Why Canada Needs Collision Repair Licensing — And Why Shops Need Better Processes Now
We can’t keep fighting every claim or supplement just to get paid for proper repairs. At some point, we need to push for provincial-level licensing, accountability, and real oversight in Canada.
If you’ve been in this business for any length of time, you already know how broken the system is. We talk endlessly about safe repairs. We invest in training. And we battle insurers every single day just to get paid for the work we actually perform. Even when the compensation doesn’t match the workload, we still do the right things — because we care about repairing vehicles safely and properly.
Yet in most provinces, a shop only needs one licensed technician on staff to legally repair wrecked vehicles — and many shops don’t even meet that minimum.
Let’s call it what it is:
Ridiculous.
In my province, you need a government-issued license to become a stripper. But the person writing a repair script (estimate), welding a quarter panel, performing structural repairs, resetting ADAS, or reinstalling airbags?
No regulated license.
No provincial certification.
No mandatory standards.
No oversight.
And it’s not because the industry doesn’t understand the risks. It’s because insurers prefer it this way — and the entire industry is forced to function in that environment.
A Broken Relationship
There is almost zero trust between insurers and repair shops.
Insurers believe shops inflate repair times.
Shops believe insurers intentionally short-pay and undervalue the work.
The real problem?
Repairs require precise estimating and highly trained technicians following OEM procedures. And now, insurers demand that shops research, document, and justify every single step — a process averaging 17 unpaid hours of admin time per file.
No one pays for that work. But shops are forced to do it.
Why? Follow the Money.
We all know what happens if provinces start requiring technicians, estimators, and repair planners to be licensed.
Labor rates go up.
Training becomes mandatory.
Shops must meet enforceable standards.
And suddenly, collision technicians and estimators are recognized as the skilled professionals they are.
Insurers don’t want that.
Higher standards = higher costs.
Higher costs = damaged loss ratios.
They don’t focus on safety — they focus on liability and cost containment. They rely on the idea that the shop carries the liability for delivering a safe repair, but they resist paying for the actual procedures required to perform one.
As long as the car rolls out the door and they can close the claim, they’re satisfied.
But safe, correct repairs performed by trained professionals?
That costs money — and that’s why insurers push back against licensing at every turn.
Shops Like Ours Do It Right — But It’s Entirely Voluntary
Reputable, established shops already invest in:
• I-CAR training
• OEM repair programs
• Advanced tooling and equipment
• Software systems
• Ongoing skill development
But here’s the truth:
None of this is required, and none of it is compensated.
Meanwhile, untrained, uncertified shops pop up, cut corners, “figure it out as they go,” and undercut legitimate shops — damaging the industry and endangering consumers.
This lack of standards plays directly into insurers’ hands.
No Standards. No Oversight. No Accountability.
Right now, there is no unified federal or provincial structure governing collision repair competency.
Without it, insurers continue dictating repair methods based on cost, not safety.
Licensing changes everything.
If technicians and estimators were licensed like electricians, HVAC techs, or barbers, we’d gain:
• Standardized, enforceable training requirements
• Labour rates that reflect actual technical skill
• Real accountability for improper repairs
• Increased consumer trust
• Reduced insurer influence over unsafe or improper repair processes
A regulated environment raises the bar for everyone and forces fairness into the system.
The Real Path to Profitability:
Flow, Efficiency & Zero Bottlenecks
Even with proper labor rates and licensing, the only way a collision repair shop truly makes money is with:
A smooth, efficient, uninterrupted workflow.
Shops don’t lose money because of technician wages —
they lose money because of:
• Bottlenecks
• Missing information
• Poor repair planning
• Reworks
• Parts delays
• Admin overload
• Lack of standardized processes
A 1-hour slowdown at the front becomes a 3-day delay in production.
A missing procedure becomes a supplement.
A poor dispatch process becomes wasted hours in the booth.
Profitability comes from eliminating chaos.
And that’s exactly what Collision IQ does.
How Collision IQ Helps Shops Win
Collision IQ specializes in rebuilding your shop’s operational flow from the ground up:
✓ Blueprinting & proper repair planning
Accurate, complete, and research-backed from the start — eliminating supplements, delays, and admin waste.
✓ Process mapping and workflow optimization
We identify every bottleneck and remove it permanently.
✓ Accountability and SOP development
Clear roles, consistent quality, predictable outcomes.
✓ Real-time communication systems
No information gaps. No waiting for updates. No confusion.
✓ Improved cycle time & touch time
We turn your shop into a predictable, profitable production machine.
✓ Increased profitability without increasing volume
Most shops are losing 20–40% of their potential profit to inefficiencies.
We get that money back.
In short:
Licensing protects the industry.
Flow and process protect the shop.
Collision IQ delivers the second half of that equation.
“Safe Repairs” Are Just a Talking Point Without Regulation
We all believe in safe, proper repairs. But until governments implement real standards, nothing changes.
And even before regulation arrives, shops need internal structure, process flow, and operational discipline to survive — and thrive.
So What Should We Do?
We need to start speaking up at both the federal and provincial levels.
We need to support licensing for technicians and estimators.
We need to educate our customers.
We need to stop accepting a broken system.
And inside our shops, we need to fix the processes we can control.
Licensing creates industry safety.
Collision IQ creates shop stability and profitability.
It’s long overdue for both.
As professionals who care about doing things the right way — it’s time we lead the charge.
Stuart Sukerman
Principal Consultant, Collision IQ Consulting
📞 416-277-5919
📧 ssukerman@collisioniq.ca
🌐 www.collisioniq.ca
“You don’t fix cars — you move high-value data, people, and decisions through a controlled system. We build that system.”
— Collision IQ Consulting —
