A successful repair begins with a thorough repair plan and ends with receiving proper reimbursement for every required operation. This highly interactive course combines proven repair planning processes with practical negotiation strategies, equipping attendees to write complete, OEM-compliant repair plans and confidently negotiate with third-party payers.

The goal of repair planning is to create a comprehensive damage analysis based on OEM repair procedures. Throughout this course, attendees will learn a systematic approach to identifying vehicle 
damage, researching OEM repair information, documenting required operations, and 
presenting a complete repair file that supports safe, proper repairs while reducing liability.

Participants will also learn Collision Advice’s proven negotiation process, built around four 
simple but powerful questions that create a strong, fact-based position for reimbursement:

• Is it required?
• Is it included?
• Is there a pre-determined time?
• If not, what is it worth?

By combining technical repair planning with effective communication and negotiation 
techniques, attendees will be prepared to justify necessary repair operations, overcome
common objections, and improve reimbursement outcomes.

During this course, you'll learn how to:

• Create complete repair plans based on OEM repair procedures.
• Research and apply OEM repair information to support safe and proper repairs.
• Perform OE safety inspections, steering column inspections, seat belt inspections, and other critical damage analyses.
• Identify structural and cosmetic damage, including repair considerations for today's advanced vehicle materials.
• Understand key replacement considerations, including non-reusable parts, adjacent panel damage, and related operations.
• Build a "bulletproof" repair file that supports reimbursement for pre- and post-repair scans and other required procedures.
• Document vehicle damage in a way that supports liability protection and strengthens negotiations.
• Negotiate refinish operations, including weld burn damage, finish sand and buff, extending clear, basecoat reduction, and other commonly disputed procedures.
• Build trust, respect, and credibility with vehicle owners and third-party payers.
• Apply the principle, "Seek to understand, then to be understood," to improve negotiation outcomes.
• Effectively respond to common objections such as, "No one else charges for that."
• Present compelling documentation and negotiation tools that support payment for operations not included in estimating systems.
• Explain the "why now" behind repair procedures and communicate the repair story with confidence.

Course Takeaways

Attendees will leave with practical resources they can immediately implement, including ready-to-use negotiation tools, repair planning resources, documentation templates, and the latest Who Pays for What? survey results. By the end of the program, participants will have the knowledge and confidence to produce safer repair plans, reduce liability, improve documentation, and maximize proper reimbursement for every repair.

Location:

Holiday Inn Eau Claire South
4751 Owen Ayres Ct.
Eau Claire, WI 54701

Time:

Start Time: 8:30 am

End Time: 4:30 pm