Auto Body Repair Estimate Template
A body shop estimate is usually read by two people: the owner and an insurance adjuster. List every damaged panel as repair, replace or refinish only, show the paint and blend separately, and expect a supplement once the bumper comes off and hidden damage shows.
No sign-up. Totals, tax and deposit are worked out for you; print it or save it as a PDF.
Free download (no sign-up): Excel / Word
This estimate as a file you can fill in and send: the line items below, with amounts, tax and the total worked out by formulas.
How to use this file
- Download it and open it in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers, Word or Google Docs.
- Put in your business details and the client, then replace the example lines and prices with your own. In Excel, amounts, tax and the total update as you type.
- Check the payment terms, then save it as a PDF and send it to the client.
Example line items
| Item | Unit | Qty | Example price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front bumper cover: repair and refinish | panel | 1 | 350–900 |
| Right front fender, new OEM part | part | 1 | 180–600 |
| Remove and install: headlamp, liner, trim | hour | 2.5 | 60–95 / hr |
| Color match and blend into the adjacent door | panel | 1 | 150–400 |
| Four-wheel alignment after the repair | job | 1 | 100–200 |
| Rental car while in the shop | day | 5 | 35–70 / day |
Amounts are examples before tax, not price advice. Add sales tax or VAT where it applies.
What to put on the quote
- Damage listed panel by panel, each marked repair, replace or refinish only.
- Part type for every replaced part: OEM, aftermarket or used, with part numbers.
- Paint code, which panels get blended and whether the whole panel is cleared.
- Insurance claim number, the deductible owed by the owner and how supplements are approved.
- Days in the shop, rental car terms and the written paint warranty.
Common mistakes
- Fixing the total before the bumper comes off, then absorbing the cracked brackets and absorber behind it.
- Leaving out the blend, so the new fender visibly mismatches the old door.
- Starting an insurance job before the adjuster approves, then chasing the difference from the owner.
- Forgetting the radar or camera behind the bumper that needs calibration after the repair.
Deposit, balance and validity
On insurance jobs the owner pays the deductible at pickup and the insurer pays the approved estimate plus supplements; hidden damage found at teardown is photographed and approved before work continues. Customer-pay jobs take a 30% deposit to order parts, with the balance at pickup. Paint carries a written warranty against peeling and fading. Estimate valid for 30 days.
Questions people ask
Why is the final bill higher than the first estimate?
Some damage only shows once panels come off. It is added as a supplement with photos and approved before that work is done.
Will the new paint match the rest of the car?
We mix from the paint code, spray a test card and blend into the next panel so any shade difference falls where the eye does not catch it.
Does my insurer decide between OEM and aftermarket parts?
Many policies pay for aftermarket parts only. The estimate shows which parts are OEM, so you can pay the difference if you want them.
Does a bumper repair affect my driver-assist sensors?
It can. When radar or cameras sit behind the bumper, calibration is listed as its own line or sublet to a dealer.