You get an estimate from the collision shop. Then the insurance adjuster writes a different number. The shop says $6,200. The adjuster says $4,400. Now what?

This happens constantly, and it doesn’t mean anyone is dishonest. The two estimates are built from different starting points. If you’re new to reading collision repair estimates, start there first.

Why the Numbers Are Different

The shop estimate is based on a physical inspection of the vehicle. A technician looks at the damage, identifies every panel, part, and system affected, and writes a line-by-line repair plan using current parts pricing and labour rates.

The adjuster’s estimate is often written from photos or a quick visual inspection. It covers the damage the adjuster can see and confirm at that moment. It’s a starting point for the claim, not a final repair authorization.

The gap usually comes down to:

  • Hidden damage: the shop finds damage behind bumper covers, inside door skins, or under trim that photos don’t reveal
  • Parts pricing: the adjuster may quote aftermarket or recycled parts where the shop quotes OEM
  • Labour rates: the adjuster’s estimate may use a lower posted rate than the shop’s actual rate
  • Included operations: the shop includes blend panels, diagnostic scans, calibrations, and test drives that the initial adjuster estimate leaves out

The Supplement Process

Here’s the part most drivers don’t know: the initial insurance estimate is almost never the final number. The industry runs on supplements.

Once the shop begins disassembly and finds additional damage, they document it with photos and submit a supplement to the insurer. The adjuster reviews the supplement and authorizes the additional work. This back-and-forth can happen two or three times on a single repair.

A shop that direct-bills your insurer handles this entire process for you. You don’t need to negotiate or chase paperwork.

What You Should Do

  1. Get the shop’s estimate first. A hands-on inspection catches more than photos. Most shops offer free written estimates with no appointment.

  2. Don’t accept a lower number without understanding why. If the adjuster’s estimate is lower, ask specifically which line items differ. Is it parts pricing? Labour rate? Missing operations?

  3. Know your right to choose your shop. In Alberta, you choose where your vehicle gets repaired, not the insurance company. An insurer can recommend a preferred shop, but they cannot require it.

  4. Let the shop handle supplements. A good shop documents hidden damage thoroughly and communicates directly with your adjuster. This is standard practice, not adversarial.

  5. Ask about OEM parts. If the adjuster’s estimate includes aftermarket parts and you want OEM, tell the shop. They can request OEM authorization from the insurer, especially for structural and safety components.

When to Get a Second Opinion

If you feel the adjuster’s estimate is significantly low and the insurer is pushing back on supplements, you have the right to get a second estimate from another qualified shop. Two independent shops arriving at similar numbers strengthens your position.

How to Compare the Two Estimates

If you have both in hand, here’s what to look at line by line:

  • Parts column: check whether the adjuster wrote aftermarket (AM) or recycled (LKQ) where the shop wrote OEM. This is the most common source of the price gap.
  • Labour hours: the shop may list more hours for operations like removing interior trim, diagnostic scans, or ADAS recalibration that the adjuster’s estimate omits entirely.
  • Blend panels: quality paint work requires blending adjacent panels so the colour transition is invisible. Some adjuster estimates leave blend panels out of the initial write-up.
  • Scan and calibration lines: modern vehicles need pre- and post-repair diagnostic scans. If these aren’t on the adjuster’s estimate, they’ll appear as a supplement once work begins.
  • Sublet operations: work the shop sends out (glass replacement, wheel alignment, specialty calibration) may be estimated differently between the two.

Don’t panic about the gap. The supplement process exists specifically to reconcile these differences once the shop can see the full scope of damage. For a step-by-step overview of handling the entire process, see our guide on what to do after a collision in Sherwood Park.

The Bottom Line

The insurance adjuster’s first estimate is a starting point. The shop’s estimate is usually closer to the actual repair cost because it’s based on a physical inspection. The supplement process exists to close the gap. A shop that works with all major insurers, like Fix Auto Sherwood North in Sherwood Park, knows this process inside out and handles it daily.