Ask for Sam the owner who will make sure the job is done right! His assistant Juan and the rest of his great team there kept me posted at every stage of the repair(s). Overall I am very happy with their work and would highly recommend them. My bummer looks great now!!! read more

I've taken two vehicles here, and each time this Husteads does an outstanding job. Sam the owner really goes out his way to provide excellent service, along with Juan. Every step of the way I was treated courteously and professionally. They kept me well-informed of how the repairs were going, when parts were expected to arrive, and when I could expect to get my vehicle back. The repairs they completed were amazing! I would give them 10 stars if I could! read more

Exceptional service and attention to detail. One of the best experiences I've ever had with a body shop--or any automotive service, for that matter. Job was done on time, exactly to budget, and they took extra effort to make it work with my insurance company (sourcing after-market parts as needed). read more

A few months ago, I snagged my the bumper of my Mazda 3 on a piece of concrete jutting up from my driveway causing damage to the bottom of the bumper and separating the bumper lining from the body. I was able to request an appointment online, received a call within two hours from my man with the plan, Sam, and had an appointment scheduled by the next business day (which I just as easily moved when I realized I had a conflict with the chosen time -- double points for ease of booking and rebooking). I brought the car down on a Thursday before a holiday weekend and the Husteads team was able to give me a fast an accurate quote, ordered parts same day, and began working on my care by the business day following the holiday weekend. At drop off, we discussed very frankly my maximum price point on repairs, and Husteads did as they promised me that day -- they kept me in loop at each stage of service providing updates on any further issues and whether such issues would result in an increase to the quoted price (luckily, there were no such issues and the final price was exactly as quoted). When I picked up my car today it looked better than it has in half a decade, was cleaned, waxed, and detailed, and in near mint condition. But the fantastic customer service didn't stop at their fast service, their honest and accurate quotes, or their amazing communications skills. While working on the car, they noticed that my back right tire appeared to be losing air. Sam gave me a call and asked whether I would like him to run the car over to the nearby tire store to have them take a look and patch the tire. Here, Sam and Hustead's truly set themselves apart -- identifying an unrelated issue and offering to solve it for me (which they did -- tire was patched and they found and removed a screw that hadn't yet punctured another tire). If you're in need of body work and looking for the most honest, fair, and service-oriented shop in the Berkeley/Albany/El Cerrito area, you need look no further than Husteads. Thank you all for the wonderful experience! read more

From start to finish, Hustead's kept me informed every step of the way on the repair of my front bumper. They worked directly with my insurance so the job was seamless for me as a customer. Not only that, they performed top-quality work. They returned my car to me, washed and waxed. It looked like a brand new car! I could not be more pleased with their fine craftsmanship and attention to detail! read more

Husteads did a great job on my ram truck after my roommate backed up into the side. There was a huge dent between the truck bed and the back door. The damage was taken care of and the paint looks great - you can't tell there was ever any damage! Sam was very nice to work with, kept me informed with every step and explained the process thoroughly. I would highly recommend this shop! read more

La encargada del lugar atiende muy mal, no tiene ética profesional e insulta, y amanezca con regresar el vehículo de donde lo recojieron, Mal servicio de la persona que está al teléfono, no lo recomiendo read more

Once finally complete, the repair was good. However, husteads had our car in the shop 4 times for a total of 20 days to repair this scuff on the bumper. Complete waste of time to deal with and incompetent when it comes to having painter show up to work. Front desk staff was friendly though. read more

Husteads Auto Body - 20 days in their shop to repair this damage - Body Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place was recommended by my dealership. Filled out their online form to get an estimate for a small repair. That was two weeks ago and I heard absolutely nothing from them. OK, so it was a small repair. I get it. But how hard is it for them to reply that they are unable to do it? Just common courtesy. Jim's was terrific, polite and responsive. Guess which I will choose next time I need body work? read more

Hustead's Berkeley was awesome to work with. I filed a claim with USAA due to an attempted theft that wrecked the ignition of my 2020 Civic and was directed to Hustead. I worked with Sam and Alex; from start to finish, they kept me in the loop on repair status, coordinated towing, part arrival ETA, necessary subcontractor work, etc. They really made the whole process as easy and smooth as possible. Really fantastic customer service, communication/responsiveness, trustworthiness, and quality of work. Friendly people, to boot! I'd recommend this shop to anyone and will definitely be back in case of future car issues. read more

My independent mechanics suggested Hustead's on Seventh Street in Berkeley for a minor repair. I made an appointment, and they took me on time. It turned out that I only needed to have transfer paint removed, which they did while I waited. They did the work for free. I much appreciated their honesty. If unfortunately I need bodywork in the future, Hustead's on Seventh Street is where I will take my car. read more

