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How long do car repairs take?

I was in an accident and my car had some significant damage. In the meantime, I have no way to get to work. How long do most car repairs take after an accident?

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Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Sorry to hear about your accident! Hopefully, you’re in good health and your car doesn’t take too long to get out of the job. Generally speaking, the time needed to repair a car after an accident is about 12 days. However, this is dependent on the severity of the damage and whether it’s mechanical or bodywork. In addition, the backlog of the repair shop dictates how long your repairs will take.
Bodywork is a more arduous process, simply because the amount of time for fiberglass, primer, and paint to cure can take 24 hours or longer. If you have a specialized color on your vehicle, the process can take even longer as the auto body has to order a matching color.
If your damage is mechanical, once again this relies on the backlog of the repair shop and the availability of parts. Especially in the COVID era, supply chains are broken. What once took a day or two to order is now taking a week or more. Therefore, you have to remain patient when you need some work done on your vehicle.
Another obstacle is how easy or difficult it is to work with your particular
car insurance
company. While some insurers are on top of the situation from the moment you file a claim, others may have investigations and claims adjustments that prolong the process.
If your insurance company is being difficult, you may want to shop around for another car insurance provider in the future via the Jerry app. As a licensed broker,
Jerry
helps you find and compare quotes from over 50 top providers, including Nationwide, Allstate, and Travelers in minutes. When you find a better rate, Jerry can help you buy your new coverage and even cancel your old policy!
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