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How an insurance appraiser (auto damage) can use AI, task by task

O*NET 13-1032.00: Insurance Appraisers, Auto DamageMedian pay $78,240/year (BLS, May 2025)7 tasksJob Zone 3: Medium preparation

Appraise automobile or other vehicle damage to determine repair costs for insurance claim settlement. Prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost or cost estimates and recommendations. May seek agreement with automotive repair shop on repair costs.

Your job title Type your own title and every prompt on this page updates to match. Also called: Appraiser, Automobile Appraiser (Auto Appraiser), Automobile Damage Appraiser (Auto Damage Appraiser), Damage Appraiser, Field Appraiser, Field Inspector, Insurance Appraiser, Material Damage Appraiser, Outside Physical Damage Appraiser, Physical Damage Appraiser.

Where AI fits in this job

AI-ready 17%AI-assist 66%Stays human 17%

Share of the job's tasks, weighted by how important and how frequent each task is (O*NET ratings). 1 AI-ready, 5 AI-assist and 1 human-led tasks out of 7. This measures where AI can help, not whether the job will disappear.

Information & paperwork

Thinking & planning

People & communication

Leading & teaching

Hands-on & physical

Shape of the job: importance of each kind of work activity (O*NET, 1 to 5).

🗓 Start here on Monday

The most frequent, most important tasks where AI can help right away.

Estimate parts and labor to repair damage, using standard automotive labor and parts cost manuals and knowledge of automotive repair.Crunch the numbers · Several times a day
Review repair cost estimates with automobile repair shop to secure agreement on cost of repairs.Review & check · Several times a day
Prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost estimates and recommendations.Write it up · Several times a day

💪 Lean into these

Core tasks that stay human. These skills get more valuable as the routine work gets automated.

Examine damaged vehicle to determine extent of structural, body, mechanical, electrical, or interior damage.Watch & inspect · Several times a day

Skills to build & where you could move ↓

AI can draft these 1

AI produces a usable first pass. You review it, fix it and own it.

Prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost estimates and recommendations.

Several times a day

AI writes the first draft from your notes; you check every fact.

Show prompt & steps

Give AI your rough notes, numbers or last version and it will turn them into a clean, well-structured first draft. You check every fact and figure before it goes anywhere.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an insurance appraiser (auto damage). Part of my job is to prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost estimates and recommendations.

Context: We use Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word.
Document: [insurance form, loan application, estimate]
Data: [paste figures, details]

Fill the document structure and summarize the request. Use plain language and headings where they help, and mark anything you had to guess with [CHECK].

10-minute exercise: Transaction document

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you prepare insurance forms.

Step 2Fill in [Document] and [Data] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Check every fact, name and number against your source before it goes anywhere. Recompute every total yourself.

AI will happily make up numbers, names and dates. Every fact in the draft needs checking against your source.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.7/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Prepare contracts or other transaction documents..

AI can help you prep these 5

AI speeds up the prep, drafting or thinking. The core of the task is still yours.

Estimate parts and labor to repair damage, using standard automotive labor and parts cost manuals and knowledge of automotive repair.

Several times a day

AI does the arithmetic and suggests what to look at; the conclusions are yours.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 74% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

AI can do the arithmetic, build the spreadsheet formula and suggest what to look at. Deciding what the numbers mean for your situation is still you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an insurance appraiser (auto damage). Part of my job is to estimate parts and labor to repair damage, using standard automotive labor and parts cost manuals and knowledge of automotive repair.

Context: We use Microsoft Excel; the work draws on mechanical, customer and personal service and administrative.
Damage or service: [describe]
Records: [parts, labour times, bills]

Build an estimate using standard rates with formulas and notes. Show your working step by step and give spreadsheet formulas so I can reproduce the numbers.

10-minute exercise: Repair or claim estimate

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you estimate parts and labor.

Step 2Fill in [Damage or service] and [Records] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Recompute the most important number yourself before you trust the rest. Recompute every total yourself.

AI makes arithmetic mistakes. Recompute anything that matters with a spreadsheet formula.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.7/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Estimate costs of goods or services..

Review repair cost estimates with automobile repair shop to secure agreement on cost of repairs.

Several times a day

AI pre-checks against the rules; the sign-off stays with you.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI as a first-pass checker against a list of rules or standards. The final judgment and sign-off stay with you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an insurance appraiser (auto damage). Part of my job is to review repair cost estimates with automobile repair shop to secure agreement on cost of repairs.

Context: We use Adobe Acrobat; the work draws on mechanical, customer and personal service and administrative.
Records: [paste bills, statements]
Purpose: [cost control, research, review]

Flag unusual items and questions. Make a table: requirement, met / not met / unclear, and the exact evidence.

