Gilman Collision Repair

5.0 star rating
38 reviews Rating Details

Categories: Body Shops, Auto Repair  [Edit]

1348 7th St
(between Camelia St & Gilman St)
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 528-5940
10% off Total Repair Cost

Take advantage of this limited time offer during the winter season with 10% discount off repair costs. Restrictions apply. Call for Details.

Announced one week ago
Hours:

Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 5 pm

Sat 9 am - 1 pm

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38 reviews in English

  • Review from Kevin B.

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    • 0 friends
    • 5 reviews

    Berkeley, CA

    5.0 star rating
    1/17/2012

    Great experience!

    I originally went to Gilman Collision about a year ago, for some body work, related to a minor car accident. Their prices were pretty competitive to the other two estimates I had received.  They were actually slightly cheaper.  Their body work was seamless.  They went even further and washed my truck, and cleaned the inside.

    I recently went back to Gilman for some work on various mechanical issues with my truck door.  It was definitely a more complex project, involving multiple components and moving parts, as well as some welding.  Having had a positive experience with them before, I didn't really want to leave this one to anyone else.  Once again, they did a great job.  And, again the price was fairly reasonable.  The work was done while I was on vacation.  They fixed the door, and held my truck until I returned.  Very convenient.      

    I also like the fact that they drive you home, after dropping off your vehicle for repair.  It really helps, not having to inconvenience others to come pick me up.

    God willing, I won't have to see Gilman Collision anytime soon!  But, this is definitely one of those businesses that becomes your go-to for this kind of work.

  • Review from Nathan O.

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    • 0 friends
    • 3 reviews

    Berkeley, CA

    2.0 star rating
    Updated - 11/14/2011

    Craig, the shop owner, gave me a call out of the blue after reading my last review. He apologized profusely for all of the issues that I encountered. I still believed that all of the issues could have been easily avoided by simple changes in procedure. For example, calling to release the vehicle once it is actually ready rather than over-promising the pickup time. Also, the glass work was outsourced by another shop, and that's who chipped the area near my rear window. I know if I were outsourcing work under my own name, I'd give it a quick quality check before letting it out the door.

    At the end of the call, Craig offered amends by refunding the cost of my out-of-pocket windshield replacement. This was certainly unexpected since it's totally cost out of his pocket, but was quite a nice gesture. The check arrived promptly in the mail.

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    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 1.0 star rating
      10/31/2011

      I really do want to give this company a higher rating, but issue after issue has occurred while… Read more »

  • Review from Temi A.

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    • 24 friends
    • 2 reviews

    Oakland, CA

    5.0 star rating
    9/19/2011

    I went to this shop based on the many positive recommendations.

    SUPERB. The end.

    I'm type-A when it comes to noticing unordinary things about my car. Craig's team put the eyesore paint swipe on my car to shame. Thanks!

  • Review from rani s.

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    • 4 friends
    • 29 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    5.0 star rating
    2/22/2011

    I went in today to ask for an estimate on some scratches.  Cameron took one look, came back with a rag and wiped and buffed up the damage. The rest he said could be fixed with some touch up paint which I could purchase from Toyota.  I was honestly not expecting him to do that for nothing, he refused payment and sent me home with some sound advice.

    As a woman often I feel reluctant to go to garage alone, worried that I'll be overcharged.  I'm so grateful to have a place like this nearby where I feel like I'm respected and taken seriously.

  • Review from Aimee L.

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    • 2 friends
    • 3 reviews

    Berkeley, CA

    5.0 star rating
    9/27/2010

    I brought my Toyota Corolla in for some repairs about a week ago after my car was broken into (grr!) and I must say I was very impressed!

    Everyone was very courteous especially the nice man who drove me to work, even though it was all the way in the Temescal neighborhood of Oakland.

    A huge plus was that they washed my car before I picked it up!! I will definitely be going back to them for any repairs that I need done in the future.

  • Review from Nina B.

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    • 0 friends
    • 4 reviews

    Emeryville, CA

    5.0 star rating
    7/20/2011

    Not only was the staff friendly, but all the charges were clear, without inflation. They quoted me a price several hundred dollars below another repair shop. They even took the time to do minor work the the insurance company refused to cover.

