GAVA'S AUTO BODY | Testimonial

Another idiot hit my baby at a Safeway parking lot. Where did he learned to drive? Who knows. Anyway took my car to Gava's again were they did a phenomenal Job. Sado was very nice kept me informed on the status of my baby.

I will recommend this place 120% they are very professional and will not rip you off. I have taken my brothers Camaro their and he was very happy with their work.

GAVA'S IS A GREAT BODY SHOP

Jay S.

San Francisco, CA

4/21/2009

Thanks to my fellow yelpers, I found Gava's Auto Body. They are the best. My car was hit not once but twice by an 80 year old man who should not be driving.. My 1st thought was call my acura guys... they referred me to body shop in Serramonte which they claimed did all their body work... Thanks goodness I decided to check Yelp... this so called body shop in Serramonte was averaging one star! No way was I going to let a one star work on my car. I decided I better check out Yelp and based on Yelper reviews I found GAVA. Sado and Mike is the best. They had my car for 17 days, but through it all, Sado called me every couple of days to give me an update on the car. In addition, Sado listened to my concerns... car needed an alignment after the 'bang up' job by the 80 year old geezer... car also needed a new door and then some..... making sure the electrical worked.....after a $7000 facelift, my 9 year old car looked brand new....these guys also detailed my car....not a piece of dust was left after they were done! Both inside and outside was spankin' brand new... I almost thought I got a new car......Thanks GAVA...

Sam K.

Daly City, CA

3/18/2009

first of all, big shout outs to SADO and MIKE!

they helped me with my car that needed some front body work. sado gave me a very good price! kept me notified on what was going on with my car, in his words, "I'll take care of your car as if it's my own" kept me very comfortable since ive had trouble with other body shops charging me an arm and a leg. they gave my car a nice wash, even cleaned out the interior for me!! now That's service. mike was more than happy to give me a ride back to work so,fixing my problem on how i was going to get back on time!

thanks GAVA's AUTO BODY!

Bo C.

Daly City, CA

3/18/2009

So, I had my car fixed. I drive it home, park in my driveway and my dad backs up into my brand new bumper... sigh...

Sado and Mike had a good laugh about it and really helped me out... again. They stayed late, helped me lower the costs for the 2nd job and even though there was more damaged than before, was able to clean it all up and stayed late so I could come get it. They fixed everything in less than 2 days.

Very accommodating, very professional, great job with the car, excellent service. I got a couple quotes from guys down the street and in San Jose that were around the same and some a little cheaper. But the service and quality of work couldn't be replaced by any one else. You're not doing yourself a favor going somewhere else.

Sherman L.

Foster City, CA

2/25/2009

I must say these guys are awesome! My Infiniti FX45 was broken into and inside trashed. Ameriprise sent me a list of 4 other body shops that I checked out on Yelp(thanks Yelp!) All reviews where a hit or miss. Some said they where great others not so happy. Then I recalled that I used Gava's on my wife's car when it had the previous owners and was happy with the work. So I went there and the new owner Chris was great. Sado helped me and I could not have been happier with the service and the work that they did on my BLACK car. When I picked it up it really felt like I was picking up my car off the showroom floor. They had to repaint the driver door, the back truck, replace the leather seat cover on the passenger side, center console replacement, and took door dings out of right passenger door. The black was amazing and I felt like I had a new car. I actually was almost happy my car was broken into because now it looked better than ever! I had a mobile glass company replace the driver side window that was smashed and they auto close function was not working. The guy told me to drive around some and it should reset itself. Over a week later still not closing right. Gava's team reset the window and told me that there was a button that needed resetting. I would've thought the glass company should've known that! Thanks Guys, you truly deserve the 5 star rating here on YELP. I would not hesitate to do business here again, but lets hope I won't have to in the near future.

Alyson C.

San Francisco, CA

2/17/2009

Sado is such a professional and courteous gentleman and I am actually ashamed that I am not going forward with fixing my bumper with him. However the budget is really tight.

