Bodyshop for a crash repair needed, South E or London

DBIZO · January 16

Hi everyone,

This is first for me, never had any major damage to a car. I'm looking at an out-of-pocket repair to my IS300h. It's much more substantial than a 'small area repair' job some garage seem to be taking on. The front end of the car had an impact that broke panels, the headlight cover, foglight, and deformed the front left corner, including the wheel arch. I'm told no structural damage, no damage to the suspension, wheels, but it is certainly to be over £5000 I'm told.

I'm seeking a reliable bodyshop that people here used with satisfaction or heard good things about. The car is in Portsmouth but it is driveable now, can take it within reason to a bodyshop a few hours away, if I can make it back home on a train. I want original parts of course.

There is also Snows in Southampton but I first wanted to ask around. I prefer not to use them if I can help it, and I suspect the quote there would be substantially higher still, probably making the repair cost prohibitive, it's probably not worth £10k now.

Thank you for all the help.

steve2006 · January 16

Can I ask why this is not being repaired through your insurance or have they written it off with buy back ?

DavidCM · January 16

I can highly recommend Jemca Bracknell.They are part of the group that owns Lexus Reading.and are located behind Jemca Toyota Bracknell.

They carried out the repair on my Sonic Red RC a year or so ago.The paint match was perfect they also have hybrid expertise on site to ensure the hybrid system hasn't been affected.

wharfhouse · January 16

+1 with @DavidCM - I saw your post on another thread and replied there with: If you are in Hampshire then you might be interested to know that Jemca (Lexus and Toyota) have their own bodyshop at Jemca Bracknell. I had quite a bit of damage on my Lexus repaired there a nunber of years ago and was very pleased with the outcome - would never know the repair had been done. That was done on insurance so not sure if you are paying personally or it's insurance you are claiming on. However if you are paying out of your own pocket then it may be more expensive than you are willing to pay as they will only want to put it back "as new" whereas a 3rd party bodyshop may be able to offer something more cost-effective for you.