Vehicle Damage Assessor

Solus - an Aviva company; Middlewich; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus scheme

Company pension

33 days holiday

Aviva discounts

Save As You Earn

Parental leave

Wellbeing tools

Job summary

Solus - an Aviva company is seeking a Vehicle Damage Assessor to inspect and assess vehicle damage, set up repair plans, and prepare estimates. You will work within an insurer-owned repair group, giving you broader authority to influence repair quality and keep repairs moving efficiently.

The role emphasizes sound judgement and consistency, with opportunities to collaborate across panel, MET, paint and production teams while upholding industry standards.

Qualifications

• Relevant VDA or technical experience is required.
• Structured, quality-first approach is essential.
• Strong attention to detail and consistency in decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Inspect and assess vehicle damage in line with standards.
• Prepare repair methods and estimates using recognised systems.
• Identify additional damage and manage supplements fairly.
• Collaborate with Panel, MET, Paint and production teams for smooth flow.
• Promote best practice, quality and compliance.

Skills

VDA experience

Attention to detail

Professional judgement

Education

ATA/IMI qualification

Job description

Overview

The Vehicle Damage Assessor role at Solus is built around technical accuracy, consistency and professional judgement. From initial assessment through to repair planning, your decisions play a critical part in keeping repairs safe, efficient and fair for everyone involved. Because Solus operates directly within an insurer group, our Vehicle Damage Assessors work with a wider level of authority and influence, allowing you to make informed decisions that support technicians, customers and repair quality without unnecessary delays or hand-offs.

Responsibilities

As a VDA, you'll shape the repair journey from the outset, ensuring vehicles are assessed correctly and repairs are set up to be completed right first time.

You'll

• Accurately inspect and assess vehicle damage in line with manufacturer and industry standards
• Prepare clear repair methods and estimates using recognised estimating systems
• Identify additional damage and manage supplements in a fair, consistent way
• Work closely with Panel, MET, Paint and production teams to support smooth repair flow
• Promote best practice, quality and compliance across the site

This is a role where sound judgement and consistency matter as much as technical knowledge.

Qualifications

What matters most is that you bring relevant VDA or technical experience, along with a structured, quality-first approach.

This May Include

• Experience as a Vehicle Damage Assessor within an accident repair environment
• Knowledge of standards and industry-recognised qualifications (such as ATA or IMI-aligned competence)
• Confidence assessing modern vehicle construction and repair methods
• Strong attention to detail and consistency in decision-making

We also recognise that strong VDAs come from a range of backgrounds. If you've developed deep technical understanding through another automotive role and are ready to move into assessment with the right support, we're open to that progression.

No two Solus sites are the same, but our expectations are consistent. Working within an insurer-owned repair group means our VDAs are trusted with a broader span of authority, enabling balanced decisions that keep repairs moving while maintaining high standards.

At Solus, You'll Find

• Respect for VDA expertise and professional judgement
• Strong working relationships with technicians and production teams
• Opportunities to influence repair quality, process and outcomes
• An inclusive culture where decision-making style matters more than stereotype

Solus, who are owned by Aviva, are one of the UK leaders in vehicle repairs, returning cars to the road in just 11 days on average and a 4.6/5 star customer rating. With an award-winning apprenticeship programme and winners of other recognised industry awards Solus are proud to be shaping the future of vehicle repair.

Why Join Solus?

We have so much to offer when it comes to being a Solus colleague:

• Competitive salary based on location, skills, experience, and qualifications.
• Bonus opportunity tied to your performance and the overall success of Solus.
• Company pension scheme with employer contributions.
• 33 days' holiday (including bank holidays), with the option to buy or sell up to 5 days.
• Save money with up to 40% discount on Aviva products and other retailer discounts.
• Share in Aviva's success through the Aviva Save As You Earn scheme.
• Supportive policies including parental and carer's leave.
• Wellbeing focus with tools like Group Income Protection and 24/7 GP access.

At Solus, we value inclusivity and welcome all applicants. If you're excited but don't tick every box, we encourage you to apply- your unique skills might be just what we need.

We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants meeting the minimum criteria.