Anyway, my boyfriend took Tico the tC in and Gava did an estimate that told me I didn't need a new bumper, just a fix. To make it look brand spanking new, he estimated $500 and that included a detailed interior and exterior and his attempt to buff out scratches on another mishap on my rear driver side.

He printed an estimate and my boyfriend gave my info. A few days later Sado called to follow up and see if I wanted to go forward. Such a cool guy, not pushy with getting the work done and definitely easy to speak with. He explained his lifetime guarantee policy, offered to stay after hours so I could pick up the car after work, discussed their shuttle service, etc etc and I was sold.

Unfortunately, it took a bit of courage for me to pick up the phone and actually decline his services. I felt so bad, because I was looking forward to my car getting detailed and fixed under the watch of the good service I read on Yelp. If I was not nazi on my budget, or if the damage was worse than what it currently looks like, I'd have no hesitation coming here. Maybe after tax season... or if win the Lotto.

Anyway. The preliminary research of finding auto body services is just as important as the final work. Though I never actually accepted the service, I still owe a great review on my experience with these guys. Definitely a place to consider work for your car.

Anna L.

San Mateo, CA

2/14/2009

I brought my Lexus in for servicing this week, and was pleasantly surprised at the outstanding job Sado and his team did on my car. They turned a damaged bumper into a completely perfect repaired bumper within a day.

Every other body shop was charging at least 30% more than what Sado quoted for the job. Sado also arranged a rental car from Hertz for only $21/day. When I picked up my Lexus, it was washed and detailed. My Lexus looked brand new.

This process was so easy, and I'm so happy that I took my car to Gava's Auto Body. Gava's is a first class company, and I thank Sado and his team for an outstanding job!

M M.

San Mateo, CA

2/5/2009

GAVA's was referred to me by a manager at a local Lexus Dealership (Putnam Lexus in Redwood City). I just moved to the area and a trucking company damaged my 2007 Lexus when they shipped it here from another state. It was in impeccable condition (having only 12,000 miles) before they shipped it. Anyway, GAVA's returned it to me in what seems like even BETTER than new condition! I am so grateful that the Lexus dealer referred me to GAVA. Years ago, I had a car repaired and it started showing speckles on the hood where they didn't apply primer paint...so I know how important it is to choose a reputable body shop. Doing business with Sado and Chris actually turned a very negative and stressful experience into quite a pleasant one. I wish Yelp had 10 stars, they deserve my highest recommendation. GAVA's did a phenomenal job!

Conchita B.

San Francisco, CA

1/19/2009

These guys freaking rock! Im in love with the service they offer and their work.

I had to take my car into this place twice.

1st time was when someone ran into my back bumper and there was a huge dent, I brought it into the shop they took care of my man and they got my care looking new! They even hooked it up with a detail wash.

2nd time some dummy ran into my car when it was parked in front of my house. Who does crap like that?! its like umm hello its a big bright white car you can't miss it.

In love with the place I sent my baby back to them and they took care of everything. They called my insurance for me stress free car fix up got the baby looking like the day I bought it.

I LOVE YOU GUYS KEEP UP THE GREAT SERVICE!

Donovan V.

San Francisco, CA

1/6/2009

I found Gava's Auto Body shop on the AAA website. When I looked them up here on Yelp and found the great reviews, I stopped looking at body shops, called them up right away and spoke to Sado who's been super helpful in getting me back on the road.

My car, which had been rear-ended last week, was dropped off at lunchtime on Monday and was ready on Tuesday afternoon- thanks to their hard work (Original estimate was 2-3 days). When I picked it up today, I almost didn't recognize it since it had been cleaned and detailed inside and out. It felt like the day I left the showroom and my (previously) dirty little X5 literally looked all brand new again.

