Collisions in Ontario happen every day, and getting into one yourself is scary. It’s also incredibly stressful and frustrating because you’re now without a vehicle with no idea who to talk to, where to go for repairs, or how long it’s going to take to get your car back. Not to mention the fact that you need to arrange a way to get to work, pick up the kids, get your groceries, and coordinate extracurricular activities!
As much as we’d love to give you an exact number of days for your collision repairs, we want to be honest and fair with you: there is no exact formula to figure it out. That being said, a good estimate on average situations may give you a hand at planning out your car repair and might help relieve some of that stress that comes with “unknowns” after a car accident.
How Long Do These Car Repairs Take?
Minor Collision Repair
Small scratches and fender benders usually take the least amount of time to complete. Depending on the season and severity, it could take just a few days to complete. Minor damage means the auto repair shop will be able to get your car fixed quickly because it’s less dependent on vehicle parts like a side mirror malfunction, paint, and other factors that tend to delay repairs.
Major Collision Repair
If your car has significant damage, the repair process will take longer. Your mechanic may need to inspect and provide an estimate for what it will take to fix your car before your insurance allows the repair work to begin.
Although it is not uncommon for the body shop to find more extensive damage once they start work on your car, this updated repair estimate should be brought to your insurance and included on your claim. If the auto body shop gives you a repair estimate of a few weeks to a few months based on the damage to your car, this is normal.
Windshield Repair or Replacement
Your auto body shop will not install a windshield on a vehicle that has been compromised. You may need to get your car repaired before any installation can be done. Your windshield repair will typically take less than an hour to complete, but it may need to “set” or “rest” for an hour before being driven on the road.
If you are getting your windshield replaced, the auto shop may need to order the right windshield for your particular car before completing the repair. Once everything is available, and your appointment is booked, the replacement process should take 1-2 hours.
Car Paint Scratch
If you have a standard colour model, you won’t need a specialized Ottawa body shop to get your car’s paint fixed in just a few days. If you have a custom colour, matching paint colours and getting the correct one will take much longer. The good thing is that you will not have to leave your car at the repair shop the whole time. They will typically send out for the colour and book a time with you once it arrives.
How Long Does An Estimate From Your Insurance Company Take?
Keep in mind, the question “How long does it take” is most frequently changed by issues with insurance claim paperwork. We can’t begin until the repair shop gets approval from the insurance company. Typically, insurance companies will get the claim paperwork sorted in a few days.
Keep in mind that some policies have stipulations on the type of parts they allow to be used, the severity of the damage, and who was at fault that can affect how the accident is sorted out. At Bemac, we have one of the largest state-of-the-art collision centres in Eastern Ontario, with superior equipment and a superior collision team. We’re also approved by all Canadian insurance companies.
What Can Make a Car Repair Take Longer?
Three main car repair factors will decide how long it will take to repair your car after an accident:
1. How Damaged Is Your Car?
Certain damages take more time than others to fix. If it’s anything more than a minor bumper repair or surface scratches, chances are we’ll have your vehicle for at least a few days.
Collision repair time is a variable we can’t predict until we have an up close and professional inspection of the damage. With our online quote form, you can send us pictures of your vehicle and details of the damage from the collision that will enable us to give you a better time and price estimate. You must know that in major collisions, we need to be sure your car doesn’t have any issues that will give you problems later on. Your safety is extremely important to us.
2. Are The Car Parts Available?
This is almost always the biggest delay once we get started. Broken or missing parts will need replacing, and we fall to the mercy of the manufacturer. Sometimes, your insurance policy only covers generic brand part replacements, which are typically easier to find. Still, sourcing parts we don’t keep on hand can draw out the processes longer than we’d like. Luxury, limited edition, and foreign cars can be tough to source parts for, and a longer delay should be expected.
3. What’s The Age Of The Car?
If your vehicle is brand-new, replacement parts may not yet be widely available and are difficult to source. Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the spectrum, the parts may no longer exist if it’s very old. It is also possible that the insurance company sees the quoted estimate to be a higher cost than the vehicle’s value and may consider it a total loss.
Trust Bemac, Ottawa’s Expert Repair Shop
While we can’t give you an exact collision repair time, we can give you high-quality professional service backed with a lifetime guarantee. Ask us for a free online quote, and we’ll have you back in your own car as soon as possible. At Bemac, we’re proud to offer amenities like a customer lounge and in-house rentals with Enterprise Rent-a-Car to make the process as easy as possible.
The important part is: we get it. The aftermath of an accident is stressful enough, so you may as well put your vehicle in the hands of a professional that you can count on.
