Jasmine De Wys has started her own remote estimating, training and consultancy business called Bodyshop Solutions. De Whys provides a regular estimating tip segment in our e-news letter to make sure you don't let the dollars slip through your fingers. Just search Estimating tips to see more.
The Pcm Mindset- practical guidance for repairers in the trenches
When working within a Predictive Cost Model (PCM), it can be easy to fall into the mindset of “it doesn’t matter—we’re getting paid the same anyway.” In practice, this is where issues start to creep in.
Even in a PCM environment, estimates still need to be accurate and reflective of the actual repair. If they’re not, it creates what I’d call a false economy — where the estimate no longer aligns with what’s happening on the floor, key operations are missed or misrepresented, and it becomes difficult to justify any increases in average repair cost down the track.
Over time, this can weaken the repairer’s position when it comes to insurer discussions and lead to unnecessary back-and-forth.
The goal isn’t to inflate or deflate estimates—it’s to ensure they are fair, reasonable, and aligned to the actual repair process.
Accurate data ultimately puts you in a much stronger position.
Good preparation at the start of the estimate
One of the most important disciplines in a PCM environment is assessing what is actually being allocated to you at the very start.
Not every claim that comes through will necessarily be in scope of the agreement. Human error can happen, assessments can be incorrectly allocated, and if that isn’t picked up early, it can create issues later in the month when you realise vehicles have been repaired under PCM that should have been handled differently.
That front-end preparation is critical. In a PCM environment, the first assessment really matters. Estimators need to review what they are being allocated, understand what is in scope and what is out of scope, and make the right decision from the outset about the path forward.
For example, if a vehicle is immediately outside the agreement scope, such as a stolen recovered vehicle where the agreement is for drive only, that should be identified upfront and reverted to line-by-line estimating.
Good preparation at the beginning helps the repairer move vehicles through the workshop with fewer disruptions, better efficiency, and stronger cost control.
In a PCM environment, analysing the assessment as it comes in is key.
Imaging and Documentation Still Matters
Just because you’re operating in a PCM environment and being paid a set amount doesn’t mean imaging and documentation become less important, if anything, they become more critical.
Throughout the repair process, it’s important to continue capturing progress photos and documenting the vehicle journey as it moves through the workshop.
This creates a clear record of:
· What was repaired
· How the repair was carried out
· Any additional requirements identified along the way
One of the most common trends I see is repairers stepping away from this, thinking it doesn’t matter under PCM. In reality, it’s the opposite.
If your average repair cost isn’t stacking up, having strong documentation gives you the evidence needed to go back and have informed discussions with the insurer around rate adjustments or scope.
Without that data, those conversations become much harder.
In a PCM environment, good documentation = stronger position.
Build the Vehicle Correctly
In a PCM environment, one of the most important (and most commonly missed) steps is taking the time to build the vehicle correctly from the start.
That means:
· Selecting the correct vehicle schedule(NTAR /LTAR)
· Completing all model selections properly (Audanet)