I needed an oil change and in the past I use to take my car to other overpriced shops just to have more issues come up with my vehicle. Then my dad use to work on our cars but now he is unable to. So when I found Bradham Automotive on Yelp it was a prayer answered. When I took my car to them I felt like my dad was working on my car because they showed me in videos of the work they did and broke it down if I had any additional questions. This built trust, made me feel at ease, and safe. Thank you for always taking care of my car. read more

Exceptional service and communication. The Bradham team went above and beyond to get my car back on the road, and even had me bring the care back a month later so they could make sure everything was perfect. If I wasn't moving states soon, this would be the only place I bring my car. DJ, Jay, Billy and the rest of the team thank you! Special shoutout to DJ and Jay. Appreciate yall! read more

Straightforward. No sales pitches. Friendly. Helpful. Does not advertise but depends on recommendations.

The dashboard instrument cluster on my car went out, requiring electrical repair. Repeated diagnostic testing revealed a unique part that had to be back ordered. It meant several days of waiting, but the guys at Bradham were both professional and patient in keeping me updated on the progress. It turned out to be a lengthy and rather expensive project, but the repair was made and the outcome was everything I could have hoped for. Special thanks to DJ and Jacob for their courtesy. read more

All of the above: my Ford Focus was towed to Bradham Automotive: that is the only downside: the location but they manage. The stayed in constant touch with me the entire process being sure I approved the charges. The internal key starter.. mechanism thing just had worn out. We thought it was electrical because it started intermittently, (as like when it was cold) for a couple months. but I had to have it RELIABLY START EVERY TIME. Triple AAA also said it was a preferred location. After two days: MAGIC HAPPENED! THEY REPLACED the internal mechanism and the original key works perfectly. I did have to pay by Check though for the entire amount which was not cheap. 1300.K but to me it was worth it. I had maintained my Ford Focus SE for years using Ford dealership but parts just wear out. The staff and I am not sure if he was the original owner's son.. was very professional. RUNNING LIKE A TOP to this day.. that was last year about this time.. :) HAPPY NEW YEAR all. read more

Seen the high ratings of this company so I was pretty sold on them doing my work on my Jeep. Brought my Jeep in to get serviced. Spend 4K on the 4x4 system and other small Things. Jeep's timing was off. Apparently no one knew how to put the engine back into timing. All they did was rotate the oil pump drive assembly. Which is not what you do. It's not a distributor!! You have to have the computer relearn the OPSA but I kept bringing it back and one of the technicians got a attitude and asked "why was it moved" because it wouldn't start after I turn it off. Then even put marks on the OPSA To see if I moved it. The timing never got fixed and I had to take it to another shop where they told me the computer has to relearn the camshaft. Great now I have to pay for someone else to fix the problem. I also had a fuse problem with my 4x4 air pump. I'm guessing the same tech asked why was the fuse out of its place? Gezz Idk I didn't pull it out. Then wrote "why" on the service ticket. It's a wire going to a fuse. Things happen and they fall out. They also didn't ask me to move my light switch and now I don't have a switch for my rear light because of the air pump and front locker switch. Witch is understandable but they still could have called me to ask what I want to do with the rear light switch. Now I have a light on the rear bumper and no switch. Thanks guys For someone that spent 4K here you would think I be treated differently and spoke to on why the timing was off etc. I even called and told them my timing was still off and they didn't seem to care. I just wanted what I paid for to work. That's all. I don't ever write anything like this but I figured I write something so maybe someone can decide if they want to bring their vehicle in or not. Hope this helps read more

I brought my 14-year-old Kia Soul in to Bradham Automotive because it was not driving well at all, even though I've tried to keep it well-maintained. They quickly diagnosed the problems and fixed them. Now my car drives smoother than it has in many years. I'm very pleased with their work! read more

My car is always serviced on time, as promised. The staff is friendly know what they are talking about. Service needs are always broken down so you know what needs attention now, and what can wait (if you want to put it off). They even drive my wife home! read more

I have been bringing my vehicle to Bradham for a while now. My vehicle is older and running into the average problems due to age. I really appreciate Bradham working with me on what's needed from a safety perspective and what can wait a bit. Thanks to them I've been able to stay within my budget and plan for upcoming repairs. Also, I love their email and text system. Keeps me up to date on what's happening throughout the service. read more

