How Long Should a Car Body Repair Take?

The honest answer is that it depends on the damage, the parts and the paint. Here are the ranges a good bodyshop should be quoting, and what pushes a job past them.

Typical timescales

• SMART repair such as a bumper scuff, small dent or kerbed alloy: same day to one day.
• Single panel repair and refinish: two to three days, mostly paint and curing time.
• Panel replacement such as a door or wing: three to five days once parts are in.
• Multi panel or front end damage: one to two weeks, longer if a radiator, airbag or headlamp assembly is involved.
• Structural repair with jig work and calibration: two to four weeks.

What slows jobs down

• Parts. The single biggest factor. Some manufacturer panels and lamps are weeks out.
• Hidden damage. A bumper comes off and reveals a cracked bracket or a bent crash bar, so the estimate has to be revised and re authorised.
• Insurer authorisation. Days can disappear here if nobody is chasing it.
• ADAS calibration. Cars with cameras and radar behind the windscreen or grille need recalibrating after repair. It is not optional and it takes time.
• Colour. Three stage pearls and some metallics need extra blending and test panels to match properly.

Questions worth asking

Ask for the expected completion date in writing, whether parts are in stock, whether calibration is needed, and who will tell you if the date slips. A repairer working to BS 10125 standards should answer all four without hesitation.

Send photos for a free estimate and we will give you a price and a realistic date, not a guess.