Do what you're doing, go get quotes, take his cash then go get it fixed. Don't go through insurance unless you really have to, it can take ages if he starts to be a tw*t about it.
DO NOT just go for the cheapest quote either, I see it all the time people going for cheap bodyshops and having to get it re-done at a more expensive one.
Oh and car looks spot on, who cares if people say you are a sheep, a lot of people do those mods for a reason