This is long overdue but wanted to leave a shout out to this place. Bottom line: Sam was great in receiving, diagnosing and keeping me updated through the different phases of the repair. I even hesitated and questioned an electrical issue and Sam went over and beyond - he arranged to have my car inspected by the auto dealership (which happened to be the place I take my car for maintenance). Turnaround time for the body work was reasonable and Sam took care of most communication needed with my insurance company. Sam was fantastic/great/friendly/professional in every way and just wanted to express my appreciation for him and the shop. read more

Great experience. Tim was very professional and helped me with every step. Only place I will take my are in for service!

Sam and his team are great from start to finish! They are honest and take pride in their work. I highly recommended this team. Thank you!

The quality of work done is very very good. The manager is very responsive and communicates well.

My car was brought in to repair the front left fender and bumper. Everything was great but David, the guy at the front desk, was very rude. I'm Deaf, and his actions toward me demonstrated he didn't want to deal with a Deaf person. I was only there to pick up my car. David was the only one at the front desk but on his cell phone. I waited for a long time, and then I decided to go outside for some air while I waited. But then David left and walked away from the building. I went back in; I thought someone else would help me. Another representative told need I have to wait for David to return. 30 minutes later David returned! But then David told the other representative to help me. This is very upsetting because that means I waited for David for nothing. It was a huge waste of my time, and I felt that the only reason David didn't help me was because I was Deaf. read more

Extremely honest and helpful folks. We had our car totaled by a drunk driver, and had it towed here by AAA so it could wait overnight to have them file an insurance claim the next day. Three days later, our insurance company couldn't find the alleged account we got from the driver who hit us - guess he had fraudulent paperwork. Suck to be us - but it felt a lot nicer when we showed up back at Hustead's with our sob story, and they said, forget about it, you don't owe us anything, sorry this happened to you, hope you have better luck next time. 3 days of storage and they didn't charge us a dime. You guys rock. read more

Sam and the crew at Husteads were great! i've used Husteads in oakland before but this team was even better---kept me up-to-date and did a terrific job. read more

Wow. I have used Husteads twice. Both times, Junior has taken care of me and have gone above and beyond to ensure that my car is to standard AND I am satisfied. Recently, there was a part needed for my Mustang. Junior went out of his way to pick up the part from Walnut Creek AFTER work. If you are in an unfortunate car situation, come to this location and ask for Junior. read more

I made a Yelp account for the sole purpose of writing Husteads a review if that tells you anything. I brought my Subaru to Husteads after a very minor collision resulting in a dented tailgate. I was immediately greeted by Joel who was kind and professional off the bat. While examining my car to provide an estimate he noticed several things wrong with the vehicle that were a result of a previous rear-ending and they were some issues I wasn't even aware of, but sure enough he was right and the previous auto body shop certainly made some mistakes. The most noticeable being that the rear automatic tailgate had a delay and made a sound like it was struggling when opened electronically. Joel kindly pointed out the issues and gave a recommendation on the best plan of action to get them fixed, because of course they would not be included in the new estimate for the latest dent and would require new parts to fix. That didn't stop Joel from doing what he could to help. While some of the issues would have needed replacement parts, he personally took it upon himself to compare my tailgate to another Subaru in the shop at the time and tinker with it until it was like new. Something that had bothered me for years, but I never took the time to fix it. On top of that, he kept my very informed throughout the entire repair process. Walking me through the next steps anytime I saw him in person (I work nearby) and the shop provides constant text updates on the status of your vehicle. Scheduling a time to pick it up and drop it off was a breeze as well. It was actually made pleasant to deal with with an auto body issue. Upon picking up my car the emblems did not show up in time, but Joel suggested I take my car home and drop it off again the following week to have the emblems glued on so that I could have my car back. When I brought my car back the next week Joel actually noticed a NEW scratch on the tailgate and called me right away to ask about it as he was certain it was pristine when it left the shop the previous week. He was right and the scratch was due to the tailgate opening into a shelf. I assured him this was my fault and that I was not concerned about a little scratch compared to the big dent he had just fixed. Joel did not take no for an answer and proceeded to call his superior until he was approved to fix that new scratch completely free of charge. Why? He did not feel right having my car leave his shop until it was perfect. Isn't that what we want in an auto body shop? Honesty, reliable results, and great communication. I have been and will be in the future recommending Husteads to anyone and everyone. I was fortunate enough to find them because they are across the street from my office, but I'd drive the hour from my hometown any day to do business with Husteads. And that's exactly what I plan on doing for all future auto body needs. Thank you Joel and team for making what's usually considered an unpleasant experience a complete breeze. read more

