Did me a solid just moments after smashing my front fender into a Carrboro loading dock. Rolled in there, fixed in 90 min, $200 worth every penny. read more

My vehicle after a diagnosis was misdiagnosed and I was told I needed a tune up to fix my problem ($900). After the tune up did not fix the issue, I was told my throttle body and MAP sensor needed to be replaced ($900). When they realized that didn't fix the issue, the told me I needed a new engine or to replace the cylinder head (quoted at $6,000+). At this point I told them to not do any further work and I went to retrieve my vehicle. At the time I went to get my car, I asked for them to show me my throttle body that was damaged, initially they were unable to show me the damage because they did not have it in their possession anymore and that NAPA auto parts store had it because it had a core charge on it. Well I went over to NAPA to ask if their new throttle body had a core charge and they told me there was no core charge on new throttle bodies only on refurbished ones. When I went back over to Al's Garage to ask to have the throttle body replacement chargers removed, they had no issue taking it off my bill but also "my" old throttle body magically reappeared and they put the old one back on my car. Well, I took my vehicle to get another diagnosed by 3 different mechanics, one being the actual Jeep dealership. All 3 mechanics came up with the same diagnosis and were unsure why they would do a tune up for my issue I was having. Other mechanics I spoke with as well, said in the situation if they provided me with a misdiagnosis and the problem wasn't fixed from their diagnosis they wouldn't keep charging me more to "test and check". I reached out to Al's Garage over the phone and spoke to a representative who had a very recognizable voice due to his accent. I asked if a manager was in while on the phone, and he said he did not know. I then asked if he knew who the owner was and again did not know. I then decided to return in person to speak with someone to find a resolution, the same guy who answered the phone, who referred to himself as Jerry, was there again. I explained the situation again, and he refused to work with me to find a resolution. I then asked for a business card and he refused to provide one and was initially reluctant to provide the name of the owner of the shop. It's unfortunate this situation is needing to come to this, but shops like this need to be put out of business to stop giving a bad rep for all the great mechanics and shops who are willing to do the right thing and not take advantage of costumers. read more

Ethan is the goat. All the other places I've been to always seems to try to take advantage of the fact that I don't seem to know too much about cars. Al's keeps it real. They tell you what it's like without trying to pressure you into getting unnecessary jobs done. Highly recommend coming here or at least ask them for a quote first! read more

Charged my friend $300 for an hour of work. Her car broke down less than 24 hours later and then they charged her an additional $350 to fix "another part" for 3 hours. All in all $650 for four hours of work and seems like a scam that takes advantage of college students unfamiliar with cars. read more

Had Vehicle towed so that they could make an ignition key....3 weeks later after repeated calls that were never returned

Had my car towed here after my catalytic converter got stolen at work. Very friendly, fast and efficient service! Armando was able to fix my car very quickly and for a fair price. Absolutely would come here again and would recommend. Super nice guys and great work done read more

Really really nice and patient with my busy schedule. They don't make you pay anything without letting you know first and getting your permission. Definitely recommend :) read more

James, Ethan and the crew are great listeners who always provide options for how to fix your vehicle. (good, better, best) Their troubleshooting skills are excellent, but their communication skills are even better. Over the past 5 years, They have fixed and maintained (3) Suburbans and (2) Honda CRVs for me and I couldn't be more satisfied. These guys are the best! read more