I went in for my state emissions test and heard back that afternoon that it didn't pass. I did have a check engine light on, so this didn't shock me. They did a diagnostic test and I was sent a report with details of the problem areas and then they called me with the pricing. I explicitly asked if the cost of the diagnostic test charge would be taken out of the cost of the repair and I was told NO, the diagnostic test charge is separate from the $900+ cost of the repairs (he gave the analogy of going to the doctor and needing to pay for the exam plus and medications/treatments they give you). That seemed like a high starting point so I called other places for their estimates. My dad then called Bradham to get the full rundown of the issue and he was told that the $900+ repair cost DOES include the diagnostic test charge. When I spoke to the same guy both my dad and I spoke with before telling him I was going elsewhere for repairs, he told me I misunderstood him and the $900+ repair cost would include the diagnostic test charge. Auto shops can charge customers whatever they want for repairs, so they choose to try and make some extra money off me. I just happened to catch it (thanks for the descriptive doctor analogy!). It's difficult to find auto shops where I, as a young woman, am given the same pricing my dad would get. I'm not getting repairs done here and will not take my car into this shop again. read more

I am exhausted, but not because of these guys. These folks did a great job on my car. I needed repairs that I felt were urgent, and they did a full diagnostic and helped me explain everything out in layman's terms. They made sure that I was not cheated and they were extremely honest about their pricing and what they felt needed to be replaced. For slightly over 7 hours of work, I am happy I went here. Josh and Grace get a lot of kudos for all the work (and patience) they put into making me a satisfied customer. They take the time to do the hard work, and make sure that you are treated very well. They even offer complementary rides around Alexandria so you don't have to wait while your car is being worked on! And why not? They're really, really close to some of the shops and restaurants Old Town has to offer. Not to mention they're roughly a 10 minute walk to the King Street Metro stop (and they'll drive you to it too if you want it). I initially was going to go with the dealer for the repair, but I took a chance and went with them. Good thing I did. I easily saved about $300 because I used these folks and I personally think they did a better job. If another issue with my car arises, I will not hesitate to bring my car here for a repair. read more

Great service. Very upfront and clear with suggested maintenance. Did not try to push services on me.

So I tried to support a local business by making a service appointment at Bradham. Simple issue regarding a broken windshield wiper. I call, make an appointment 48hrs in advance and tough it out for two days of driving in the rain with no wipers. I show up the day of the appointment and the service worker immediately tells me "we can't do this today". Ok, so why did you make the appointment? If you need more information over the phone, ask for it. I described the issue in detail when I called and they weren't even willing to try to help. Do yourself a favor, avoid Bradham, just go to a dealership. Stop supporting these small businesses that don't care enough or put in any effort to earn your business. When a business doesn't even try, it shows. read more

These guys are AWESOME!! I was so stressed out about the repairs needed for my car. They set my mind at ease and explained in detail--verbally, written and with pictures, what needed to be done and more importantly, why it needed to be done. They were communicative often throughout the process and updated me along the way. Don't even bother going anywhere else!! Thank you Bradham Automotive!!! read more

I had just moved here, and while pulling my restomod into my house my new steering gear box blew a seal. It was a weekend and I live next door - so I rolled it into the parking lot and had to show up unannounced Monday morning. They were amazing. Fast, courteous, and communicated with me at every step. The pricing was fair, and they didn't add or invent things along the way - they even let me add a part or two during the fix to help my steering system out. Big fan, I'll be returning... this is that "quality shop it takes forever to find". I just got lucky and found them my first night in town. read more

I came in for an inspection to register my vehicle in VA. They told me exactly what I needed, and were courteous, professional, and fast. I'd definitely recommend. read more

I requested an estimate, they were very responsive and professional. Even though I ended up going with a place that was closer to me, I was impressed with the communication and helpfulness. read more

5 stars for this auto shop! I had a vehicle that kept cutting off at the light. I was planning to junk it, but I decided to give Bradham Automotive a try! They ran a number of tests on the vehicle and was about to fix it in less than 24 hours! Ended up saving a fortune! Very respectful and professional! I highly recommend them for any automotive concerns. read more