Husteads Auto Body - Body Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

Got great service with a repair there. I appreciated the regular communication regarding the repair progress and part orders. They were efficient and even handled my rental return. Special shout out to Ray, he's your guy, he'll treat you right. read more

After a rear end collision had me navigating dual insurance coverages, I called Sam after a referral from my mechanics at Ocean Works. He was FANTASTIC. One of the nicest and most helpful mechanics I've ever dealt with in 21yrs of car ownership. He helped me through the whole process of doing estimates, ensuring there wasn't longterm/non-visual damage to the structural components, and offering advice on repairing vs replacing so I could make informed decisions with how to proceeed. I have zero trust in insurance companies so I really, really appreciated this, it being a new dynamic with the other car owner's insurance picking up the tab. Couldn't recommend more! read more

I just wanted to give Sean a shout out and great recommendation. He was awesome and took care of my needs. I had minor scratches of paint on my vehicle from being parked and someone hitting me. He buffed it out and it looked like new without me having to go through the process of waiting 4-5 days to get my car fixed. He was truly amazing from the time he answered the phone and in person. I will definitely be back. Thank you Sean read more

I cannot speak higher of not only their service but of their staff as well. I was stuck trying to fix a repair on the side of the road and Armando happened to walk up beside my car and offered to help. I pulled the car in and he fixed the car in a matter of minutes and for free. I will be a lifetime customer from now on. read more

Absolutely excellent experience from start to finish. Extra kudos and mahalos to Sean!

I just moved back to the bay area and 2 weeks later while I was sick at home someone stole my catalytic converter. As soon as I talked to Terri, she said let me check if we can do it and put me on a brief hold and came back with honest and good news. They told me to have my insurance send the paperwork and I can get an appointment to drop off after. When I dropped it off Dominic answered all my questions and explained the process . Terri called Enterprise and they picked me up. During the whole process they updated me and even worked around my work schedule. When I came to pick up my car they actually washed and cleaned my car and even said they would have the rental company pick the rental up there. They made my experience very pleasant and easy. They gave me some advice on some other work I needed and a referral to get my windshield done. My niece just went through a similar situation and she ended up at a shop that she had to keep calling and asking when she would get her car back. I am so glad I found Husteads!! Thanks read more

I had a little problem with the underside of my Honda--something had become detached and was hitting the road on bumps and dips. I called Hustead's and they were very flexible with times I could bring my car by for them to look at. My son dropped the car off, and within no more than an hour they had fixed the problem. Sean was very easy to work with, and did not try to sell other repairs to me, which he could have because there is some damage to the paint from a gentle rear-ender the car was involved in. Very honest, fast, and work was impeccable! My son and I have both taken our cars to Hustead's before and have always found them easy to work with, professional, and reasonable. read more

I rarely write Yelp reviews but I had such an amazing experience at Husteads that I felt compelled to write about it. I had gone to several shops trying to get the cover to my front console fixed, and was told that I would have to order a whole new unit. Luckily I found this shop where I received fast, courteous and exceptional customer service. I couldn't believe they fixed what was supposed to be an unfixable problem in less than an hour, with no appointment, and best of all-free of charge!! Had I not found such a great shop I would have spent hundreds of dollars on a new unit which I did not need. I will definitely go back to Husteads for all future service needs. read more

Sean was very helpful and provided quick service. Saved me a lot of time, stress and money

Honest, Reliable, Reasonable pricing & Exceed my expectations. Highly recommended Husteads Auto Body! My Lexus was involved in an accident on the front bumper and due to an upcoming event I need it to get it fixed quickly. Therefore, I decided to give Husteads Auto body a call. Husteads was able to accommodate me to meet outside of their normal hours at an early morning. Shortly after, Husteads called and explained to me in details what needs to be done and how much will cost. After negotiated a good price and agreed on the estimate - a written quote was promptly delivered to my email soon after. When I picked up my car, my Lexus looked brand new again! Moreover - Husteads even did 3 extra works for FREE!!! 1. Paint Touch up on the rear right fender 2. All Headlights Restoration 3. Free Car Wash (possibly Waxed - My Lexus is Black color - I can tell.) Husteads Auto Body delivered my car as promised within the time and budget. The most effortless car repair experience a customer can have. - From an honest reviewer who won't easily give out 5 stars without having the shop to earn it. read more

