01 — Getting Started
Quick Start Guide
New to Autoimate? Follow these five steps and you'll have your first estimate submitted in under 10 minutes.
1
Set up your shop rates
Go to Dashboard → Settings and enter your RR, repair, and paint rates. These are applied automatically to every estimate you create. You can also set insurer-specific rates for IAG, Allianz, NRMA and others.
2
Create a new job
From the Dashboard, click New Job. Enter the vehicle details, customer information, and claim number. The job is saved automatically as you type.
3
Open the Estimator
Click the Estimator button on the job. This opens the full AI-powered quoting tool where you'll build your estimate.
4
Upload photos and run AI analysis
Upload up to 5 damage photos in the Photos tab, tap the damaged zones on the vehicle diagram, then click Analyse & Generate Estimate. The AI will generate a comprehensive, insurer-ready quote in seconds.
5
Review and submit
Review all line items, adjust anything the AI missed, then click Submit to Insurer. The quote goes directly to the claims officer — no email, no PDF, no fax required.
02 — Setup
Setting Your Rates
Your rates are the foundation of every estimate. Getting these right ensures your quotes are accurate and profitable from day one.
1
Go to Dashboard → Settings tab
Your shop rates are stored securely and applied automatically to every estimate.
2
Enter your base rates
Set your Remove & Refit (RR), Repair, and Paint rates per hour. These are your standard rates used for self-pay and non-insurer jobs.
3
Set insurer-specific rates
Different insurers have different approved rate schedules. When you select an insurer in the estimator, your rates automatically switch to the correct schedule for that insurer.
4
Set your parts markup
Enter your standard parts markup percentage. This is applied automatically to all parts lines in your estimates.
Tip: Your rates are automatically applied to every estimate. When you select an insurer, the correct approved rate schedule is loaded for that insurer automatically.
03 — The Estimator
Creating an Estimate
The Autoimate estimator is built around the industry-standard Australian smash repair format — the same structure used across the industry and accepted by all major insurers. Every estimate follows insurer-standard structure with individual line items for labour, parts, sublets, and other charges.
Details Tab
Enter vehicle details, customer information, insurer, claim number, and your rates. This information flows through to the quote PDF automatically.
Photos Tab
Upload damage photos for AI analysis (up to 5) and general vehicle condition photos. Also where you generate the Damage Report.
Estimate Tabs
RR, Repair, Paint, Parts, Sublets and Other — each category has its own tab. Add, edit, or delete lines manually at any time.
OPS Tab
Operations and schedule lookups, OEM procedure requirements, and write-off calculator. Use this for complex structural jobs.
Tip: The estimator auto-saves every time you make a change. You can close and reopen an estimate at any time — nothing is lost.
04 — AI Analysis
Using the AI Estimator
The AI analysis generates a comprehensive, insurer-ready estimate based on your photos and vehicle details. It applies your rates, includes all mandatory cascade operations, and flags ADAS and safety system requirements automatically.
1
Fill in the Details tab first
Make sure vehicle make, model, year, and insurer are filled in before running analysis. The AI uses this information to apply the correct rate schedule and vehicle-specific rules.
2
Upload damage photos
Go to the Photos tab and upload up to 5 clear photos of the damaged areas. Wide shots showing the full panel work better than extreme close-ups. Tap the damaged zones on the vehicle diagram.
3
Click Analyse & Generate Estimate
The AI will analyse the photos and generate a full estimate with individual line items. This typically takes 15-30 seconds depending on the complexity of the damage.
4
Review and adjust
Always review the AI output. Add any lines the AI missed, remove anything not applicable, and adjust hours or amounts as needed. You are the qualified estimator — the AI is your assistant.
5
Generate a Damage Report (optional)
In the Photos tab, scroll down to the Damage Report section. Click Generate Report and the AI will write a professional damage description based on your estimate lines. This appears on the quote PDF.
No photos? You can still run the AI analysis without photos — just fill in the vehicle details and select the damaged zones. The AI will generate an estimate based on the zone selection and vehicle type.
04B — Photo Guide
How to Take Photos for Accurate AI Results
The quality of your photos directly affects the accuracy of the AI estimate. A close-up of damage might look dramatic, but the AI needs context — which panels are affected, where the damage starts and ends, and the overall extent of the impact.
Full side shot — panels visible, extent clear
You can see it's a Corolla hatchback, damage spans the front and rear doors, and the B-pillar is involved. The AI knows exactly what it's working with.
Too close — damage detail without context
Regardless of which panel is damaged or how severe it is, photos taken too close don't give a clear view of the full picture. Always step back and shoot from a distance.
✓ Do This
- →Step back first — fit the entire damaged side in one frame before anything else
- →Show panel edges — the AI needs to see where one panel ends and another begins
- →Natural light — shoot in daylight, ideally overcast (no harsh shadows or glare)
- →Multiple angles — one full side shot, then a 45° corner shot if damage wraps around
- →Include wheels — having the wheel arch in frame helps the AI judge panel scale
✗ Avoid This
- →Extreme close-ups only — the AI loses all context of which panel and how far damage extends
- →Direct flash or bright sunlight — washes out damage and creates misleading reflections
- →Night photos — low light makes damage depth impossible to judge accurately
- →Only one panel when multiple are hit — always shoot the full affected area
- →Shooting from inside the car or through a gap — regardless of the panel or severity, always step outside and shoot from a clear external position
💡 Pro tip: 3–5 photos works best. Start with a full side shot, add a 45° corner shot if damage wraps around, then one closer shot of the worst panel. That combination gives the clearest picture of what's been affected.
05 — Photos App
Autoimate Photos App
The Autoimate Photos app lets you upload vehicle and damage photos directly from your phone — at the job site, in the workshop, or anywhere. Photos attach automatically to the correct job.
1
Install the app on your phone
On your Dashboard, click the 📲 Get Photos App button in the sidebar. Scan the QR code with your phone camera. On iPhone open in Safari → Share → Add to Home Screen. On Android open in Chrome → Menu → Add to Home Screen.
2
Set your Company ID
First time only — tap Settings and enter your Company ID. This links all your photos to your shop. You only do this once and it stays saved on your phone.
3
Enter the quote number
Type the job number (e.g. 57) into the main screen. No need to type the full JOB-0057 format — just the number is fine.
4
Upload photos and send
Add vehicle condition photos (up to 50) and AI damage analysis photos (up to 5) separately. Tap Send — photos appear on the job in the estimator within seconds.