Body Shop Has Had My Car for 2 Months. What Can I Do?

You just want your car back! We are here to help. Whether you got into a little fender bender or a serious accident, the last thing you want is the body shop hanging onto your car forever. Even if your insurance policy or warranty coughs up the cash to get a rental, it is only natural for you to feel frustrated. Especially if you do not have a clue why the body shop is taking so long or what you should do about it.

Drivers' whose insurance plans or warranty do not cover payment for rental cars during the repair period are likely to be even more impatient. Every day your car gathers dust in the body shop causing untold inconvenience and expenses in your life.

This article will help you clear all this up. By the end of this article, you will know everything there is about:

• Why the body shop is taking forever with your car
• What to do when the body shop hangs onto your car longer than estimated
• How to deal with a body shop that has kept your car too long

Why the Body Shop Has Gone Over the Estimated Repair Period

Believe it or not, there is likely no conspiracy going on at the body shop. Here are the most likely reasons your car has been at the shop longer than expected. 

1) Unexpected Damage

When you ask when your car will be ready, mechanics give a time estimate based on the apparent problem. Often, they discover additional damage when they disassemble the vehicle. Before beginning the additional repairs, the body shop must get your consent or that of your insurance agent. After getting the green light, the parts must be ordered before repairs proceed. 

2) Spare Parts Supply Chain Failure

If your car is not a common model, it is likely to take longer to acquire the spare parts needed. Common cars have their spare parts readily available because of high demand. 

3) Level of Expertise Needed

Depending on the damage your car suffered, mechanics may take longer than initially planned to fix it. Structural damage often requires special equipment that may take a while to set up. Not to mention, that disassembling the car, may reveal damage that had not originally been accounted for. 

4) Downtime

Downtime is hardly accounted for, especially considering that everyone involved likely contributes in one manner or another. Operational gaps in the body shop or with your insurance agent could cause the process to drag its feet as it stops and starts erratically. Every step of the process is likely to take slightly longer than it should. For example, where a certain part is not yet available, other repair tasks may be impossible to undertake until the first one is completed. 

5) Delayed Approval 

Some insurance companies are notorious for letting cars sit in body shops while they try to dodge the approval. Unfortunately, your insurance agent's approval may be needed multiple times during the repair process, especially if additional damage is discovered. Most decent insurance companies ensure they send personnel to check out your car within three days tops. 

6) Quality Control 

Body shops worth their salt ensure that they check and double-check that everything is working perfectly before you pick up your car. Of course, quality control takes additional time. When a mistake is discovered, fixing the issue will take even more time. 

7) Electronics

The fancy electronics in your car could be holding up the repair process. These electronic systems need to be recalibrated after repair work. In case your vehicle can only be scanned with a dealership scanner, your body shop will have to schedule an appointment. This process will obviously include downtime that sees your car remain in the shop longer than you would like. 

What to Do When the Body Shop Keeps Your Car Longer Than Expected

The multitude of reasons that could cause your car to linger in the body shop may be beyond your mechanic's control. Knowing that it should be easier to avoid being curt or disrespectful when solving the issue. With that in mind, the right course of action is entirely dependent on your unique set of circumstances. Consider the following:

1) Did the body shop provide a written time estimate for expected repairs?

Depending on the body shop you are dealing with, you likely got a time estimate alongside the quotation. Most reputable shops commit the date to paper because it allows them to tack on extra charges should you delay in picking up the car. Some body shops avoid committing the estimated repair time to paper because it can be hard to estimate.

Mechanics avoid giving a date that is too close to avoid frustrating you, but they also don't rush to quote a period so long, that you will be tempted to find people who can promise to get it done faster. 

If you haven't gotten a commitment on when you can expect your car ready, that should be first on the list of items you cross off your list.

2) Has the body shop provided specific information about the mechanic and repairs on your vehicle? 

Body shops are not known for oversharing. If your quotation does not include specific details about the repairs to be undertaken (including spare parts needed and manhours put in) then it hardly counts as a legal quotation. If it does, it is good to go the extra step and ask who will do what and in what order. This way, if something is holding up the process, you are more likely to understand.

Knowing the mechanics working on your car is not only friendly, it is just good business. You want them working on your car as if it were their own. In these times of supply chain shortages, not even a bribe will help you skip the line. 

How to Deal with a Body Shop that Has Kept Your Car Too Long

Now that you have a good picture of where you stand we can discuss how you should handle this headache. 

• If your insurance directed you to the body shop in question, call your agent. Often, insurance companies can light a fire under the body shops they send drivers to. Where you are paying out of pocket, ignore this step.
• Call the body shop, or visit in person to get a full appraisal of what is taking so long. Insist to speak to the person fixing the car, and ask as many questions as you please. If you do not understand, ask them to write it down for you.
• Next, send the body shop an email or registered mail. Ensure the letter details your entire experience including phone or face-to-face conversations you have had with the body shop.
• Should the body shop reply, you will have solid evidence of their commitment and failure to meet it. If they do not reply, it will also be evidence of their negligence.
• If the body shop does not complete the repairs before the expected date, communicate in writing, and demand an explanation.
• Should you feel the body shop is jerking your chain, consider explaining the situation to a different mechanic. If another professional suspects that something untoward is happening, it may be time to contact a lawyer. If you are paying out of pocket, you could try to pick up your car, but they are likely to insist you pay for the repair work done beforehand. Insured drivers, do not have the freedom to simply take their cars to another body shop.
• If the body shop maintains a social media presence or another online platform where you can post your review, post your experience in great detail. Remember to be fair, because people are less likely to be skeptical if you do not sound bitter or frustrated. There is a slight chance, the body shop may try to make it up to you.
• When pushed to the wall by endless excuses, consider contacting a civil lawyer to help you file a claim. This step is not to be taken lightly. The right lawyer will advise you on whether your claim is valid to avoid wasting your time and money on a vexatious lawsuit.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, there is no legal time limit beyond which the body shop has to fix or release your car. The best way to navigate this conundrum without flipping out is to get a clear understanding of the situation. Ensure the mechanics explain the exact repairs undertaken and which ones are pending.

Get a clear explanation of what is holding up the pending repairs and when you can expect a solution. If the problem is out of the body shop's hands e.g. waiting for a part to be delivered, there is little to be gained from harassing the staff. Understanding why your car has been at the body shop for too long is the first step to selecting the best course of action for your unique circumstances.