Welcome! My name is Todd Donald; Auto Body Estimator -Collision Repair Estimator – Auto Damage Appraiser. My goal is to serve your auto body shop, insurance carrier, or appraisal company with my expertise in the collision repair industry. I’m confident that I can serve your auto damage appraisal and collision repair estimating needs.

Based in the Fox Valley Tri-Cities area of Geneva, IL, my typical service area is Chicago area body shops, but I can also travel throughout the United States.

There are millions of cars on the road and vehicle accidents and damage occur frequently. When a vehicle owner’s car, van, SUV or truck is damaged, they file an insurance claim and need an estimate to begin the repair or settlement process. I’m adept with collision repair estimating software including CCC1, Audatex and Mitchell. I perform Field Inspections or Inside Desk Reviews and Audits. REMOTE ESTIMATING AND DAMAGE APPRAISALS utilizing  my certified Windows 8 tablet with wireless 4gLTE / wifi connectivity, in combination with CCC1’s OneTouch application, I can connect to any insurance company’s or body shop’s existing CCC1 estimating software / or Audatex web based estimating software and perform remote estimating physically at the vehicle itself regardless of whether its outside, in the shop, at a tow yard or with the vehicle owner at home or work.

Auto Body Repair experience makes all the difference!

I have decades of experience in the collision repair industry. From apprentice, to body tech, combo tech, painter, assistant manager, estimator and general manager. I also have established, healthy relationships with insurance company auto claims representatives, reviewers, field re-inspectors, crash part vendors and Chicago automotive sublet vendors.

• Auto Body Repair Preliminary Estimates – Once a collision occurs and the claims process begins, the clock is ticking. Insurance companies, body shops and vehicle owners want auto damage estimate information and need an accurate and fair estimate to begin the repairs or settle the claim.​ Contact Auto Body Estimator for your insurance company auto damage appraisal or auto body repair shop estimating needs.

• Auto Body Repair Complete Estimates – The best estimate is blue printing the repair with a complete and thorough tear down, estimate and parts search. Locking the estimate and sending to the insurance company.​ Contact Auto Body Estimator for insurance company auto damage appraisal or auto body repair shop estimating needs.

• Auto Body Repair Supplements & Reinspection – Throughout the auto body repair cycle it may become necessary to create a supplement to the original estimate of record and submit it for approval and order more parts, or it might be that you need a vehicle in process reinspected.​ Contact Auto Body Estimator for your insurance company auto damage appraisal or auto body repair shop estimating needs.

• Auto Body Repair Total Loss Evaluations – In the event that a vehicle is older, high mileage or has extensive damage, it may be necessary to perform a total loss evaluation and submit the Total Loss Estimate to the insurance company for settlement. Contact Auto Body Estimator for your insurance company auto damage appraisal or auto body repair shop estimating needs.

There is a shortage of skilled auto body estimators and independent auto damage appraisers with fewer people coming into the industry. There is competition to acquire skilled help like an experienced auto body estimator or independent auto appraiser. When your insurance company or auto body shop requires accurate, fair auto damage appraisals and estimates I can help.

I have decades of Auto Body Shop Estimating and Collision Damage Repair Experience: Gold Class designated in reference to Gold Class Professional status. certified and competent in auto body repair / refinishing. Relevant Work Experience including Estimator, Service Writer, Estimate Auditor, General Manager, Estimate Reviewer, Assistant Manager, Painter, Combo Body Technician, Apprentice Technician.

Insurance companies may require independent auto appraisers to assess vehicle property damage, especially during inclement weather or following catastrophes such as hail or flood. Auto body shops will need a helping hand when they get slammed with collision repairs, are short staffed, hire someone new that needs to be trained, or maybe staff is sick or on vacation. This is where I can help you!

When you’re dealing with a young or inexperienced person, you don’t know what they don’t know. Having been in the business for more than 25 years, I know a lot. I understand the urgency of the collision repair business. Cycle time is critical to your auto body shop.

And if your insurance company or body shop has Direct Repair Programs, of course you’re probably curious what insurance companies I’m experienced in writing estimates for? How about Allstate GHRN, State Farm Select Service, USAA, American Family, AAA, Metlife, Farmers COD just to drop a few names… Yes I’m very familiar with and very good at Direct Repair Compliance including photos, documentation, parts usage, events, estimate accuracy and all their KPI’s.

Auto Damage Appraisals and Collision Repair Estimating

I inspect damaged automobiles, assessing the extent of the damage and appraise automobile and vehicle damage to determine repair costs for insurance claim settlement and / or repairs at an auto body repair shop. In the course of the insurance claim and repairs I prepare any necessary insurance forms to indicate repair cost or cost estimates and recommendations. I may seek agreement between insurance company and automotive repair shop on repair costs.

Samples of my job titles: Appraiser, Automobile Appraiser (Auto Appraiser), Automobile Damage Appraiser (Auto Damage Appraiser), Damage Appraiser, Field Appraiser, Field Inspector, Insurance Appraiser, Material Damage Appraiser, Outside Physical Damage Appraiser, Physical Damage Appraiser.

Tasks I routinely perform as an auto damage appraiser:

• I examine the damaged vehicle to determine extent of structural, body, mechanical, electrical, or interior damage.
• I evaluate the practicality of repair as opposed to payment of market value of vehicle before accident.
• I estimate the parts and labor to repair damage using standard automotive labor and parts cost based on collision damage estimating software, parts listings from online sources and vendors including wholesale crash parts vendors, OEM parts dealers,  recycled parts vendors, aftermarket parts vendors and my knowledge of automotive repair.
• I prepare and or review repair cost estimates with automobile repair shop to secure agreement on cost of repairs.
• I prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost estimates and recommendations.

Contact me for auto damage appraisals and auto damage repair estimates.