I brought my car into Al's Garage on June 22nd - I'm writing this more than a week later because I wanted some time to remove myself from the situation and think about it as objectively as possible. Anyway, my vehicle had been experiencing strong vibration at idle for a few weeks, and the power steering hose had been leaking for months. I came into Al's early in the morning and told the manager (I believe) about the vibration at idle and the power steering hose. I mentioned but didn't necessarily emphasize that the cause of the vibration was more important to me. I then left and, around 4:30, the shop called me. The manager informed me that there was some misfiring going on, which was likely causing the vibration. He also told me the hose was leaking badly and asked for my authorization on replacing the hose. I asked the price and he quoted me $498. That seemed like a reasonable price for a power steering hose at a tiny, independent mechanic like Al's. I said go ahead, and was told that the car would be ready the next day. This is where things got weird. If that would've been the last of it and I went to pick up the car the next day, I probably would've rated Al's a 5 - maybe a 4 for making me wait overnight for something as simple as a power steering hose replacement. The next day, I waited around all morning and into the afternoon for a call to come get the car. I hate being the annoying, pressuring customer, but I finally called to see what was up. The manager informed me that the car was ready to pick up, and that they had done some cleaning in the engine because the power steering fluid had leaked so much over the months. Images of more dollar signs flashed through my mind. The manager said, "I just told them, ah, he'll understand." Gulp. I asked the price. It was about $710. What the? I didn't argue. I called my mom, who was helping me pay for half of the repairs, to inform her that the $498 I'd told her about the night before had increased by more than $200...for...some...light cleaning? Understandably upset, she called Al's. The manager then told her that THE PRICE HE HAD QUOTED ME THE DAY BEFORE WAS $609. He then suggested that I lied to her about the price because I "didn't want to upset her" - just a totally nonsensical and frankly illogical argument. She called me back to relay this information, and by this point I was fuming - the man had accused me of being a liar to my mom...not cool. I don't know if he got his numbers mixed up - that he quoted the $498 without factoring in the cost of labor, or what, but I'm almost positive that it was more pernicious than that. I went into Al's to get the car back, and there's the manager at the counter, giving me a weird and knowing smile, seemingly barely holding in laughter. He asked me, in the most douchebag-like way you can ask anyone anything, if my mom had already sent me the money to help pay. I almost exploded, but kept my cool, got the car, and left - definitely never to return to Al's Garage. The form he gave me said I had authorized 3 different cost estimates - $608.56 at 4:30 PM on the 22nd (I had authorized $498 at that time), $649.65 at 4:53 (I hadn't even talked to them at that time), and then the final $712 authorization. So, of the 3 authorizations, one was a wrong price, one was completely made up, and the last one, I actually authorized. There's a law in NC called the Motor Vehicle Repair Act, and it states that the mechanic can not exceed by 10% or more the customer's last authorization - say you authorize something for $200, they have to get you to authorize anything else if it'll bring the total cost to $220 or more. Obviously, $498 to $712 is much more than a 10% increase, so Al's invented these 2 phantom amounts to, on paper, concur with that law, even though nothing could be further from the truth. Hilariously, the phantom amount they said I authorized at 4:51 PM (649.65) comes out to $714.62 when increased by 10% - yep, you guessed it - the final $712 price is about a 9.9% increase from $649.65. They literally made these numbers up so they wouldn't "technically" break the law. But, they did. I have no idea their motivations except for thinking I'm a dumb kid who they could get away with ripping off - undergrads at Carolina, I'd say particularly that you should stay away - but I'm just telling you what happened. I thought I'd have a fantastic experience at a independent and local business - there's a reason I originally went to Al's instead of Pep Boys or somewhere else - but this experienced just proved to me that the local guys can be worse (by far) than the chain shops. read more

See all

Sure would be nice to have some communication about a car that had been there for just about a week for a simple repair. Called and left messages twice with no response at all. Took over 24 hours to talk to someone. Pathetic. read more

Just got back from a trip and received both a phone call and email from the folks at Al's. Some of what I had written in my last review, I realize now was speculation on my part AL'S INDEED is going through a change-over. I've amended some of what I had written. They have not lost all if their older staff, as I had thought. As a customer who has an analytical mind to appreciate knowing about her car, I liked to know what was happening, why, and what Al's had done to fix my car. After going to Al's for so many years--a Golden Era has started to fade--I consider changes in Al's Garage to be one of those based on his passion to educate and inform customers as to the "health" or the functionality of their cars. The staff agreed to do this now after reading my review and I appreciate it--even if it was after-the-fact. As customers, we'll stay tuned for the changes-to-come in Al's. read more

My daughter just had her car inspected here and they charged her $55 labor to change a tail light bulb- and she provided the bulb. $55!!!! Spoke with James the manager and he assured me that the amount was justified. Again, $55 TO CHANGE A TAIL LIGHT!!!! Will NEVER go there again and would suggest you do your research before just picking a convenient place to get your car inspected. I can't fathom how you can look at a customer in the face and say "yeah, that's how much that should cost...." A tail light bulb....unreal!!!!! read more

