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Claims & Reimbursement

Explore the latest news and updates on insurance policies, coverage changes, and impacts on the collision industry, including insights into claims processing and disputes.

A collision repair technician uses a straightening tool on a vehicle body panel in an auto body shop.

Labor Rate Index: Annual Growth Rebounds to New Highs in August as Rates Stay Flat

Month-over-month changes remained minor for a second straight month, while year-over-year growth climbed to its highest levels of 2026 across all four categories NABR tracks.
Autobody News in conjunction with LaborRateHero
A mechanic in a gray shirt gestures while talking with a customer in a blue button-down shirt, both standing over an open vehicle engine bay in a repair shop.

The Advocate: Shop Practices That Can Keep Claims Moving

Zack Newman says keeping customers copied on every insurer email is one way to push disputes toward resolution.
Lisa McArdle
Auto body technician inspecting a vehicle's structural frame during collision repair

"Who Pays for What?" Survey: Rivet Gun Set-Up and Stall Cure Time Sit at the Bottom of the Payment Ranking

As riveting and structural adhesives spread to more vehicles, the two procedures paid least often when shops do ask are also among the least negotiated for in the 2026 "Who Pays for What?" survey.
Autobody News in partnership with Collision Advice and CRASH Network
A mechanic's hands wipe a cloth across a scuffed and chipped vehicle body panel in a service garage.

New Insurance Affordability Index Lists Repair Costs Among Drivers of Premium Pressure

New index lists repair cost trends among several factors Triple-I says contribute to premium pressure, a data point relevant to shops navigating cost conversations with insurers.
Lisa McArdle
A shop employee holding a clipboard reviews paperwork with a customer in a collision repair shop, with a vehicle raised on a lift behind them.

Farmers' ADAS Repair Guide Tells Policyholders to Expect Scans, Calibrations, and Longer Cycle Times

Shop owners have been explaining these repair steps at intake; now an insurer is too.
Jess Fritsche
Close-up of a technician's hands holding a multimeter and touching a red test probe to a vehicle battery terminal under the hood.

"Who Pays for What?" Survey: Battery Reconnect Procedures Are Their Own Billable Step, Paid 58% of the Time

Shops that negotiate for the OEM-required steps after a battery reconnect are paid most or all of the time, but nearly a quarter never ask for it.
Autobody News in partnership with Collision Advice and CRASH Network
A mechanic in blue coveralls writes on a clipboard beside a customer holding a shoulder bag, standing next to a silver sedan with its hood raised in a repair shop.

The Advocate: A Minnesota Shop's Case for Customer Education

How D&B Auto Body in Minnesota walks every customer through AI-written estimates, total loss reports, and more.
Lisa McArdle
A technician reviews a vehicle damage estimate at a collision repair shop.

Auto Damage Claims Held Steady as Insurers Tighten Other Payouts, WSJ Finds

Claims for collision and comprehensive repairs closed without payment at a rate largely unchanged since 2016.
Lisa McArdle
Two people in business attire stand between two white cars in a parking lot, one holding a notepad and pen while gesturing during a conversation; the car on the left has a visible dent near the front door.

Washington Adopts Final Claims Handling Rule With New Requirements for Repair Facility Communication

New rule sets standards for vehicle inspections, repair estimates, appraisals, and total-loss settlements.
Lisa McArdle
A gloved hand holds a curved TIG welding torch with a brass filler rod, welding a small metal piece near the rocker panel of a vehicle. Red safety glasses are visible in the reflection above, and the technician wears a dark gray shirt.

"Who Pays for What?" Survey: Destructive Weld Testing Is the Non-Negotiable Procedure Most Shops Still Aren't Paid For

Only 25% of shops that negotiate for destructive weld testing are paid always or most of the time.
Autobody News in partnership with Collision Advice and CRASH Network

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Autobody News

Current Digital Issue: September 2026

Autobody News is a free monthly publication for the owners and managers of 36,000+ collision repair shops across the country.
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