I unfortunately got in an accident where I rear ended an SUV (possible brake failure). Anyone in the DC area have any great experiences with an auto body shop? GEICO recommended their preferred shops, one of which I went to, was a Cadillac/Hummer(!) shop. I'm just not confident that they'll be able to figure out all the nuances of a job, if there are any problems with the engine block. The local dealer (Ourisman) recommended Chantilly Auto Body, but their online reviews are horrible. Thoughts? Here are some gory picts of the aftermath...
I just dropped my Prius off at Koons Collision Repair on Edsall Rd in Alexandria this morning. Only minor work is needed to fix a scratched rear bumper, so hopefully they will do a good job. I'll know more in a day or two. I brought my old car (Camry) to them for minor repairs a couple times and they did a good enough job with that. There is a Geico adjuster on site. Also Enterprise has an office right in the same building. Note that Geico originally approved a small car for my rental, something like a Chevy Cobalt or a Corolla. I had to get a supervisor to approve a larger car, and wound up with a PT Cruiser (which sucks). I kept telling them that a Prius is the same size as a Camry, but they didn't want to believe me.
This is a bit of a moving target because a body shop is only as good as its workers and body shop guys move around quite a bit. You are doing the right thing though: ask for recent experiences. I'm in Fairfax but the last time I had any body work done was over four years ago so I really can't offer a good suggestion.
I have an excellent body shop in Rockville. I am *extremely* picky about my cars and I chose this shop after an exhaustive interviewing and referral process that most people wouldn't go through before choosing a heart surgeon. They came very highly reccomended and have done excellent work for me and those I've referred to them. I'll be happy to PM you their info if you'd like.
