David Habu is a thief , a lier... him and his kids WILL DESTROY YOUR CAR, Lie about the work they did then have their two bit attorney call you with threats telling you to NEVER contact them again!! I was referred to PanelCraft by my mechanic who has had a life long relationship with this family. Once dropper my car off nothing felt right, Jordan the employee who works between both shop is overly eager to help and messes up communication every step of the way. David lies to your face telling your every story you might want to believe but in the end, NOTHING happens the way he say it will. Panel Craft had my car for 8 months, it sat at Berkeley in the back yard for 6 of those. Then Dave pawned the car off on his toxic AF daughter Brianna who screwed EVERYTHING UP! Along with his son Brendin who seems to think he knows what he's doing with cars has an attitude but can't seem to fit a bumper or read instructions to save his life' Once my car was transferred over to the Oakland shop without my approval I got a call from Brendin and Brianna ( they share the same brain) YELLING at me saying "we never wanted to work on this car to begin with!!" Crying like some spoiled child saying the rebar supplied for my bumper was a rear not a front - totally incorrect!! Brendin then starts in saying they can't fit the lip or bumper - So I take a day off of work to go down w/ my mechanic to go over the parts needed to be installed. Turns out it was a Seat lip that can be fit to the car but was in the wrong box. The correct lip was in a giant 42x24" box from Volkswagen that they never opened - along with the instructions for installing the bumper on the car w/ all needed parts outlined with part #'s and pictures !! The paint work was rushed! After getting the car back there's more scratches on areas they worked on but didn't paint ( inside door jams) and on the roof that were never there to begin with. They DESTROYED my interior- ripped my drivers seat , ripped a huge chunk of foam out of the inside, took interior panels off ( dead pedal foot rest) that didn't need to be removed and broke them in the process then used hot glue to try and fix them WITHOUT TELLING Me!! Upon time of delivery at another business shop on their property NOT PANEL CRAFT, Brianna openly accused me of insurance fraud in front of customers at this other business. Has continued to slander my name saying "we read this about Brad on the internet" But to the point - They never completed the work paid for by insurance on my car, damaged the car wile in their possession , lied about EVERYTHING!, left visible scratches under the clear coat in the repaired areas, lied some more!!, painted over accident damage and never really "repaired anything" then dumped the car at another business shop for assembly ! Then cut ties with that business as well and won't even look at their employees as they pass them on the freeway in traffic going to work!! This situation was completely brought on PanelCraft by their poor work quality, poor communication, inability to understand jobs or read instructions and generally are some of the most angry and toxic people over ever come in contact with!' Be warned this is a sinking ship that's ripping off their customers to say in business as long as they can !! Hi Dave !! read more

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I needed some minor help. The owner was fantastic and very supportive and spent time with me even advising on some fyi part of the work.

Excellent customer service! I got rear-ended on the freeway last month, and having never been in an accident before, I didn't know how the insurance process worked. It turns out it is quite complicated and requires a lot of time and energy - even if you are found to be not at fault! My brother is a mechanic, and he immediately recommended me to this place ( He knows David). Brianna was beyond helpful in navigating me through the whole claims process. She responded to all of my emails and phone calls in record speed, made appointments around my work schedule, AND took a lot of time explaining in depth how the whole process works. I am extremely greatfull to them and highly recommend their services. read more

Jordan helped me with the repairs for my car. He actually took the time to explain the issues, and the process of how they would get everything done. The job was finished in a timely manner which was deeply appreciated. read more

These guys are absolutely great. They removed a several paint transfers and helped me make the right decision, for me, about what to do about some small dents. I was ok leaving the small dents, and the owner Dave did not try to upsell me at all. Totally on the level and great guy to work with. They took one day to confirm parts availability and then did the work the next day, on the day I asked for. Made everything super easy for me. Gave me solid ballpark estimate of cost, and then the total bill came in well below what I was expecting. There was one snafu where Subaru delivered them the wrong part. They communicated with me about it right away, absorbed the cost of the hassle without charging me, and still hit their time estimate. At the end, I showed them one missed part on my Subaru that has been annoying me, and they were like, "Oh yeah, I'll get that for you and give you a call. Easy fix." Can't recommend too highly. Customer experience was ideal in every way. I will be back to Panel Craft. read more

