I have to take my car to one of these three, anybody have any experience with these shops?

Hustead's Collision Center, Inc.
2037 Durant Ave.Berkeley, CA 94704 (510) 549-0910

Rube and Dan's Body Shop
6017 International Blvd. Oakland, CA 94621 (510) 638-7501

Salle's Paint and Body Shop, Inc.
1049 9th Ave.Oakland, CA 94606 (510) 836-2190

 

you dont' have to take to any shop your insurace wants you to.

take it to cooks' best body shop in bay area. period. expensive but they are good. AAA refers them for high end cars

 

look up cook's collision
they have a few around the bay area

 

It's not *my* insurance company, it's the insurance company of the girl who hit me. I am using their body shops because they insure the work done the lifetime of the repair.

 

i have also heard amazing things about cook's, theres one right on ashby in berkeley. I think a reputable shop would be better than having a shop you dont know about have to fix the problem possibley twice

 

Cooks have a lifetime guarantee as well, as long as you own the car that is. I had my work done in the San Leandro shop and it was really good work, friendly service as well.

 

I'd say get it done from a shop that's reputable. Most reputable shops will warranty their work for lifetime anyway. Get the quote from a good shop, get the money, and get the work done. Doesn't matter if the insurance doesn't back it up if the actual company does. In fact, it's actually better since you only have to deal with a shop, and not insurance and the shop.

 

I would recommend PanelCraft in Berkeley on Ashby, they do good work and warranty it themselves, ask for David Habu.