BIG PROPS to Sado and his team!!!! They kept me updated every step of the way and made it as hassle-free and painless as possible. If you ever need any work done, take it straight to Gava's.

Ian M.

South San Francisco, CA

12/30/2008

Great service, quick turnaround on parts, estimate was spot on. Would definitely recommend. Even scrubbed out all the dog hair in the car on the detail cleaning.

Timothy Y.

South San Francisco, CA

12/24/2008

GAVAs is like BOTOX for your car ...

It always seemed so intimidating to me to walk into an auto shop when I realize that I'm at such an information/leverage disadvantage compared to the guy in the blue overalls. Courts and lawyers aside, once I leave the keys, there's really not much preventing me from getting ripped off or not getting what I paid for except for one thing--PRIDE.

The guys at GAVA are maestros at what they do, and what they do is to make your car look like new. But what separates them from the other 50 body shops on San Mateo Ave is the Pride they take in their work. I can really appreciate people who aren't just in it for the money, and that's why it's just so natural for me to deal with GAVA's.

After I got a quote for the initial estimate and left my Acura RSX-S with them, they found additional dings and scratches (after removing the door panel) and fixed them without charging extra. They also did some additional color-matching (again without extra charge) and even re-bolted the rear spoiler for me (previous owner had just used double-sided tape). The crew ended up spending a lot more time on my car than what they initially charged me for JUST TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.

That's Pride.

I've only dealt with GAVA a few times, but they treated me like family and they will treat you like family too, unless you're one of those really annoying Picky-yet-Cheap people who will spend 10 minutes haggling for $1 off your $12 haircut. In that case, don't go to GAVA's Auto Shop and don't waste their time.

Stop worrying about whether your auto body work will be done right (and yes, EVERYONE can tell if your color is mis-matched) or about getting a call a day later notifying you about a $500 additional charge for some "newly" discovered damage. If you want to deal with auto body pros who take Pride in their work and will earn your trust ...

Go to GAVA's!

And no they didn't pay me to write this, although I did ask them for a GAVA's license plate holder. Come on, Chris and Sado, don't hold out on me!

Go to GAVA's!

William L.

Millbrae, CA

12/19/2008

Before deciding on Gava's to take my wife's car to get repaired, I did allot of due diligence on auto repair shops in the area--wanting to select one that would not only deliver on quality but price. Gava's exceeded my expectations on every level. They went the extra mile in every way. One example was on a costly new decal that they had to put on and did not even charge me for. Another is how sparkling the car was when we got it back. The car was detailed to perfection, most impressive was the interior which had no hint of the nasty sights and smells my dog and young son had left behind . Now, can you guess the quality of repair work they did? Yeh, it was excellent --the paint job--flawless. In a world that strives to cut corners at all costs, Sado and his crew did the complete opposite. And they got the car back to me exactly when they said they would and in far greater shape then I could have ever asked for! And as I was about to leave with my new car, these magic words from Sado--"We guarantee the work on your car for life." I'll tell you what--they made me a customer for life!

Jason T.

Millbrae, CA

12/3/2008

My car got smacked while it was parked at my friend's apartment building. Not knowing where to take my car, I did a search on auto body shops and went with the shop that had the highest rating and that shop was Gava's. Sabo was very professional and I've always said never trust a auto mechanic / body shop guy that doesn't have some cool tattoos and Sabo has some killer ones. Sabo handled everything for me, took pictures of my car, faxed the forms to the insurance company and even called them. I dropped the car off on a Friday and got it on Tuesday and wow, the car looked like new. They did a full body detail job on the car and cleaned it inside and out. Even did a front wheel alignment for free.

Thanks Sabo, I totally recommend this shop to anyone needing to get their car fixed.

Nader S.

San Francisco, CA

11/22/2008

This shop does superb work! The people here, especially Sado, really take care of you get work done. I brought my car here after I ran into a gaurd rail and completly destroyed the passenger side of my car. Being a tuner and an enthusiast in the Euro Car Scene, I decided I was going to get some other work done as well.

