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How long does collision repair take?
The short answer: most collision repairs take 7 to 14 business days. Light cosmetic work (a single bumper, a couple of dents, a fender) can finish in 3–5 days. Major structural damage, frame work, or Tesla and other manufacturer-certified repairs typically run 2–4 weeks. Severe damage that opens up hidden problems during disassembly can extend to 6 weeks or more.
What stages does a collision repair actually go through?
Every collision repair, no matter how small, moves through the same sequence:
- Estimate & insurance approval (1–3 days). We prepare a written estimate, send it to your insurer, and wait for sign-off. Sometimes the adjuster wants to inspect in person, which adds a day or two.
- Disassembly & supplement (2–4 days). We pull apart the damaged area to find hidden damage. About 80% of repairs need a supplement — extra parts or labor not visible from the outside. We file that with your insurer for approval.
- Parts ordering (1 day to 3 weeks). This is the most variable stage. Common domestic parts arrive next-day. Tesla, European, and dealer-only parts can take 1–3 weeks.
- Structural & body repair (2–7 days). Frame straightening on our Celette Naja bench, panel replacement, welding, and metal finishing.
- Paint prep & refinishing (3–5 days). Masking, priming, color match, base coat, clear coat, and proper cure time in our downdraft booths.
- Reassembly (1–2 days). Trim, electronics, glass, sensors.
- ADAS calibration & QC (1–2 days). On modern vehicles, ADAS recalibration is mandatory after structural work, glass replacement, or sensor disturbance.
- Detail & pickup. Final wash, interior detail, walk-through with you.
What causes collision repair delays?
Four things drive almost every delay:
- Parts availability. The single biggest variable. Tesla and European manufacturer parts often have longer lead times. Even common parts can be backordered for certain model years.
- Insurance supplement approval. If the adjuster takes a week to approve additional parts, the repair sits for a week. We push insurers hard to keep this short.
- Hidden damage. A bumper hit can hide a bent frame rail underneath. Discovering this mid-repair adds time but ensures the car is repaired correctly.
- Scheduling for specialty work. Some ADAS calibrations require a target bay with specific lighting and floor flatness. We schedule these in-house but sequence matters.
Tesla and certified-program timelines
Tesla repairs deserve their own note. Because we're a Tesla Approved Body Shop, parts come directly from Tesla — and Tesla's parts logistics are stricter than most. A simple Tesla bumper job runs 7–10 business days. A repair involving the high-voltage battery enclosure, structural aluminum, or Autopilot recalibration can run 3–4 weeks. We give you a realistic timeline at the estimate so there are no surprises.
What if my vehicle is undrivable?
We can dispatch our 24-hour towing service at (443) 577-4032 and start the estimate the same day. If your policy includes rental coverage, we help line up a rental so it spans the repair, not just the shop's calendar days.
How Eastern Auto Works keeps repairs on schedule
We pre-order long-lead parts the moment damage is documented, we file supplements within 24 hours of disassembly, and we do paint and ADAS calibration in-house — so we're not waiting on third parties. For most Eastern Shore drivers, we have a written collision repair estimate within 24 hours of drop-off.
