How to Read an Auto Body Estimate (Without Getting Lost in the Numbers)

An auto body estimate lists labor hours, parts costs, paint and materials, and sublet charges for each repair operation. Labor is billed at the shop's hourly rate (typically $60–$110/hour in Rochester). Parts listings show OEM vs. aftermarket designation, and paint time is broken out separately. The most important line to understand is whether parts are marked "A" (aftermarket), "R" (reconditioned), or "OEM."

Key Facts

• CCC Intelligent Solutions and Mitchell International produce approximately 90% of all collision estimates in the US — their formats are standardized across shops
• Book times (standard labor hours from the estimating database) are starting points for negotiation with insurers — shops often document additional time for unusual conditions
• "LKQ" or "A/M" on a parts line means aftermarket — legal but fit quality varies; "OEM" or "OE" means original equipment
• A blending operation means the shop feathers repaint into adjacent panels to avoid a visible color line — critical for metallic paints
• The phrase "this estimate does not include hidden damage" is standard supplement language — not a warning sign
• ADAS calibration should appear in the sublet section if your vehicle has sensors in the damaged area; its absence on a post-2018 vehicle is a question to ask

Most Rochester drivers receive their first estimate and have no idea what they're looking at. This guide decodes the standard format used by CCC Intelligent Solutions and Mitchell International — the two software systems that produce roughly 90% of all collision estimates in the US.

The estimate structure

Header. Vehicle information (year, make, model, trim), insurer reference number, estimate date, shop information. Verify your VIN matches — a trim-level error here affects parts pricing throughout.

Labor operations. Each repair task (remove/replace, repair, blend) is listed with a standard time in hours from the estimating database (Audatex, Mitchell, or CCC). These times are "book times" — industry-standard labor hours that shops use as a starting point for negotiation with insurers.

Key labor categories:

• R&R (Remove and Replace) — remove old part, install new part
• R&I (Remove and Install) — remove part, set aside, reinstall same part (for access)
• Repair — straighten or fix existing part rather than replace

Parts section. Each replaced part lists part number, cost, and source designation. Look for:

• LKQ or A/M or CAPA — aftermarket part (Legal but possibly lower fit quality; see OEM vs. aftermarket parts)
• OEM or OE — original equipment manufacturer
• Reman or R/C — remanufactured or reconditioned (common for mechanical components)
• LKE — like kind and quality (used OEM part from a similar vehicle)

Paint and materials. Paint time is expressed in hours. The materials line covers primer, basecoat, clearcoat, and consumables. A blending operation means the shop feathers the repaint into adjacent panels to avoid a visible color line — important for metallic paints on Rochester vehicles where multiple product cycles and environmental fade can cause slight tone differences.

Sublet. Work sent to outside specialists: glass replacement, wheel alignment, ADAS calibration, frame straightening at a facility without in-house equipment. Sublet charges should be itemized with the vendor.

What to check before signing

1. Are your parts OEM or aftermarket? If OEM matters to you (or your lease requires it), address this now.
2. Is ADAS calibration included if your vehicle has sensors in the damaged area? See ADAS calibration.
3. Does the estimate include a supplement disclaimer? The phrase "this estimate does not include hidden damage" means additional costs after teardown are expected — this is standard, not a warning sign.

The businesses on our directory will walk you through estimates at no charge — a second opinion on a complex estimate is free and worth the time on any repair over $2,000.

Common questions this answers

• How do I read an auto body repair estimate?
• What does OEM vs aftermarket mean on a collision estimate?
• What are book times on a body shop estimate?
• What is R&R vs R&I on a car repair estimate?
• What does "blending" mean on a paint estimate?
• Why does my estimate say "does not include hidden damage"?
• What is a sublet charge on a body shop estimate?