How long does bumper repair service take? We explain!

May 28, 2024

Hamilton auto body mechanics explain expected wait times for a bumper or fender repair/replacement services:

bumper replacement

The last thing you want to do right after a car accident is sit around in a waiting room all day. By knowing how long your bumper repair might take, you can plan ahead and take a little stress out of the day.


Every auto body shop is different when it comes to scheduling appointments. Some shops will start working on your car the moment you bring it in. Others only schedule a time to bring your car in for a diagnosis, and then they won’t work on it until days later when they have time. So before we get into the specifics, let me just mention that by choosing an auto body repair company that isn’t extremely busy, such as a smaller locally owned shop, you might have a much shorter waiting time. A busy shop might have your car parked for several days before they can even begin working on it.


You should also know off the bat that an auto body shop should tell you how long it will take to repair your bumper in the cost estimate they give you. Hold onto that cost estimate tightly, because even if it takes more time than expected to do the repair they should only be able to charge you the amount in the estimate. That’s the most common practice. If you don’t have an estimate yet, here’s the info you need to determine how long the bumper repair might take.


If your car is in the shop and they already began working on it, the time it’ll take to repair the bumper also depends on factors such as what parts need to be ordered, how extensive the damage is, and the skill of the mechanic. Just because one mechanic offers lower prices doesn’t mean your bumper will be repaired for less money, as it could take them longer to do the job, making the total cost much higher.


The best way to gauge how long of a wait time to expect is to look at how long it takes to replace a bumper. Not everyone getting their bumpers replaced are doing it because they got into an accident. Many people bring their car to the auto body shop to upgrade their bumpers with new sport kits and custom features. In such cases, it typically takes a skilled mechanic 3 hours to take a bumper off and install a new one.


Supposing you don’t have to wait for parts to be shipped in, you could be waiting as little as 5 hours to get your bumper repaired, the extra time being allotted for paint correction. If your bumper only requires a quick repair or some paintless dent removal rather than a full replacement, the job could take as little as 2 hours. If the job does take 5 hours though, your car may still have to sit in the shop overnight depending on how late in the day you brought it in. For example, if you bring your car in for bumper repair on Friday at 2 PM, then they won’t have enough time to finish the repair before the shop closes for the day, and you’ll have to wait until noon on Monday. That’s why it’s best to schedule your appointment as early in the day and as early in the week as possible.


So, in conclusion, it’s safe to say the average bumper repair could take anywhere from 2 to 5 hours, and that’s just assuming parts won’t take days to ship and the mechanic has time to finish the job in the same day. So now I’ll leave you with one last tip. Before scheduling your bumper repair appointment, try calling around different shops to see what their times of availability are. You could get lucky and find a shop with everything needed on hand to get your bumper repaired today.


If you're in Hamilton, Ontario and need a timely bumper or fender repair done, get in touch with Tip Top Auto Body by dialing (647) 559-5120.

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