    I've been to several shops and this one was one of the best.

  • Review from Andrew H.

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    • 148 friends
    • 13 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    5.0 star rating
    5/14/2010

    I had a minor fender incident the other day, and got estimates from three shops. Though I didn't end up going with Craig, he offered the best service that would have resulted in the lowest dollar cost to me.

    Why didn't I go with him? My insurance company threw a wrench into my plans. I decided to keep the process streamlined and go with one of their approved shops.

    I've been to Gilman Collision Repair once before with a friend, and I would say that they have the same high-quality customer service now as they did then.

  • Review from Nicole S.

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    • 44 friends
    • 10 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    5.0 star rating
    8/26/2010

    Craig was great so was his team. They were clear, concise, honest and so friendly. I appreciated how quickly they got the work done, how transparent and fair the pricing was and that they were even kind enough to extend my pick up time past their regular business hours so I didn't have to take anytime off of work.

    I would definitely recommend this place to anyone. They know their work and they are a pleasure to do business with.

  • Review from Karen K.

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    • 1 friend
    • 27 reviews

    Berkeley, CA

    5.0 star rating
    6/24/2011

    2 women walk into an auto repair shop...
    Yeah so my mother-in-law and I went in for an estimate and I couldn't believe how clean this place is. Cameron was super friendly and very helpful. They had to order the door handle because the car is an unusual color (black currant- really??), but he called with the part when he said he would and fitted us in for an appt the very next day. Car was fixed in the time allotted, price was FAR lower than the 2 other quotes we got and Cameron made sure we understood everything. Highly recommended. Can't say I want to go back, but if needs must this will be my go-to auto body repair. Also, the neighborhood is not a bad place to hang our for an hour- Two Star Dog, REI, et al are just up the street.

  • Review from Erik Z.

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    • 12 friends
    • 5 reviews

    Oakland, CA

    5.0 star rating
    6/3/2008

    Time slows down. All I can see if the panicked face of the lady driving the car that is scraping my A4's whole left side. She is looking for the break, but doesn't seem to find it.

    End result: Front fender and bumper damage. small metal tear in driver's door, complete wheel misalignment and a nice scrape spanning pretty much from the front wheel to the left passenger door.

    Insurance information was traded and I called my regular mechanic Eddie Delgado in Berkeley for a body shop recommendation. Without hesitation he tells me to take it to Gilman Collision and talk to Craig. eSurance had no problem with that so I agreed.

    Great service from Craig. Nicest body shop owner I have met. He arranged the tow truck pick up from my place and called me back to let me know about the damage and how it would be repaired.

    He took a little bit longer than he estimated in the beginning, but communication was good at all times. The car wasn't done before a trip I had to take, but he stored it during the duration of my trip with no extra charges. When I came back, their nice office manager picked me up from my office to their shop to pick up my car.

    The work they do is very good. Shop is super clean and organized with lots of nice cars getting body work done. Only complaint I had is some left over lacqer or polisher left on the door frame, which he removed afterwards for the most part.

    My car looks better on the side he worked on than on the other side. Excellent paint matching for a metallic silver color and the metal work on the door is perfect. No gaps or misalignments between replaced parts, everything looks the way it should.

  • Review from Andrew P.

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    • 39 friends
    • 266 reviews

    Oakland, CA

    5.0 star rating
    11/10/2007

    I work right across the street from these guys.

    I came in the other day to get zoe's windshield replaced, and they not only did that but gave her a free car wash too.

    "do you take checks?" i asked when i went to pick her up.

    "we will take yours, since you're a neighbor.  if the check bounces we'll just find your car and put a clamp on the wheel."

    fair enough.

  • Review from Michele M.

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    • 79 friends
    • 43 reviews

    Hayward, CA

    5.0 star rating
    2/23/2009

    Craig Gaignard is a fine example to others in the auto-body business.
    He is honest, hardworking, and does his best to make sure that your car is taken care of right the first time.
    His shop is immaculate too! You could eat of the floor!
    I wouldn't take my car anyplace else for auto body repairs~

  • Review from Ljuba R.