Dave and Jordan offer the best customer service I could have asked for. Dave is an honest businessman and shared his input on how I could get that little door dent on my Tesla fixed. The work done on it is superb and it turned out a lot better than anyone expected. Highly recommend them to take care of your car! read more

Panel Craft - No more dent! - Body Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Best. Ever. Jordan, Dave, and the crew all about and behind the scenes: hard working, friendly, fair, excellent work and they actually care. What more could you ask for. read more

I can't write or say enough about this place. Friendly and professional customer service, the owner Dave is the coolest guy you'll ever meet. The work speaks for its self. My Camaro had big damage in the rear and scratches all around the entire vehicle. It came out of the shop better then the day I purchased the car. They didnt miss a scratch. I can't be any happier and you must gain the experience you'll never trust any one else. read more

Panel Craft - Body Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've had three cars repaired by Panel Craft and Berkeley . They did an excellent job on all my cars. I have good insurance but overall they just did a fantastic job on my cars and the best part of it is that I didn't have to wait took them all of three or four days to fix my my cars when was the Mercedes and the other one was a 22 charger and the other one was a dodge ram I am so satisfied and Jordan was extra nice read more

Panel Craft - This is the 22 dodge charger that they did a magical job - Body Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Really good quality work. My door was trashed and the replacement looks perfect. They were good to work with. Nice guys. Called to keep me up to date, did what they said when they said they'd do it. The only downside was that there was a really long wait to get on the schedule, and then I had to call to remind them. But I'd happily go there again. read more

Dave is a master craftsman. Hands down the best bodyshop in the Bay Area. I play tennis around the corner and passed by his shop a dozen times before needing bodywork on my Jaguar F-Type. I stopped in and spoke with David until I felt comfortable in the fact that he was a pro and highly skilled at his craft. I knew what to listen for as I have enough knowledge in this area to make that determination. Brought my car in the next week and he performed the work on time, and as you can see in the attached photo my Jag looked like it did the day I got her from the dealer. Since then, I've brought several cars to them for repair and now I will use no other shop. Period. 5 Stars for Panelcraft. The opened up a secondary shop down the street which goes to show that when you are good, people will use you. Have no hesitations. read more

Panel Craft - Body Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

Everyone was amazing at Panel Craft! Jordan especially helped me out so much, keeping my nerves at ease after a break-in with great communication, transparent pricing, and SPEED. My keys were back in my pocket soon after dropping her off. Thank you Panel Craft! read more

First of all, customer service is impeccable. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. They get busy but will always have your vehicle coming out right. Stop looking for a shop and go and call THIS ONE....you won't be disappointed!! read more

This was my second time going to Dave. The first time for a new front bumper (chair fell off the back of a truck directly in front of my three day old mini van) and this more resent visit was for a repair on my fender (sideswiped in the middle of the night- no note ) both visits were worth every penny. Dave pointed imperfections that remained even after his repairs that my untrained eye did not notice at all. It really just highlights how honest he is in his business dealings. The work was great last time, and exceptional this time. I did not think the entire dent was repairable due to wear it set on the original curves of the van. Boy was I shocked to see the result! My kids are looking forward to our next repair because Dave has new toys that kids can choose from when you either come in for an estimate and/or pick up your car I would definitely recommend Panel Craft. Dave is really great, and the work at his shop is incredible. Thankful that good friend recommended this shop! read more

Panel Craft is a great and trustworthy place. Although my insurance referred me to another shop. I chose Panel Craft because I trust them.

It is SOOOOO rare and so deeply appreciated to find a business that is this helpful! i bought a van to convert to a camper van. The only problem is the gasket seals around the doors are deteriorating. i brought it to Panel Craft and they searched and found that the manufacturer unfortunately no longer makes them. But they took the time to send me an email AND follow up with a phone call to walk me through my options and the potential issues i would face if i tried to use certain seals. It is extraordinarily rare to find a business this honest and helpful. i am hoping i am able to solve the gasket issues. But if not and i have to end up selling my van, i will bring whatever i purchase next to this team because they are TEN STAR service. read more

I had a very positive experience. They were honest, reliable, and went out of their way to make sure I would be completely happy with the work. I would use them again. read more

