How Long A Car Recall Repair Takes, Where To Get It Done And How To Book It In The UK

Many car recall repairs take under an hour at a franchised dealer of your car's make, while bigger jobs on airbags, coolers or engines take longer. Software updates are usually the quickest. Manufacturers rarely publish standard times, and waiting for parts can add weeks, so book as soon as the letter arrives.¹²

Typical Recall Repair Times By Type Of Job

The workshop time depends on the job. Published manufacturer examples range from about 30 minutes for a part or software fix to around three hours where extra parts are needed, while no manufacturer publishes a standard time for large airbag or engine actions.¹³

The dated examples that manufacturers have published are:

The pattern is clear. The time in the workshop is usually short, and the wait for a date is what takes longest. Ask the dealer for the expected workshop time when you book, and plan around the date rather than the hours.

Where Do I Take My Car For A Recall Repair?

Any franchised dealer of your car's make can do the recall. It does not have to be the dealer that sold you the car, but an independent garage cannot carry out the manufacturer's recall work.⁵

Manufacturers direct owners to any authorised retailer in their network, whether they call it an authorised repairer, an approved retailer or a centre.⁵ If your nearest dealer is busy, try another one in the same brand network. Each make page on this site, for example the Ford recall check or the Vauxhall recall check, lists the official recall contact and dealer finder.

How To Book A Recall Repair

Call or book online with the campaign code and VIN from your letter, ask whether parts are in stock, and ask about a courtesy car or collection before you agree a date.

The five steps are:

1. Have the details ready: your registration, the 17-character VIN, the campaign code from the letter and your mileage.
2. Ask whether the parts are in stock. If not, ask for an expected date in writing.
3. Ask how long the car will be in the workshop.
4. Ask about a courtesy car, collection or a home repair, especially if the letter says do not drive.
5. Get the booking confirmed by email or text.

Our manufacturer recall helplines page has the official number for each brand.

Why The Dealer Can’t Fix It Straight Away

Parts shortages, technician training and the number of cars in a large recall cause most delays. The Code of Practice allows manufacturers to add to their dealer network, for example with mobile repair teams, to speed things up.⁶

There is no UK legal deadline for a dealer to complete a recall repair. The Code says the work should normally be done when the vehicle is seen at a dealer.² When a big recall starts, demand can run ahead of supply. During the 2025 Citroën and DS airbag action, some owners were offered dates months away, and Stellantis authorised Peugeot dealers to help.⁷

If the wait is long and the letter describes an urgent risk, ask the manufacturer's customer care team about interim measures. If a dealer will not book you at all, see what to do if a dealer refuses to fix a recall.

Do I Get A Courtesy Car?

Not automatically. It depends on the manufacturer and the recall, so ask. Ask in writing for stop-drive recalls, where the government has pressed manufacturers to provide alternatives.⁸

For the Citroën and DS stop-drive, Stellantis said its options included at-home replacement, a courtesy car, mobility support and recovery.⁷ For routine recalls, a courtesy car is offered at the dealer's discretion, much as it would be for a service. Mention it when you book rather than on the day. Our page on stop-drive recalls covers the stronger case for support when you cannot use the car.

How To Prove The Recall Has Been Done

Keep the job card showing the recall code, ask the dealer to confirm the recall has been closed with the manufacturer, and check your registration again a few weeks later.

DVSA does not verify individual recall repairs. That responsibility sits with the manufacturer.⁹ Your paperwork is therefore your proof when you sell the car or if a record has not updated. The job card should show:

• the date of the work
• the dealer's name
• the recall campaign code
• your VIN
• a zero charge for the recall work

If the recall still shows as outstanding after three to four weeks, see what an outstanding recall means for the steps to clear it.

Software Recalls And Over-the-air Updates

More recalls are now fixed with software, 36% of those launched in 2025, and some brands push the update over the air without a dealer visit.

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Software remedies are often the quickest repairs to complete. An over-the-air update arrives through the car's own connection, so the owner may only need to accept it on the screen. If your letter mentions a software update, check whether it can be installed remotely before you book a dealer visit. Our page on software recalls explains how these updates work.

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For fleets and company cars

Recall Repairs For Fleets

Fleet operators can batch bookings across sites and ask the manufacturer about mobile repairs at the depot, keeping a register of which vehicles are done.

A simple routine keeps a fleet on top of recalls:

• Check every vehicle each month with a bulk registration check.
• Group bookings by make and dealer so several vehicles go in on one day.
• Ask about depot visits for large recalls. The Code allows manufacturers to add mobile capacity.⁶
• Record each job card against the vehicle in your fleet register.

Our van recalls page includes a bulk checker for up to 20 registrations at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can An Independent Garage Do A Recall?

No. Recall work is authorised through the manufacturer's dealer network.⁵

Will The Recall Affect My Warranty?

No. Recall work is carried out by the manufacturer's network and does not void a warranty.

How Long Are Recalls Valid For?

Recalls have no expiry date, and the repair stays free.¹⁰ See whether car recalls expire.

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Data: DVSA vehicle recall data (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 15 October 2026. Repair times are dated examples published by manufacturers, not promises for any recall.