They had my 2002 Audi A4 looking brand new! Fender work was superb, paint job was clean and all the extra work was brilliant. They took a european bumper I provided and did some fabrications to make it sit flush and align well with my front end. They also took the time and cleaned up some other scratches and dings around the car without me even asking.

I was impressed and will definatly be bringing my car back here for more body work! They even had a guy finishing up the wax job and polishing up the ride when I arrived, it was a nice site to see! Props to Sado and the guys at Gava's!

Lauren R.

San Francisco, CA

10/27/2008

As much as I LOVE Gava's, I really wish I didn't get to write as many reviews for them....

After someone decided they didn't have a stop sign and managed to hit the side of my car from front bumper to back bumper, Gava's has my baby all back together again, lookin' brand new! I LOVE Sado & Chris. They've made my life so much easier! They kept my car from being totaled by incorporating a few used parts. I picked her up this morning and she looks better than ever. AND CLEAN! I'm a Gava's customer for life.

Mei C.

Santa Clara, CA

10/15/2008

Fantastic Shop! I had an unfortunate accident (got rear-ended by someone with NO insurance) recently and learned of this place from a friend. So even though it's a little far for me, I decided to try them out. It was well worth it. They took care of everything for me - they were able to work directly with my insurance company, saving me the headache. My car was complete in a week and was flawless again. It was perfect. The staff was professional, and the shop was surprisingly clean and pleasant.

Christian C.

San Bruno, CA

9/13/2008

Brought in a front and rear lip in for painting, it took a couple of days and the paint was right on. +1 for Gava's

Yogini R.

San Bruno, CA

5/7/2008

I haven't even gotten my car back, but I'm loving Gava's. They are so nice, and fair, and professional. Sado Rocks!

Adria P.

Sacramento, CA

5/5/2008

I got rear ended and got a recommendation to send my car over to Gava's. I dropped off my car and in TWO DAYS, I got it back with a new bumper and a snazzy new spoiler. The work was AMAZING.

Paula L.

South San Francisco, CA

4/11/2008

i needed some minor repair done on my passengar side bumper after a little mishap in tahoe. gava's was on my insurance's direct repair network and i choose them after reading through all the positive reviews on yelp. i called the shop and spoke to sado (very nice guy) and i was able to drop my car off the same day i made the claim. he arranged everything with my insurance and called hertz to pick me up and get my rental. i picked my car up friday morning although it was actually completed by thursday morning. even tho my car was only in the shop for a few days, sado was nice enough to call and give me regular updates on the status of the work. when i picked up the car, it looked better than when i first bought it last year. they had even cleaned it inside/out which was a nice unexpected surprise! all in all, i was extremely happy with the service and my experience. i higly highly recommend gava's.

Maggie M.

San Francisco, CA

11/28/2007

I had a stupid accident and needed minor body work done so I turned to the all knowing Yelp to look for cheap, reliable and quality work and found Gava's. They were so nice, and professional. Kept me in the loop about my car repairs and the haggling with the insurance company. I dropped it off on a Friday and got it back Tuesday. They even cleaned and detailed my ride... go here when you need some body work. Ask for Sado.

Umlaut I.

San Francisco, CA

11/1/2007

Me drive to mall in my new car.. Lady run stop sign... Hit my new car. Me upset.. Lady know me upset.. Lady give me her insurance information... Me call Lady's insurance. Insurance company tell me to find body shop for repair. Me call Gava because dealer who sell me new car say they good.. Lady's insurance say Gava okay to use.

Me take car to Gava. Gava friendly.. Me leave car 2 days.. When me return car look new again.. Like magic stick was waved over car and take car back in time to when it was new. Like Star Trek on t.v..

Gava workers very friendly and work hard. Me use Gava again if bad person hurts car again.

Mary L.

