How Long Can A Dealership Hold Your Car For Repair?

Dyer Collision Service center

So, how long does it take to repair a car? We know that servicing your vehicle can be really stressful. Scheduling. Servicing. Waiting. The occasional surprise issue. Those are all realities of service work, but at Dyer Collision, we also know that the process doesn't need to be so mysterious. This page will be your ultimate guide to car repairs and how long things should really take.

How Long Car Repairs Take: Declassified

Your best friend went in for a scheduled service. But there's no communication from their dealership. It's been a week or so, and they throw their arms up to the sky and scream, "how long does it take to repair a car!?" Things happen. And in this case, it sounds like there's a communication issue to blame. Let's look at some of the key factors that determine how long a dealership can hold your car for repair.

  • Book Time - There are several software systems that populate an hourly projection for any job. These are national standards, and all dealerships and service centers use this software. When you receive a quote, the time element will be clearly stated. Your invoice total is the time (in hours) multiplied by the shop's hourly rate. But how long car repairs take in reality is another thing entirely. But that brings us to our second point.

  • Communication - Your service advisor should set clear expectations as to how long it should take to repair your car. If the timeline moves up or gets pushed, they should call and advise you.

  • Staff & Supplies - These days, we’re all familiar with supply chain issues. How long does it take to repair a car when a dealership is short-staffed or waiting on materials? A situation like this could take up to a few days or even weeks to resolve.

  • Insurance Problems - Let’s say you’ve come in for car repair after an accident. We've done our part and given you an estimate. But your claims adjuster misses their appointment or experiences other delays. You could be waiting for weeks until a repair is fully authorized.

  • Age & Condition - So car repair after a crash aside, there’s another issue that might delay repairs. If you have an older car that lives outside, it might become home to small animals as the years go by. Animals love to eat wires, which could prolong simple repairs as technicians take hours to source the problem. Rust is another factor that delays repairs. If the corrosion is severe enough, your vehicle might be deemed unrepairable.

How Long Is Reasonable for a Car Repair, Really?

How long does it take to repair a car? We hope that by now, you know the answer. It depends! Fortunately, reputable service centers like Dyer Collision will give you a quote with clear expectations right from the start. So, whether it takes 20 minutes to repair your car or 20 weeks to complete collision services, you'll know what to expect from the start and will be informed if things change. Contact one of our friendly service advisors today and experience service the Dyer way: transparent, efficient, and accurate.