MTA NSW's Tod Sarina on eMTA V2

Tod Sarina chairman of the MTA’s Body Repair Division NSW talks about the significance of the updated realistic times guide, e-MTA Version 2 and the positive ramifications it can have for the Australian smash repair and insurance industry .

“e-MTA Version 2 is the only realistic times guide by the industry, for the industry. As we move towards real time, real money (RTRM) we need a  modern , smart and simple to use  estimating  methodology which is transparent and sustainable for both sides of the industry. The times must be realistic and factor in material costs transparently.

"e-MTA V2 times have been painstakingly researched with hundreds of jobs recorded on video showing repairers with the right skills and equipment performing the task. It is fully transparent and constantly evolving to keep it up to date. Importantly, it allows for accurate cost centres – repairers can't keep doing jobs and losing money on them.

"In other countries the panel industry has let repair times and loadings be forced on them by insurers. These other overseas times guides are not open and transparent or relevant to Australia .  These are often derived from organisations such as Thatcham and AZT Research Centre in Europe. Both of these institutions are funded by insurance companies and there is no input or research from the repair industry. We believe e-MTA Version 2 is the only times guide in the world where the smash repair industry has had a say in times and loadings.

"Our times and loadings are realistic and based on a small, medium and large  methodology and is designed to be a national standard. The system is a huge time saver for insurance companies with the auto verification capability.

"The RR & Paint sections in e-MTA Version 2 are is what the industry understands and we know it  works (small medium and large). It is simple to use and easy to remember, this is critical for the future sustainability of the smash repair industry. The move to RTRM is long overdue and, in my opinion, not to change now is bad business practice for both the repair and insurance industries. The head in the sand approach just doesn’t cut it anymore.

Repairers have managed to ride the funny time funny money method well beyond its use by date, now it is just an insult with no future.

"We cannot use a new version of funny time, funny money from companies with times and loadings that we do not know how they were achieved or with imposed rates that we have no say in negotiating on.

"This is 2011, the repair industry has moved on, e-MTA Version 2 is the future, it’s not about to go backwards now.

"I would like to acknowledge that NRMA insurance was the first insurer to see the need for change and to adopt RTRM , with MTA NSW assisting with some research and development  e-MTA V2 has now been adopted nationally by AMBRA and is accepted by the smash repair industry and the  major progressive insurers such as the Suncorp group, Zurich and Westfarmers group, whilst other smaller insurers & assessing firms are also now moving to & accepting estimates written in RTRM eMTA V2. It’s free to all repairers who support and use it for the future of our industry."