I am from a very rural town in North Central Florida...the kind of place where everybody knows everybody and when it comes to cars you do it yourself or get a buddy with a local shop to help you out. Thus when I moved away, I had a bit of a struggle when it came to a good garage...I was looking for that small town feel where no one would try to sell me something I didn't need, take advantage of me, overcharge, or be rude. I found that place in Al's Garage. Fast, friendly, and never trying to pull a fast one on me. Though generally pretty car-ignorant, I DO try to educate myself on what is wrong with my car or attempt to fix it myself where possible/when safe and feasible (a remnant of my country girl upbringing). I have had moderate success in that department, but the times I've failed or thrown in the towel and brought it in to them (once with an inner door panel half removed after I gave up on some task or another), they have always treated me with respect and if they chuckled at my failure as a mechanic, they at least did me the service of doing so in private haha. Most importantly, I appreciate that they don't talk down to me, something that often happens to me when I have gone to other repair shops (likely a symptom of being a young woman who is, as I said, self-admittedly car-ignorant) and their willingness to explain and answer my questions no matter how tedious. I'm going to be relocating again soon and I will be sad to have to find yet another excellent garage. read more

They charged $555 for spark plugs, an air filter, and a conventional oil change. I thought this was off so I priced out the parts - a total of $60. The other $495 was labor, and yet this is a job that would take any competent mechanic less than 90 minutes. I feel scammed. I recommend avoiding this shop. Looking back through recent google reviews, You can see Al's took a hard turn for the worse in recent months. Not trustworthy, overpriced, and a total pain to work with. read more

So I take my car to get inspected and I tell them my brakes are possibly worn. The brakes barely pass inspection. They don't tell me about the recommendations on the sheet which said my oil pan might be leaking and the brakes and rotors should be replaced within 2-6 months. They called me told me the car was ready and never mentioned anything about the brakes or oil pan until I called and asked. Then I was charged for a brake oil cap that was supposedly missing. I checked to see if they really changed my oil and found the missing cap. They did not give me the option of getting the brakes fixed until I talked to the owner, just send me on my way with out saying anything about the brakes. Had come here for 10-15 years. This was a slap in the face. i would not trust them and will not be going back!!! read more

I recently went to Al's Garage to have a mechanic look at my older vehicle after it began running hot. I was by myself when I dropped my car off and everyone was very friendly and open to explaining to me what the problem might be. They called me back after about an hour and told me I could come get my car, but when I went back into the shop with my male friend the mechanics became abrasive and pretty standoffish. I was asking them questions in order to tell my parents exactly what was wrong with the car, but the men helping me were more concerned that I followed their advice exactly, i.e. having my car fixed by them. The total for fixing my car was an outrageous amount (over 1,000 dollars), but my parents were able to fix the problem for 50 dollars. Long story short, don't go to Al's if you don't know a lot about cars, because they will more than likely try to overcharge you for services. read more

We were long-term customers of Al's Garage when indeed Al owned it. We questioned continuning because of confusion and a sense of not caring. Then Sunny and James arrived...they are stupendous. Their fairness and integrity are beyond repute, their strong sense of service is so welcome, their knowledge gives me security. Today I had an oil change and spoke to James about my next big car checkup. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that he had gone through each element needed and evaluated what I really needed and put a price together for me. This to me was above and beyond any kind of service I have ever received...and I was a huge fan of Al's! Both Sunny and James are passionate about dealing with cars and I can't say how much comfort that gives me. When it comes to car mechanics, I know very little. One thing I do know is that it's crucial for me to find mechanics I can trust. I trust Sunny and James completely!!! read more

I think that Craig must have left Al's. I haven't seen him the last 2 times and the service was awful. I went there twice over 2 months to fix the A/C and it is still broken. I made an appointment days in advance, showed up at 8am, and by 2pm they hadn't started. By 4pm they hadn't called me, by 4:30pm (they close at 5pm) I showed up and they said it might take till 5:30. There were 3 guys sitting in the office, and 1 guy working on my car who seemed exhausted but really trying his best. Somehow they got cold air to blow out of the vents for me to drive out of the parking lot, but 5 miles down the road it was broken again. Two visits and two charges for near a $100 each and still no A/C - and no explanation. I won't be back. read more

