I was visiting the area from out of state (I'm from Ohio) when my starter failed. (2013 VW GTI) THE GOOD:They manged to get my car into the shop first thing after labor day, confirmed my bad starter and had found that my water pump was also leaking. They had my car all fixed up and ready to go, with all new parts, by the end of the following day. THE BAD: not once but two times the repair was delayed by "we got the wrong part" THE UGLY: I did not notice until after i had already left their shop (did not happen on the 5 min drive to where i was staying to pick up my personal luggage) but there seems to be a spot where the arm of a car lift struck my drivers door chipping the paint down to the bare metal that i will now also have to repair. read more

Allen Automotive - damage to paint that was no there the day before when i dropped the car off. - Auto Repair Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Went in for a Maryland inspection which they charged $220 for. Told me the tints were too dark just from looking at them but still charged me $30 in labor to test the tints with a laser anyways. Best of all was the $790 quote for removing the tints from my windows!!! I took my business elsewhere ($120 or so for inspection, $125 for tint removal). Allen's auto body has a really nice garage but you will certainly pay for it, the total cost of repairs was $1400 more than the mechanic I went to. read more

don't trust them with your car, they will do the "test drive" and speed their way around the neighborhood 80mph. I have a tracker in my car that catches the speed, honestly disrespectful. They also give you fake issues in order to make more money. I am a mechanic myself and when they told me all the issues I had , it was 3k worth of issues when in reality all I had was 800$ worth of issues, yes including labor. read more

This shop has maintained our vehicles since we moved to the area, and we had previously been very happy with their work. We recently brought our Subaru Forester in to remove & replace the Suspension Control Arm. Immediately after the repair, the car started making an alarming knocking sound. We took the car back and the shop claimed a bolt needed to be tightened. The sound continued, so we took it back a second time and the shop claimed it was the 'suspension settling in'. We then took the vehicle to a different shop for a second opinion, and they found that the bolt had been overtightened and was broken, which could have be life threatening. We brought our car back to Allen Automotive so they could see the broken bolt; they then did repair work without our authorization, and when we returned to retrieve the car the front license tag was missing. They will not own up to taking the tag, nor will they reimburse us for the work they did. We are now getting the police involved to review security footage about the tag. As an update, there is video surveillance footage of the tag on our car when we arrived. the shop is claiming it fell off during a test drive. Wilson is incredibly rude, untrustworthy, and unprofessional. i would not recommend working with this shop for any reason. read more

Allen Automotive - Auto Repair Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Why not just go to the dealer? Prices here are wildly padded and inflated. Look at your quotes and bills, people! Random shop fees for jobs they clearly already have tools for already. Broken up jobs to charge extra hours. Stop throwing your money to the wind. Chevy Chase prices in silver spring. read more

They've maintained our Corollas for several years, and we've been happy with them. Especially when we had to take our cars in during COVID - they had glass and masks. They also allow for after-hours drop off, which is very convenient for those of us who work well past 5 PM. The online estimates make things very convenient, but they never try to push service on us, while explaning when stuff really does need service. The downside is you have to call them to make an appointment...lately my husband and I have not gotten confirmations from that, but aside from that, they are communicative when you do need repairs. read more

Staff was very friendly and helpful. This repair shop was very thorough and explained everything to me. I was a first time customer and have to say this was one of my best experiences at a repair shop. read more

I tried to do my own oil changed and messed up badly. I brought my car in about two hours before closing and was told it would be ready in the morning. Then I received a call just before closing and the shop said the car was all good and ready to go! I couldn't believe it! They really saved me. The estimate was sent to me within minutes of leaving and the price was fair. The staff was friendly and considerate. I will definitely be visiting them again. read more

My car shut down in Silver Springs, as I was returning to NC. I called around a few places and settled on Allen Automative. MTS towing service (Mr. Chris) was Awesome! Mr. Chris made sure that stayed safe and warm in the truck while he loaded my car on the bed. We had a wonderful conversation as we shared our faith in Jesus. Mr. Wilson at Allen Automotive was great. The guys were all so nice. They fixed my car- catylic converter plus. It was pricey, but they were very thorough and honest. It was going to be late when they completed the work, so I had to stay overnight. The snow prevented them from getting my car to me early the next morning, but as soon as they were able, they brought the car to me and I was able to make the 7 hr ride, with no problems. Thank you to Everyone! read more

