If your car needs repairs and you take it to a dealership, how long can they hold it? The answer may surprise you.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, dealerships are allowed to hold your car for up to three days without your permission. If the repairs take longer than that, the dealership must either get your permission to keep the car longer or return it to you.

There are a few reasons why dealership repairs may take longer than three days. One reason is that the dealership may need to order parts from the manufacturer. Another reason is that the dealership may not have a qualified mechanic on staff to perform the repairs. In this case, the dealership may have to send your car to an auto body shop.

Auto body shops are often better equipped to handle complex repairs than dealerships. They have more specialized tools and equipment, and they typically have more experience with repairing different types of vehicles.

If your car needs repairs and you’re not sure whether you should take it to a dealership or an auto body shop, contact your local auto body shop for advice. They’ll be able to tell you whether they can complete the repairs within three days.

If they can’t, they may be able to refer you to an auto dealership that has a dealership repair agreement with them. Under this type of agreement, car dealerships send their customers’ cars to the body shop for repairs. Then, when the repairs are finished, both parties share in the profit from selling parts or repairing damaged vehicles.

At Valley Collision, they work with all major insurance companies and are certified to handle all types of vehicle damage repairs. That includes hail damage, door dings, and auto body rust repair. If you’re looking for quality auto body repairs, contact them today. They’ll be happy to help you get your car back on the road as quickly as possible!