Work Done in August of 2015 Customer Service = 5 ex. Coffee, nice shop, will pick you up and drop you off which is a convenience Cost = $$$$/5 (expensive) Quality of work = I guess it's fine? Confidence in business = Story time - They discovered I had a headlight out and asked for $100 dollars to replace it because it would take them almost an hour to replace it and the part. Mazda Dealership said it was like less than $40. I told them and they apologized and matched the dealership. This is the first red flag. - Initial problem with the Air Conditioning - intermittent problems: recommended replace the whole thing and it was expensive; probably the most likely fix. - I believe this next job was unnecessary: asked about a ringing sound in rear when going over bumps to uncover my rear coil springs had broken off at equal ends on both rear springs; was told he didn't want to let me drive out of there because it was so dangerous it was and gave me some horror story that if the coil burst, it could destroy a tire and whatever else!! it was another $600 job to fix these. On my way being picked up from the train station their guy told me that it would be fine unless I was planning on racing it!!! It had been making that sound for 2 years so that broken piece probably was not truly a danger or it would have happened in the time from when it broke until then I'm sure. I can't tell if these actually needed replacing, but certainly not to the degree of how unsafe they expressed it to be I feel pretty sure. read more

Bradham Automotive - Did these need replacing? Assumption: had been driving on them like this for 2 years. Diagnosis: very dangerous. - Auto Repair Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

If you're looking for a responsive reliable mechanic for a foreign vehicle, I'd recommend Capitol Hill Auto Service. In September of LAST year, I brought one of my vehicles in to be diagnosed for service, an Audi. I worked with Nick. He noted that a part was on back order and it would take some time. I followed up on many, many occasions. He often said "I'll check and call you back in X minutes". He'd never call back, follow up, or anything. He's been telling me the part is on delay for over SEVEN months. I took the car to Capitol Hill Auto Services and within 1 week, they order the parts from Audi, once arrived they completed all repairs in 1 business day. My time and energy was wasted with Nick/Bradham and their lack of professionalism and communications. I refuse to work with anyone who doesn't follow up when THEY provide the timeframe in which they would do so. Also, when I originally took the car in for diagnostic with Bradham and picked it up, the same day it was making loud noises. I took it back, and apparently they failed to reconnect something. I should have known then to give up. I'd highly NOT recommend.... read more

Have been looking for a replacement repair facility since the last one wanted far too much for an alternator replacement - and kept wanting to sell me struts (which were not needed.) Had a fuel pump failure, and they did the work quoted in a couple of days. While a fairly basic shop, they seemed very capable in what they do and will take the time to explain what needs to be done. Polite staff, competent, and pointed out that I really needed an oil change. Will likely be returning to them again, and providing future updates on their work. read more

Bradham was courteous, kind, and efficient. They fit my travel emergency into their busy schedule and were a real help. I am very grateful! They did the job well and quickly and were very nice. read more

I've been going to Bradham for almost 6 years now. I will never take my car to any other place. I've so often heard that people have to pick 2 out of 3 options which are important: Price, Quality, or Service. That's thrown out at Bradham: you get all 3. Every time. Ladies, Gentlemen: This place IS for you. And, of course, I'm a personal fan of Grace, Josh, and John C. ... so I wanted to give them a shout out! Thank you, Bradham Automotive! read more

Update: I went to Bradham for a couple years after posting my first review and still couldn't be happier with them. Since my first review I'd gotten all my regular maintenance and some unexpected fixes done there. Grace and everyone else on the team there is wonderful. Once I brought my car in suspecting a flat - tire pressure was low and I saw a large screw head in my tread. They lifted my car up, pulled it out and found that it hadn't punctured anything (YEAY). They didn't charge me a thing. They're fair and honest with their prices and do a great job. I've since moved out of state - I'm sad I have to find a new mechanic, I don't think I could find one as nice! read more

Need a front alignment for an older vehicle and was shocked how few shops now offer the service. I live in Southern MD but, after spending far too long on the phone trying to secure an appointment for the service, I decided to look at Yelp. There was Bradham Automotive with all their 5-star reviews. 5-stars? For an auto shop? Really? Impressive. I phoned and the lady who answered was lovely. Secured me an appointment in a timely manner and quoted me a reasonable price. Shop itself is very clean. They don't have much of a waiting area, but I was more than comfortable during my time there. Coffees and water are offered to guests and there are outlets to charge your devices. It's also in a nice little area of Old Town, so walking around while your car is being serviced is also easy enough. Owners are wonderfully nice and straightforward and professional and community minded. They try to give a lot back. I appreciate that in a company. My car was done in far less than the quoted time and at the quoted price. Can't get better than that. I'll be back. read more