STAY A WAY !!! Dishonest and a total disgrace to the profession. They stole parts out of my car. Lied my car needed fuel pump replacement and took out the fuel pump fuse .claim to have replace the break light switch stole the break light switch and even the break light harness and busted my break line . Total scammers . Henry is extremely unprofessional and a total FRAUD !!!!!! Henry can not stop lying , He lies so much i was thinking he was a CRACKHEAD. Had an older SUV towed there that we had acquired like a started car for my nephew but he moved overseas. Car been siting on the packing lot for more than a year. we start the car at least once a week and let it run for awhile. Had open the car windows and sunroof once to air it out , then it started storming . run out close the car up . and after a week went to start the can just to let it run and it was completely dead. Took batteries out and recharge it at home . Car will not crank or start but all other functions work. windows, lights , stereo but the car will not start, I was able to start this car by jumping fuses and relays in the engine compartment. Towed it to Allen Automotive for proper diagnosis . omg !!!!!! Then the lies begin. First Henry claims the car was missing parts in the engine HMMMMMM. Did say any thing. Next he started this story how he was GIVEN 2 of this same cars and he let them die Waw okay. Call the tow truck drive to pick up the car as soon as possible , Next Henry send me a quote for repairs $382.47 not saying any thing about missing parts in the engine , including a $30 .63 charge for OEM Brake light switch . just because i had mention the car will not get off the parking gear. and i had realize the parking break light was not working . I'm like did he check for if that was the issue or we just gonna shoot the car with parts canon. within an hour he redrew that quote arrive for $592.47 All i'm doing is waiting for tow truck drive to get there . Call him and ask him about the quote and another lies , yeah we not sure whats going on the back of the car does not have power . Hold on with any repairs let me talk to my brother and we will make a decision ( just delaying truck to get the tow truck there . Call about 1.30mins later five mins before tow truck was there . Told him we gonna take the car to the dealership for proper diagnosis . he was like no no this car is not leaving here we work. Trying to hold the car on a lien.FIRST NEVER APPROVE any work to be done. I had to the that car out there . Paid him and the lies continue . Well we did work on it the car now cranks but need a fuel pump at the cost of $911 lol. You got to be kidding me . more lies . This are the facts and 100 % tested before the car went there ~there are no parts missing in the engine -the whole back of the is not without power -there is nothing wrong with the fuel pump. came came back a mess . he open stuff that has nothing to do with electrical issues . broken covers , open cup of coffee , break light switch completely gone. missing fuel pump fuse ! leaking break line. Guess what i was able to fix the issue myself at the cost of $5 part . AT the moment not sure how much he did sabotage that car . A total disgrace to the profession read more

I recently moved to the DC area and took my Toyota to the dealership for a regular maintenance check-up. They charged me way too much and told me I needed new brake pads. I took my car to Allen Automotive and asked that they inspect/replace my brake pads. Allen himself came back with a recommendation that my brake pads were fine. His fees for regular maintenance/services are also way under what a dealership will charge. read more

Open and friendly contact to Mr. Cordova. My Jeep was thoroughly checked and repaired. Thank you for the service!

Most folks are not savvy about what thier car needs, that is where these vultures come in. Unless you have disposable income, this may not be the shop for you. Nearly $600,to get a state inspection in a 3 year old car(unessasary repairs). I was taken advantage of because they assumed I was new to the state. Racketeering is nothing new to them. That is why they are now under investigation with police. read more

Very thorough, willing to explain the need for certain parts being replaced, very experienced, AND the repair stays repaired!!

We have been taking cars to Henry for 15+ years and we have always found him to be honest & caring. Lately, we have a car with an extended warranty and the dealership has given us a string of recommended repairs with estimates of $1000+ on several occasions. Not covered by the warrantee. SO each time we drive to Henry who, after examining the car, laughs and says that what is needed is nothing or something far, far cheaper. His air conditioning repair was $450. Throw in a brake job, oil change, new headlight, some switch work on the dash board and the total was $300 less than the dealership wanted for a job that clearly would not have fixed the issue. All I can say is take your car to Henry for fair, honest service at a good price! read more

After three positive experiences with this shop, I owe it to them to tell people how awesome they are. Each time I have brought in one of my Jeeps, they have found and recommended issues that would have cost me much more money had I not gotten them fixed. Not only are they great at what they do, but they are HONEST and UPFRONT, two qualities that are hard to find these days. This last time, I had purchased their voucher on Yelp ($30 savings) not realizing it would cancel out a previous discount they had applied to my estimate. When the misunderstanding was mentioned, they were quick to make me happy and apologize for any misrepresentation. I actually felt bad when I left because I didn't want to come across like I was trying to take advantage of their voucher policy. That is how honest and wonderful these people are. I am 100% positive that I am getting honest, quality work from them every time. Some repairs have caught me off guard and fallen outside of my budget but the owner has been quick to answer every question and make honest recommendations and let me know where I could cut costs or which repairs could wait. Hands down the best auto shop I have ever used. I will continue to give them my business and recommend them to my friends for as long as I live here read more

