The direct answer, broken down by damage type.
Short answer: most collision repairs take 3 to 14 business days, and severe structural repairs can run 3-4 weeks. The exact number depends on the type of damage, parts availability, and insurance approval speed. Below is a damage-by-damage breakdown so you can estimate your own timeline before you even bring the car in.
Airpark Auto Collision of Gaithersburg — 7615 Rickenbacker Dr, Suite C, Gaithersburg, MD 20879. Call (301) 908-0606
A scuffed or cracked bumper cover with no sensor damage is one of the fastest repairs. Repair alone (filler, sand, paint) runs 2-3 days; replacement with a new cover adds a day for parts prep and paint. Add a day if the bumper houses a parking sensor or radar unit that needs calibration.
A door, fender, or quarter panel with a dent or deep scratch needs body filler or PDR, primer, paint matching, bake, and polish. Three to five days covers proper cure time between steps — rushing this stage is exactly how you end up with a visible repair line.
When two or more panels are involved — a typical fender-bender hitting the bumper, headlight, and fender together — expect 5-10 business days. This bracket also covers most insurance-approved repairs requiring a supplemental estimate once the shop opens the vehicle and finds hidden damage.
Unibody structural repair, frame straightening, and major welding push into the 2-4 week range. ADAS recalibration, if your vehicle has forward collision warning or lane keep assist, typically adds 1-2 days on top of the structural timeline.
Three variables move the needle more than anything else: parts availability (imports and newer models are more prone to backorders), insurance supplement approval speed (adjusters can take 24-72 hours to approve additional damage found mid-repair), and whether ADAS calibration is required. We give a written timeline with every estimate and update you if any of these three shift.
Most collision repairs at Airpark Auto Collision finish in 3-10 business days. Minor cosmetic work is faster (2-5 days); major structural or frame damage takes 2-4 weeks.
Only for very minor work — a clear coat buff-out or a single small PDR dent. Anything requiring paint needs multiple days for prep, application, and cure time. A shop promising a one-day full repair is usually skipping steps.
Once a vehicle is disassembled, technicians sometimes find hidden damage that wasn't visible during the initial estimate. That requires a supplemental estimate and insurance approval, which can add a few days.
Yes, typically 1-2 days. If your vehicle has forward collision warning, lane keep assist, or blind spot monitoring and the repair affected the bumper, windshield, or mirrors, calibration is a required additional step.
Yes — this is the single biggest wildcard. OEM parts for popular models are often in stock; imports, newer models, and specialty trims can face multi-week backorders. We check parts availability before finalizing your timeline.
Bring your vehicle to Airpark Auto Collision at 7615 Rickenbacker Dr, Suite C, Gaithersburg, MD for a free written estimate — we'll assess the damage type and give you a specific timeline in writing, not a guess.