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    • 6 friends
    • 28 reviews

    Cupertino, CA

    5.0 star rating
    2/27/2009

    Gilman Collision Repair offers craftsmanship and service at its best. They are professional, meticulous, precise and deliver great results right on schedule. Craig and his team offered great customer service and made my car look like new. All their repairs are covered by a lifetime warranty, which is very reassuring. Overall this place is an example of  how every business in this country should be run.

    If I ever need anything else done on my car, I will definitely return.

  • Review from Tyler W.

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    • 0 friends
    • 2 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    5.0 star rating
    6/8/2011

    I had barely had my certified-used A4 before some idiot rear-ended me. The damage wasn't severe, but to me it was, given how new to me and pristine the car was before the accident. The owner, Craig, and everyone I dealt with seemed to know this protectiveness owners have for their cars, and took care of absolutely everything. Estimates of time and delivery were spot on, insurance actually wasn't a nightmare, and the car actually was in better shape--hard to believe--when I picked it up. Detailed. Glowing. Perfection. These guys are the best experts in their field, work thorough and fast, came highly recommended, and I'd highly recommend them.

  • Review from Dora W.

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    • 19 friends
    • 25 reviews

    Riverside, CA

    5.0 star rating
    2/26/2009

    These guys are awesome.

    I got into an accident about a month ago and my car sustained a lot of damages (2008 Prius). Right after the accident, my car and I were brought here and they took really good care me. They took my car and just told me to give them my claim number as soon as I got it. I was in and out in a matter of minutes.

    During the 3 or so weeks of repair, they called me and kept me updated about the time they needed. There were no hassles or anything--they just took care of everything with my insurance company.

    When I went to pick my car up, it looked better than new! It looked like nothing had ever happened to it. When I got home later that evening, I found out that one of the front headlights was out. I called them this morning and they enthusiastically said they will not only fix it, but that they would come down to my work (which is a good 20 - 30 minutes away depending on traffic) to pick it up from me so that I wouldn't have to take time to go bring it to them.

    These guys are SUPER HONEST and just have such a GREAT ATTITUDE about service. I'd give them a six if at all possible. I highly recommend them to anybody who needs any work done to their car.

  • Review from Sherry H.

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    • 2 friends
    • 3 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    5.0 star rating
    11/11/2009

    Craig and his team are superb!

    My Brand New Escape Hybrid  and I were hit during a rain storm by a guy who ran a red light.  I was devastated when it happened because I was loving my new car so much.

    I found Gilman Collision Repair and called and talked to Craig to explain what happened.  He picked me up, and we had my vehicle towed to his repair shop.

    He was so nice and explained everything in such great detail and he also dealt with the insurance companies, so I didn't have to stress out with the insurance people!

    The repair work was done in less time than he had predicted it to take, and she looked better than new!

    I have recommended him to friends, and will continue to do so as well.  There are some key things that must be said about Gilman Collision Repair:

    **Very courteous and professional
    **Very knowledgeable
    **Very clean repair shop
    **Nicely done job on my vehicle

    If you ever get in a fender bender, take your vehicle to Craig, and he'll get you looking as good or better than new!

  • Review from Dee S.

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    • 1 friend
    • 13 reviews

    Oakland, CA

    5.0 star rating
    11/7/2010

    I just had my car painted here.  

    The service was friendly and informative.  The place was super clean and tidy.  The service was exceptional.  The job was beautiful when finished.  They cleaned my whole car inside and out.  I have a dog...so lots of hair...they did a spectacular job.  I really wasn't expecting them to clean the inside too.  The car looked almost new.  I think they do good fair work.

  • Review from Zach M.

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    • 28 friends
    • 85 reviews

    Washington, DC

    4.0 star rating
    Updated - 7/12/2008

    Just an update... they finally fixed my car and did a great job at it!  They work extremely well with Progressive Insurance and were friendly the whole time.  Just make sure they are open the day you bring the stuff in :-).

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    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 2.0 star rating
      11/2/2007 First to Review

      A nice individual with a UHaul decided to slam into my little parked Honda  so I needed to get the… Read more »

  • Review from B. N.