Took in my car to get it fixed. It took them a month to "fix" it! No communication or anything. I had to keep calling to check up on what was going on with it. The first estimate was $1200 and then they ended up charging me a little under $2300. My car literally lasted me a day, before it stopped on me while I was driving on a highway. They did the job wrong after they assured me that it was at 100%. My car is junked. Now they're only refunding me $1000, not even half of what I paid them. I would never recommend this place. Thanks for overcharging and nearly killing me, Al's Garage. read more

I hope to write a helpful review of this garage, which has serviced 2 of my vehicles over 7 years in Chapel Hill. Al was a great mechanic and is missed; He gave me the straight rundown about an old '89 S10 of mine that was reaching the point of not worth saving or spending more money on, and I always appreciated that. He'd rather shoot straight than make a few bucks! Respect. I don't know about the long review below me, regarding having trouble after the sale (with an owner named Michael) perhaps because Al's Garage did not do any work on either of my vehicles during that time. I feel like I would remember a Michael; anyway, I have had all positive experiences with Dan who is the only person whom I have worked with since Al. He was $100 cheaper than another small independent garage right down the street; I don't mean a chain i.e. Meineke or Sears and I trusted that man to give an honest estimate; but $100 savings nothing to shake a stick at! I ended up saving $200 off that price anyway, by hiring a reliable friend to do it shadetree style, but that savings in itself is worth Yelping about. Good luck to all! read more

This will be wordy, but if you are considering Al's I hope you'll read it and save yourself some hassle. When I first took my car there, they were under different management or ownership and most of their positive reviews seem to come from that time. I had a positive experience with Craig but he's no longer there. I took my car in to get a blower motor replaced and was quoted $390 for that and an oil change. I said I couldn't afford it and asked them to just do the oil for now. I found the part online, new, for $36 and found that I could repair it myself in about 5 minutes. I had my boyfriend's car in for an estimate on the same day because of the left, rear brake sticking. When we first took his car in last July they replaced the rear brakes that had just been done 8 months prior. Now their estimate was for FRONT brakes despite the fact that the caliper on the rear needs replaced, causing the rear brakes to wear unevenly (as I learned from another shop who said the front brakes are fine). With that and the other work the estimate was $1,400. I told them we'd have to budget for that and to please just change the oil. I then had the pleasure of arguing with the mechanic over the phone about who last changed the oil. At first, he wouldn't believe me that it was Al's because the work was shoddy. He proceeded to tell me that "either the plug or the pan has to be replaced and I don't know which and the pan could be much more expensive." So I told them to just stop working on the car and I would come get it. I had a lot of questions when I went in, namely about why the brakes were wearing out so fast and they offered no real explanation. I then reiterated that my boyfriend and I are college students and just can't afford the lump sum and would be driving my car for now--since they told me his wheel would fall off if we didn't fix it, which I later learned was not true. I then asked, "If we have to prioritize something, what should it be?" And instead of walking me through that or even just explaining that everything was equally dire, the mechanic said, "Well do you want brakes or steering?" like a true smart alec. They then expected $70 for a diagnostic fee which they didn't warn us we would be charged, and still tried to convince me to leave the car. Moral of the story: do not waste your time or money at Al's. read more

This has been my go-to mechanic since July 2000. You cannot find a more trustworthy, problem-solving, customer-service-focused mechanic than Al's garage. There is a reason why this establishment has been in existence for almost 30 years now. I was first referred to them by my neighbor (who is Colombian) because she told me "they will treat your car like it is a little child" and how true that is! You can expect them to know the in's and out's of your car history and performance just like knowing the details of the medical history of your child. I have found them to be fair and straight-shooters who will bend over backwards to solve a problem. These are folks who have done their research. Also, how many mechanics will say to "hey, we noticed we overcharged you $15 the last time when we reviewed your bill history, and so we are crediting you this time around." As a woman who has been ripped off by other garages, Al's Garage is a haven. This is the place I recommend to my friends and family. It is always a pleasure to be greeted by Mike Garis who seems to have a photogrpahic memory of your car' s history, and to be serviced by the mechanics Doug and Craig. Good job, guys! Thanks for being in our community, and hope you guys stick around for another 30 years. read more

