Alternative Auto Care

Feb 06, 2025

great service. quick and friendly.

Jan 31, 2025

Called to get out car in for a body repair. They wanted to charge me $50 for an estimate. Just to LOOK at it. I could understand if they had to hook it up to diagnose but that's not the case. I am a hairstylist and I ALWAYS give free estimates and consults. We are taking the car to Kraft's on Greenlawn. Free estimates!

Jan 24, 2025

Absolutely love Alternative Auto Care. They go above and beyond what is needed.

Jan 17, 2025

TL;DR: 5/5, always recommends, a safe environment, friendly, knowledgeable, and clean. I have been going to the woman at Alternative Auto Care since I moved here. They are quick to remember you, make you feel like they've known you forever, and, one of my favorite parts, explain everything to you (what does what, why it is important, etc.). The last time I was there I was able to chat with one of the wonderful Auto Technicians, Katie, while she worked on my car. I didn't feel I was imposing or being a nuisance. She helped me get out and head home quickly. I am very thankful to everyone there and have always recommended them to anyone in the area.

Jan 17, 2025

These gals are the greatest

Jan 07, 2025

Everyone was very knowledgeable! Very helpful and courteous! Super flexible and workable around my schedule! I feel like they’re helping me keep my old Honda as long as possible!

Jan 07, 2025

Learn from my mistakes and be careful! Jenni is very good at talking and pulling wool over your eyes. She uses your name a lot and will say your car is unsafe to drive. Like some other folks, I was hoping to avoid the usual unpleasant experience at most mechanic shops. However, this experience seems to be the worst so far. A year ago I brought in my car to replace the brake pads, get an oil change and assess some starting issues. I was charged $3,000. After dropping off my car, they told me my timing belt "was due" for repair and I needed a new wheel bearing. I believed them. I assumed they knew something I didn't. My car is 10+ years old, but the engine is only 5 years old. After charging me to take apart my car, they found my timing belt was brand new. Everything was extremely overcharged and included insane BS service and labor fees. Two days ago, I brought my car in again for starting issues and requesting an alignment. They told me I needed a bulb replaced from my last visit, and I told them to go ahead and replace it. I got a phone call later saying I owed $1000 that day, yet NO WORK had been done on my car. Jenni told me they had to make an appointment with someone else for the alignment and take my car there. Other "issues" with my car came up and I reminded them that my engine is 5 years old, so the true mileage is not what is on the dash. The best part was when Jenni referenced the Carfax on my car to justify telling me my spark plugs needed replaced! Not everyone reports their work to Carfax, so it is not a true representation of what has been done to your car. Spark plugs almost never need replaced unless you have 100K+ miles on your car. I decline everything except the work on my steering/alignment and the light. Somehow, my bill is still $800. Half of that was more BS inspection/labor fees. $100 for a charging and starting system analysis which is FREE at Autozone or O'Reileys. $400 for rear light assembly and housing. I declined the light assembly because I just wanted the bulb and again, NO WORK had been done. I was told I could not leave without paying for it. The shop does not have a lift. They can't do any work that requires a car to not be on the ground such as an alignment.

Jan 07, 2025

TL;DR: 5/5, would recommend, especially to women. I felt very safe. Will go to this shop exclusively if money allows. 1) Woman-owned, woman-operated (as someone who looks like a woman and is treated like one, this part is important to me - I felt confident I wouldn't be taken advantage of here even before I received service. I have not been disappointed). 2) LGBT friendly. I felt safe and accepted. 3) They were able to identify and fix the problem with my brakes, even after another mechanic told me my best bet was to just change the brakes entirely. 4) The inspection report is top-notch: very thorough with accompanying pictures. I was not pressured into doing anything beyond what I could afford, but I walked away feeling confident I know what future issues may arise and which maintenance items I still need to perform. The description of the primary problem I brought it in for was detailed and accurate. 5) They offered shuttle service. 6) Communication was prompt and on-time. 7) They showed me how to check various fluids without looking down on me, and they offer a general maintenance class on occasion. They are a bit pricier than some other places; it was worth it.

