Russ is really helpful. He always goes beyond what I expect. Finds whatever is necessary to fix my cars, and gets it done in a timely manner. This last time was even more than I hoped. Russ found a transmission for my 11 year old Honda, and replaced my faulty one. Other shops either would have charged me more than twice, or flat out said no. I know I can always rely on Russ at Premier. read more

Russ has been my guardian angel many times! He truly takes care of his clients in times of crisis, and I am so grateful to have him close by. I trust him 110% for his judgement and ability to handle any issues related to my car (especially negotiating with the insurance company) and, above all, to do high-quality repairs in a timely manner. Thank you, Russ! read more

I just got into a fender bender and was super upset about the damage on my new car. Russ as usual was incredibly kind and helpful. He helped me through the entire process. Helped me with a rental, dealt with my insurance and got the car fixed in two days! Other shops quoted higher rates and a 10 day job. This is next level customer service. Congrats Russ, you have a very loyal customer who will spread the word. read more

Premier Autobody - Body Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

Premier Auto Body the way my car came into you and the way it looked after it left your shop ....superior work. Thank you Russ! The way you do everything is simply amazing !!! I'm impressed how you handled everything your work sets you apart from everyone else!! Its so good to be on board with you and your team . All auto shops should put as much gusto and they work as you do! Your achievements speak volumes about your dedication, Thank you for making my car look beautiful as new! Your the best!!!! read more

Premier Auto Body does extraordinary, perfect work. Russ McClure makes sure every detail is right and more than satisfactory. They are price competitive, efficient and responsive. read more

Russ is an amazing person, his customer service is awesome! Needed a small repair, went in on my lunch hour and still had time to go have lunch! Thanks Russ! read more

Had our cars here 3 times over the past few years. Excellent work quality. Done quickly. Each time he threw in a little extra. Russ, the owner, took care of dealing with the insurance company. These were all insurance jobs so can't comment on the pricing for non-insurance work. We'll be back again if the need arises. read more

I had Russ sell a car which he had in storage. This was after the owner died; I was administering the estate. He also performed various repairs. I did not select him; he already had the car when the man died. Russ called me a "piece of s**t" in a misdirected email as a part of this sale. Hence the low review. In the actual sale transaction, with Russ's agreement and knowledge, the buyer shorted me on the check, and then "neglected" to send the last $500 of the agreed price. When I complained, Russ told me the guy was "so honest!" and had put the check for the rest in the mail, which it turns out he had not. I finally got my money by refusing to transfer the extended warranty until it arrived. Did Russ know the guy was trying to cheat me? When I objected to not getting all the money, Russ sent the offending email, intended for the buyer, sent to me by mistake. Were they accomplices, that they talked to each other like that? Hard to know. That's what I get for wanting the full payment I guess. For obvious reasons I would not take a car to him again. The work he did seemed adequate. read more

I don't know what you guys did to piss off Russ (owner/manager of Premier), but he is the nicest man in the universe. He operates through Geico most of the time, so maybe he only accepts Geico customers? At any rate, I have now had two fender benders and I thought about not going there for the second one, since I was trying not to make a claim. I decided to take it to Russ, though, and he fixed my car even though I went through the crap insurance company of the woman who hit me. He fixed my car in record time, handled the rental car paperwork, and even charged me a little less than his initial estimate (since the crap insurance company wouldn't pay that much). So he saved me all of the trouble that I would have gone through due to dealing with a substandard insurance company. I couldn't get the insurance company to send me money for the rental car, so he billed the insurance company instead. Russ is like a second father. Although I hope to never need to go back there, if I do have to get body work done I wouldn't even consider going anyplace else. read more

I have an old Camaro that I love and absolutely refuse to get rid of. She's a fixer-upper, and as you can imagine she has some body blemishes; including a review mirror that snapped off a while ago. After getting no less than half a dozen quotes from auto body shops from Berkeley (including their overinflated neighbor Berkeley Autobody) to East Oakland, Russ was by far the most helpful, cheap and all around honest. Not to mention flexible, by letting me come by the shop a half hour before it was even open! I highly recommend him to anyone with or without insurance to cover your body work. read more

Russ is very friendly, flexible and knowledgeable. Also his work was excellent! I am sure I will come back whenever my car needs body work!

Imagine you are bad with cars. Like you just don't get why they break, or how insurance works, or the difference between all wheel drive, and four wheel drive. It should be easy to imagine, because that's most people. Enter Russ at Premiere. Has your car gotten hit in a parking lot, and you are freaking out because the perpetrator left? No problem. You don't want to deal with the Insurance company, robot guided phone system, hold music, paperwork and submitting a claim? No problem. What's that?! There was additional damage and there's more paperwork to submit? No problem. Better NOT call Saul - Russ takes care of everything end to end. The only possible nitpick, was that there was another unrelated scrape on a different part of the car altogether that was supposed to get buffed out, and that was forgotten. Oh well. I guess there is always a chance that another miscreant will hit that side of car . read more

