“The adjuster gave me a shop name before I even asked.”
You have never picked a body shop in your life, and now someone on the phone is picking one for you.
Photo: Giuseppe V. Capitelli
Collision repair · Naples, FL
Just want it done right, and to know when it’s coming back?
Somebody hit you, the claim is open, and the adjuster already named a shop. You can ask for the shop you trust. Start with a few details, then ask the owner for a written estimate.
- 4.8★ on Google · 54 reviews
- Owner-run: Diego Gauto
- FL repair registration MV62776
- Paint booth on site
- Book a free estimate
Sound familiar?
The questions after a crash.
If you’re reading this page, one of these is probably on your mind.
“I don’t know who to trust, and I’m stuck without a car.”
Every shop has stars. None of them tell you who will actually touch your car.
“My friend’s car sat at a shop for months.”
You have heard the stories, and you can’t afford to be one of them.
“What if the paint doesn’t match?”
You will see that door every single day. It has to look like nothing happened.
How it works
From photos to pickup.
- 1
Take three photos
Wide, angled and close. Start with the form; after we reply you can send them.
- 2
Ask for a written estimate
Ask for every line on paper, so you can show it to anyone, your adjuster included.
- 3
Approve before work starts
Ask that work starts only when you say go, and that hidden damage comes with photos first.
- 4
Pick up and inspect
Walk the car in daylight before you sign anything.
Ask out loud
Talk to Marisol, our estimate concierge
A voice assistant that answers questions about the shop, walks you through the three photos, and takes your details for Diego, any hour you think of it. It never quotes prices or ready dates.
Straight answers
What you’re worried about, answered plainly.
You’re thinking…
“My insurance said I have to use their shop.”
Here’s how it works
You can ask for the shop you trust. Many drivers simply tell the adjuster where the car is going. Read your policy and ask your insurer how it works for your claim.
You’re thinking…
“Body shops pad the bill.”
Here’s how it works
The proposed Diego Promise: a written estimate first, and nothing extra without your signed OK and photos of why.
You’re thinking…
“Will a small shop take my claim seriously?”
Here’s how it works
Diego’s is owner-run, so you can ask for Diego by name. Ask for a written estimate you can show your adjuster, and remember you can ask for the shop you trust.
You’re thinking…
“I’ll never get a straight answer.”
Here’s how it works
Call (239) 261-2199 and ask for Diego, the owner. Ask him who will work on your car and what happens if more damage turns up.
In their words
What Google reviewers say about Diego.
4.854 reviews on Google · quoted verbatim
Google
Diego does a great job. He and his team worked a miracle on the front right fender of my Mazda CX-5 and fixed the bumper as well.
Google
Amazing!!!!! Exceptional service!! Diego was professional, everything listed on the invoice was done perfectly plus more. Amazing quality, great prices. Work was done super fast and perfect.
Google
Diego always does an awesome job. He completes the work on time at a reasonable price
The shop on Domestic AvePhoto: Ivan Fernandez
Visit
Before you hand over the keys.
- Ask who will actually work on your car
- Ask for the estimate in writing, line by line
- Bring your three photos and your claim number
Your first 24 hours
The day it happens, in order.
Nobody plans a crash. Here is a calm order of operations to keep on your phone. Every step is yours. We come in when you are ready.
- Hour 0
Get safe, then photograph everything
Hazards on, check on people, call 911 if anyone is hurt. Then photos: the whole scene, both cars, the other plate, and your damage up close.
- Hour 1
Swap details and open your claim
Names, insurers and policy numbers. Call your insurer and write down the claim number and the adjuster’s name.
- Hour 2
Say where you want it repaired
If the adjuster names a shop, you can ask for the shop you trust. Ask how it works on your policy, and note the answer.
- Hour 3
Request an estimate from Diego’s
Use the form, then send your three photos (wide, at 45 degrees, close with a key for scale) when we reply.
- Next
Ask for a written estimate
Call ahead and bring the car to 4186 Domestic Ave. Ask for Diego, and ask for every line in writing before any work starts.
Free written estimate
See it in person, then decide.
Pick a time online, bring the car to 4186 Domestic Ave, and walk it with Diego. Ask for a written estimate, take it home and compare it.
- 01Pick a timeChoose a day and a half-hour slot that suits you.
- 02Bring the carTo 4186 Domestic Ave, Naples. Call if you are running late.
- 03Get it in writingAsk for every line of the estimate on paper.
Quick answer
After a collision in Naples, get safe, photograph the damage, open your claim, and tell your insurer which shop you would like to use. You can ask for the shop you trust. At Diego’s Auto Body on Domestic Ave, ask the owner for an itemized written estimate before work starts, and for photos and your OK before anything extra.
Planning guide
The Naples driver’s guide to the days after a crash
Can I choose my own body shop?
Most drivers assume the shop the adjuster mentions is the only option. In most claims you can ask for the shop you trust, and many people simply tell their insurer where the car is going. Policies differ, so read yours and ask the adjuster how a shop of your choosing fits your claim. Then get that answer in writing.
Whatever shop you pick, the questions are the same: who will actually work on my car, will I get the estimate in writing, and what happens if they find more damage once the bumper is off?
What photos should I take?
Before the car moves, take three kinds of pictures: a wide shot of the whole side, a medium shot of the damaged panel from about 45 degrees, and a close-up with something for scale, like a key or a coin. Get the other car’s plate and the scene too. Those same three photos are what a body shop needs to give you a first read, so you only take them once.
What should a written estimate include?
A real estimate lists each panel, part and labor operation, and shows whether parts are new, used or repaired. It names the paint work, including blending into the next panel so the colour matches. Ask how the shop handles a supplement, the extra damage found once the car is apart. The answer you want: photos of the hidden damage and a revised number, before any extra work happens.
Will the paint match?
A good match is not just the right colour code. It is the right shade for your car’s age and sun exposure, the right metallic orientation, and the same texture as the panel beside it. That is why painters blend into neighbouring panels and spray in a booth. Diego’s has a paint booth on site, so ask whether your panel will be sprayed there and blended. When you pick up, look at the repaired panel in daylight and from an angle.
What should I check at pickup?
Walk the car before you sign. Look for even gaps around doors, hood and trunk. Check for overspray on the rubber seals and trim. Make sure every light, sensor and plate went back on. Open the doors and look at the jambs. A good shop will walk it with you, because they want you to see it.
If you are reading this the day it happened: take a breath, take the photos, and call (239) 261-2199.
Does my insurance company make me use their body shop?
You can ask for the shop you trust. Policies differ, so read yours and ask your adjuster how using a shop you choose works for your claim, and get the answer in writing.
Will I get a written estimate before work starts?
Ask for one. An itemized written estimate before work starts is the right thing to ask any shop for. Under the proposed Diego Promise, every job would start with one.
How do I send photos of the damage?
Use the estimate form on this site to tell us what happened. After we reply, you can send your photos. A wide shot, a 45-degree shot and a close-up work best.
Will the paint on my repaired panel match?
Diego’s paints in a booth and blends into neighbouring panels where needed. Check the panel in daylight at pickup and point out anything you see.
Where is Diego’s Auto Body?
4186 Domestic Ave, Naples, FL 34104. Call (239) 261-2199 before you come.
Who will actually work on my car?
Diego’s is owner-run by Diego Gauto. Ask for Diego when you call, and ask him who will be working on your car.
Start with three photos
Tell Diego what happened.
4186 Domestic Ave, Naples, FL 34104
Owner-run · FL repair registration MV62776