Photo estimate submitted 5 days ago — how long does this actually take??

I went through almost this exact same situation with a leased car last year. The photo estimate thing took about eight or nine days for me, and honestly the estimate they came back with was way under what my required shop quoted. It turned into a whole back-and-forth 'supplement' process where the shop kept finding more damage and billing the insurer additional amounts. It resolved eventually but took forever. Just know going in that the first number they give you is rarely the final number.

Five days of silence after submitting photos is them making you wait on purpose. The longer you sit in limbo, the more likely you are to just accept whatever lowball number they eventually hand you because you're desperate to move on. Don't let the silence pressure you. Keep calling, send emails so you have a paper trail, and document every single interaction with a date and time.

Okay so from the inside — photo estimates were always lower than what shops actually came back with. That's just the nature of it. You can't see everything through a camera. When your required shop does their own assessment and finds more damage, that gets submitted as a supplement claim. Insurers process those routinely, it's not a big fight most of the time, just slower. The real thing to watch is whether they try to steer you toward a shop you're contractually not allowed to use. Stand firm on your lease requirements and get that in writing from your leasing company if you haven't already.

A couple of things worth knowing: first, get your lease agreement language about approved repair facilities in writing and send a copy to the adjuster's email so it's documented that you told them. Second, most states require insurers to respond to claims within a set timeframe — you can look up your state's regulations pretty easily. If they're dragging their feet past what's legally required, that's leverage. Also ask them specifically to confirm in writing that they'll honor the lease-required shop and cover any difference between their estimate and that shop's actual repair cost.

Stop waiting by the phone. Send a written email today stating your lease requires a specific shop, you need their estimate within X days to schedule the repair, and ask them to confirm in writing they'll cover the cost at your required facility. Being politely forceful in writing moves things faster than phone calls every time.

Quick question — did you actually get confirmation from your leasing company in writing that the shop you want to use is the only acceptable option? And did you specifically tell the adjuster that before submitting the photos? I ask because sometimes people assume their lease is stricter than it actually is, and it might be worth double-checking before you make this a bigger battle than it needs to be.

The fact that liability was accepted quickly is actually a big deal — a lot of people on here spend weeks just fighting that part. You're already past the hardest hurdle. The estimate delay is frustrating but pretty normal, and the supplement process (if it comes to that) is routine. Annoying, yes, but you're in a better position than you might feel like right now.