Stabilization of Collision Rental Lengths: Insights for Insurance

For the first time since 2022, the average length of rental (LOR) after a collision stabilized at 15.1 days in the second quarter of 2026, marking a halt in the year-over-year decline, according to data from Enterprise.

This stabilization follows a period of continuous decreases, such as the drop to 16.3 days reported for the first quarter of 2026. The fluctuations in LOR over recent years have often reflected broader changes in the automotive industry, such as supply chain disruptions and shifts in repair shop operations. In Q2 2022, LORs notably spiked following post-pandemic supply chain disruptions.

Factors Influencing LOR Stability

Industry insiders, like John Yoswick from Autobody News, attribute the recent stabilization to a range of factors. Recent surveys, such as the “Who Pays for What?” by Collision Advice and CRASH Network, show a decrease in average scheduling backlogs to 1.5 weeks. Meanwhile, 24% of shops reported having no backlog. These conditions parallel situations last observed during the pandemic’s peak in 2020. Additionally, a June survey on work in progress suggested a decline, with repair shops reporting their lowest average monthly volume in over four years.

Employment Dynamics in Collision Repair

Employment factors also emerged as a critical element in determining repair times and LOR. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a reduction of 400 production employees in April, aligning current headcount with last year's numbers at approximately 230,800. Despite this, the industry still falls short by over 10,000 employees compared to 2024 levels. Additionally, there was a noticeable drop in weekly working hours, from 38.8 to 36.8 hours, reflecting a 5.2% decrease.

Insurance and Repair Market Trends

Ryan Mandell from Mitchell International observed a slight decrease in airbag deployments and a reduction in first-party deductibles to $841, down from $858, indicating an uptick in auto insurance market competitiveness. Moreover, shops are increasingly focusing on repairing rather than replacing parts, as evidenced by a percentage increase in parts repair from 15.7% in the previous year to 17.3% in Q2 2026.

Impact on Parts Supply and Delivery

Greg Horn of PartsTrader highlighted improvements in parts delivery times, with a decrease in median delivery days by 0.7 days in Q2 2026 compared to the previous year. Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) delivery times also saw slight reductions. These improvements in logistics have contributed to a decrease in non-drivable LOR, while the drivable LOR experienced a slight uptick.

This report from Enterprise's Corporate Communications, corroborated by their official documentation, offers critical insights into the collision repair industry, showcasing a blend of economic, operational, and market dynamics influencing current trends.