AI Car Repair Estimate | Instant Photo Analysis | Otto
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AI Car Repair Estimate: A Price From a Photo

Upload a photo of the damage and get a free AI repair estimate in about 30 seconds. How the AI prices it is below.

Free · No account needed · Independent of any insurer

Not a guess from a lookup table. Otto's AI reads each damaged panel in your photo, decides whether it needs repair, refinish or replacement, and prices it the way a shop writes an estimate: labor hours at your area's rates, plus parts and materials.

1,400+Drivers a month
~30 secPer estimate
$0Always free
As seen on CBS Los Angeles · Repairer Driven News · Autobody News
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How the AI prices your repair

  1. It finds the damage. The AI identifies each damaged panel in your photo: bumper, fender, door, quarter panel, hood and so on. Add up to four photos for a better read.
  2. It decides the operation. For each panel: repair the dent, refinish the paint, or replace the part. That call drives most of the price.
  3. It prices it like a shop. Real labor hours for that operation, times current body and paint labor rates for your ZIP code, plus parts and paint materials.
  4. You get a range. A low-to-high estimate in about 30 seconds, with the damage it found listed out.
02

How accurate is it?

Otto's hours and rates come from real shop estimates, and we calibrate its price ranges against what shops actually charged for the same kind of damage. Treat the result as a planning range: it tells you whether you're looking at a few hundred dollars or a few thousand, and whether a quote you get later is in the right neighborhood.

What a photo can't show is the damage behind the panel. Once a shop takes the bumper cover off, brackets, sensors and absorbers can add to the bill. That's why final shop prices can move, and why serious hits are worth an in-person look. Our guide to structural damage covers the warning signs.

What it reads well

Dents, creases, scratches, scuffs, paint damage, cracked bumper covers and damage to body panels.

What needs a shop

Frame and structural damage, mechanical parts, glass, and anything hidden behind a panel.

Get a better read

Shoot in daylight, straight on and at a 45-degree angle, and include some undamaged panel around the damage for scale.

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After your estimate

In Southern California

You'll see the Otto partner shop closest to you, by name. Call them straight from your estimate, or ask them to call you. Every partner helps with the insurance claim, works with any insurer, tows your car in and offers rental discounts. See all our shops.

Everywhere else

Your estimate is yours to take to any shop or use with your insurer. If the repair isn't worth it, or you were hurt, Otto shows you options for that too, with no obligation.

04

Common questions

How accurate are Otto's AI estimates?
Otto prices your repair the way a body shop does. The AI reads your photo to identify each damaged panel and what it needs (repair, refinish or replace), then applies real labor hours to current body, paint and structural labor rates for your area, and adds parts and materials. Those hours and rates come from real shop estimates, and we calibrate the price ranges against what shops actually charged. A photo can't show hidden damage behind a bumper cover or panel, so a shop's final number can move once parts come off.
What happens after I get my estimate?
The estimate is yours to keep and use however you like: for your own planning, for a conversation with your insurer, or to take to any shop. Where Otto has a partner shop nearby, we'll also connect you with it, usually within a business day. There's no obligation and no account to create.
Is Otto really free?
Yes. Otto is free for vehicle owners. Otto is paid by the shops and partners you choose to work with, never by you. There are no hidden fees or obligations.
What types of damage can Otto estimate?
Auto body damage: dents, scratches, bumper damage, paint damage and collision damage to body panels. Frame, mechanical and glass damage need an in-person inspection.
Do I have to use one of Otto's partner shops?
No. You're free to take your estimate to any shop you choose or use it with your insurance claim.
How do I know the shops are trustworthy?
Every partner shop has agreed to help with your insurance claim, work with any insurer, tow your car in and offer rental car discounts. If something goes wrong, reply to any Otto email and we'll follow up with the shop. You can see every partner shop in our SoCal shop directory.
Is my information secure?
Yes. Your photos and personal information are stored securely. We share your contact details with a shop or partner only when you ask us to connect you, for example by submitting a form. Our privacy policy has the details.

Want typical prices first? See collision repair costs in 2026 or bumper repair costs, or try the vehicle damage calculator.

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