National AutoBody Research (NABR) announced the launch of its nationwide VRS Procedures & Practices Survey to provide body shops across the country with the data and documentation necessary to charge and collect for common non-included procedures they often perform but are often not paid for.
The survey is available immediately online here or at the NABR website and asks shops which insurers pay for what procedures. The first phase of the research covers the top 10 auto insurers comprising approximately 70 percent of the industry, as well as a dozen of common non-included procedures shops told NABR represent a significant part of their everyday business.
Survey results will be reported at an aggregate level through an upcoming module soon to be added to the Variable Rate System. Similar to VRS labor rate data, the procedures data will be searchable by ZIP code and mileage range, by state or country, and now by insurer or procedure. This new VRS online library will include the data and documentation necessary for shops to charge and collect for the work they already do.
“For years, my son Travis and I have fought to get paid for all the work we do, at a fair and reasonable rate,” said Ray Gunder, owner of Gunder’s Auto Center in Lakeland, Fla. “I’ve always been transparent and now, finally, all shops across America will have a perfect way to look behind the curtain and see how other shops are getting paid for non-included procedures, at the click of a button. Because labor rates and procedures go hand in hand, NABR’s innovative Variable Rate System technology is the clear choice to collect the data and deliver it for all shops to see and use.”
Sam Valenzuela, president of NABR, added, ”Besides low labor rates, which the VRS already addresses, the next largest category of lost profit for shops is unpaid procedures. Shops perform the work and incur the cost but do not get paid. Clearly, that’s not profitable. Aside from special circumstances, we think it makes sense that if one shop gets paid for feather, prime and block, for example, then all shops who perform that work should be paid for it. This new VRS product will help level the playing field and drive more consistency and predictability in payments for procedures, across the board for all shops.”
Concurrent with the survey launch, NABR is making a nationwide call out to all shops for supporting documentation of paid non-included procedures, which will further enable shops to consistently charge and collect for the work they perform. Documents may include items such as an insurer’s estimate or a paid invoice, as well as claim numbers. Shops interested in adding their documents to the independent VRS online library can contact NABR via the company’s website.