I had a very pleasant experience with Bradham and the general manager. I made an appt online, they responded promptly. My bf dropped off the car and they offered him a ride to the metro. My car was at 35k miles and I knew I probably needed some maintenance in addition to an oil change. Their philosophy is honest, but a bit old school, in my opinion. Modern cars are marketed to require little maintenance over a lifetime (100k), with avg driving conditions. Bradham suggests maintenance, a transmission flush, for example, that you will not find in your owners manual. So, it's up to you. Do you want to maximize the efficiency of your car? Keep it for more than 100k? Prevent future issues, albeit rare and unlikely with average use and standard, regular maintenance efforts? Personally, I'd rather keep my $200, but I didn't feel mislead about the transmission flush. The GM explained their rationale for everything with patience. They treat cars like Olympic athletes. My little Corolla is more like a mall walker, doesn't need the best to get me from A to B. read more

Took my car to Bradham Automotive to have the rear brakes and rotors replaced for a Chevrolet Impala. I was quoted $1200. LMAO very laughable. Took my car to a popular franchised automotive repair shop down the street and got it done for $450. I can see if I drove a Mercedes AMG but we're talking about a generic base model Chevrolet Impala lol. read more

The reviews for this place had me skeptical - no place could be that good and no place that honest. I was wrong y'all! I came here with the ominous, "my car is making weird noises, I have no idea what's going on" problem. This is basically an invitation to get ripped off and I'm always scared of my lack of automotive knowledge making me a sitting duck. I came here without an appointment and left my car for the day since I work walking distance from there. The staff here was patient and called to say they were unable to replicate the noise, but they tightened things up and everything looks good. They suggested if it occurs again to try and find the trigger, but the noise hasn't come back since. 1) they were SO honest. They did not fabricate some repair despite having opportunity to do so, 2) they were very patient with my lack of car knowledge, 3) they did not charge me ONE CENT And THAT is how you get a loyal new customer and a five star review :) read more

no matter what you drive in for, they will perform a multi point vehicle inspection or diagnostic, claim it is free, but charge you labor for it somewhere else. it is comprehensive but unnecessary for 90% of customer vehicles. they dug out the air filter from my cabin, left the seat reclined and pushed back and contents of glove box a mess. was it dirty of course, but i went in for them to inspect my leaking coolant and pre holiday travel o-change. the diagnostic also detected no power steering fluid in the reservoir, very concerning, charged $13 to restore with mineral oil. also low brake fluid, and a failed tow (my front wheels are pigeon towed) on the alignment. problem here is that the dealer checked alignment 6 months prior and found it to be within normal range and no potholes or other curb hits have occurred in the 300 miles since. my vehicle alignment needs to be performed while in "Sport" mode which was not done, rendering their results invalid. RED FLAG #1 - called them after receipt of the digital estimate and i researched the $88 actual cost of a replacement part for my vehicle for which their upcharge came to $339, (and labor was $449 taking anywhere between 3 and 6 hours -- RED FLAG #2), suddenly, my vehicle was no longer available b/c the part was already removed (within 40 minutes of my being quoted the cost, which we all know they did not have it out of the car if it takes 3 hours. so they LIED). service manager i dealt with was professional and friendly until confronting his disregard of my request despite telling him AT DROP OFF and calling twice to confirm my desire to use the manufacturers recommended regular grade oil in the o-change. so, when it was not done, he first lied and said i never requested regular, then he said i never clarified semi over "full" synthetic oil, then ranted that i was questioning his judgement -- after which he proceeded to recite his resume and extensive experience, then he disparaged the manufacturer and the mechanics that work for them, to finally patronizing me with "if i want to use inferior product", he would oblige b/c the "customers always right". this was all while i stood in the lobby with the phone on speaker so every patron could hear his irrational rant and barbaric treatment of me. did he swap the semi synthetic oil and filter like he claimed or did he not? at this point, he became so unreasonable and argumentative, i highly doubt he took due care with my car b/c it felt like he wanted to punish me for disagreeing with him, most likely by doing harm to my vehicle. the receipt says they replaced the semi-synthetic oil with regular and threw in a new filter, but the strong oil smell and thick white smoke for weeks after the swap says otherwise. who knows whether their work is quality when every single thing i attempted to clarify was met with ego and temper tantrums by the service manager. like simply asking whether they disconnected the air suspension on my vehicle before allowing it to remain suspended on a hoist over night as this is known to cause pinhole leaks to vulnerable air lines. i provided the correct radiator fluid for my system with a LONG explanation as to how I came to learn about the mix ups for my model year. The Service Manager disregarded what i brought along from the dealer in a BOTTLE, despite that we spoke at length in advance about this very crucial issue: my model year vehicle used 2 different radiator fluids which were catastrophically incompatible -- later requiring an engine backflush at the dealer (which Bradhams refunded me for). i was still charged for the quarts of incorrect coolant that was later dumped. but even this became an argument with the SM telling me the only difference in the colors was the dye color when in fact they're comprised of 2 distinctly different organic compounds. was treated with such disrespect over this vital and drastic oversight which the SM was notified well in advance, including handing him the correct BOTTLE of rad fluid upon arrival. had lively discussion as to the benefits of this or that oil....yet the attitude changes swiftly should you confront the Service Maager on mistakes or decisions to disregard your specific requests. no customer should be verbally assaulted and refused a chance to contact the shop owner to report the egregious behaviors. That was my experience. Despite that this shop was abysmal for decades and is now supposedly under "new ownership" the same horrific ego maniac SM cannot separate his way from the requests of customers. This shop is for ppl who don't want to think about car care and want someone to do all the decision making for them along with routine upcharging by hundreds and hundreds while lying to you about the services being performed to your vehicle. i will never stop worrying about the long term damage my vehicle -engine and suspension- sustained for my poor decision to leave it in their "care". read more

