At the 2023 AGM, CCPQ members agreed to establish new financial rules with insurers with whom they do not have an agreement.

It should be noted from the outset that the aim of this initiative is to fine-tune relations between collision shop owners and insurers outside the agreements negotiated with the body repairer networks. This refers to business relationships where insurers approach collision shop owners directly to carry out repair work on their customers’ vehicles.

We have carried out two major studies in recent years showing the accumulation of costs associated with repairs that are not considered by insurers. These files are well documented, objective and reflect the expectations of all collision shop owners. While some insurers are showing good faith and have increased the compensation offered by collision shop owners for a number of non-productive tasks, others are dragging their feet in acceding to legitimate and documented requests from collision shop owners.

An underlying movement

This is an excellent approach for all collision shop owners who are juggling large volumes of vehicles to be repaired, while at the same time being subject to the often too rigid rules of insurers.

All those involved in the sector must firmly support the collision shop owners’ determination to create a grassroots movement with the legitimate aim of claiming only what is owed to them.

On their behalf, the CCPQ will distribute a document setting out the new rules demanded by collision shop owners to all Quebec body repairers, to all banner network managers and to the heads of car insurance companies operating in Quebec.

This document stipulates that the file opening and management fee for non-driveable vehicles declared a total loss should be $300. This minimum amount would cover a ten-day storage period to eliminate abuse.

With regard to non-bodied vehicles entrusted to them by insurers, again outside the agreements with the banner networks, collision shop owners are asking for a $150 file opening fee and an increase in the applicable rate of ten dollars an hour.

For fair remuneration

This approach, which CCPQ members have been calling for, is aimed primarily at ensuring that they are fairly remunerated for the work they do, and also to take account of the major investments they have to make to train their staff and acquire the cutting-edge equipment needed to complete repairs on increasingly high-tech vehicles.

In addition, this adjustment aims to establish fairness between what certain insurers already pay under their agreements with the banners and what insurers who are not linked to them refuse to pay.

At the request of its members, the CCPQ has issued this request for recommended minimum rates for management fees for routine claims, non-roadworthy vehicles and total losses, hoping that all collision shop owners will take note of it and apply it in their own operations in order to create a mass movement.