Just had an outstanding experience with Craig at Al"S. Long story short, my son is a student at UNC and I live in Chicago. Me son's truck is in rough shape to say the least. When he brought it in for a power steering issue, it was his first time there. Craig took the time to call me in Chicago to explain the problem. The line to the power steering pump was rusted and needed to be replaced. It was so rusted that he wasn't sure he could get it off of either end without damage to the components on both ends. So in short, the price could be $160 to over $1000 depending on the damage the rust has done over the years. He explained all possible issues I may have and let me make a decision based on his facts. Craig sounded trustworthy so I said to do what you needed to do and I trusted him. (Honestly, being from Chicago, that was hard to say). Lol. I was very happy when Craig called me a few hours later and said he got the job complete for the $160 with just changing the line and there were no leaks on either end. Nice to know I can trust a man 700 miles away. Thanks Craig. read more

The best auto repair experience I've ever had, hands down. The service was prompt and honest, and Al and the crew are as professional and knowledgeable as they come. More than anything, you can tell they take great pride in their work and love making cars work again. In the words of Steve Jobs, it was a magical experience. read more

Al's always there, and he's very knowledgable. My favorite part is that he takes the time to explain the entire situation, all the options, explains what he would do and why, then lets you choose. Very down to earth and a pleasure to work with. I'm a guy interested in cars, so when I ask questions, he's happy to go into things. I remember him bringing out my entire clutch, showing me how and why it was slipping. It was pretty awesome. He has multiple mechanics working for him. I couldn't go "under the hood" and double check everything, but it looked and seemed great after the fact. I was very pleased and could easily recommend him. read more

Just had a very good experience at Als Garage in Chapel Hill. A guy named James helped me out. I thought I had a very expensive problem to fix and James pointed out a quick, easy and very inexpensive fix. I think any other than a very honest mechanic would have gone the expensive route. read more

I would give no stars if i could; I took my car there and after the diagnosis i realized it was too pricey.The problem came after,they somehow left the rear lights on (i didn't have this problem before) so i talked to them and they told me that it was "bad luck", a "coincidence" if i wanted them to check that "new " problem i will have to pay another $50.I know i had bad luck going to this place. read more

Just a follow up. Al's quoted me $1400 for a series of repairs. We got the same work done at another mechanic for only $600. Al's is the worst, guys. Don't go here. read more

Al, Don, and crew are the only people in this area I would trust with my car. We've used them for going on 13 years and they've never given us a word of bad advice. They are punctual and honest. They also give helpful advice about other auto-related vendors and services in the area. They're the best. read more

I had my car towed to Al's after my engine overheated and caused extensive damage. I was so thankful for Craig's thorough and honest work during this hard situation. He went above and beyond to determine and explain the extent of potential damages, different repair options, and the potential costs to get the car to working condition. This helped me to make an informed decision about whether or not I should get the repairs given my finances and the car's overall value. The garage was very accommodating and did not pressure me while I made this decision and worked out the logistics to have the car towed back home. read more

Al.s garage... better than dad being there. My daughter who goes to UNC had a frozen license plate screw and didn't know what to do. I tried to help from buffalo without success. She went to Al.s... problem solved, amazing service and much appreciated... so glad yelp had these guys rated highly and now we know why with personal experience. Highly recommended! This will be our goto garage for needed work... read more

If AL is not there you will end up talking to Don most likely.This guy is the biggest jerk I have ever had to deal with in all my years of dealing with auto repair shop. I went in to schedule a appt.and he ask me what kind of do you have.I said Acura CL,he rudely replied Sienna is a Toyota.I then ask for a quote on the timing belt and water pump replacement and he said "take it to the dealer". Needless to say I walked out and have not been back since then.If Al is not in the shop find out when he will be there and go back at that time.Al is extremely knowledgeable and helpful,he will treat you like a valued customer.Don on the other hand is the polar opposite. read more