Jan 07, 2025

EASILY THE BEST MECHANIC IVE EVER BEEN TO. I took my car to them for the first time after a string of bad experiences and trying to be taken advantage of. They were so kind, helpful, transparent and extremely thorough in their care for my car. I felt fully taken care of and whole heartedly trusted the diagnoses they gave me. They went above and beyond to make my experience easy and give me as many resources as possible to make an informed decision that worked for me and my budget. They are built on a foundation of inclusivity and sustainability which is rare in this field. Even leaving with the worst case scenario news, I left feeling hopeful and cared for. They have gained a life long customer!!!

Jan 07, 2025

I really appreciate that they listen to my concerns. They do not push unnecessary services or fixes and take the time to answer all of my questions. It is obvious that they really care about their customers. I highly recommend this shop.

Jan 07, 2025

I went to Alternative Auto Care to get service on my 2021 Prius. Everything went well and the car was ready even before they estimated. Interacting with the staff was easy. I will definitely go back for future maintenance and repairs

Dec 07, 2024

100% recomendado, todo el personal que me atendió es muy amable y sobre todo muy profesionales en su trabajo además de que cuentan con mucha experiencia y personal capacitado

Dec 07, 2024

Super friendly and honest!

Dec 07, 2024

The best care I’ve ever gotten! So thankful for this team and how easy to work with they are. Look forward to returning for further services!

Dec 07, 2024

These women are fantastic! They were, first, thorough in inspecting and reporting on the state of my car and, then, honest and transparent about what I needed to do, what I could do, and what they earnestly recommend — not to make a quick buck, but to keep me safe and my car in good shape. I was able to approve what jobs got done and which I would pass on over the phone/on their website at my own pace and with comfort. I'm very grateful for my wonderful experience with Alternative Auto Care. They made sure I got to Thanksgiving safely this year. Thanks, y'all!

Nov 07, 2024

Excellent and friendly service as well as detailed notes on car inspections sent via email with pics and video. Highly recommend!!

Nov 07, 2024

Thanks all & blessings in your work!

Oct 07, 2024

Alternative Auto Care has the most honest mechanics I've ever worked with. They are thorough, kind, and they don't try to sell you things you don't need. If you're a woman, you know mechanics will lie and patronize you because they assume you don't know anything about cars. This is a problem you will not have to worry about here. They work within your budget, help you figure out what you need most vs. what you could use but is a lower priority. Their inspections cover just about everything. For those saying the labor costs are high - I'd say they're a little above average, but it's 100% worth the security of knowing your car is in good health and that you haven't wasted money on something you don't need. I will come back here as long as I drive!

Oct 07, 2024

I brought in my car for a pre-trip check, they were amazing and so incredibly helpful! The inspection was very thorough and gave me great peace of mind for my upcoming road trip with my family. 10/10 I recommend!

Oct 07, 2024

I cannot say enough about how great the folks at Alternative Auto Care are. They are always helpful fair and honest with their work!

Oct 07, 2024

I've been a customer on and off since around 2009. They know their car stuff, explain things in an easy to understand way, and are a very friendly and fair team of techs!

Oct 07, 2024

Professional, clearly skilled, nice convenient location. I loved the online interface for quotes etc. I so wanted to support this shop as a fellow member of the LGBT community. However, being told I need an oil change (when I got one the month before) and then being quoted $150 for said oil change is giving scam. I’d like to think that my $420 for a transmission fluid swap and an alignment went to good people, but it’s troubling when the prices are this high. Not really sure what’s going on here but it’s disappointing.

Oct 07, 2024

This was my first time not taking my car to the dealership and was very pleased with my experience. Friendly service throughout. They did a thorough inspection of my car with photos that I could review online. I didn’t feel pressured and they were very upfront and honest about the services needed - which were urgent, which services could wait. I was also able to review and approve these online as well which was a really nice feature. While they had the online interfaces, this was in addition to them taking the time to talk through everything in person as well. Great experience. I’ll definitely be bringing my car back.