I wish I could give negative star reviews. Avoid this place! They tried to overcharge me with extra fees! They tried to convince me I needed to purchase a $345 battery from them when mine was perfectly fine! I brought my car in for trouble starting (needed spark plugs), and when I returned to pick up my car, the total included an additional charge that wasn't on the original quote I agreed to. They eventually took it off but it seems like maybe they were adding extra fees because I didn't want to buy their expensive battery. Just to be safe, the next day, I followed up on my battery w/the retailer where I bought it. It's still under extended warranty. Turns out it was at 90% and not in need of replacement! So now I'm wondering if Allen Automotive even checked out my car?!?! Beware!!!! read more

I took my vehicle into Allen's for them to remove a lug nut that was stuck and required special drilling. I asked for a general quote over the phone but according to them I had to bring the vehicle in for them to give me an estimate. Long story short I ended up leaving the vehicle there for A little less than 24 hours. In this time I received no quote (which was my Initial reason for coming there in the first place). Yet a technician had already PERFORMED WORK ON MY VEHICLE WITHOUT MY AUTHORIZATION. I quoted two other mechanics prior to coming into Allen's and decided I no longer wanted Allen's Automotive to service my vehicle. So they "reversed" The work that they had already done WITHOUT MY AUTHORIZATION. And charged me a "$200" storage fee for having my vehicle there for less than 24 hours. I understand everyone has to make a living and business may not be what it used to be given the devastating effects of COVID but I was dissatisfied with my experience herke. read more

I was so excited when Allen's was able to take me last minute for a MD safety inspection at 5pm - an hour before closing. The price was a steep at $80, when we were able to get our other car done for $40, but on a time crunch! They did a thorough job, but they ended up charging me an extra $20 to check my tint because they said it looked dark. Of course it passed, but they didn't tell me before they checked - so my safety inspection cost $100 which I'm pretty sure is double the normal price. That's what you get for waiting until the last minute. I get the feeling that they do quality work because they were extremely thorough and even noticed my not noticeable, barely cracked sun visor. However, I'm thinking that this comes at a high cost. They estimated that my rear brake replacement would cost ~$500 when other places have quoted me ~$300. read more

My go-to local shop for things I don't want to do myself. Friendly people and fair prices. They did the 100k mile service on my 2006 4runner and I had no issues. My favorite tire shop (Radial Tire) recommended Allen Auto to me for an alignment a few years ago. If they are good enough for Radial they are good enough for me. read more

I've been here plenty of times before and they've always tried to overcharge me until I make it clear I know a little bit about cars. Today was one time too many. I asked about labor on changing rear brake pads and the person I talked to said "$150". That's fine. In the course of conversation, I mentioned replacing the rotors, and the person's tone changes and says, "oh, for rotors too, that'll be $200 in labor". You literally need to remove the rotors in order to change the pads. The "additional labor" they're charging is $50 bucks for the 45 seconds it takes to open the packaging on the new rotors! Some people have no shame. Any reputable mechanic would not have asked for an additional $50 there. read more

Allen did a great job on my BMW suspension. They work closely with Radial Tire which makes them a super convenient option. They were done early and came in at a very reasonable on price. I highly recommend them. read more

Helpful and thorough job on a pre-purchase inspection. Henry (owner) explained all this issues with the car. Professional, clean, organized, and thorough. They have generally been available for the same day or next day appointment. They are not specialists with my make of car (VW), but are excellent overall. I took my car to a VW specialist in Wheaton for another job, he pointed out a minor (?) diagnostic detail that Allen sounded like he missed (specialist saw the 'disease' while Allen noticed the 'symptom'...but I am a layperson so you can discount my opinion on that). I went back for the repairs recommended for the inspection, which ended up being about $80 more than the estimate ($487 versus $565). I did not get an explanation as to why, which was a bit dissapointing. Overall, I would recommend Allen Automotive for general repairs. read more

Forget any other place to have your car repaired. Henry and his staff are the best around! ( I travel over 100 miles to go there) No, they aren't cheap, but you get the highest quality craftsmanship, honesty and integrity for every dollar. They carefully explain everything to you---there is no bamboozling at this place. Although the exterior of the place is a little unusual, I have never been in such an immaculate car repair shop; this says a lot about how Henry and his staff regard their own work. If there is a misunderstanding or lack of clarity in an issue, Henry will make it right. You know that when you drive your car away from Allen, you are secure in the knowledge that your car is perfectly repaired. read more

