# The repair estimate is ready, but is it approved?

The technician has prepared an estimate, and the customer has already spoken with the shop. The owner needs to know whether that conversation covered the repair now proposed.
In this fictional case, the customer agreed to an inspection. The current repair estimate is a separate item awaiting a decision.

Canonical: https://areinum.com/examples/auto-repair-estimate-awaiting-approval/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-31

## Fictional example

The owner's request: Do we have approval for this repair estimate, and what should I ask the customer?

Information provided:
- Customer message on the repair order: 'Go ahead with the inspection.'
- Technician's V2 estimate: brake pad replacement; parts $240; labour $140; total $380.
- Current conversation record: no customer decision on V2.

Example result: Inspection: agreed. Brake pad replacement on V2: no decision recorded; total $380. Draft: 'Please review the V2 estimate for brake pad replacement at $380 and let us know whether you would like us to proceed.'

The next step: The owner checks V2, contacts the customer through the shop's process and waits for a clear decision on that version.

## Match the customer's words to the work

The repair order records the customer's message: 'Go ahead with the inspection.' The technician's subsequent V2 estimate proposes brake pad replacement, with $240 for parts and $140 for labour.

Those lines total $380. The supplied conversation has no customer decision on V2, so the inspection agreement cannot be presented as approval of the replacement.


## Prepare a question the customer can answer

The shop can use the summary to check the estimate, then ask the customer to review V2 and say whether to proceed. The draft should identify the work and total so both sides are discussing the same version.

If the customer wants to understand the condition of the brakes or the proposed repair, the technician or service adviser can explain the findings.


## Record the response against the estimate

The owner decides to contact the customer about V2 and waits for a clear response before treating the proposed repair as approved.

The repair order should distinguish the customer's response from the prepared message. If the estimate changes again, the shop checks the new scope and price with the customer.


## Questions you may have

### Why not treat permission to inspect as permission to repair?

The sample message authorises the inspection. It does not identify the later brake work or its $380 estimate.

### What if the customer approves a different version?

Match the response to that version and clarify the current scope and price before treating V2 as approved.

### Can the assistant decide whether the brakes need replacing?

The technician assesses the vehicle. The example helps organise the estimate and the customer's decision.

## Sources and further reading

- [Auto Repair Estimate Software](https://www.tekmetric.com/feature/estimate-building): Tekmetric describes repair estimates containing parts and labour and customer approval or rejection.

## Related reading

- [AI for auto repair shops: check approval before extra work begins](https://areinum.com/ai-for-auto-repair-shops/)
- [Review the next step before it affects someone else](https://areinum.com/product/decisions-and-control/)
- [How to track a client inquiry across email and chat](https://areinum.com/guides/track-client-inquiry-across-channels/)

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