I've been going to Dave (owner) since he had a ponytail lol I've been coming to panel craft since high school and I'm now in my tender late 30's. There's no one else I would trust with my luxury cars. I recently took my Mercedes in for repair work after hitting something on the freeway that caused damage to one of the led Fog lights and bumper. My first call was to Dave at pannel craft. I dropped it off and about 2 Weeks later I picked up that black beauty in the photo. My car looked like it was right off of the show room floor. I didn't even want to drive it. True Story. Andrew worked on it this time and I couldn't be happier with the results. I've referred lots of friends and family who are also pleased with the service they receive from pannel craft. Superior, honest work. What more could I ask for? I'll be a Panel craft customer for life! read more

I had a minor scrape on my front bumper. The guys tried to buff it for me but still a few scratches were there. I didn't want to turn this into my insurance, so they suggested I try getting touch up paint and they would attempt to touch up the scratches. In 30 minutes the young lady had not only fixed my front bumper but went around the car and touched up other little dings I had in the paint. I am VERY pleased with the work they did and would definitely recommend them to you! Really nice family run business that is not out to rip you off or get unnecessary and expensive work done. read more

Panel Craft - Body Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

Clearly, no one wants to be in need of a body shop. However, if you find yourself in such need, THIS IS THE PLACE!! Panel Craft's work is the best ever -- And you can rely on them and their consistent quality. They treat your car as if it was their own. My own work leaves me in a position where I have to refer many people to the best auto body work available, so I have known of Panel Craft for many years. Without exception, every person I know who has brought their car to Panel Craft has been extremely happy and satisfied with their work. Well, after all those years, it finally became my turn to need body work. Now I am able to speak from my own personal experience. Panel Craft took the time and energy, and went the extra mile (pardon the word choice), to repair my (beloved) Volvo and the result: It looks like it never had a dent. Here may be one of the most important things about Panel Craft: Most shops are in bed with the insurance companies -- Those are the "preferred shops". Preferred shops work for insurance companies at steeply discounted rates and you get what you pay for. Preferred shops cannot afford to do the best work possible because of how little the insurance companies pay. PANEL CRAFT IS ON YOUR SIDE -- They go to bat for you so the work is done right! Panel Craft is entirely independent with no agreements with any insurance company. They work hard and successfully to make sure you get the best work possible and that your insurance pays the price. Panel Craft will not cut corners and do crappy work -- They do the best possible work then fight the insurance to pay for what you deserve. Your insurance is likely to tell you: "Well, Panel Craft is not a preferred shop -- If you go to a preferred shop, the work is guaranteed for the life of the car." Guess what- ALL BODY SHOP WORK IS GUARANTEED FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW! The insurance companies don't want you to get the best work done on your car at Panel Craft because they want you want to go to a shop cheaper for them. Don't help the insurance companies by not using Panel Craft. A thorough review of Panel Craft must mention the people who work there: All of them are some of the nicest folks you will meet. They are easy-going, patient, good humored and kind. Frankly, I hope to never see them again -- I don't want more need for bodywork! read more

This place sells stolen goods. My Toyota Tundra was stripped and all the pieces were posted to Craigslist. Panel craft has dishonest employees do not do business with them read more

I visited Panel Craft twice, once to get my sideview mirror replaced, and once to get my bumper fixed. All in all, this company gives fair quotes, are very flexible, and go above and beyond to help you get your car in tip top shape as soon as possible. Andrew tried his best to find me a used sideview mirror that matched the color of my car; unfortunately the part, when delivered had a hole in it rendering it useless. Because it was so costly to get the new part and get it painted and installed, I decided in that meantime to try to replace the mirror myself, without painting it. Andrew was more than happy to give me a refund on the deposit I paid, which I picked up from his office at my own leisure. The second time I came to Panel Craft, my front bumper was dislodged because I backed out of my steep driveway without knowing I had a flat tire. The bumper scraped on the driveway pretty badly and tore off the front right part of the bumper. They quoted me a fair price to replace the bumper bracket and fender. Even though the parts didn't arrive until Christmas Eve, they fit me in on Christmas Eve so that I could have my car back before they went on vacation! Additionally, when the bumper fell again, they repaired it free of charge, and glued the screws to the tabs so that they wouldn't get dislodged again. Great service!! read more