Love this place. Straight shooters, great prices, no gender bias. Just the kind of place to bring your car when you want things done, no-frills, high quality, good price, done on time. I took my old car there years ago and was glad to take my new car to them again vs. the dealer once the warranty expired. They're actually much better than the dealer when it comes to Audi, Volvo and Hondas. read more

I am new to the area and didnt know who to trust. I needed some work done on my car and Allen automotive had great reviews. When I called them they were so friendly and helpful it felt like I was talking to family. They kept in constant communication with me while they were taking care of my car. It was greatly appreciated. The owner and the staff really went the extra mile and I am so happy I found them. Take my word for it, go to Allen automotive! read more

I brought my Mustang in for oil change, lub, manual transmission fluid change and 4-wheel alignment. The car was taken into the garage right at my appointment time, and the work was completed about 90 minutes later. The car was clean upon return, and has been running well since. The price for the service was reasonable. Allen will only charge you for the work they actually do; even if you ask them to do something, if they assess the work is not necessary, they won't do it and won't charge you for it. That kind of honesty is rare today. read more

My experience with this business was one of misrepresentation and high price inflation once you are in the shop. On 1/12/2018 I received a quote of approximately $678 to replace the brake pads, rotors, and brake sensors on my car from Allen Automotive. I was explicit on the phone call that I needed 4 brake pads,rotors and accompanying sensors, both front and rear, and offered the year, make and VIN of my automobile. When I arrived at the shop, they insisted on immediately putting the car in the shop to start the work (using the rationale that I was waiting, not dropping off) while they prepared the formal estimate for services. When they presented the estimate to me, it had increased over $1000 to $1703.56, and the scope of the work had not changed. I immediately responded that this was considerably higher than the quote they provided earlier to bring me to their automotive repair shop, I said I would go elsewhere for the brake/rotor/sensor replacement, and I asked them to return my car to me. They refused to return my car until force-ably extracting $57.50 for "brake inspection" services which I never asked for, I went to them asking for brake replacement. This type of "bait and switch" tactic is unethical. Additionally, the fact that they insisted on putting the car in the shop to start work before providing the customer a final estimate is unfair as it would force most people to continue with the service even if the quote is unacceptable. To add insult to injury, they refused to return the car to me unless I paid the "brake inspection fee" (i.e. ransom). Moreover, they did not even complete the purported inspection, the form they provided was blank. read more

I found this business to be less than professional. Their customer service was horrible. I had one person waiting in the waiting room in front of me. Then 3 other people came in after me and their cars got taken before mine. They never went over the items with me. And I had to ask if my car was ready. The wait time was excessive for the service that I received. The staff did not even thank me for coming in. I would suggest taking your business to another shop. read more

After getting 4 new tires on my BMW I need an alignment. Friendly, quick, and at a good price. Got me in an out in less than 1 hour.

Once again, Allen Automotive proves that they are the best car mechanics in the area. Henry, Chris, Mike and the others treat you and your car as if there were no others. These guys are old fashioned professionals--and they know their stuff. They do brilliant work and will not cheat you on charges or cheap parts. Don't waste your time, money or the integrity of your car any where else. read more

Great general auto repair shop! Henry and his staff do great work, are honest and open about what is going on with your car and why everything is being done. We have been going to them for 15 years and have always been satisfied. Don't be afraid to ask them questions. They are located near and work well with Quattro Auto Body and Radial Tires. All are withing 5 minutes of each other and represent complete, quality auto care. read more

In the sea of 'decent' automotive shops in the DC area, Allen Automotive stands out above the crowd. They don't have a fancy lounge with free coffee, pastries, and a 60" flat screen TV, but then again you don't have to pay for that when the bill comes. They do have a clean, comfortable, no frills waiting room, and they do have WiFi. Fortunately for me, I didn't have to stay long. Like Brett said in 2012, they work closely with Radial Tire. They still do, and that's a good thing. I had a very complex and unique 4 wheel alignment that needed to be performed on my Porsche. I was told that Marvin was the guy to do the job. Turns out he was. After discussing with Henry the specifics of the job and a good time for me to come in, I arrived on that day. Henry remembered me, what I needed and took my car immediately. I mean my car was in the shop within 5 minutes from me arriving at the front desk. I know that my timing was good, but that's how these folks do things. Not a lot of standing around. When my car was up on the rack, I was informed as to the progress and asked my preferences during the procedure. In this unique situation (modified suspension), I had the opportunity to fine-tune the alignment to my preferences, with Marvin's guidance. Marvin's capabilities go way beyond just running the alignment machine and 'dialing in' the components to spec. He has a comprehensive understanding about steering geometry, caster, camber, toe-in, scrub, etc..and what adjustments produce in the behavior of the vehicle. That knowledge is critical in complex situations, and modified suspension. I decided to wait for the results of this alignment via an extensive 'road test' before writing my review. Marvin's alignment was spot-on. Steering wheel centered where it should be, no pull to the left or right, no tramlining, etc. The improvement in handling is dramatic. ...and the cost for this alignment? Less than any other capable shop who specializes in this kind of alignment. Ask me how I know ;) read more

