We Repair to Spec — And That Includes Time to Prove It

Let’s set the scene.

You repair a car correctly.You follow the manufacturer’s documented procedures.You calibrate, inspect, scan, document — you know, all the stuff that makes a vehicle safe again.

Then the insurance adjuster comes back with:

“We’re not paying for that.”

You send them the OEM repair document.They respond:

“This doesn’t have a logo.”“We’ve never paid for that before.”“Where exactly does it say that in bold with a signature from Toyota’s CEO?”

And now you’re spending 45 minutes justifying a procedure you already performed… and they already should’ve known was required.

At Some Point, You Realize You're Not Just Fixing Cars — You're Educating Adjusters

And here’s the thing — education isn’t free.

Every time you:

• Dig through OEM documents

• Scan for affected systems

• Write custom supplements with citations

• Submit links to verified tech sites

• Walk someone through why seat weight sensors matter after a collision

• Highlight an ADAS flowchart like it’s a college term paper…

…you’re not just repairing a car. You’re defending it.

And that takes time. That takes access. That takes money.

Manufacturer Procedures Aren’t Optional — But Apparently, Paying for Your Time Is

OEMs write the rules. We follow them.

But lately? It seems like every repair is also an insurance seminar:

“What is a SRS reset?”“Why does a radar need calibration?”“Are you sure we need to inspect the seat belts?”“We don’t usually see this from other shops…”

Well, you’re not “other shops.”

You’re a shop that repairs to spec. And doing it right? Means spending time proving it to people who should already know.

So Yes — There’s a Research & Documentation Fee

We repair to OEM specification.We verify every step.We document every system.And when we have to stop repairing cars to go teach someone why these steps are required?

That’s a billable service.

You wouldn’t ask a lawyer to provide case precedent for free.You wouldn’t expect a CPA to quote tax code without charging.And you wouldn’t get mad when your dentist bills you for diagnostic x-rays.

Why should a collision shop — responsible for recalibrating a 4,000-lb machine full of crash-avoidance tech — eat that time just because the insurer “wasn’t familiar with that one”?

Want a Shortcut? Follow the Procedure the First Time

This whole issue could be avoided if adjusters followed the same documentation we do.But they don’t.

And until they do? There’s a simple answer when they ask:

“Why are you charging for this?”

Because we repair to spec. And proving that — takes time.