Sep 07, 2024

My 18-year old daughter is a college student, staying away from home, and wanted to handle getting her oil changed herself. She found this place through google and felt comfortable that they wouldn't take advantage of her since they pride themselves on being woman-owned. She called me very upset that they charged her $118 for a standard oil change and told her she needed other repairs estimating $3200. The list of "needed" repairs and the cost of these repairs was outrageous. The exact situation she was tying to avoid by choosing this place is exactly what happened. Lesson learned.

Sep 07, 2024

My girlfriend and I chose this place because we are used to men at auto shops either belittling us or scamming us in some type of way - so the woman owned and operated shop was a plus. I was naive to think it couldn’t happen here because of all the great reviews I’d heard. I am extremely disappointed that my partner’s car sat for a month because we were saving up the 1500+ we needed for 2 pretty major repairs. Took it in somewhere my family goes for a second opinion and was absolutely stunned to hear that NEITHER one of the things alternative auto told us were so urgently messed up that we dare not drive a mile on this car needed fixed. All 3guys at this shop checked. One small part on the stabilizer bar needed popped back in. This place was going to have us replace not one, but two things that didn’t need replaced and with an almost $250 oil change on top for a total of around $1,500. Be weary if they give you the whole “this is dangerous to drive” and overly use your name to appear personable.

Sep 07, 2024

This place was great! Down to earth yet professional. Addressed all my concerns and then more.

Sep 07, 2024

Took my sons car in and did the night drop. It took two days to get it looked at and we got a very detailed report with a bunch of things that we did not ask for. They charged $330 for the diagnostic review and quoted $2000 for repairs. None of the repairs were confirmed to resolve the problem. I was concerned about the prices and I took car to the dealership as they said that the dealership would have to update code. The same diagnostic was only $180 and the repairs were $400. The actual part that the dealership replaced was not included on their quote. As I indicated that they were not able to pinpoint the issue I always want to support small businesses and I thought that independent shops were supposed to be less expensive than the dealership rates. They were very nice and pleasant to work with but I would not recommend unless you don't mind being charged double to costs.

Sep 07, 2024

Update 8/23/24: I have been coming here for over a year now and they have CONTINUED to be excellent. I always appreciate the very thorough exam they give to my car and they give me a full report. I have never felt pressured to do anything else other than what I came for *but* I do appreciate knowing what they see and the time line they would recommend. But they have never been disappointed in me or tried to pressure me for saying no. They have always found a way to go the extra mile for me and I can tell they care. They are so kind and are willing to talk you through everything and anything! Very honest with me about their concerns and went the extra mile and helped contact the dealer because I didn't want to talk to them. I will continue to take my car to them with any concerns I have and will continue to recommend them to anyone that will listen!

Aug 07, 2024

Can't say enough good things about this place. Everyone was nice as can be, super professional, and honest. Even though my issue ended up being something they couldn't handle, they referred me to a different shop and helped me get my car there without letting me pay them for anything. I don't care if it's just for an oil change, I would happily take my vehicle here and not have to worry or be concerned that I was somehow getting scammed or overcharged. Would highly recommend this place! Also really love that this place is woman owned, and a place where women get to do great work!

Aug 07, 2024

Jenni and her team are the best! Very informative and answered all my questions and provided wonderful service highly recommend them for any automotive needs!

Aug 07, 2024

Many thanks to everyone for squeezing me into your busy schedule to inspect and repair my car! Communication was great during the entire inspection and repair process. Everyone was so nice and professional!

Aug 07, 2024

Prices are extremely high. They quoted me $3,555 total. I went to the dealer for a second opinion and they said nothing needed to be done other than oil change, so I feel quite taken advantage of. One charge, for instance, was for the transmission flush and they quoted it as $700 and the Toyota dealer quoted me $250. This was just one of many charges that are not standard practice. I will not be returning and I basically paid $130 for absolutely nothing. You have been warned.

Jun 07, 2024

Excellent customer service!

Jun 07, 2024

Great experience and I love that they back their work. I’ll be back!