Why does the body shop keep finding more damage?

Most collision damage is structural and hidden behind the body panels. Reputable shops tear the area down, document hidden damage with photos, and submit a supplement to your insurer. This isn't upselling — it's the only way to repair the car correctly. We provide a written supplement justification for every line item — see how supplements work . Post-repair we also do a 4-wheel alignment check on the rack before delivery.

Can I get a rental car while my car is being repaired?

If your policy includes rental coverage (most do — typically $30-50/day for 30 days), yes. We coordinate the rental directly with your insurance company. For not-at-fault claims, the at-fault driver's insurance owes you a rental at no out-of-pocket cost.

Will the shop call me before they start the work?

Yes. We never authorize work without a phone conversation. After teardown and inspection, we call you with the damage summary, total estimate, insurance status, and timeline. Nothing gets ordered or repaired until you say go.

What happens if my car takes longer than the estimate said?

Estimates evolve as hidden damage is found and supplements get approved. If the timeline shifts more than 2 days, we call you with the why and the new completion date. We text status updates throughout so you're never guessing.

How Long Does Collision Repair Take? (Real Arizona Timelines)

How Long Does Collision Repair Take?

Collision repair in Arizona typically takes anywhere from 3 business days to 4 weeks, depending on damage severity, parts availability, and insurance approval speed. The single biggest variable isn't labor — it's parts. Here's the honest breakdown of what timelines look like at Orlando Auto Body and what makes them stretch or shrink.

Bumper-only repair: 3-5 business days. Replace, refinish, blend, reinstall. If the bumper cover is in stock at the local PPG/parts distributor (most Toyota, Honda, Ford colors are), we can have your car back in 3 days. If it's a metallic or pearl color and we need to blend into the adjacent fenders, add a day for blend time and curing. Bumper jobs are also the most common — we run them through the booth in batches.

Moderate collision (door, fender, quarter panel): 7-14 business days. This is where insurance supplements show up. The first estimate is written from a parking-lot walk-around, but most damage hides behind the panel. We tear down the affected area, find broken inner structure, and submit a supplement to the adjuster. Once approved (usually 24-48 hours), we order parts. Industry-wide cycle time for moderate-severity claims tracks around 13-14 business days per CCC Crash Course Q4 2025. OEM parts on domestic vehicles typically arrive in 2-3 days; imports (BMW, Audi, Lexus, Volvo) commonly run 5-7 days, with parts-availability variation tracked by I-CAR Repairability Technical Support. After parts land, body work and paint runs 4-6 days.

Major structural repair: 2-4 weeks. Frame straightening, airbag replacement, and ADAS recalibration are time-intensive whether the rest of the damage is big or not. Frame work alone takes 1-2 days on the laser-measure rack. Airbag systems need OEM parts and proper electronic reset, which means dealer-only modules in some cases. ADAS recalibration (cameras, radar, lane keep) requires both static (in-shop) and dynamic (test drive) calibration. Total structural jobs at OAB average 16-22 business days end-to-end.

What slows things down. Parts backorders are #1, especially for late-model imports and EVs. Insurance supplement delays are #2 — if your adjuster takes 4 days to approve a $2,000 line item, your car sits. Customer-side delays (waiting on you to choose between options, sign authorizations, or coordinate rental) are smaller but real. Hailstorms, heatwaves, and end-of-month claim surges in Phoenix can stretch booth time at any shop.

What speeds things up. Filing the claim before drop-off, providing the claim number and adjuster contact at intake, having your insurance card and registration ready, and being reachable by phone or text when we need a yes/no on options. Customers who do those four things consistently see 2-4 fewer days in shop than the average. Drop-off via our 24/7 key-drop also gets the file open before business hours start, gaining you a full day on the timeline. If your car isn't drivable, you can start with a photo estimate to skip the in-person intake.

Get a Real Timeline From a Real Estimator

Free appointments. All insurance accepted. Family-owned since 1989. Three Valley locations.

Mesa

1007 S Center St

(480) 844-4858

Scottsdale

3005 N 71st St

(480) 590-3135

Gilbert

3055 E Williams Field Rd

(480) 656-9202