Most collision shops have vehicles sitting in the shop while waiting on supplements, approvals, or backordered parts. This time often looks wasted, but some could take advantage of it.
During these pauses, trim, mirrors, moldings, and panels are already removed. The car is prepared in a way that normally takes hours of extra work. This creates a short window where custom work can happen without slowing the repair.
Many owners avoid offering custom work because they worry about adding rental days or hurting insurance numbers. This concern leads to missed profit. The goal is not to add more time to the job. The goal is to utilize the time that already exists in the repair process effectively.
The reality: You are not adding time. You are using time that already exists.
Here is how shops do it without hurting numbers:
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Trigger point: Offer upgrades only after teardown and after the supplement is submitted. The car is already waiting.
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Scope control: Limit options to work that fits the removed parts (wrap accents, trim color changes, badges). No full repaint. No new disassembly.
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Parallel work: Custom work runs while approvals or parts are pending—not after repairs are finished.
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Positioning: Do not sell “extra labor.” Sell betterment that fits inside the existing repair timeline.
This strategy works because most collision customers do not ask for custom work, but many say yes when you show that it does not delay delivery.
Your goals are:
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Protect cycle time.
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Protect insurance metrics.
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Monetize the wait you already have.
