Senior Physical Damage Appraiser – Auto Liability

Whip, Inc.; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Whip, Inc. seeks a Senior Liability PD Appraiser in Maryland to lead auto property damage evaluations, including in-person inspections and detailed repair estimates. The role requires extensive third‑party liability auto damage experience and the ability to work closely with repair facilities and claims teams.

Travel within Maryland for inspections is required. The candidate will review estimates, identify discrepancies, and provide well‑supported recommendations to balance accurate settlements

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years of experience in automotive property damage appraisal, preferably involving third‑party liability claims.
• Extensive hands‑on experience conducting in‑person vehicle inspections and damage assessments.
• Experience handling total loss evaluations, including ACV calculations, salvage considerations, and settlement recommendations.
• Strong understanding of automotive repair procedures, structural damage, labor operations, parts pricing, and industry estimating standards.
• Proficiency with industry‑standard estimating platforms such as CCC ONE, Mitchell, or Audatex.

Responsibilities

• Conduct in-person and virtual inspections of damaged vehicles to assess the extent of property damage and determine appropriate repair costs.
• Prepare, review, and validate detailed repair estimates using industry-standard estimating platforms.
• Evaluate repair methodologies, labor rates, parts pricing, and replacement requirements to ensure estimates are accurate and reasonable.
• Identify unrelated damage, prior damage, and potential discrepancies in repair estimates.
• Coordinate directly with body shops, repair facilities, and third‑party appraisers to resolve estimate differences and supplements.
• Identify vehicles that meet total loss criteria based on repair costs, vehicle value, and applicable state requirements.
• Conduct total loss evaluations, including ACV assessments, salvage valuations, and comparable vehicle research.
• Review vehicle condition, mileage, options, and market data to determine accurate valuations.
• Assist with total loss settlement recommendations and coordinate salvage disposition when applicable.
• Work closely with claims adjusters to ensure total loss evaluations are well documented and supported.
• Support the Liability Claims team with technical assessments of third‑party property damage claims.
• Review estimates prepared by external vendors and repair facilities to ensure consistency with company guidelines.
• Provide clear recommendations regarding repairability, damage severity, and appropriate settlement amounts.
• Collaborate with internal claims handlers, operations personnel, and management to resolve complex property damage matters.
• Maintain detailed appraisal reports, photographs, estimates, and supporting documentation within claims management systems.
• Participate in on-site meetings and vehicle inspections as needed throughout Maryland.

Skills

In-person inspections

Total loss evals

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Communication

Tools

CCC ONE

Mitchell

Audatex

Job description

Senior Physical Damage Appraiser – Auto Liability

Position Overview

Whip is seeking an experienced Liability Physical Damage (PD) Appraiser to support our growing auto insurance claims operations. This role is responsible for evaluating third-party vehicle damage, preparing and reviewing repair estimates, assessing total losses, negotiating settlements, and ensuring accurate and timely resolution of physical damage claims.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in auto property damage appraisal, strong technical knowledge of vehicle repairs and valuation, and the ability to independently manage complex damage assessments.

This position requires a Maryland-based professional who is comfortable conducting in-person vehicle inspections, working directly with repair facilities, and collaborating with our on-site operations and claims teams.

Key Responsibilities

Vehicle Damage Appraisal & Inspections

• Conduct in-person and virtual inspections of damaged vehicles to assess the extent of property damage and determine appropriate repair costs.
• Prepare, review, and validate detailed repair estimates using industry-standard estimating platforms.
• Evaluate repair methodologies, labor rates, parts pricing, and replacement requirements to ensure estimates are accurate and reasonable.
• Identify unrelated damage, prior damage, and potential discrepancies in repair estimates.
• Coordinate directly with body shops, repair facilities, and third-party appraisers to resolve estimate differences and supplements.

Total Loss Evaluations

• Identify vehicles that meet total loss criteria based on repair costs, vehicle value, and applicable state requirements.
• Conduct total loss evaluations, including actual cash value (ACV) assessments, salvage valuations, and comparable vehicle research.
• Review vehicle condition, mileage, options, and market data to determine accurate valuations.
• Assist with total loss settlement recommendations and coordinate salvage disposition when applicable.
• Work closely with claims adjusters to ensure total loss evaluations are well documented and supported.
• Support the Liability Claims team with technical assessments of third-party property damage claims.
• Review estimates prepared by external vendors and repair facilities to ensure consistency with company guidelines.
• Provide clear recommendations regarding repairability, damage severity, and appropriate settlement amounts.
• Collaborate with internal claims handlers, operations personnel, and management to resolve complex property damage matters.
• Maintain detailed appraisal reports, photographs, estimates, and supporting documentation within claims management systems.
• Participate in on-site meetings and vehicle inspections as needed throughout Maryland.

Required Qualifications

• 8–10+ years of experience in automotive property damage appraisal, preferably involving third-party liability claims.
• Extensive hands‑on experience conducting in‑person vehicle inspections and damage assessments.
• Demonstrated experience handling total loss evaluations, including ACV calculations, salvage considerations, and settlement recommendations.
• Strong understanding of automotive repair procedures, structural damage, labor operations, parts pricing, and industry estimating standards.
• Proficiency with industry‑standard estimating platforms such as CCC ONE, Mitchell, or Audatex.
• Experience working directly with collision repair facilities, insurance carriers, and claims adjusters.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to independently evaluate complex damage scenarios.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must reside in Maryland and be available to travel locally for vehicle inspections and in‑person collaboration with the operations team.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience working as a staff appraiser, field appraiser, or senior property damage appraiser for an insurance carrier or third-party administrator (TPA).
• Experience with commercial auto, rental fleets, or high-volume auto liability claims.
• Familiarity with Maryland and surrounding states' total loss regulations and claims practices.
• I‑CAR, ASE, or other relevant automotive repair/appraisal certifications.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating estimates and supplements with collision repair facilities.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a highly experienced, hands‑on appraiser who can take ownership of property damage evaluations from initial inspection through final appraisal recommendations.

The successful candidate will be comfortable working both independently in the field and collaboratively with our internal team. They should bring sound technical judgment, extensive total loss experience, and the ability to make practical, well‑supported recommendations that balance accurate claim settlements with cost control.

This is an opportunity to play an important role in building and strengthening Whip’s internal claims capabilities.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Whip, Inc.’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.