How Long Does Collision Repair Take?

Written by: Wrecktify

How Long Does Collision Repair Take on Average?

So how long does collision repair take? Like we said, it depends. A minor collision repair is likely to only take a few days, while a major collision repair could take a few weeks. A full vehicle restoration could take more than a month. Generally speaking, the less significant the damage, the shorter it's likely to take to repair - and vice versa.

What Factors Impact Collision Repair Time?

So you've been in a wreck and need your car back as soon as possible. Make sure you know some of the key factors that impact how quickly your car will be ready for driving again:

The Severity of the Damage

Again, the severity of the damage is likely to dictate the length of the repair. Things like minor collision repair, door replacements, suspension repair, and paint repair all tend to take a few days. More significant damage, a new paint job, frame straightening, and engine repair or replacement are all going to extend the timeline, likely into the week-to-week range.

The Type of Vehicle

It's not so much the type of vehicle as it is the availability of parts for said vehicle. The more unique the automobile, the longer it could take to procure parts for it. Most auto body shops stock a wide range of parts. However, parts for specialty vehicles or various specialty parts aren't typically in demand and may not be readily available. This can extend the repair time while the right parts are ordered and delivered.

The Expertise of the Mechanic or Garage

It's important to have your vehicle serviced by mechanics or garages that you can trust to do the job efficiently and effectively. A garage with less experienced technicians may take longer to repair your vehicle than one with experienced technicians.

Garage Workloads

How busy is the garage and how quickly can a technician get to your vehicle? It's another factor that can extend repair time. The best garages tend to be the most in demand - and a full workload may force you to wait a little bit longer for repairs. Make sure you know what to expect with the garage you're considering so there are no surprises when it comes to turnaround time.

Insurance Process

If you've filed a claim for the damage, it can take several days for an agent to investigate, negotiate costs, and approve it - and many repair shops won't start working on your vehicle until they know they're going to be paid for it. Consider working with a garage that can help you work with your insurance adjuster to streamline this part of the process.

Average Time by Repair

Here's a look at the average time for the type of repair your vehicle needs:

• Windows and Glass Repairs: 1-2 days
• Dent Repairs: Paintless dent repair can usually be completed in 1-2 days. Dent repair that includes paintwork may span anywhere from 2-4 days to 2 weeks.
• Bumper Repairs: Bumper repair or replacement is typically completed in 1-3 days.
• Scratch Repairs: Similar to dent repair, scratch repair only takes a few days if there's no extensive paint damage. You can add on several more days if there's paintwork involved.
• Body Repairs: Body repairs largely depend on the significance of the damage. Minor damage is a few days, while major damage is a few weeks. A full vehicle restoration can take upwards of a month or more.

The Typical Collision Repair Process

There are a few key steps to the collision repair process. Some steps go quickly, while others tend to be a bit more tedious.

For instance, the initial assessment and repair estimate tends to be pretty quick, usually an hour or two. But insurance approval can take days by the time an adjuster can assess damage and approve a claim. In other words, it could be anywhere from 2-3 days from the time you bring your vehicle into the repair shop before a technician is even able to work on it. Remember, a mechanic isn't likely to work to repair your vehicle until the claim has been approved and they know they'll be getting paid.

After a technician starts work on your vehicle, it could be anywhere from a few days to several weeks before it's good to go. Refer to the section above to see the average time according to the repair and the section from earlier in this piece about other factors that could potentially slow the repair time.

Following repairs, a good body shop will carefully inspect and conduct quality control testing on your car to make sure everything checks out - both from a safety and performance aspect. It'll then be washed and cleaned, and the keys will be handed back to you.

In Need of Collision Repair? Let Wreckitfy, Rectify!

If you need collision repair, don't just trust your vehicle to any auto body shop. Contact us at Wrecktify to ensure your vehicle gets the very best care. We'll work with all insurance companies to help streamline the repair process and provide you with a rental car while we're repairing your vehicle, and we pride ourselves on transparency throughout the whole vehicle restoration process. For more information on how long collision repair takes, contact us today.