Even though it is been over a decade, I still get angry every time I pass this garage. About 14 years ago I was in Carrboro in my Mercury Villager minivan with a toddler and a baby. It was of those incredibly hot summer days and my battery died. My kids were sweltering in the heat. I can't remember the exact details but I know I was not using the AC to preserve some power. I think I got a jump and was able to get it into this joint. All I wanted was a battery. Little Al came out and sneared at my van and said that they would lower themslves to work on some things but they would nevr go low enough to allow an American minivan in to their little garage.I was standing there with a dying battery and two overheated and miserable kids. He sneared as I drove off. I got a block down the street before it died and called AAA and got a battery after more time in the heat. I called off the visit to grandmothers and took my dangerously overheated kids back to Raleigh. He may be saintly to other reviewers but to me he was mean, arrogant, rude and totally uncaring. By the way Alvin, all these years later, my minivan is still going strong at 305,000 miles. May not be good enough for you to put a battery in but it has been good to me. read more

DON'T KNOW THEIR BUSINESS AND WON'T REPAIR THE DAMAGE THEY DO. We have a 1995 SW2 Saturn wagon that died from what turned out to be a bad alternator. Initially, we replaced the battery and it fired back up but the battery warning light suggested we had an alternator problem. We took it to Al's garage for confirmation of the alternator problem, which he did, and an estimate for the repair. He could only give us a wide range for the repair costs $330-$430 because he didn't know how long it would take to do the repair thus how much labor he would end up charging us. They should know how long it takes- there's a cost book somewhere with repair times for all the different repairs -THEY SHOULD KNOW. Even his low price seemed high so I called the now defunct Saturn dealer repair shop (now Summit Auto repair) and they quoted ~$300. Rather getting caught with paying his guys to learn how to replace a saturn alternator, we opted for Summit to do the repair, paid Al his $25 for his estimate and arranged to pick up the car Friday night after they closed. I arrived that evening, the battery still had sufficient juice and it started right up. But when I went to shift gears on the manual, the linkage between the shifter and the gearbox had been broken. The shifter just floated with no way to change gears. Summit was going to repair the alternator on Sat AM, but now we had to leave it there for the weekend. I had to wait until Monday to "discuss" this with Al. His response to the broken linkage: it's an old car, wear and tear, your problem. He'd be happy to get the parts in and give me a reasonable price for the repair. If someone damages your car, they should repair it. I told him as much but he claimed I was scamming him. Rather than give this ....... (fill in the blank with your own #@) another penny of my money, I arranged to have it towed to Summit. Estimates- alternator $280- cheaper than his low estimate even with the Al's $25 diagnostic fee thrown in- actual final cost at Summit: $260. Repair cost for linkage damage as a result of taking it to Al's garage- $275. You do the math on why you should avoid Al's garage.... feel free to take it to him if you like to be taken advantage of and to the cleaners to boot. read more

Time and time again, I've had great experiences with Al's Garage. I've gone to them for a variety of car troubles as well as routine maintenance, and they always take the time to explain things and give future recommendations. Even if I need something outside of their scope of work, they are happy to refer me to another mechanic. Today was a perfect example of how they go the extra mile for their customers - I was having an issue with my tire, which isn't even part of their regular service, but they helped me out without a second thought. I've gone to Al's since I moved to the area several years ago, and I can't imagine taking my car anywhere else. read more

Friendly, well-organized place. Quite careful about what they say and they don't seem to make assumptions, either about the customer or the car. read more

We have taken our cars to Al's for at least 20 years. I have never had to take my car back for the same problem. They always call if the repair is over a certain amount. When my kids started driving, Al took the time to explain important car maintenance issues like they were his niece and nephew. Now that Al has retired, the same mechanic still works on my car. I have found the new guys to be efficient, friendly, and knowledgeable. Al was the "Car Talk" guy for us and we continue to depend on the new crew to continue the excellent service we have always experienced. And now, they do state inspections!! read more

I am very pleased with the service that I received, and I have a good impression of this shop. Sam and Craig were trustworthy, polite, professional, and conscientious about cost. They took the time to answer my questions and deal with follow-up issues related to my (low-cost) repair. I really trust them. I recommend Al's Garage and will be going back there for my car service needs. read more

I was going to do a four star review, because they can't do it all (who can though?); however, relative to the mechanics around them, these guys are kind and helpful and offer totally fair prices. read more