My boyfriend went here to get his headlights cleaned on his Mercedes clk 320, because they were so oxidized that they were making the entire car look older. he looked up several options to fix the headlights and the cheapest option was to come here, pay a ridiculously cheap price, and cross his fingers... This place made his headlights look BRAND NEW!!! When I saw them I literally thought he had bought new ones and was just kidding me about them getting cleaned. I have no idea what they did but I don't care! It was DIRT cheap, and Dave, the owner is REALLY cool. My boyfriend couldn't stop raving about how fair and how cool he was and how he really hooked him up. DON'T BUY NEW HEADLIGHTS, JUST COME HERE!!! Dave will take good care of you... in this economy you need to save all the money you can get, and Dave is the best person to help you out. read more

Had a rust emergency that David personally took care of for me , great service and reliable advice, they also put me in touch with a glass guy that got me a windshield installed less than 12 hours later read more

I was recently rear ended, had a lot of damage to my car and Dave here at Panel Craft really helped me out. He did everything needed to be done on my car, stayed in contact with my insurance company, and gave me a detailed copy of what needed to be done on my car. He was super friendly and his staff is nice. Always willing to help out, work around people's schedules, give advice, and most importantly do a great job on the car. I actually had a slight problem with my car after picking it up, and gave him a call, he was apologetic and told me to bring my car right on over. He had a worker fix the problem for me right away and even stopped traffic to help me get out. This place is the place you want to go if you need body work. Super friendly, reliable and detailed work. I actually think he cleaned my car inside out too....Thanks Dave! read more

This is the only place i trust to touch my car... My car spends more time here that it does with me, I have never had any complaints. I am asked all the time who does my work for me and I refer them to Dave. I have been to a few other paint/body shops and they dont come close. read more

When my Saab got tagged by a chair that flew out of a poorly packed pickup truck on Highway 101, I knew it was time to revisit Panel Craft. I was referred to Dave at Panel Craft by my mechanic (John at Fairmount Auto) in 2011 for a similar snafu (a chunk of retread tire hitting the car on Highway 99). Dave provided excellent service back then so I was back again in 2014. I worked with Andrew this time. He took down the list of repairs and got the parts ordered. I dropped off the car the following week and by the afternoon my car (washed and sparkly) was awaiting looking brand new. In addition to the repairs from the chair damage, I had a few other things worked on including the headlight polishing (which works remarkably). A couple of days later, I noticed a minor problem with the fog lamp repair. I set up a return with Andrew who fixed it in less than a half hour while I did a quick shop at nearby Berkeley Bowl. No charge of course (and the original pricing was very fair). This kind of business is what 5 star Yelp ratings were made for. I would highly recommend them to anybody. read more

Dave & his crew do excellent work. I read another review on Panelcraft that spoke ill of his use of zip ties - find me a mechanic or body guy who hasn't used one in a pinch and I'll find you a goddam pegasus to fly you to a land made from gumdrops and lillies. They also are super communicative, friendly & have an incredible attention to detail. Honest guys, very good at what they do, and may be willing to work with you on price. These are my go-to body & paint guys. read more

Dave really did his best to help me after my Lexus was totalled. Although it was beyond repair he made every effort to contact the insurance company and handle things for me. I have sent several friends there for auto repairs and they all were pleased with his work. read more

Finding Panel Craft was like finding the right doctor (for my car) that I will stick with for life. Several years ago I used to pass Panel Craft on my walk into work in the mornings and they always had sweet cars in the shop so I'd stop and talk to them about the cars all the time. I didnt have one at the time and I wanted to get something cheap but "cool" like a Fiat, Alfa Romeo or MG, and they always kinda shook their heads and tried to guide me towards something more reliable. I listened to them and eventually bought a Honda S2000 and drove it straight from the dealer to the guys at Panel Craft who took care of it every time I had issues - whether it was little scratches they fixed up flawlessly or when someone hit it and we needed to fix it up. Dave has always been an incredible help and given me straight talk. I now just bought a Porsche that needs a *lot* of TLC (like it doesnt always start, the top doesn't go down, plus the owner's manual is missing) and like my last car, I drove it straight to Panel Craft. Dave gave me the lowdown on how it works, what parts & fluids I need and has it all ordered and we're on the way to making my new little turd porsche the gem it should be again. Panel Craft is the kind of auto shop you can trust and they care about the work they do. I don't even live nearby anymore but they are still my go-to mechanics of choice. I definitely recommend them any day. read more