10-minute exercise: Financial records review

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you review repair cost estimates.

Step 2Fill in [Records] and [Purpose] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Do your usual review too, and note what AI caught and what it missed. Recompute every total yourself.

AI can miss things and sound sure about it. Use it to catch extra problems, not as the final check.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.7/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Examine financial records..

Evaluate practicality of repair as opposed to payment of market value of vehicle before accident.

Daily

AI does the arithmetic and suggests what to look at; the conclusions are yours.

Show prompt & steps

AI can do the arithmetic, build the spreadsheet formula and suggest what to look at. Deciding what the numbers mean for your situation is still you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an insurance appraiser (auto damage). Part of my job is to evaluate practicality of repair as opposed to payment of market value of vehicle before accident.

Context: We use Microsoft Excel; the work draws on mechanical, customer and personal service and administrative.
Damage or service: [describe]
Records: [parts, labour times, bills]

Build an estimate using standard rates with formulas and notes. Show your working step by step and give spreadsheet formulas so I can reproduce the numbers.

10-minute exercise: Repair or claim estimate

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you evaluate practicality of repair (today).

Step 2Fill in [Damage or service] and [Records] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Recompute the most important number yourself before you trust the rest. Recompute every total yourself.

AI makes arithmetic mistakes. Recompute anything that matters with a spreadsheet formula.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.7/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Estimate costs of goods or services..

Determine salvage value on total-loss vehicle.

Daily

AI does the arithmetic and suggests what to look at; the conclusions are yours.

Show prompt & steps

AI can do the arithmetic, build the spreadsheet formula and suggest what to look at. Deciding what the numbers mean for your situation is still you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an insurance appraiser (auto damage). Part of my job is to determine salvage value on total-loss vehicle.

Context: We use Microsoft Excel; the work draws on mechanical, customer and personal service and administrative.
Goods or services: [crops, merchandise, products]
Data: [cost, quality, market prices]

Recommend a value or price range with reasoning and formulas for mark-up or mark-down. Show your working step by step and give spreadsheet formulas so I can reproduce the numbers.

10-minute exercise: Value and pricing

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you determine salvage value (today).

Step 2Fill in [Goods or services] and [Data] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Recompute the most important number yourself before you trust the rest.

AI makes arithmetic mistakes. Recompute anything that matters with a spreadsheet formula.

Importance 4.1/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Determine the value of goods or services..

Arrange to have damage appraised by another appraiser to resolve disagreement with shop on repair cost.

Monthly

AI drafts clear messages and talking points.

Show prompt & steps

AI can draft updates, emails and talking points so your message is clear and complete. Relationships and real-time calls are yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an insurance appraiser (auto damage). Part of my job is to arrange to have damage appraised by another appraiser to resolve disagreement with shop on repair cost.

Problem: [disagreement, incident]
Who: [management]

Draft an escalation message. Keep it under 150 words with a clear ask, plus a 2-sentence version for chat.

10-minute exercise: Escalate a problem

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you arrange to have damage.

Step 2Fill in [Problem] and [Who] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Edit it until it sounds like you, then send it yourself.

Never let AI send messages for you. Read every word, because tone mistakes cost trust.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 3.4/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Communicate with management or other staff to resolve problems..

These stay human 1

They need your hands, your presence or your accountable judgment. Lean into them: they get more valuable as routine work is automated.

📏 Measured in this job (O*NET work context): Contact with others: constant contact with others · Dealing with the public: extremely important · Frequency of decisions: every day · Impact of decisions: important results

Examine damaged vehicle to determine extent of structural, body, mechanical, electrical, or interior damage.

Several times a day

Needs your eyes on site. AI can build the checklist and the report.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can build your inspection checklists, explain standards and turn your notes and photos into clean reports.

Prep prompt

I work as an insurance appraiser (auto damage). Part of my job is to examine damaged vehicle to determine extent of structural, body, mechanical, electrical, or interior damage.

Context: The work draws on mechanical, customer and personal service and administrative.
Vehicle or aircraft: [type]
Inspection type: [routine, damage, regulatory]

List systems to inspect in order, what wear or damage looks like, measurements to take, and a findings template.

10-minute exercise: Mechanical inspection guide

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you examine damaged vehicle.

Step 2Fill in [Vehicle or aircraft] and [Inspection type] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Use the findings template on your next inspection. Check it against the manufacturer's manual and your site procedure before you rely on it.

Safety-critical: AI output is a starting point. Follow your site's procedures and the manufacturer's guidance.

Importance 4.7/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.. Also involves: Inspect motor vehicles.; Inspect structural components of vehicles to identify problems..

Get the full prompt pack for Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage

Every task, prompt and 10-minute exercise on this page in one PDF, formatted to print or keep on your desktop. Free.

