How Online Photo Estimates Work (and What to Do After You Get One)

You don't need to drive across Los Angeles and sit in a waiting room to find out what your repair costs. A photo estimate takes about two minutes from your phone, costs nothing, and doesn't open an insurance claim. Here's exactly how it works.

What a photo estimate actually is

You send photos of the damage. A real estimator — not software — reviews them, identifies the parts and labor involved, and writes a repair estimate. You get a number back without leaving your driveway. If you're filing a claim, that same estimate gets submitted to your insurer electronically.

The photos to send

- One wide shot of the whole vehicle, so we can see the angle of impact.

- Two or three close-ups of the damaged area, straight on and from each side.

- One photo from about six feet back showing the damaged panel and the panels next to it.

- The VIN if you can reach it — usually visible through the windshield on the driver's side, or on the door jamb sticker. It tells us your exact trim, paint code, and which sensors your car carries.

- Anything that looks out of place: a warning light on the dash, a gap between panels, a door that won't close flush. Daylight, no filters, and don't clean the car first — dirt and debris patterns tell us how the impact happened.

How long it takes

Sending photos: about two minutes. Getting your written estimate back: usually the same business day. Compare that to booking an in-person appointment, driving over, and waiting for a walk-around — most of a morning gone.

How accurate is it?

Accurate for what's visible, which covers most cosmetic and bumper damage. What photos can't show is what's behind the panel. Once a car is on the lift and the damaged parts come off, hidden damage sometimes appears — a bent bracket, a cracked absorber, a displaced sensor. When that happens on an insurance job, we document it and file a supplement with your carrier. This is normal, it happens on most collision jobs, and you don't have to do anything. For anything involving structure, airbags, or driver-assist sensors, the photo estimate gets you a starting number and we confirm it in person.

What to do after you get your estimate

- Compare it to your deductible.* If the repair costs less than your deductible, filing a claim pays you nothing — paying out of pocket is usually smarter.

- If you're filing: call your carrier and get a claim number, then send it to us. We submit the estimate directly and deal with the adjuster from there.

- If someone else was at fault:* their carrier typically covers the repair and the rental, and you may pay nothing at all.

- Don't feel obligated.* An estimate is information, not a commitment. No claim is opened by asking for one.

Does an estimate cost anything or open a claim?

No to both. Our estimates are free, and asking for one doesn't notify your insurer or create a claim on your record. You control whether a claim ever gets filed.

Get your free estimate

Send photos from your phone and get a real number back — usually same day. Start your free estimate online or call (310) 751-7497. Free pickup and delivery anywhere in Los Angeles when you're ready to repair.

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