30 days for car repair?

[HotHotHeat]

I'm getting hail damage repaired coming up in a few weeks. After talking with the body shop that my insurer recommended (Lou's Autobody), I've learned that my car will be under repair for an entire month.... Is that normal? I'd just rather not have my car sitting in an autobody collecting dust and who knows what else if not absolutely necessary.

[Locke]

They're giving it the 'Royal' treatment.

[burn_this_city]

Depending how bad it was that doesnt surprise me. I doubt they'd take your car and have it sit. Insurance companies usually try to push work through quickly so they arent paying for your rental car beyond the time required.

[worth]

I would assume this is based on parts and availability of said parts. If they haven't ordered anything, the possibilty is that your car would sit for 2 weeks waiting for fenders to show up.

If everything is in the shop and ready to go, 30 days is far too long in my experience. Although my experience is in industrial equipment, but I do deal with body shops. I would say 2 weeks max is a decent turn around time depending on amount of damage.

[chemgear]

Take a quick photo of your odometer beforehand and ask them to make note of it together when it is dropped off?

[corporatejay]

I've had my car in the shop for a while, sometimes you can get it back if they have to order a part and it's driveable. I would say 30 days can be pretty common.

[Pinner]

There's no way ! Parts are ordered in advance or the availability is confirmed.

I would never let them have my vehicle that long. Chances are it will be out in the weather most of that month in different states of repair. (not a good thing)

Sounds like they want to use it as a "project" to keep idle hands busy when primer is drying etc.

Not to mention the inconvenience. Not acceptable.

One week is reasonable, no more.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Sounds par for the course...my car was in for almost all of July/August...luckily the only car that Budget had available for rent was a convertible mustang WOOT

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

Sounds par for the course...my car was in for almost all of July/August...luckily the only car that Budget had available for rent was a convertible mustang WOOT

WHAT!? Aw man I hope I get something awesome.

Not that there's anything awesome about Mustangs. Unless your name is Tyler.

[lucky1]

30 days is BS.....make sure you check into PDR versus panel replacement. The panels ordered may be aftermarket (fitment issues), and the repair will follow the title of the vehicle for its life (affect the sale price down the road)

[HOOT]

I was just in an accident (Dec 14th) and didn't get my car back until this past Friday (Jan 21), 38 days total. Keep in mind that was over Christmas/New Years but I still don't think it should take that long. Do you get a rental? That's the only thing that made it okay for me.

[kipperfan]

Get a copy of the appraisal and see how many labour hours they have estimated for the work, then, come back in the thread and post the info and we'll be able to figure out if you're getting screwed or if 30 days (20-22 working days) is how long the repairs will take. Without knowing the labour hours needed it is immpossible to tell what's what.

[Pinner]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Get a copy of the appraisal and see how many labour hours they have estimated for the work, then, come back in the thread and post the info and we'll be able to figure out if you're getting screwed or if 30 days (20-22 working days) is how long the repairs will take. Without knowing the labour hours needed it is immpossible to tell what's what.

It would be a write-off if it needed that much shop time

Even a very heavily damaged vehicle can be fixed in one week. (after they get parts) If need be they can put several Tech's on one vehicle. Floor space is too valuable to tie up a bay for a month. That's why I said the car would be outside most of the month.

Remember were talking about a drivable car going in for hail damage.

[RW99]

It sounds to me like a hail repair through conventional methods (not the paintless stuff). There can be over 100 of work hours attached to this type of repair depending on how bad it is. That would equal 30 working days. I'm guessing your appraisal shows around 70 hours or so.

It may suck, but it's 100% normal.

And a side note for some of the other information going in the thread, conventional repairs is to refinish and repaint, not replace with new panels (most of the time). And this repair could be $9K and as long as the car is worth $12k or more (or $13k when figuring in rental costs), insurance will go ahead with repairs.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Pinner

It would be a write-off if it needed that much shop time

Even a very heavily damaged vehicle can be fixed in one week. (after they get parts) If need be they can put several Tech's on one vehicle. Floor space is too valuable to tie up a bay for a month. That's why I said the car would be outside most of the month.

Remember were talking about a drivable car going in for hail damage.

That's what my situation was like, the mechanical work took a while then over to the body shop, the car was undriveable after the accident.

[Golden Jet]

Had an accident in August after the hailstorm here. Took 2 months (mid October) to get my estimate & can't get my car in for repairs until February.

[robocop]

getting my car fixed and it will take 4 days, 4k damage.

[redforever]

I had hail damage, took a month as well. They had to take off all the mouldings around all the windows, doors, etc, really is a long detailed job. You really can't see some of the damage until you have it in the estimators shop and they put it under all those lights.

Some parts of my vehicle were replaced, repainted etc, some small areas of damage, done manually.

[Young-Sneezy]

Originally Posted by hothotheat

what!? Aw man i hope i get something awesome.

Not that there's anything awesome about mustangs. Unless your name is tyler.

It's a Cobra, ok!!!!!!!!!