Body shop labour rates?

[skeggysteve]

As above - what are they these days, per hour?

Work is for accident repair - jig, panels changed, some mechanical work and paint.
All though insurance company.

[domster]

It can be ridiculously low.

They get negotiated down by the insurers. A chap in the trade told me they were well under 20 GBP an hour at one point. 30 is probably considered generous. The trade used to take a low rate as they could make money on parts, but the the insurers started telling them they had to take the panels they supplied (typically cheaper versions) that didn't give them any margin and didn't fit as well (so took longer, at more hourly rate, to fit)! Thus many bodyshops went out of business.

But my info is a bit out of date, so I'll allow real bodyshop folk to spill the beans. I doubt they're on Porsche OPC hourly rates though.

[paintman]

Ask the garage that is doing the work what their hourly rate is.
Varies widely.

[Ti22]

I used to work for a car insrance co, deciding who did the work.

It was very rare we paid over £25 per hour.

[skeggysteve]

paintman said:

Ask the garage that is doing the work what their hourly rate is.
Varies widely.

Not getting the work done - insurance company have written the car off. Can't say I blame them about £8000 to repair a car worth £1500!


I asked because the insurance assessor put £28 per hour on his report which I thought was very low but obviously not.

[V8covin]

I always asked for £25 per hour but the assessors often tried to get you to come down.
Glad I rarely do insurance work any more,just not worth it

[alsaautomotive]

Likewise, I don't do a helluva lot of ins work, but have customers who have insisted on their car coming to me for repair & the insurance companies have ALWAYS paid out my std labour rate (previously £31 p/h, now £35), they have whinged about it (pretty much every time actually;)), but have always paid it. Stick to your guns guys.
Another point on this subject............when I started in the trade (somewhat over 20yrs ago!) I worked at one of the largest repairers in the UK & they were charging (& getting) £35p/h THEN, the insurers have been trying to screw the trade to the floor on labour rates ever since then imo; I was told fairly recently by a good friend in the industry (ins that is) that the 'TARGET' labour rate for assessors to agree to pay in this part of the country is £22p/h.

[jeff666]

I charge my rate out at £25.00 ph. i hate insurance work and even turn it away, most people dont understand why until i explain that i have to do the job at a price they tell me i will get and then have to wait 6-8 weeks to get paid.

Then the cheeky barstewards ask for a discount on parts and paint materials. Me !!!! bitter,,, never..

[skeggysteve]

I can see why some of you don't want insurance work at those rates. How are you expected to make a profit let alone invest in new equipment.

Do you guys in the industry (bodyshops) think that by pushing down the rate the insurance companies are going to end up running their own bodyshops?

[cartoons]

it`s been tried before and the insurance companies have lost money doing work for themselves!! you couldn`t make it up could you.we are always told that £25ph is a maximum.i have just agreed a job on a merc slk at £30ph and the assessor said that was the merc dealer rate! if you have a few staff who are really good and fast workers (which is rarer than ever) there is money in insurance work,otherwise it`s best to steer well clear!