I got broadsided tonight in Santa Monica on the way home. The left rear panel took it hard and will definitely need replacing. So, now I need a shop.

I live in La Palma (near Cerritos) and work in Santa Monica, so someplace on either end (preferably the home side) will work. Someplace in between isn't out of the question either, I suppose.

I did some thread searching, and found a couple recommendations for International Auto Body, which seems kind of promising since they're on the way to work.

I also know that OctaneGuy's shop is close to me, and while his shop hours are a little tough to work into my work schedule, at least I'll know that my car is in excellent hands and that all the money I'll be spending (and I know it'll be a lot) will be going to a good guy.

Money's tight for me right now (but then, who isn't it tight for, these days?), so I'm looking for a combination of speed, loaners, and/or good prices. Money, of course, is secondary to quality (but then I know nobody who posts here is the type to skimp on quality).

Sorry if this post was a bit rambley, but I'm still a bit shaken up. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

BTW, if anyone can hazard a guess as to how much this would set me back (assume the driver's side rear panel and whatever lays beneath is all that will need fixing), I'd appreciate it. I'm trying to figure out if after my deductible and rate increases whether it would be worthwhile to get my insurance company involved.

 

Well I can't help with a body shop, I can say a bit about pricing. I got clipped from behind a few months ago and ended up with a teeny crease in the left quarter panel, and a good dent in the left hatch. Hatch had to be replaced, minus the glass, they just removed it and put it in the new hatch, and then the teeny dent removed and the whole thing had to be painted. Dollar amount $2700. Thank goodness insurance covered it all. The part for the hatch cost only $375. Labor is expensive. Your car seems to have quite a bit more damage, so I am sure it will be at least the same or more.

 

If you got tagged hard enough, don't cheap out, get the insurance company(ies) involved. I got hit in a parking lot at my work (truck was going about 15mph) while my car was parked. Hit just behind passenger door panel (part of the door was hit too). Initial estimate was about $2400....after getting her on the rack and checking everything out, the final price was over $9K . My insurance had to pay and it did cost me a month rental (it took 57 days to fix and I had to go to AMVIV3 in a Colbalt), but other than that the shop did an excellent job and you cannot find anywhere it was damaged. Sterling Collision in Santa Ana did the work for me.

 

57 days?! Ouch. (I'd comment on the Cobalt, but I'm currently driving around in a Focus, so...)

Yeah, I got the insurance company involved this morning, and hopefully they'll be able to go check out my car (which I dropped off at Int'l this morning) sometime tomorrow.

Thanks for the input, guys. Here's hoping my repairs turn out as well as yours did (hopefully while Geico is still paying for my rental).