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    • 0 friends
    • 11 reviews

    Berkeley, CA

    5.0 star rating
    11/2/2009

    When I woke up at two in the morning because my car alarm was going off, I figured the wind had just bumped a tree branch into it extra hard. Looking out the window, my suspicions seemed to be correct. "Ah," I thought, "Everything's okay. Glad it wasn't anything worse."

    Just then, not one but two patrol cars rounded the corner and played their lights over my car. This taught me two things: One, my window was smashed. Two, the cops wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. They both drove off without even coming to a complete stop, leaving me to deal with the wreckage.

    Now, I take a pretty dim view of my car. If it has a problem that isn't immediately going to cause it to explode into a ball of fire on the highway, I'll leave it. A smashed window, unfortunately, doesn't really fall into this category and needs fixing at least moderately soon. Enter Gilman Collision Repair.

    I headed over in the afternoon after first calling to make sure they had time, and met with Craig. Friendly and professional, he walked me through what did and didn't need replacing, even going so far as to double-check that he'd gotten the best possible deal for the replacement window. I signed the paper, grabbed my bike, and rode off thinking terrible thoughts about whoever smashed my window and then didn't even have the good sense to steal anything.

    Not twenty-four hours later, my car was back and good as new. Ideally the new window won't draw the same sort of ire the old window did, but if it does at least I'll know where to go.

  • Review from Varun G.

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    • 7 friends
    • 31 reviews

    Berkeley, CA

    5.0 star rating
    1/5/2009

    What do you do when your beloved car is bumped into by some impatient driver who forgot they made cars with breaks and however small the dent is, you weep and cry and go downstairs and look at your car again and again and weep a little more. Then you go collecting estimates from different repair shops and haggle with the person who bumped into you and in your search you stumble upon this marvel of customer service repair shop, not to say they come recommended by parts and accessories suppliers whom I trust more than the scurplous dealers who sent me to this shop with a fancy office and their repair technician could do with some serious training. Not with these guys, I got the pleasure of interacting with Andres, he is the deputy or the "2nd in command" as he was introduced to me and thats the impression you want to give when you get the customer in first time. Someone who knows what they are talking about, someone experienced with the model of your car and they might not work on it themselves but its about the responsibility and ownership of the work, you feel a lot safer when you get to know that your babe is in trustworthy hands. Plus when they take care of all the issues of dealing with the insurance company once you give them the claim number, you get peace of mind.

    So you comeback to pick up your car, you look around, you see they gracefully accomodated your requests, more than what you had expected (so they are already above expectation to put in corporated performance appraisal jargon), you walk around appreciating your beloved, the dent is gone, her smile is restored, she does have a splotch of that lipstick in front, a drip of the paint that dried up before somebody could level it, slight sadness in your eyes, so you look at Andres and he says comeback anytime and we will get you out in about 1 hour. Ah well, so all this and another trip, hmm, probably 4 stars. So you go back again (after a full check up from Mercedes Benz who say the repair is as good as factory fitted) to get that drip leveled. You also mention how the benz people did a service and just the next day the right break lamp went out and Andres says they will have a look.

    After sweating whole day that what would they charge for looking at that breaklight and thinking the benz folks might have just charged the lamp cost since they just did a service, you nervously go back in the evening, the drip is off, the break lamp has been replaced, the car a bit dirty from the dust, but is ready with a coupon to a hand-wash location and the cost......hmm, nothing ! Yeah, you heard it right, no cost to change the lamp, not even charging for the bulb, WOW ! Now thats for customer service, bumped up back to 5 stars. After a little bit of delightful dance around my babe, we head back home, and you, well you know what you expect if you come to this auto bodyshop :) !

  • Review from emily p.

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    • 14 friends
    • 22 reviews

    Piedmont, CA

    5.0 star rating
    10/30/2009

    What started off as an unlucky experience turned into a lucky find. I had the misfortune of being rear ended by a cement truck.  Luckily for me however I found Gilman Collision Repair.  I searched around on San Pablo until finally deciding upon this place.  Craig was very straight forward.  He gave me an estimate and had the parts ready within a few days. My car was done in no time and Craig even emailed me a photograph of the replacement part in order to ensure my satisfaction.  Everyone at Gilman Collision was very polite, prompt and friendly.  I highly recommend them.!

