 but we got it done for $975"
Others will do the opposite, quote you low and get you in there, call you once the work has started and tell you "it's gonna be another $250 cause once we got in there blah blah blah"

either way, get multiple quotes, feel out the shop and go with what you're comfortable with. Most likely you're going to get what you pay for but paying more doesnt mean you're going to get better quality/service.

Good luck....stay safe.

Just buy some bondo and do it your self.

A lot of shops overcharge because of insurance.

I managed a auto body shop for years and wrote estimates

For an auto mechanic "the book" labor rates are pretty much set.
It takes 1.7 hours to replace a control arm on blank vehicle
For body work you have three main books (software) and they can vary a little
The quote will be something like .3 hours RR bumper, .4 prep, .2 mask etc
You also have things that are judgement calls (how long to pull, how long to repair blank dent, etc)
Body shops make money with the pen not the labor
If I got an initial from a insurance company for 2k. I could fight and sometimes get that to 5k. All legal and by the book and doing the complete job
Like if its something like a rear passenger door I am not painting just the door. I am painting the door, prepping and blending (paint) the front door and quarter and pillar.
On select colors the same with bumpers. If it is a odd or three stage paint on the bumper I am blending the hood and both fenders as well. (note blend is not painting the whole panel, paint on some of the panel and clear all the way through)

BTW I rarely even wrote self pay jobs (My car was hit in a parking lot and not going through insurance)
Easier to deal with insurance companies and they understand what it takes even if they do not WANT to pay

Very few shops get rich from it.
It is hard work (hard to get employees)
dirty, cancer risk, etc The employees are the hardest. They are more skilled over a mechanic but typically paid less because the labor rate is less in most cases and it is physically more demanding. Typically they are dunks/chain smokers/don't show up a couple times a month.

had a front end damage to one of my cars. someone hit n run from behind and I smashed into the SUV in front of me.

A lotta shops told me they wouldn't work on it cuz too complicated cuz any engine front end work has to be spot-on for insurance purposes. One shop quoted me 3-4K and most were around there if they worked on it.

Ended up getting parts in salvage yard for around 200 and fixed it myself in a day. Just had to pull it forward by tying a chain to the front bars & telephone pole several times several angles. paint doesn't match but its not that different.

Its not perfect but one shop was pretty impressed with what I managed to do, cuz I thought i might need touch up work...he said I didn't need any.

Cliffs: yeah its a ripoff like most tradie/felon jobs.

Estimators might see different things and apply labor differently.

One shop might take off a panel then be like oh it will be a couple extra hours because we saw some other damage after we removed the panel.

and we wonder why insurance premiums go up all the time....

Worked as a manager for Enterprise for two years. Biggest body shop in town's owner basically called me in when I got promoted and told me that the previous managers had all committed fraud with him and I was expected to do the same. They would inflate repairs, invoices, etc and even expected us to fudge numbers for rental cars.

And he wasn't the only one. Three biggest shops in town basically had the same conversation with me. Pretty sure all of them are involved in some degree of insurance fraud.

Lol, until you’re frame straightening using a fukin telephone pole, you ain’t in the autobody business.

Do all my repairs and servicing myself. Jfl @ being a man and not having a clue how to use a torque wrench

Yup. The body shops all want to rip off either the insurance companies or the customer or both, but sometimes the insurance and body shop will conspire to rip off the customer. The insurance wants to pay as little as possible, and some body shops will play along for the repeat business.

I've heard of some cases to where they will not give the car back until the customer gives them more money, even though their deductible has already been paid. They claim the insurance didn't pay enough, so when the customer calls the insurance, they claim they did and unless you summons them both to court to point fingers at each other, somebody gets away with something.

If you do get damage, its best to play the part of a naïve customer and just do what the adjuster says and take it to where they want you to take it, then get rid of the car as soon as possible because who knows what the quality of work is.

If you're a car guy, then you should know your body shops in your area & who can be trusted. If I need something repaired, there is only one place I trust to work on my vehicles as I am extremely picky.

You can go get multiple estimates, but in most cases, you get what you pay for and that's the main reason why some shops are more expensive.