I have no idea what that 1-star review is talking about-- I got nothing but top-notch customer service! I came in with no appointment-- they took me in, had the rental car company come pick me up, and took care of all of the paperwork for me. My car was done in three days (it looks like nothing ever happened), and they even repaired a couple of things that had nothing to do with my accident damage! I will totally recommend this shop to everyone I know! read more

A good friend referred me to Russ at Premier after I had a very unfortunate and strange accident involving a person who decided that backing up (and into my car) at a traffic light is a great idea. Thankfully, Russ was there for me throughout the whole experience, which would have been a lot more stressful without his help. He dealt with the insurance company, appraisers, and even the rental car company on the phone and made sure I had everything taken care of. After a few days, my car looked better than before, and I could move on from the experience of the bizarre car accident. I would honestly recommend Premier to anyone. They are trust-worthy, knowledgeable, and they get the job done. Thanks guys!! read more

If that dubious chapter in one's life comes 'crashing' in whereby a bodyshop is going to be front & center in your daily life you may be interested in my experience. First off...what pre-existing opinions does one have of the bodyshop 'guy'?...not good...looking you up & down like some idiot/atm machine...tell us what we wish to hear...hold our vehicle 'hostage' 4ever!...substitute junkyard parts 2boot!...walk into the shop?...horrors!...assistance in 'dealing with your insurance company?...you kidding?...didn't you go to college? STRIKE ALL THAT from your memory once you enter Premier Autobody. I was greeted by the owner, Russ McClure,( UC Berkeley grad.) who put me at ease within seconds. 'It'll all be okay', John. No rental car? We'll get you home. His shop? You could eat off the floors. I should have my files in such perfect order. Figuring out insurance jargon...ZERO issue. The adjuster came by and immediately wanted to 'total' the car: Russ offered: 'I understand'...however this is a low mileage, fuly loaded vehicle. End result? I got my car back good as new within 3 days and the adjuster and Russ became best pals! I found out his employees have been there for years; he has owned the biz for 20 years; loves what he does; CARES about YOU and I. The experience was actually enjoyable!..he is customer service exhibit A. P.S. His not so secret passion is abstract art...trust me. read more

I ended up needing body work done on my Ford Taurus twice within three months. Both times I took it to Premier Autobody. I learned two things through that experience: Number 1: 500 dollars seems like a small deductible until you have to pay it...twice. and Number 2: that Premier Autobody is a great business. Everything was done quickly, and done well. I was very happy with the repairs both times-I honestly couldn't tell the difference between the repaired parts and the originals. But what stood out most was Russ' personality and concern for his clients. He cares about the car and the person. I often drive past Premier on my way home, and anytime I look over at the shop, it always brightens my mood. How many repair shops can you say that about? read more

I have dealt with premier auto body on several occasions and was extremely pleased with the results. Not only that, everyone I sent there, from friends and family was very happy. Russ is a natural born business man and he understands customer value and satisfaction. I highly recommend premier auto body as the first step to getting an excellent job done on your car read more

Super rude customer service from the getgo. Didn't even try to do business with them.

I took my car to Premier for an estimate for an accident covered by GEICO. Great place! Russ McClure is very professional and assuring. I would be hard pressed to think of anybody who could be more accommodating. Top Notch! UPDATE: Russ came and picked me up since I live so close with my rebuilt car. It was better than before the accident! Beautiful. Russ indicates that he doesn't take walk-ins and works just off referals. He looked up the person that offered the negative post and said that she was never a customer. This is the best auto body shop in the east bay. I told him about 'yelp' so just go in and tell him you were refered by Yelp and he'll take good care of you. read more

This was the most rude place I've dealt with in quite some time. The guy on the phone wanted to rush me through a bunch of questions, then told me he doesn't even do what I was looking for. Damn... Customer service goes a long way even if you don't perform aftermarket modification. read more

A broken window is not the worst thing that can happen to your car. After all, you can still drive it - you just don't want to. So it was great news Premier Autobody could fix it that same day. Russ even picked me up from BART when I was late to get my car. Thanks! Definite five-star work. read more

Amazing. I called Russ on a Sunday, when Premier and everyone else are closed. He called me back right away, I sent him pictures of the damage, and he said to drop it off the next morning. By Thursday he'd made most of the insurance arrangements and I didn't need to do any of the arguing with them, he got the parts, painted, made everything look like new including a scuff on a different part of the car. I paid by credit card and picked up the car after hours Thursday. With anyone else, I would have been bounced between the shop and the insurance for 2 weeks and would have paid god knows how much. Oh, and he's super nice and proactive. Really? This happens? At Premier, apparently so! read more

There are very few people in the auto body repair industry with as much integrity as Russ. He's not there to baffle you with bullshit and overblown estimates. He's just going to fix your car. It's not brain surgery, its sheet metal. Thanks again Russ! read more

You may laugh at this review if you know this place but the guy who works here, Russell, (who may be aggressive sometimes in personality) does an exceptional job with the body work here which as to why the place has the word "Premier" a part of its name. I had my mirrors and grill custom painted here and they look as good as stock. Plus he hooks it up. read more

Russ and crew are awesome. Totally flexible on pick up and drop off. And painted my side mirror in a day. Great price.

