How Long Does Collision Repair Take?

So you got into a car accident and need some repairs. It happens all the time - our Collision Center gets daily arrivals of damaged vehicles in need of repairs and updates. And with these constant arrivals, our number one question from customers is always “How long does collision repair take?”. This can have a multitude of answers, but that’s what we’re here to answer! Today, Toyota of Clermont is going over the collision repair timeline and all the factors that can influence it.

The Circumstances of A Repair Wait Time

There are a variety of circumstances that could make your repairs longer than others, such as: 

• Luxury, foreign, or vintage cars will take longer due to the search for the necessary parts. Cars sold in high volumes, such as the Toyota Camry, take less time to repair due to more readily available parts.

• If you ask “How long does collision repair take?”, our Clermont technicians will then ask “How bad is the damage?” The general rule of thumb with your Toyota repairs is the more extensive the damage is, the longer it's going to take to fix.

• If your insurance company is backed up with its customers, it could take awhile to approve your claim and our estimates.  Our Toyota of Clermont technicians can’t start working on your Toyota repairs without your insurance company’s approval.

• Just like other businesses, repair shops have busy seasons and are important to keep in mind when picking one.

How Long Does Collision Repair Take: Phase One

You’ve brought your car in for our body shop techs to repair. The first phase of repairs is inspection and reviewing. 

• Our techs will examine your vehicle from bumper to bumper and check for damage while taking pictures for the assessment.

• The techs then come up with a plan for any parts in need of a repair, adjustment, or replacement, which mainly influences the answer for “how long does collision repair take?”

• After the review, the estimates are sent to your insurance company to complete their own review. Minor estimates don’t take long to approve, but larger repair jobs can take up to five days.

• The evaluation portion shouldn’t take more than a day to complete, but actual length will vary based on size of repair.

How Long Does Collision Repair Take: Phase Two

The second part of the Toyota repairs process is the actual repair. Once your insurance company approves the estimates, our techs will get to work!

• Once your car is disassembled, a second inspection will take place to determine if there’s any hidden damage. If they find any, they’ll have to resubmit an estimate to your insurance company and wait for a response.

• A parts replacement can take up to seven days if the part isn’t already in stock, or even longer during heavy shipping seasons (like the holidays).

• After the second inspection is completed and all needed parts are in, the Toyota of Clermont technicians start the repairs! Minor repairs can take anywhere from one to three days, while major repairs can take up to a couple weeks. (For anyone looking for the simplest “How long does collision repair take?” answer, this is it!)

• Once all repairs are completed, the techs will need to repaint and refinish your vehicle to make it look brand new. This process can be quick depending on the Toyota repairs, but won’t take more than four days.

How Long Does Collision Repair Take: Phase Three

The final phase is reviewing. Our Clermont techs will make sure your car is good to go and ready to drive off in! We also detail and wash it so when we give you a call to pick up your car, it’s fresh and looks like new!

Any More Questions Like “How Long Does Collision Repair Take?”

As you can see, “How long does collision repair take?” isn’t an easy question to answer, but you should have a better understanding now! Need any more help to determine how long does collision repair take for your vehicle? Visit Toyota of Clermont to talk to our Collision Center technicians today or give us a call at 352-404-7001.