Your next moves

Skills to build

From O*NET's ratings of how important each skill is in this job, matched to which part of the work it supports.

With AI Use these to work with AI

When AI does the first draft, these are the skills you use to brief it and check what comes back.

Critical Thinkingimportance 3.4/5
Used in: Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Reading Comprehensionimportance 3.5/5
Used in: Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Active Listeningimportance 3.5/5
Used in: Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.1/5
Used in: Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Where you could move

Related jobs from O*NET with the closest skill profile, favouring ones where more of the work stays human. No step down in preparation.

Loan Interviewers and Clerks9% human-led · Same preparation · $50,020/yr · usually high school diploma
Skills to build: Instructing, Judgment and Decision Making, Writing

New tasks appearing in this job

O*NET has started tracking 3 new or updated tasks here: 0 AI-ready, 3 AI-assist, 0 stays human. They have no worker ratings yet, so they aren't counted in the bar above.

Contact vendors to locate replacement parts for vehicles.

New in O*NET

AI preps the paperwork; approving and paying stay with you.

Show prompt & steps

AI can prep the paperwork, extract details from documents and make checklists. Approving, paying and verifying stay with you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an insurance appraiser (auto damage). Part of my job is to contact vendors to locate replacement parts for vehicles.

Context: We use Adobe Acrobat and Vertafore ImageRight.
Here's what I'm working with: [paste the vendors, with private details removed]

Organize this into [a table / the fields in Adobe Acrobat or Vertafore ImageRight / a checklist]. Point out anything missing or inconsistent, and suggest a template I can reuse next time.

10-minute exercise: Template: vendors

Step 1Take a real example you handle next time it comes up (vendors).

Step 2Paste it into [paste the vendors] and choose the output in [a table / the fields in Adobe Acrobat or Vertafore ImageRight / a checklist].

Step 3Save the template and use it on the next one. Time both.

Personal, financial and health data shouldn't go into AI tools unless your employer has approved one for it.

New O*NET task (07/2016). O*NET hasn't linked it to work activities yet, so it was labelled by hand.

Discuss insurance claims with customers or damage claimants.

New in O*NET

AI builds you an answer bank; exceptions and the human touch are yours.

Show prompt & steps

Build a personal answer bank with AI for the questions you get every day. In the moment, the human touch and the judgment about exceptions are yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an insurance appraiser (auto damage). Part of my job is to discuss insurance claims with customers or damage claimants.

Context: We use NCH Software Express Invoice.
The questions or requests I get from customers about insurance claims: [list 5-10, in their own words]
Our policies and facts: [hours, prices, rules]

Write a friendly, accurate answer for each, 2-3 sentences, that I can reuse. Flag any question where the right answer depends on the situation, so I handle it personally.

10-minute exercise: Answer bank: insurance claims

Step 1List the 5 things customers asked you most this week about insurance claims. Leave out names and identifying details.

Step 2Put them in [list 5-10] and paste your real policies in [Our policies and facts]. No names or account details.

Step 3Save the answers as snippets in NCH Software Express Invoice, and tweak each one the first time you use it.

Don't paste customers' personal details into AI tools. Describe the situation instead.

New O*NET task (07/2016). O*NET hasn't linked it to work activities yet, so it was labelled by hand.

Review repair cost estimates and negotiate with automobile repair shops to secure agreement on cost of repairs.

New in O*NET

AI pre-checks against the rules; the sign-off stays with you.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI as a first-pass checker against a list of rules or standards. The final judgment and sign-off stay with you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an insurance appraiser (auto damage). Part of my job is to review repair cost estimates and negotiate with automobile repair shops to secure agreement on cost of repairs.

Context: We use Adobe Acrobat; the work draws on mechanical, customer and personal service and administrative.
Records: [paste bills, statements]
Purpose: [cost control, research, review]

Flag unusual items and questions. Make a table: requirement, met / not met / unclear, and the exact evidence.

10-minute exercise: Financial records review

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you review repair cost estimates.

Step 2Fill in [Records] and [Purpose] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Do your usual review too, and note what AI caught and what it missed. Recompute every total yourself.

AI can miss things and sound sure about it. Use it to catch extra problems, not as the final check.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Updated O*NET task (07/2016), replacing: “Review repair cost estimates with automobile repair shop to secure agreement on cost of repairs.”. O*NET work activity: Examine financial records..

Getting into this job

Some college is most common (31% of workers)

High school or less 24%
Certificate or some college 59%
Associate's 15%
Bachelor's 1%

On-the-job training: up to 1 month
Related experience: 2–4 years

What workers in this job report, from O*NET surveys (typical values).

Software in this job

In-demand tools from O*NET. Many now have AI built in, so check what yours can do before adding a new tool.

Adobe AcrobatMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft Word