I've been going to Allen Automotive for years and I have never experienced a problem with them. They're efficient, their prices are just in terms of the quality of their work, and they've always been very pleasant to do business with. You really do get what you pay for. My daughter was experiencing problems with her 'Check Engine' light recently and she took her car to another mechanic's shop in Wheaton because they quoted her for a low price- the mechanics charged her for whatever they had "fixed" and her car ended up breaking down. I referred her to Henry. He fixed it- engine misfire of some sort. You really do get what you pay for. Very professional and thorough business. Highly recommend them. read more

I love this garage, and I highly recommend that you go here. I moved to Maryland two years ago, and a woman at my church recommended Allen Automotive (she has been going to them for years). I have a 2007 Honda Accord, and my brakes were making a grinding noise, and I took the car in to be evaluated (thinking that something very expensive must be wrong with the brakes), and they told me the brakes were making that noise because I don't drive the car that often (I metro everywhere), and while the car sits, a little harmless rust builds up on the pads, but it wears off as soon as I start driving the car. They asked me if I noticed if the noise went away after a few minutes of driving it, and I said yes it did. I've since brought my car to them for routine oil checks, and they have always been honest and excellent. They will also pick you up from the metro (and drop you off at the metro), if you don't want to wait in their waiting room. read more

TRUST - I never doubt the advice provided by Henry or his team -- well deserving of 5 stars!

So I would've given them 5 stars until more recently. We have been taking our cars here for years now and they had been amazing. A little pricey, but you get what you pay for and we felt they were honest in a sea of those were who were not. However, we recently had a problem with, what turned out to be, some connector on the part that starts the car. It took them three times to fix, including one time where they didn't even end up doing anything to the car. Not to mention that they decided we needed new tires (not the problem we were worried about) during one of those sessions. And this is on top of the fact, that only say a month before that, we had brought in the same car for 100,000 mile maintenance - why didn't they mention we needed new tires then? Every time we brought the car in we had to maneuver it since we have one car and I drive to work every day - it was a HUGE hassle. I seriously thought maybe we needed a new car. After complaining that they were not able to fix our car after bringing it in so many times - which, btw would randomly turn off while driving and would stutter whenever you pressed the gas, they finally agreed to not charge us anymore and found a used part that did ultimately fix the car..... After putting a ton of money into it with all of that nonsense, it better last for a while before we need to take it in again or replace it. read more

My battery was on the verge of dying because of a recently fixed wiring problem and simply because it was 3 years old so I came into Allen's automotive for a replacement while I went into work. I had left my car there and (Henry) told me he would give me a call with the price on replacing my battery. He asked if I was certain the battery was the issue. I said I am positive and left him my key. After 4 hours I had not received a call. So I ended up having to call him. he said he was "just about to call me and my car was ready for pick up." ???Taken by surprise, I told him ok and walked back into the shop where he told me the cost would be 215 dollars and it was all ready for me outside. Amazed at the price I asked why henry didn't give me a call. His response was " for something as small as a battery we don't call we just do the work" Assuming I had 215 dollars to spend on this without confirming or having me sign any work order. I told him I did not expect such a high price and did not have it at this time. Henry's response was " Ok I will take the battery out and you owe me 50 dollars for inspecting the problem." I asked why would I owe 50 dollars when I told you the problem and only needed an estimate on replacement which should have taken no time at all. Henry's response was " ok, you pay the 50 dollars or we keep the vehicle or call the police." So blown away by his rude and unprofessional manner I told him to please replace my battery and charge me if he has to but I would never do business with him again and refer friends and family elsewhere if they ever decided to go here. This was the absolute worst mechanic I have ever been to, completely over priced, inconsiderate, and rude. NEVER EVER AGAIN!!! read more