San Carlos, CA

10/24/2007

I just went to Gava's Auto Body for the first time and was very very impressed. I (stupidly) drove too close to stationary object and destroyed my passenger side rear-view mirror. I visited Gava's Auto Body that day and they ordered a new mirror for me. The part came in noon the following day and they fixed my mirror, good as new, later that afternoon! Talk about EFFICIENT!!! They even washed my car for me afterwards. :)

In the past, I went to Magnussen Car West Auto Body and I called them first after the incident. (They were the only auto body shop I've ever been to in the Bay Area.) When I called Magnussen, they told me they could only schedule me in for an estimate the following week. (!?!) I'm not even talking about doing the actual work...no, they told me it would take them a week just to have someone eyeball the damage. That is totally nuts.

Gava's Auto Body makes you feel like you're getting personalized service 100% of the way. Chris helped me and he was incredibly great to work with.

A++++ sevice all the way. I highly recommend them.

J.C.

San Francisco, CA

9/3/2007

chris and sado graduated summa cum laude from the school of customer service. i got some work done here recently and they took care of everything from the rental to the car detail (they even steam cleaned my carpets. it still smells like cherry which i hate, but damn it was never cleaner). i was so distracted by how spotless my car was that i didn't notice that my tire moulding was missing for a WEEK. when i called about it, chris said sorry and no problem to fixing it immediately. after dropping off my car, i got a ride back to work from sado and by 5 the same day, they dropped off my car, so fresh and so clean. minus one star only because they forgot my tire moulding, but FIVE STARS on everything else. all in all, it was a pleasure doing business with these guys and i haven't stopped raving about them. did i mention they fixed some other scratches on my car unrelated to the accident? no extra charge and done with a smile. gotta love it.

La Tre Vietnamese Cuisine l.

Brisbane, CA

8/10/2007

Wow...The service here is incredible. From start to finish. They took care of all the paper work with the insurance company and adjustor. Chris was our representative and he was just a pleasure to work with.

Jen L.

San Francisco, CA

7/11/2007

Highly recommended! They are fast, good price, reliable, and very good customer service. The car came back looking amazing. In fact, it looked even better than before the accident!

Jeff W.

San Francisco, CA

7/2/2007

Highly recommended!

I recently had a car accident and brought my car to Gava's Auto Body. I knew nothing about Gava's--it was part of my insurance company's "Direct Repair Network."

I was thoroughly delighted with the service. My car was repaired completely, of course, and. since Gava's detailed the car as well as repaired it, it looks amazingly brand new--that is, much better than before I had the accident (not bad for five-year old car).

Chris handled the entire experience and was really nice about explaining what needed to be done and how long it would take, then following up, letting me know exactly when my car was ready. It was a completely hassle-free experience, and, because of how nicely my car turned out, in some ways, a surprisingly good one.

I'd highly recommend Gava's Auto Body to anyone!

C. Y. N.

San Mateo, CA

4/9/2006

This place does a very good job from working with insurance companies, to explaining the work they will do, to giving updates on their shop's repair progress, to their shop's actual repair work, to delivering a clean car, to making sure that you are satisfied with their work at pickup time, to following up after a few weeks to ensure that there have been no problems.

Auto body damage is always a pain and a hassle to repair but this place makes the experience a lot more bearable. It's too bad that more shops aren't like this family-run one.

Most (or all) of this place's mechanics are ASE certified or receiving ASE certification training.

Tracie P.

San Bruno, CA

3/28/2006

We had some car damage, well, I accidently bumped into a neighbors car. Our insurance sent us to this family owned business. Dad, Mom and Sonny boy all hard at work there. They took good care of us even greased a larger car out of to Enterprise rental anticipating that our 5 days in a compact would be worlds away from our mini van. They were so nice, and reasonable and good at what they do - my husband got his scratches fixed too. If you refer someone, they bring your car back and detail it so please, please tell them, tell them loud (and hopefully this month) that I sent you. My car is filthy.