Milwaukee's Trusted Body Shop Since 1985
Collision repair, custom paint & restoration for every make and model.
Family-owned. Honest work. 6462 N. 40th Street, Milwaukee since 1985.
Our Story
Family Business.
Milwaukee Roots.
Gary and Catherine Ringwelski opened Milwaukee Auto Body in 1985 with one rule: treat every car like it's your own, and treat every customer like a neighbor. Forty years later, that hasn't changed.
Over four decades Gary has done everything — from restoring beautiful custom classics to painting the Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles in the late '80s. If it has paint on it, he can make it better.
Their son Ryan has grown up in this shop and is carrying the craft forward — keeping the same standards, the same honesty, and the same commitment to doing the work right.
No runaround. No surprises. Just the work done right — for 40 years and counting.
The Shop — Completely Renovated 2025
Built to last another 40 years.
What We Do
Full-Service Body Work
From minor dents to major collision damage — every make and model, every job done right. Call for a free estimate and we'll tell you straight what it takes.
Structural and cosmetic repairs after accidents. All makes and models restored to pre-collision condition — safely, correctly, backed by a written warranty.
Color-matched factory finishes or completely custom paint. Every vehicle gets the same attention — daily driver or show car.
Our shop has the space and 40+ years of experience for oversized and specialty vehicles. One of the few Milwaukee shops equipped for jobs this size.
We work on commercial and fleet vehicles of all sizes for Milwaukee businesses. Consistent results, efficient turnaround, and minimal downtime for your operation.
We work directly with all major carriers, deal with adjusters on your behalf, handle the paperwork. You drop off the car. We do the rest.
Walk in Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm (closed 12–1pm for lunch) or call 414-353-5840. No pressure, no obligation — just a straight answer.
Every estimate is free.
Every quote is straight.
We look at the car, tell you exactly what it needs, and give you a number.
No upsell. No pressure. No runaround. That's 40 years of repeat customers right there.
Real Milwaukee Customers
BBB A+. Best of Milwaukee.
40 Years of Happy Drivers.
Experienced. Friendly. Fast. I appreciate folks that love what they do. They love what they do at this place. I got my car back early. Gary is friendly and to the point. Also hands down the best waiting room in the business with all the memorabilia.
Gary and Ryan were wonderful during the whole process, assuring me that my new car would look good again and being patient with all my questions. My car came back in perfect condition. My husband and daughter have also had them work on their cars with 100% satisfaction.
These guys are awesome. They did a great job on my car — while doing what they could to keep the price down. Highly recommend!
Gary and his team were friendly and efficient. The price was more than fair and they finished the job in half the time I expected and was told by other shops. We will definitely be returning customers.
They did a great job on a timely basis! We are very pleased.
Took my car there twice. Great work, honest people.
Know Your Rights
What Your Insurance
Company Won't Tell You
Most people don't know how much control they have after an accident. Here's what Wisconsin law actually says — answered honestly by a shop that's been navigating these claims for 40 years.
No. Under Wisconsin law, you have the right to choose any licensed repair facility — regardless of what your insurance company tells you. This is your legal right and cannot be taken away.
Your insurer may recommend a "preferred" shop. That recommendation exists because of a cost-saving agreement with that shop — not because they're looking out for you. Choosing a different shop does not affect your coverage.
No — and it's the most common thing people are told after an accident that simply isn't true. Insurance companies cannot legally require you to use a specific shop. They can suggest one. They cannot force you.
If an adjuster implies otherwise, ask them to point to the specific clause in your policy. It won't be there. You choose the shop. We handle the rest.
No. Your coverage is determined by your policy — not by which shop you use. Choosing an independent, family-owned shop like ours does not reduce your payout, void your coverage, or create any penalty.
What changes is who benefits from cost-cutting. Preferred shops are incentivized to keep repair costs low for the insurer. When you choose your own shop, that shop answers to you.
A DRP shop has signed a volume agreement with one or more insurance companies. In exchange for insurer-referred customers, the shop agrees to pricing requirements set by the insurer — not by you.
Milwaukee Auto Body is not a DRP shop. We work directly for you and negotiate with your insurer on your behalf to make sure the repair is done right — not just done cheaply.
No. An adjuster's initial estimate is a starting point — not a final number. Adjusters regularly write low expecting the shop to submit a supplement after finding additional damage. This is completely normal.
We handle supplement negotiations directly with your insurance company. You shouldn't have to fight for the repair your car actually needs.
All of them — State Farm, Progressive, American Family, Allstate, GEICO, Travelers, Erie, Nationwide, Liberty Mutual, USAA, and others. We handle the paperwork and talk directly with adjusters throughout.
You don't need to be the middleman. That's what 40 years of doing this looks like.
Minor to moderate collision repairs typically take 3 to 10 business days. Larger structural jobs can take 2 to 4 weeks depending on parts availability. We give you a realistic timeline at the estimate and update you if anything changes.
Yes. Every repair comes with a written warranty on both workmanship and paint. If something isn't right, we make it right.
Come See Us
Come In.
We'll Take It
From Here.
Walk in, call, or email. We'll take a look and give you a straight answer — free, no obligation, no pressure.
Milwaukee, WI 53209
Closed 12–1pm for Lunch · Sat–Sun Closed
Free Estimates.
No Runaround.
Walk in or call. We look at the car, tell you what it needs, and give you a number. No pressure — ever.
414-353-5840 Email Us