Damage Levels Help

Understanding and Determining Levels

Instant Estimator determines the cost of your repair by the level of your damage. Your vehicle has cosmetic damage if it has superficial damage (scuffs or scrapes), minor plastic bumper damage, small dents or dings, key scratches or minor body damage without missing parts. Your vehicle has collision damage if it has heavy body or frame damage, broken or missing parts that need replaced, chrome bumper damage, or a single panel repair exceeding over 3 hours labor.

To determine your level of damage, please review the following definitions and thumbnails. If you need further assistance measuring your damage please print our Damage Level Grid.

LEVEL 1
Cosmetic damage equivalent to 1 hour of body labor repair. Any damage configuration equaling 36 square inches fall under a Level 1. For example, (3" x 12" = 36") or (2" x 18" = 36") or (6" x 6" = 36"), etc.


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LEVEL 2
Cosmetic damage and is equivalent to 2 hours of body labor repair. This equals any damage configuration that is between 37 and 72 square inches.

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LEVEL 3
Cosmetic damage and is equivalent to 2 hours of body labor repair. This equals any damage configuration that is between 73 and 108 square inches.

Level 3 Level 3 Level 3 Level 3
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LEVEL 4
This level requires you to submit online photos of your damage to receive a confidential estimate with no risk to your driving record. Instant Estimator will email you your collision estimate and include up to 3 preferred repair shops in your area within 36 hours. Or, you may contact us, free of charge, to receive a list of preferred shops in your area.

Level 4 Level 4 Level 4 Level 4
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Keep in mind that a damaged area may sometimes be larger than it appears and the thumbnails are merely a reference.