Auto body repair shops across Georgia’s Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) are experiencing unprecedented delays, with some customers waiting up to three months just to begin repairs, a direct consequence of widespread damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
“This is major damage,” Clay Brewer, owner of Riley’s Paint & Body, told WFXG. “You’re talking about cutting roof skins out, cutting quarter panels out. It’s very, very dramatic, different from what we do day in and day out.”
Local collision centers are overwhelmed as their typical workload has increased dramatically. “Normal volume of work has been multiplied by seven or eight,” Tyler Smith, owner of Rick’s Paint and Body, told the news outlet.
While the initial wave of severely damaged vehicles -- those needing structural and panel replacements -- has largely passed through shops, a new phase of damage has emerged. Shops are now addressing extensive surface damage from flying storm debris, including full-vehicle scratches and paint damage.
“These aren’t ‘big hits’ like we were seeing before, but it’s still an awful lot of damage,” Smith added.
Parts shortages are compounding the delays. Some components, like roofs, are not typically stocked in large quantities. “Now all of the sudden they’re having to manufacture these parts, so we’re seeing a lot of delays,” said Smith.
Insurance processing times have also slowed due to the surge in claims, creating further bottlenecks. In response, some shop owners are urging customers not to drop off drivable vehicles unless work can begin immediately.
“Do not drop your car off until the body shop has you on a date that says, ‘Hey we can actually start working on this car that date and we will pre-order parts,’” Brewer advised.
To manage expectations, shops are emphasizing the importance of patience and trust. “We understand it’s your car; it’s your livelihood,” said Brewer. “Trust me, we want to fix your car as fast as possible. We also want to make sure it’s as safe as possible and done correctly.”
As of now, smaller shops like Riley’s Paint & Body are managing queues of around 50 vehicles, while larger facilities like Rick’s Paint and Body are handling more than 270 vehicles awaiting repair, each requiring an average of four weeks for completion once started.
The recovery process is expected to continue for months as body shops work through the extended backlog.
