Qualification Details

ATA Vehicle Damage Assessor

Qual Ref: IMIA-VDA-4

How do you become accredited?

• To become an ATA Vehicle Damage Assessor, you must pass five practical assessments and an on-line knowledge test at an IMI Awards assessment centre approved to offer this ATA route/level.   
• ATA Vehicle Damage Assessor assessments adopt a different approach regarding timing, please see guidelines below for full details. 
• Before you can take an assessment you should be able to prove you have at least 5 years Vehicle Damage Assessor industry experience with a minimum of 2 years experience in an appropriate role e.g estimator or similar.
• On the assessment day you must sign the ATA Code of Conduct.  You will also have your photograph taken in readiness for the ID card issued to successful candidates.
• You must successfully complete all the assessments within a 12 month period from the first assessment date.
• Any passed assessment elements may be 'banked'. 
• Once you have achieved your accreditation, your details will be entered on the ATA register of accredited technicians.
• To ensure that you have kept up-to-date with new technologies, you will have to be re-assessed every 5 years to maintain your accreditation.

Click here to view the full guidelines of this ATA route - Issue 7 December 2010

Assessment Details

• Five practical assessments covering:
  - Establish and record customer and customers needs
  - Establish and record vehicle data
  - Appraising the damage, establishing the correct repair method and developing costing using published material
  - Establish and record vehicle valuation
  - Audit of a repair method
• One on-line knowledge test comprising 70 questions which must be completed in 90 minutes.  Topics which may be included are:
  - General industry knowledge
  - Repair methodology
  - Salvage categorisation
  - Damage appraisal and identification
  - Vehicle appraisal and valuation
  - eScribe
  - Safety and liability

Costs

• Registration (including ID cards for successful technicians): £50 
• The cost of the assessment day may vary from centre to centre.  You should contact your nearest IMI Awards centre for details.