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SHOP’S PRICE HIGHER THAN THE INSURANCE ESTIMATE?

Quick Answer

It’s common, and it usually isn’t a bill for you. There are two kinds of gap. If the shop found more damage, it sends your insurer a supplement with photos, and an approved supplement adds to what the insurer pays. If the gap is about price for the same work, such as labor rates, it’s a negotiation, and any part the insurer won’t accept could fall to you, so get it in writing before work starts. Arizona’s rule, A.A.C. R20-6-801(H)(5), requires an insurer’s estimate to be an amount that can reasonably be expected to repair the car properly. Text both estimates to (602) 935-6008 and we’ll show you which kind of gap you have.

By Shah Jiwani · Owner, DG Collision Center Updated 3 min read I-CAR Gold Class · PPG Certified

The Longer Answer

WHICH GAP DO YOU HAVE?

The difference
What it usually means
What happens next
More dents counted
Lights found what photos missed
Supplement with photos
Panels missing from the estimate
A roof rail or pillar was skipped
Supplement; a missing line, not a pricing dispute
Headliner or trim labor added
Access work left off
Supplement listing the parts that must come off
Paint work added
Hail cracked paint the first look missed
Supplement with close-up photos
Same work, higher rate
A true price difference
Shop and insurer discuss it; ask for the outcome in writing

HOW TO KEEP IT FROM BECOMING YOUR BILL

Compare lines, not totals. Two estimates with different totals can agree on most lines. Ask the shop to point to exactly which lines differ.

Get the answer before the work. Don’t let unapproved work start on a promise. Ask your shop what happens if a line isn’t approved, and have the answer written down. A short message to your adjuster with the claim number keeps the clock on them too: R20-6-801(E)(3) gives 10 working days to reply.

Know how designated shops differ. When an insurer elects to repair a car and designates a specific shop, R20-6-801(H)(7) says it must restore the car to its pre-loss condition at no additional cost beyond the policy terms, in a reasonable time. Choosing your own shop under A.R.S. § 20-468 is your right, and it’s why comparing lines up front matters.

What we do. Our prices are published, our estimate is written line by line, and we send your adjuster the supplement with photos. On qualifying claims from the October 20–21, 2026 storms, we cover the first $1,000 of your deductible; above that, case by case, and we do our best. Learn more about hail repair in Phoenix. General information, not legal advice.

Two Estimates, Two Numbers?

Text us both at (602) 935-6008. We’ll go through the differences line by line and tell you what we’d document.

Text Both Estimates Call (602) 935-6008

Related Questions

ASKED ALONGSIDE THIS ONE

Why is the body shop’s estimate higher than insurance?+
Usually because the shop counted more dents under PDR lights or added access labor the first estimate left off. Those differences go to the insurer as a supplement.
Will I have to pay the difference?+
Not for approved supplement work. If the insurer won’t accept part of a shop’s price, you could owe that part, so ask for it in writing before work starts.
Can my insurer refuse a supplement?+
It can dispute lines. Ask which ones and why, and have the shop respond with photos. You can also file a complaint at azdfi.gov.
Should I just use the shop with the lower estimate?+
Not on price alone. A low number that misses damage gets revised later. Compare what each one counts, and who stands behind the work.

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Tell us what you drive and what the storm did. We’ll come back with a written estimate — so you can make the file-or-skip call with the real number in hand.

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