A repair authority is the document that gives a smash repair workshop formal approval to begin repairs on an insured vehicle. Here's what it is, how it's issued, and why it matters for your workshop.
If you work in Australian smash repair, the repair authority is one of the most important documents in your workflow. Without it, you cannot begin repairs on an insurance job. With it, you have formal approval to proceed — and a record that protects both your workshop and the insurer if any disputes arise later.
Yet for many repairers, particularly those new to insurance work, the repair authority process can be confusing. Here's a clear explanation of what it is, how it works, and how to manage it efficiently.
A repair authority is a formal document issued by an insurer or their appointed assessor that authorises a smash repair workshop to proceed with repairs on a specific insured vehicle. It confirms that the insurer has reviewed and accepted the repair estimate — or a version of it — and is prepared to cover the cost of the approved repair work.
The repair authority typically specifies the approved repair scope, the authorised dollar amount, and any conditions attached to the approval. It is the green light that allows the repairer to order parts, schedule labour, and commence physical repair work.
Important: Beginning repairs on an insurance job before a repair authority has been issued is a significant risk. Without written authorisation, the repairer has no guarantee that the insurer will pay for the work performed. Always obtain a repair authority before starting.
The repair authority sits within the broader insurance repair workflow. Understanding where it fits helps repairers manage their jobs more efficiently and avoid the delays that commonly occur when the process isn't followed correctly.
The repairer produces a repair estimate and submits it to the insurer. The estimate details all proposed repair operations, replacement parts, labour times, and costs. This is the document the insurer and assessor review before issuing a repair authority.
The insurer may review the estimate internally or assign an independent assessor to review it. The assessor examines the proposed repair scope, may request additional photos or information, and may adjust line items before approving the estimate. This stage is where most delays occur — particularly when communication between the repairer and assessor happens through email and phone rather than a shared platform.
Once the estimate is approved — either as submitted or with adjustments — the insurer or assessor issues a repair authority. This document is sent to the repairer and confirms the approved scope and value of the repair work.
With the repair authority in hand, the repairer can proceed. Parts are ordered, labour is scheduled, and physical repairs begin. The repair authority is kept on file as the authorisation record for the job.
If additional damage is discovered during repairs that wasn't captured in the original estimate, the repairer submits a supplement — an additional estimate for the newly identified work. A supplementary repair authority may be required before the additional work proceeds, depending on the insurer's requirements.
For a workshop managing multiple active jobs, keeping track of repair authority status across every job is a significant administrative task. Jobs waiting for repair authority approval represent vehicles sitting in the workshop not generating revenue — and the longer the wait, the greater the impact on workflow and cash flow.
Workshops that manage repair authority status manually — through spreadsheets, email threads, or whiteboard tracking — spend considerable time chasing approvals that a connected platform would surface automatically.
Autoimate builds the repair authority workflow directly into the platform. Once an estimate is submitted, the job moves into an assessment queue that both the repairer and assessor can see in real time. When the assessor issues a repair authority within the platform, the repairer is notified immediately and the job status updates automatically.
Repair authority documents are generated and stored within the job record — accessible at any time, with a complete audit trail of all decisions made during the assessment process. Supplement requests follow the same workflow, with their own approval tracking separate from the original authority.
For workshops processing high volumes of insurance jobs, this level of visibility and automation over the repair authority process significantly reduces the time spent chasing approvals and eliminates the risk of starting work without proper authorisation.
Autoimate tracks every job from estimate submission to repair authority — with real-time status visibility and automatic notifications. Try it free for 14 days.
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