Russ is a kind, friendly owner who is assuring when you are stressed about car repairs and insurance claims. He helps you shorten time without car by getting all the parts together before hand. I appreciate the drop offs and pick ups to/from my house he generously offers. He is easy to reach by cell phone and very communicative. He has lots of experience with insurance companies. I highly recommend this business! read more

Couldn't be happier with Russ and his shop. He's great at customer care, gets repairs done in a timely manner (quicker than other shops I know of), suggests the best solution that will work instead of telling someone to replace everything, and keeps the costs as low as possible. We know because we have compared his prices with many others on a few occasions. read more

Excellent Work! Russ and his team did a fantastic job to repair minor work on my car. They were fast, fair and always had customer service at the top of the list. Do yourself a favor and visit this spot, you won't regret it! read more

My mirror got knocked off recently, and I called premier because of the 5 star reviews. Even though this was a minor service call, Russ was very responsive and I received prompt and excellent service. His prices are competitive, and he is a nice guy. Thanks again, Russ! read more

Russ and his crew are amazing. Incredibly easy to deal with, I have dropped off my car and then taken to the rent-a-car place a block away very quickly. As inconvenient as body damage is, Russ makes this part of the process totally simple. And my car was spotless upon return to me. read more

Premier Autobody did an incredible job getting my car back in the great condition it was in before it was stolen and trashed. Russ was so kind and helpful. I would recommend this shop very highly!! read more

Russ is your one stop shop for all your autobody needs he will help you through the claims process and make sure your car is as good as new with the least amount of pain through the process. He will work with you and what you can afford if you are going out of pocket I recommend Premier if you need someone you can trust! read more

Russ made getting my car fixed an easy and pleasant experience. If you need body work, this is definitely the best place to go. He really cares about you and your car and with his knowledge, experience and expertise, you can't go wrong. If I ever need more body work, I know where to go. read more

No one wants to write reviews about auto body shops because that means they have been in an accident. I called and left messages at three local shops on New Years Day asking for a call back on whether or not they might be open on Monday January 2nd. The only shop that called back was Premier Auto Body. Although he wasn't officially open for the day, Russ said he could meet me at his shop to look at my car. He was there when he said he would be and examined and photographed my car. He said he would follow up with an estimate after contacting the insurance company. By that afternoon he had an estimate that my insurance company agreed with and he was ready to take the car in to start work on Wednesday. The car was fully repaired and ready for pick up on Friday! My repair involved replacing the driver door that had been hit by a car after it was opened. I have looked very carefully at the new door and can't detect that it's not the original. So - good communication. No surprises. High quality work. Completed quickly. I will try Premier again if I ever have a future need for an auto body shop. read more

This is my first ever Yelp review, because I've never felt so compelled to recommend someone as I do with Russ at Premier Auto Body. This is the first time I had to get body work done, and Russ immediately took away all the stress from the situation. He is a genuinely nice guy who will absolutely give you a fair and honest price. I can only speak from my personal experience, of course, but he also seems very willing to do his best to work with your budget and unique situation when possible. As some other reviewers have mentioned, he is also just a really interesting guy (very much into art and the humanities, etc.). The work was done with great care and came out fantastically. Russ even went ahead and fixed some extra (minor) things on my car at no extra charge. I don't think you could possibly find someone better. read more

Russ is the man. He is extremely helpful and skips the BS. He did quality work on my car and gave me a great price. It was raining on the day that I was supposed to pick up my car from him, and he offered to come pick me up! I will definitely be going back to Premier for future autobody work. read more

I discovered Premier Auto on Yelp after a collision 3yrs ago. Russ coordinated a car rental and all of the repairs with the at-fault driver's insurance company and we didn't have to pay a dime or deal with any paper work or phone calls with the insurance company. The repairs were performed in a timely manner and done correctly without any problems. Since that time, I have referred several of my friends to Russ who have had similar experiences. I have even gone to Russ for mechanical problems with my car and he has been willing to coordinate repairs with his colleagues in the area at a reasonable rate and, most importantly, done by reputable people. Between our 2 older model Jeeps, we have gone to Russ at least 6-8 times and every experience has been positive. Russ' integrity is beyond reproach and I would recommend him without any reservations. read more

You can put your confidence in Russ. He knows what he's doing, he knows what he's talking about, and he does great work. He is also responsive and flexible, and he can stick to his timelines despite delays. He exceeded all expectations. Thanks, Russ! read more

I just had my car dents repaired by Russ at Premier Autobody. I got four estimates; all were in the general ballpark but Russ came in the lowest. His work was outstanding -- the proverbial "it looked better than before it was hit". Russ was an absolute pleasure to work with -- extremely accommodating and helpful; I couldn't ask for better customer service (seriously: what's with the 1-star reviews???). I highly recommend this shop. read more

I've been going to Russ at Premier Auto Body now for so long that I can't remember. he's truly wonderful and a joy to do business with. he's always made sure all my needs were met, and has even gone as far to drive me all the way back home himself. he's extremley efficient in getting your car in and out of the shop in a timely fashion. I've recomended everyone from my dad to my nest door neighbor to him. I really like Russ as a person, and would miss him if I started driving so well that I stopped needing to go in. read more