VMS Auto Collision Center Offers Drivers a Clearer Picture of Repair Times

COVINA, Calif. — "How long will my car be in the shop?" is usually the first question a driver asks after a collision — and too often, the answer is a shrug. VMS Auto Collision Center, a family-owned repair facility that has served Covina and the greater San Gabriel Valley since 1989, has published a public resource aimed at replacing that uncertainty with real expectations: realistic timelines by damage type, the variables that most often stretch a repair, and the steps owners can take to keep things moving.

The gap the guide addresses has grown wider as cars have grown smarter. A standard estimate rarely captures everything a modern repair involves, and most drivers drop off their vehicle with little sense of how long it will actually be gone — or why.

Timelines Depend on How Bad the Damage Is

The guide sorts repairs into four categories, each with its own realistic window. Minor cosmetic work — small dents, surface scratches — usually wraps in one to three days. Moderate repairs involving multiple panels or a bumper replacement generally run three to seven days. Structural damage, including frame straightening and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) sensor recalibration, lands in the two-to-four-week range. And severe damage from a rollover or head-on collision can mean four to eight weeks of active repair.

The Real Culprits Behind Delays

Here's the part that surprises people: the repair itself often isn't what takes the longest. According to the guide, the two most common reasons a job runs past its estimate are hidden structural damage discovered during disassembly and delays in insurance authorization.

When a technician finds additional damage mid-repair, the shop must submit a supplement — an updated estimate — to the insurer, and work on those items can't begin until it's approved. Under California Code of Regulations, Title 10, Section 2695.7, insurers must acknowledge a claim within 15 calendar days and reach a coverage decision within 40 calendar days of receiving complete documentation. Incomplete initial estimates are the single most common reason those windows get pushed to the limit.

"Most drivers assume the repair itself takes the longest," said Kevin Kebabjian, owner of VMS Auto Collision Center. In reality, he noted, the biggest time-adders happen before a single panel is touched — which is why a thorough inspection and a well-documented initial estimate matter so much.

Why Today's Tech Adds Steps

The guide also flags a fast-growing source of complexity: ADAS. Systems like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control depend on sensors mounted around the vehicle — and a collision can knock them out of alignment with no visible sign at all. I-CAR Gold Class certification requires technicians to keep current annual training on recalibration, and shops without it can hand back a car whose sensors look fine while running on bad data.

What You Can Do Before Drop-Off

The guide points to three simple moves that head off avoidable delays: file the insurance claim within 24 to 72 hours of the incident, as most California policies require; schedule a damage inspection as soon as possible, since unrepaired structural damage worsens with continued driving; and bring complete insurance documentation — claim number and adjuster contact included — to the first appointment.

About VMS Auto Collision Center

VMS Auto Collision Center is a family-owned collision repair facility at 1101 N Azusa Ave, #A1, Covina, CA 91722. Founded January 10, 1989, it has served Covina, West Covina, Glendora, Azusa, Baldwin Park, San Dimas, Irwindale, Walnut, La Puente, Pomona, and El Monte for more than 35 years. The shop holds I-CAR Gold Class certification, BBB A+ accreditation (since October 2019), and Mazda Collision Network membership, and backs its work with a written Limited Lifetime Warranty. Services include auto body repair, paint and refinishing, insurance claim coordination, lease-return reconditioning, and rental vehicle assistance. Learn more at vmsautocollision.com or review common questions on the shop's FAQ page.

Contact: VMS Auto Collision Center · 1101 N Azusa Ave, #A1, Covina, CA 91722 · (626) 339-6688 · info@vmsautocollision.com