VRS Overview
The Variable Rate System (VRS) is an innovative and proven technology helping both collision repairers and insurers find the right labor rates for the right shops and achieve more consistency in payment of necessary but not-included procedures.
For labor rates, the VRS process starts with the VRS Standardized Labor Rate Survey. The survey is deployed nationally, using the same survey for every state, and available for all collision repair centers to take for free, as often as they need to. NABR recommends shops complete the survey every 6 months to keep their shop profile up to date in the VRS, including their labor rates, training, equipment, and certifications.
The VRS Standardized Labor Rate Survey has no equal in the industry, with several key characteristics that provide the industry the highest quality labor rate survey and reporting available.
(1) An Independent, Third Party to Conduct Unbiased Labor Rate Surveys
NABR is an independent third party, not tied to auto body shops or insurance providers. NABR conducts impartial surveys and does not hide, exclude, or manipulate survey data or results for any party's interest, thereby creating system that all users can trust and have confidence in. It provides a level playing field for everybody.
(2) Equal, Open Access
All collision repairers nationwide can access and take the VRS Survey anytime without cost. There are no invitations, passwords, or special access requirements of any kind. See all the VRS labor rate surveys at LaborRateSurvey.com.
(3) Standardized Questionnaire
To ensure a level playing field and apples-to-apples comparisons across the industry, the VRS uses a standardized survey across the country. All body shops take the same survey.
(4) Continuous Measurement
Markets are dynamic, not static. Labor prices can change at any time, for a variety of reasons. Therefore, the VRS labor rate surveys are always open and available 24x7, enabling the labor rate reporting to be the truest readout on what market labor rates are right now.
(5) Verified Data
Whatever information in the survey can be verified is verified. This includes items such as shop contact information, I-CAR Gold Class recognition, and OEM certifications, among other items.
(6) Range of Rates
In today's market, with increasingly advanced vehicles, the use of "prevailing rates" is quickly becoming antiquated. There is no one rate for a market or for a body shop. Instead, there is a range of labor rates in any market that are reasonable and acceptable to customers, in order to get their vehicle repaired right by a qualified repairer.
(7) Differentiation
Body shops are different, they are not all the same. They have differences in facilities, training, tooling, equipment, and certifications. The VRS enables both repairers and insurers to separate shops from each other and find the right rates for comparable shops, usually higher rates for shops who've invested more in their business and lower rates for those who have not.
(8) Data Integrity
(9) Data Transparency
Lastly, the Variable Rate System technology enables custom labor rate search areas starting from the address of a specific shop or ZIP code, together with a mileage distance, which better reflects a collision repairer's competitive market and how consumers shop. It is not limited by city, county, or state lines, or any other pre-defined region.
National AutoBody Research is committed to the highest level of excellence and a never-ending quest for simple, easy to use solutions that achieve real results for the collision repair industry. The Variable Rate System’s enhanced survey methodology and innovative technology represent a real breakthrough to enable a rational pricing model for the collision repair industry.
We respectfully ask for an opportunity to meet with you and show you how the Variable Rate System can help you.
Request a free, no-obligation demo of the VRS.
For labor rates, the VRS process starts with the VRS Standardized Labor Rate Survey. The survey is deployed nationally, using the same survey for every state, and available for all collision repair centers to take for free, as often as they need to. NABR recommends shops complete the survey every 6 months to keep their shop profile up to date in the VRS, including their labor rates, training, equipment, and certifications.
The VRS Standardized Labor Rate Survey has no equal in the industry, with several key characteristics that provide the industry the highest quality labor rate survey and reporting available.
(1) An Independent, Third Party to Conduct Unbiased Labor Rate Surveys
NABR is an independent third party, not tied to auto body shops or insurance providers. NABR conducts impartial surveys and does not hide, exclude, or manipulate survey data or results for any party's interest, thereby creating system that all users can trust and have confidence in. It provides a level playing field for everybody.
(2) Equal, Open Access
All collision repairers nationwide can access and take the VRS Survey anytime without cost. There are no invitations, passwords, or special access requirements of any kind. See all the VRS labor rate surveys at LaborRateSurvey.com.
(3) Standardized Questionnaire
To ensure a level playing field and apples-to-apples comparisons across the industry, the VRS uses a standardized survey across the country. All body shops take the same survey.
(4) Continuous Measurement
Markets are dynamic, not static. Labor prices can change at any time, for a variety of reasons. Therefore, the VRS labor rate surveys are always open and available 24x7, enabling the labor rate reporting to be the truest readout on what market labor rates are right now.
(5) Verified Data
Whatever information in the survey can be verified is verified. This includes items such as shop contact information, I-CAR Gold Class recognition, and OEM certifications, among other items.
(6) Range of Rates
In today's market, with increasingly advanced vehicles, the use of "prevailing rates" is quickly becoming antiquated. There is no one rate for a market or for a body shop. Instead, there is a range of labor rates in any market that are reasonable and acceptable to customers, in order to get their vehicle repaired right by a qualified repairer.
(7) Differentiation
Body shops are different, they are not all the same. They have differences in facilities, training, tooling, equipment, and certifications. The VRS enables both repairers and insurers to separate shops from each other and find the right rates for comparable shops, usually higher rates for shops who've invested more in their business and lower rates for those who have not.
(8) Data Integrity
(9) Data Transparency
Lastly, the Variable Rate System technology enables custom labor rate search areas starting from the address of a specific shop or ZIP code, together with a mileage distance, which better reflects a collision repairer's competitive market and how consumers shop. It is not limited by city, county, or state lines, or any other pre-defined region.
National AutoBody Research is committed to the highest level of excellence and a never-ending quest for simple, easy to use solutions that achieve real results for the collision repair industry. The Variable Rate System’s enhanced survey methodology and innovative technology represent a real breakthrough to enable a rational pricing model for the collision repair industry.
We respectfully ask for an opportunity to meet with you and show you how the Variable Rate System can help you.
Request a free, no-obligation demo of the VRS.
