Kiwis involved in car accidents are being forced to wait up to 12 weeks to have repair work done due to long delays in getting replacement parts.

In some cases panel beaters, eager for work as the Covid-19 negative economy bites, are having to send clients away, telling them to store the car at home or, if the damage isn't too bad, to drive their dinged vehicle until the parts arrive.

Neil Pritchard, general manager of the Collision Repair Association, said before Covid-19 there was a backlog of work for panel beaters simply because of the load.

"It's one of those situations where we keep importing and buying more cars and the roads get more congested. That congestion leads to more accidents and there are not a whole lot of new [panel beating] shops opening up."

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