INSURERS are being lobbied to work together to agree industry standard repair times for bodyshops to stop them spending thousands of pounds on specialist equipment for one insurer. RMI Bodyshop Service Division is asking for the Thatcham Times System - which specifies average times for work being carried out on a car - to be accepted industry-wide to simplify negotiations between engineers and insurers.

Insurers could then combine that with software of their choice to inform insurers of repair costs, the RMI says. Bob Hood, senior manager of bodyshop services, said: 'With many bodyshops reporting a feeling of uncertainty in what they see as an unstable industry, large expenditure on equipment is a considerable burden.

'This uncertainty is heightened by recent rationalisation of insurers. The effect could be catastrophic for repairers who, in order to attract repair work, spend many thousands of pounds on electronic estimating systems specified by an insurer, which could be dropped when mergers take place. The RMI feels that now is the time for insurers to forget their chosen information technology repairer requirement and rally round a TTS standard.'