Auto Insurance Claims: Becoming an auto appraiser, typical career path, collision repair center

Question
Hi Charlie I am very intrested in ecoming an auto appraiser is a school or some kind of course I should take orshould I try working fo an collision repair center and try to learn as much as I can and work my way up in the company. My wife is an SR claims adjuster and she talk's about the appraisers and what they do and it souns like a fun career  so could you pleas advise on what I should do

Answer
Byron,

While the typical career path of a claims adjuster used to take one through the body shops, today's adjusters are typcially college grads that receive training from their companies. A basic understanding of collision repair and vehicle construction won't hurt, however. The rate of collisions is down lately and only appears to be shrinking, which makes the job market tight for adjusters. Furthermore, the growth in the number of shops with direct repair relationships with insurers is making the field adjusters' numbers to shrink as well. These shops write their own estimates and serve as the insurance adjuster in the claim, which eliminates the need for an insurance adjuster and the expenses they incur.

Working for an insurance company does provide job security, good benefits and reasonable pay. Good luck to you.

Charlie