Vehicle damage assessor
Engineering and manufacturing
Level 4 -
Inspecting and assessing all elements of a motor vehicle that has sustained damage and requires repair.
Reference: OCC0406
Status:
SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3541/05 Vehicle damage assessors
Technical Education Products
Employers involved in creating the standard:
Rainbow Bodyshops, EZI Methods, Rye Street Group, Fix Auto Dagenham, Gemini ARC, Lookers, Aylesbury Panel Craft, Fix Auto Stevenage, AW Repair Group, Automotive Glazing Academy, The Vella Group, DWS Bodyshops, Alton Cars, Baldwins Repair Group, Apollo Group, Fix Auto Loughborough, Morelli Group, Fix Auto Slough, Motofix
Summary
A Vehicle Damage Assessor (VDA) works within the Automotive Bodyshop Industry. This industry employs around 200,000 people in a range of large, medium sized and small businesses.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to methodically and accurately inspect and assess all elements of a motor vehicle that has sustained damage and requires repair. They will be able to identify and record damage on a vehicle and determine (using prescribed information from Manufacturers) which parts of the vehicle should be repaired or replaced. A VDA will have an understanding of the manual process of assessing and costing repair of a vehicle, whilst also being able to use the relevant electronic estimating software. They will have knowledge of all types of vehicles including petrol, diesel, electric and hybrid. A VDA will stay abreast of ever changing autonomous technological vehicle safety developments known as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). The VDA will produce accurate & detailed repair specifications to be used to carry out the required repair process. They will have commercial knowledge of their respective workplace and know how to apply this in order to determine a monetary cost and timescale for each repair job.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with the customer of the damaged vehicle, the Bodyshop manager, vehicle repair technicians and office/administrative staff at their company and insurance companies. The assessor will work alone (once qualified) to assess the vehicle but will also liaise with the customer, insurance company and vehicle technicians to discuss the assessment, damage to the vehicle and how it will be repaired. The assessor may report to the Bodyshop manager, or sometimes the commercial director or other members of staff, depending on the staffing structure within their own organisation.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for producing an accurate estimate to carry out a repair job which is subsequently agreed by key stakeholders.
A VDA will have excellent communication skills, be able to negotiate and have a methodical approach to work. Being able to carry out work accurately is essential.
Employers involved in creating the standard:
Rainbow Bodyshops, EZI Methods, Rye Street Group, Fix Auto Dagenham, Gemini ARC, Lookers, Aylesbury Panel Craft, Fix Auto Stevenage, AW Repair Group, Automotive Glazing Academy, The Vella Group, DWS Bodyshops, Alton Cars, Baldwins Repair Group, Apollo Group, Fix Auto Loughborough, Morelli Group, Fix Auto Slough, Motofix
Typical job titles include:
Keywords:
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
Duties
Duty D1
Appraise a damaged vehicle and identify and record damage, including impact zone and severity
Duty D2
Identify non-accidental damage to vehicles
Duty D3
Make use of manual and digital image technology to record areas of damage identified
Duty D4
Accurately record data from the vehicle including the correct vehicle identification and model details, mileage and modifications
Duty D5
Identify and evaluate condition of safety related systems and any action required, applying H&S car related current legislation to do so (e.g. air bags, tyres etc)
Duty D6
Access industry vehicle repair methods and apply them appropriately
Duty D7
Differentiate between items that need repairing and items that need replacement
Duty D8
Apply accurate and appropriate opinion times for method and duration for repair
Duty D9
Assess the cost and duration of a repair
Duty D10
Discuss damage and repairs with a range of stakeholders (vehicle owners, insurance companies, colleagues and managers), listening to their view, responding to concerns and negotiating using evidence based reasoning
Duty D11
Assess the current market value of vehicle using industry proprietary guides
Duty D12
Obtain authorisation from the Client/Customer to proceed with repair to a vehicle and confirm the cost of the repair (if appropriate for the workplace)
Duty D13
Interpret and accurately apply estimating software system
Occupational Progression
This occupational progression map shows technical occupations that have transferable knowledge and skills.
In this map, the focused occupation is highlighted in yellow. The arrows indicate where transferable knowledge and skills exist between two occupations. This map shows some of the strongest progression links between the focused occupation and other occupations.
It is anticipated that individuals would be required to undertake further learning or training to progress to and from occupations. To find out more about an occupation featured in the progression map, including the learning options available, click the occupation.
Progression decisions have been reached by comparing the knowledge and skills statements between occupational standards, combined with individualised learner movement data.
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Engineering and manufacturing