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How Long Does Collision Repair Take? What Factors Play into Turnaround Time?

We’ve all been in an accident in some way whether it’s minor collision, or better known as, a fender bender or its’s serious damage and falls under the category of major collision. Neither would be preferable because in the case of any accident our daily routine is interrupted. Of course, then it’s time to make choices and deal with the collision repair process while choosing the right local auto body shop that you can trust. Weather, holidays, and location are some of the reasons why an accident is more at risk to happen. More people are on the road during holidays and in larger cities (like St Louis, MO) and inclement weather can be a factor for accidents if we’re not careful and sometimes it’s not you that’s at fault.

What happens when we finally get to the auto body shop of choice? How long will the repair take? Will it be an easy process with Insurance Claims assistance, or do they offer it? There are a lot of questions that run through your mind in a position of inconvenience due to an accident. But one if the first things that comes to mind is. “How long will I be out of commission?” Hopefully your insurance covers rental service during the repair time. However, this sparks a valid question “how long is it covered under insurance until my car is done?”  Be sure to ask your Insurance agent, so when you take your car in for collision repairs, you know you have a bridge with a dependable vehicle to get around. Make sure that the rental agreement aligns with the auto repair time so you have no out of pocket expense.

Why does collision repair time take longer than others? Here are some things that factor into the time it takes for a vehicle to be repaired. Keep these in mind when your estimated repair time is given to you. You cannot always blame the shop manager for the delay in repairs. Sometimes it’s things that are out of their control.

  • Insurance Authorization Process
  • Age of the Car
  • Make and Model
  • Repair Damages from Estimate and Hours to Repair (How bad is the damage?)
  • How Many Cars are Backed Up for Repair at the Shop
  • Shortage on Car Parts (backorder)

To quote an ideal estimate in a perfect world, with collision repairs happening as soon as your car arrives, the time estimation is as follows. Most auto body shops work in repairs jobs and schedule it around other customers depending on the extent of damage.

  • Minor body dents and door dings (no paint damage or better known as Paintless Dent Repair) of up to 5 pieces: 4 hours max
  • Windshield replacement: 1 day
  • Minor Collision work (with damage behind the car body): 1 to 2 days
  • Front bumper/bumper replacement and repairs: 1 day
  • If internal elements and chassis damage need repairs: 1 to 2 weeks
  • Substantial damage (better known as Major Collision) to multiple parts (including internal parts): between 1 and 2 months

These are of course subject to change depending on the certified I-CAR® technicians, collision repair equipment available, knowledge, and staff to get the repairs done as quickly as possible.

Spirit West Auto Body deals with every possible case of dent repair, fender benders, bumper replacement, and even hail damage. Whether is minor or major collision we’ve got you covered. Our certified technicians use top-notch auto body equipment to deliver quality repairs.


Spirit West Motor Carriage Auto Body Repair is a family-owned and operated company founded in April 1977. We take great pride in teamwork and our commitment to making sure our team receives training on the latest innovative state-of-the-art equipment and collision repair techniques.

We are proud to say our team is family and we treat our customers like family, too. Be assured that your car will receive this treatment, and upon completion of the repairs, you will drive away safe and satisfied!

Give us a call today or stop by the shop to see how we can get your car back into shape and back on the road. Spirit West Motor Carriage 610 Park Lane Manchester, MO 63021 Mon-Fri 7:30am – 5:30pm, (636) 394-1712.

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