  • Review from Larry L.

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    • 4 friends
    • 30 reviews

    El Cerrito, CA

    5.0 star rating
    12/14/2009

    Not only is this place as clean and organized as a hospital, but the owner (Craig) is honest, very helpful and grateful for your business. I took in my wife's car to have her side view mirror replaced and Craig not only did an excellent job of repairing it, but he had it back to me the same day. He's the man!

  • Review from KeAloha C.

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    • 8 friends
    • 5 reviews

    El Cerrito, CA

    5.0 star rating
    6/18/2010

    They're the Best!

    Less than a month after my daughter bought her first car, her car was vandalized.  You can guess how upset she was.  Plus she used the car to commute to her night classes at college.

    Craig was great.  He helped her sort out the insurance and got her car turned around in a matter of days.  He also showed her basic maintenance items and tricks on her car.  He really helped turn a stressful situation around.

    Also his shop is so clean.  I am betting you can eat off the floors.  Now if he could teach me daughter that trick.... :)

  • Review from Evan D.

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    • 1 friend
    • 43 reviews

    Berkeley, CA

    5.0 star rating
    7/8/2008

    These guys are really knowledgeable and really take care of you. You hope for this level of work, but to also come back to a washed car?! The facility is also clean and cool-looking (half a new-style VW bug hanging on the wall). Nice job.

  • Review from Wendy D.

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    • 9 friends
    • 22 reviews

    El Sobrante, CA

    5.0 star rating
    10/28/2009

    Professional from ingress to egress. My insurance company was handled, they assisted with getting the rental, they spotted additional issues and dealt with Insurance Co. Car was returned looking great and wow, they even vacuumed the inside. Friendly and professional team. They work hard for your money and I will refer my friends. The Queen of Boogie Woogie says "Go".

  • Review from Ynot T.

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    • 9 friends
    • 177 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    5.0 star rating
    5/6/2010

    I have nothing but high praises for the business Craig and his crew conduct at Gilman Collision.  I can think of a few words to describe Craig's character, let me start by saying you will not meet another autobody shop owner who is like this man.  He is clean, organized, genuine, honest and truly believes in making his customers happy.  That's his physical appearance but it also reflects in the way his shop is presented.  The floors are clean and glossy.  Not dusty and industrial like many disorganized shops.  The main entrance can be described as more of a showroom than the entrance of a autobody shop. Everything is neatly hung up and organized.

    What made my experience truly exceptional.  It was Craig's attention to detail.  It also had to do with going the extra mile to ensure his customers were happy.  Unlike most shady body shops Craig made sure everything was right throughout the process, from the initial estimate to the final delivery.  He communicated with us effectively.  You know it's really hard to put into words how happy we are with Craig and his staff.  The car had the driver side rear quarter panel smashed in right along the rear wheel base.  The left door behind the driver was dented in.  It was not a pretty sight but Craig and his crew were able to work that magic to get it done perfectly.  The grooves, all the way down to the paint matching with the gloss and glittery millennium on our silver Lexus came out flawless and on time.  We also had another issue with a left bumper light that was cracked and some paint was chipped.  Craig's crew touched up the area with some paint and installed the lens for us for free minus the cost of the replacement reflector lens.  How cool is that?

    There was one small issue and this had nothing to do with the body work.  The glass had to be taken out in order to fix our car.  Craig had a glass contractor.  The contractor did a poor job on our vehicle, dirtied our light grey trim, scratched up the trim somehow and the window wasn't as flush as it should have been.  So Craig being the responsible shop owner he is offered to redo the whole thing including replacing the trim and re-aligning the window.  Any other body shop would have said, "it comes with the territory because the guys can't keep washing their hands when they fix your car and your trim is light so expect it."  Craig did not do us wrong like that, he had the responsible party pay for the replacement trim on our vehicle.  You can imagine how much that was on a Lexus.  Very expensive but it was done to our satisfaction.