I was sent to Panel Craft by someone who has been going to Dave for 30 years, that sounded like trust to me. My car was the victim of a random act of vandalism. There was a strange glue-like substance that was poured all over the hood of the car. Nothing seemed to take it off and we were turned down by a few car detailing places who didn't think they could take it off. Gus and Dave were friendly from the start. They didn't know what the substance was but took a look at it and gave us an estimate. The car ended up taking almost twice as long as originally thought (7 hours), but Dave still charged us for the original 3 hours. Going to a body shop is like going to the dentist....you never really want to go, but when you find a good one, it is worth it!! Thanks Dave! read more

I was looking for a local shop in Berkeley/Oakland that could restore my faded headlights on my 2001 Lexus. I found Panel Craft on yelp and decided to give them a try based on Anna Y's review below. Dave did a great job on the headlights, had me in and out in under an hour, and charged me a very fair labor rate. If you need your headlights restored, give Dave a call. read more

This was the first time I've ever taken my car to a body shop and I definitely felt at ease when I left my car there. When I picked up my car i was very excited! My doors looked amazing and they even did a full detail on my car! They do AMAZING work and go above and beyond for customer service. Even when I had questions after I got my car back (which they did beautiful work on), Andrew and Dave were accommodating and made sure I didn't leave with any unanswered questions. I definitely recommend them for anyone. read more

I went to speak with David, the owner of Panel Craft after being referred to him by a mutual friend. I needed advice on some paint work and David was friendly and very helpful. David showed me some samples of his work, which was nothing short of amazing. David even went so far as buffing out a small problem section of my paint job just to see what results I could expect to see if his shop performed the repair work on my car. Needless to say, the results were spectacular. read more

I parked my car at Emeryville shopping center for 5-10 minutes. I came back with a broken tail light and a scuffed up rear bumper and NO NOTE! Geez, thanks as*****. Ugh wtf! I tried waxing the scratches out but had no luck since it had noticeably gotten into the paint. I came to Panel Craft because of their reputation. I have seen their work on other cars and was always impressed. I felt quite comfortable when I left my car with them. The repairs turned out good. The resprayed rear bumper matched the rest of the car pretty well, but I I noticed a few dull areas here and there. They also detailed the car before I picked it up. Great customer service, knowledgeable and quick turn around. read more

Panel Craft has been my go-to body shop since the 1990s. Dave Habu, the owner, and his crew do excellent work and are great to work with. They are honest as the day is long, something that you don't often find in the car repair business, and will make sure that your car is repaired properly (they will be on your side when it comes to dealing with your insurance company). I give them my highest recommendation. read more

I wouldn't recommend anyone to take their car to this establishment. Took my car for a broken headlight and small dent in bumper. The fixed those but in the process, stated they changed a bunch of items on my car without my permission. Charged my insurance for oem parts when in reality they bought used parts and replaced those with that (have receipts to prove this). When I caught on to the scam, the own Ryan cursed me out, they tried to blow my engine by sabotaging my water pump and oil pump, thinking I would continue service with them. Causing me to spend way more money then necessary. Luckily I had a great mechanic to pick up the pieces. I would advise no one to use this company, I wouldn't use this body shop again even if they were the last one on earth. read more

Great experience. They are clear, kind, offer excellent service, And offer a variety of options. They're absolutely on the customers side. Additionally it's a family run business, which gives you the warm and fuzzies. Absolutely a customer for life. Thank you Team panel craft! read more

Unfortunately I have been to the body shop too many times due to being an avid commuter. Rear ended here, to side swiped there, which led me to Panel Craft to meet Andrew. I will tell you, my search is FINALLY over. Being a woman it is not easy to feel comfortable at a body shop because at times you can feel like you are being taken advantage of. Not at Panel Craft, not with Andrew. To say he took care of me and made me feel comfortable is an understatement. His communication was impeccable, he delivered EVERYTHING he promised and explained EVERYTHING to me. He also dropped me off at Bart when I dropped my car off, solidifying their wonderful customer service. Andrew and the team did an impeccable job on my car and made it look brand new. Lastly, Panel Craft stands behind their work and offers a lifetime warranty. Simply put these guys are the BEST. Let's hope I won't be back anytime soon, but if I do, I know exactly where to go. Thank you Andrew, thank you Panel Craft, for everything! read more

Thanks David and Jordan for your excellent and professional work on my banged up Subaru Outback. I'll recommend you to friends and family but hopefully won't have need for any more repairs. You guys are great. Keep up the good work. read more