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I had a small mishap with my car when I was reversing it slowly due to which right side mirror came out. I looked up the closest auto body repair shop and headed to Husteads. I showed my car to Ralf and he was so helpful. He glued up the mirror and it was good to go temporarily. So kind of him to help me out. read more

I have pretty high standards AND... Husteads on 7th Street Berkeley was amazing from start to finish. Sam and Kyle were communicative, respectful, friendly, and efficient. Their appraisal was honest and there were no issues with my insurance company. I received daily texts on the status of the repair. When I went to pick it up, they had washed the car and it sparkled from head to toe- super old school service! And to top it off, Sam said I could leave my rental car there and he would text the owner of the rental agency and have them come pick it up for my convenience. They were thorough reviewing the entire bill and reminded me of the small print if I had any problems or issues with the repair job. read more

Joel Grossman was kind, informative, and very helpful. After my accident, I had to take my car in and leave it for a week. After my insurance company didn't want to get me a rental car. He personally talked to my insurance company to give me one. I didn't even have to make an appointment. And they checked my car THOROUGHLY for anything else that needed to be fixed. I HIGHLY recommended that EVERYONE come here. Everyone was kind and the prices are excellent. 10/10! read more

This spring I got blindsided in my brand new car, which damaged the suspension, and my insurance company encouraged me to use Husteads for the repair. Our initial interactions were positive (they got the car towed promptly and later arranged for me to get my son's learners permit out if the glovebox), but things went downhill after I picked up the car. I noticed a distressing clunking sound on turns plus a rattling noise in the engine. After being told that I was probably just over-sensitive, they reluctantly agreed to check on the sound. A week later they told me they had made a further repair, but would not specify what they had done. When I went to pick up the car, they told me they had lost the key and needed my other key so they could drive it to a dealer to get a new key made. I insisted that my dealer replace the key and check their work. My dealer found that Husteads had left out a key portion of the suspension system, the car was out of alignment, and the new paint job was chipped. Thankfully my insurance paid for my dealer to redo the repairs. As a result of all this, it took more than two months to get my car back. Unacceptable. read more

Take your car here at your own risk. My car got into an accident and I had it towed there to get the axle fixed. They had it for 1 month, never did they call or email me with updates even though they said they would. After I called multiple times and got the same story (it will be a couple of more days, we put in one new part and had to order another because the new part doesn't fit with the worn old part, etc.), I contacted the owner directly (Jonathan Yi) and things got worked out eventually (after major complaining). A day after getting the car back, I noticed the parking brake no longer worked. I brought the car back and they fixed it reluctantly but said it was not their fault. A few months later and I got the oil changed (somewhere else) and they noticed the undercarriage was missing 9 out of the 11 bolts and was barely hanging on (the last shop to look at the car was Husteads). This could have been a dangerous situation, luckily nothing bad happened. Do you want to take that chance with your vehicle? Plenty of other good shops in the area. Note: it is true that the employees and owner are super nice to your face. What is important is the work they do behind the scenes. read more

September 3, 2019 I had my first automobile collision accident after over half a century of driving: cosmetic damage to rear door. My insurance company Ameriprise has this Husteads location as a preferred repair shop. A day after the accident, 4 September, I went to Husteads to get an estimate on the repair. Joel took pictures and prepared a detailed estimate on his computer. He gave me a multi-page printout of the estimate, $3,630.92 Everything 5 star up to this point. As of today, September 13, 2019, the estimate hasn't arrived at my insurance company. My claims adjuster called Husteads multiple times. My claim was in limbo waiting on the estimate. I am waiting now for the Ameriprise appraiser to come and do what Husteads estimate would have done to move my claim in the Que. read more

If you want great work with incredibly fast turn around, this is the place. Dropped my dad's Lexus off yesterday morning after it got rear ended. The car was ready for me to pick up this morning! The work looks fantastic and the price was beyond reasonable. Sean kept me up to date and I couldn't be happier. Husteads has my future business without a doubt. read more

These guys did a great job on repairing my car as well as dealing with my unresponsive insurance company. Shout out to Joel for his great customer service skills and dealing with my many phone calls. Thank you. read more

Recommended by AVS in Berkeley. Impeccable work. After a catastrophic experience with Oakland Auto Body (...recommended by USAA), they fixed my door for a bit less than the USAA estimate. Since I have a deductible, I appreciate. Impeccable work. Superb painting job, on time, on price. read more

The incredible work done by Husteads has forced me to write my first and only Yelp review. My car was in an accident and they went above and beyond in helping me get back on the road. I can't recommend them enough. read more