    To compensate for the extra time Craig did something nice for us which I will not divulge on here because he's such a nice guy.  I can only say that this experience was great.  Of course no one wants to be in a dang accident and have to pay out of pocket but Craig made this a positive experience.  Thank you Craig.  We now have a reliable and reputable body shop we can count on for autobody work in the future.  If you Yelpers out there want someone who is genuine and from the old school of accountability with a very competitive bid I wouldn't take my business anywhere else except to Gilman Collision.  Craig and his staff will take care of you.  You will not be disappointed!

    A much deserved 5 stars, keep up the great work!!!  It's rare to get a 5 star review from me.

  • Review from mike c.

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    • 1 friend
    • 24 reviews

    Albany, CA

    5.0 star rating
    2/14/2008

    I had a great experience here. The people were really friendly and my car was fixed fast. I had a good feeling about the place which is the most important thing when it comes to auto repair as I am always very wary of dishonest shops. I would definitely go back.

  • Review from kesten m.

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    • 3 friends
    • 7 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    5.0 star rating
    2/13/2009

    I had to return my Toyota Sienna to the leasing company and needed to take care of some dents. I wanted it cheap and quick since I was paying out of pocket and had to return it in five days. Gilman Collision was cheap and quick, but most importantly the repair was seamless. I couldn't tell there had been any damage. Craig was super cool to work with too. Gilman Collision was the first place out of six that I got a quote from and I wish I hadn't wasted my time on the other shops. Craig quoted me the lowest by far. The shop is very nice too, they just painted the floor so it looks super fresh! The other place I really liked was La Loma on San Pablo, but they quoted me $1,150 and I only paid $850 at Gilman Collision.

  • Review from Paul P.

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    • 0 friends
    • 3 reviews

    Emeryville, CA

    5.0 star rating
    4/22/2009

    After being hit on San Pablo ave. while driving my wife's Jetta, I went out and got 3 estimates from local body shops.

    I chose Gilman because of the straight-up, customer-service driven style of Craig, the shop's owner.

    He seemed both informative and realistic while giving the estimate and he spoke honestly about what I could anticipate when dealing with the other driver's insurance company.

    My instincts were pretty accurate- Gilman did what they said they would, no hassles for me because they dealt with and were paid directly from the other driver's insurance- no overages or any "surprises".

    Was given timely updates on how the work was going.

    The quality of the repair was top notch- car looks great and I'm glad I went with this shop.

  • Review from Camille K.

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    • 3 friends
    • 14 reviews

    El Cerrito, CA

    5.0 star rating
    5/17/2010

    I got hit by an uninsured motorist a couple of weeks ago.  To tell the truth, I was embarrassed to take my ancient junky car to a body shop for a little bumper dent and loose engine cover flap; I was afraid my job would be too small to take seriously.  But Craig didn't think so.  He called around to find an after-market bumper so he could give me a really low estimate (as opposed to the other estimates I got from other shops which would have cost me more than the car is worth!)  Plus, he had the engine cover flap pinned up while I was waiting for the estimate!  What a nice surprise - this shop is great!

  • Review from Dee E.

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    • 0 friends
    • 7 reviews

    Richmond, CA

    5.0 star rating
    9/4/2010

    This business is first rate.  A UPS truck scraped my left fender and front bumper.  Both the fender and bumper had to be replaced and color-matched.  They did a perfect job of matching the color.  Jerry is a good communicator and expedited the repair of my car.  The estimate beat out the three other estimates I had gotten.  I highly recommend this collision repair shop.

  • Review from diana b.

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    • 5 friends
    • 3 reviews

    Oakland, CA

    5.0 star rating
    4/10/2010

    Honest, trustworthy and efficient!  My car was stolen and the whole center console was ripped out in an attempt to take the stereo (Brilliant kids didn't even take the CD changer in the trunk).   It is a good little car with more years in her, 98 Honda Civic, but I was not looking to put a whole lot of money into it and was paying out of pocket.  Craig did the once over of the damage and gave a good estimate for the work.  What really worked for me was that no one pressed me to fix the MANY MANY dings, scratches and dents my Honda hoopty had.  Craig knew I was trying to keep it to the basics and cost down and completely respected that.  Not only was the work stellar but several other minor problems with wires and connections were discovered during the work and they called me to approve the work and found the cheapest way to get it done well.  Take your car, refer them to your friends (even your mom).  Hopefully I won't need more work but if I do I will 100% return to Gilman Collision Repair.

  • Review from Doug V.

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    • 0 friends
    • 7 reviews

    Berkeley, CA

    2.0 star rating
    12/29/2009

    well, i took my car here after reading all the good reviews and i think maybe i was the victim of bad circumstances...i'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt, but i don't think i'd risk repeating the experience i had here.

    i took my car in for somewhat minor body damage.  they approximated something like 3-4 days for it to be finished.  sweet.

    in 3-4 days, well, it's going to take more like another week from today.  ok.

    the due date rolls around and i'm going to pick it up when i get a call "paint is still drying and we need to keep it over the weekend".  he offered to pay for the rental which was cool.  so the weekend i spend in a rental.

    i go to pick it back up finally now that it's done on Monday.  i start checking out the car and notice all sorts of little stains that his technicians left.  like black smudge marks on my nearly brand new light grey interior.  the whole inside looks coated in dust, some rubber trim on the outside is cut, and overall i'm really depressed by how my nearly new car suddenly looks like shit on the inside with some stains that seem permanent.

    he was very sympathetic to my claims after i pointed some undeniable stuff out (like the hand print stains) and offered to have the car detailed among buying some replacement interior parts.

    so they keep it for another day and this time i'm lent the owner's son's car...

    then i go back to get it and it's 98% good as new, a few small stains didn't come out after the detailing, but cool, my car is definitely a bit cleaner now than it was when i gave it to them, so that's great.

    then i go to leave...ten minutes later, i turn on the radio...doesn't work.  i have to go back again and his "VW specialist" (guy hadn't a clue) tried for a long time to figure it out.  luckily, re-connecting the battery did the trick and i was finally through with this ordeal.

    so yeah, probably not going for that one again...

  • Review from Lindsey D.

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    • 0 friends
    • 3 reviews

    Berkeley, CA

    5.0 star rating
    4/23/2010

    I couldn't say anything nice enough to rate the work Craig did for me.  I had a minor fender bender, which bent the fender so the door wouldn't open. I'm stretched for funds and this accident was not covered by insurance.  I asked Craig for an estimate which would make the door functional at the least possible cost.  He understood and explained my options (not like another shop who would only estimate for making everything perfect).  The work was fantastic- the car looks great; the door works like new, the paint  matches perfectly.  All at a very reasonable price and timely done.  And he even washed my car!  A very nice guy to do business with.

  • Review from RONNIE L.

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    • 11 friends
    • 3 reviews

    Berkeley, CA

    5.0 star rating
    3/2/2009

    gilman collision is a great place to take your car for body repair i was very pleased with the work they did on my mustang & the paint was a perfit  match to the original paint, and customer service was very professional craig operates a tight and clean shop i would recommend my friends to them if they need  need any body repair, hey graig keep up the good work you are my bodyshop repair guy when needed.

  • Review from Anita L.

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    • 0 friends
    • 4 reviews

    Berkeley, CA

    5.0 star rating
    6/11/2009

    Great people, friendly service, and very quick to serve.  Excellent experience overall.

  • Review from A B.

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    • 0 friends
    • 1 review

    Berkeley, CA

    5.0 star rating
    2/23/2009

    I just got my semi-brand new car broken into and had to get the window replaced. Not only were Craig and his wife extremely nice when I dropped off the car, but they did not hesitate to offer to give me a ride to and from my house and kept my car in their garage so it wouldn't get rained on. The repair was extremely quick and Craig was very helpful with the pricing and whatnot. I would recommend Gilman Collision Repair to anyone and really appreciate the help I received from them.

  • Review from Leslie S.

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    • 0 friends
    • 2 reviews

    Oakland, CA

    5.0 star rating
    10/16/2009

    I have beento Gilman Collision twice.  Craig(the owner) is a wonderful guy.   The work that was done on my car was excellent and well priced.  I would never go anywhere else for body work on my car.  I'm only sorry that they don't do regular car maintenance there!

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