A little uhappy with this place. Everyone is very nice which helps with the sting of how much money you are shelling out for your car to get fixed. Went in for a lot of issues that I knew would cost an arm and leg only cause I was going to be doing some traveling and wanted to be safe. They fixed everything and was very good with explaining things to me which I was appreciative for. I didn't appreciate that my gas tank was almost empty and no one said anything when I picked it up. The real unhappy part comes after I did my traveling. I came to back home Va to get my inspection (from another car repair shop) and received a rejection because something that I had gotten fixed from this place was broken. The parts that were broken are what I dropped a large sum of money on to get repaired so I would be safe while traveling. So to find out that, those parts were broken really made me upset. I called them back and got the parts replaced for free. Which was the only way I was going to accept the repair. read more

Outstanding. They're friendly and professional and take time to listen to the problem you have and explain what they've found with recommendations. Their estimates are accurate and they completed the work on time. They appreciate your business, which seems like an increasingly rare quality these days. read more

Josh is my hero. I recently had my first ever flat tire, and managed to limp the car back to my home. This happened the same day I received a traffic ticket (I swear they were unrelated reasons), so I was very upset and frazzled already. I live on Queen St., which is very close to Bradham. I called Bradham close to their closing time and asked for advice, as I wasn't sure how to put the donut on the car, much less how to order the new tire. Josh told me not to worry, that he would drive over first thing in the morning and put the donut on my car himself, take the old tire in order to find me a new one, and have it all done over 4th of July weekend for a very reasonable cost. I thought it sounded too good to be true- are car places ever this easy to work with? It turns out they absolutely should be, because Bradham Automotive is. Josh showed up at 7 AM on a holiday weekend and had the donut on my car in 5 minutes, had the new tire the same day, and completely handled the situation. In addition, he is just a very nice person and was very easy to talk to- he didn't once make me feel dumb for having no idea what I was talking about. Thank you all SO much. We will definitely be returning! read more

I came here to get a routine oil change. While the quality of the work is probably fine, I was pretty unsatisfied with the cost of service and transparency in billing. $106 is pretty steep for an oil change. (I moved to the area from New York City.) They initially called me up to ask for $180 to change the oil and replace a headlight that had gone out. I asked them not to replace the front head light; I have a spare light ($10) and can install it myself in two minutes. That knocked the price down to $106 for just the oil change, including some kind of optional, extraneous "service pack" that I didn't realize cost $36. All of this left a bad taste in my mouth. Had they itemized the prices from the get-go, I wouldn't have felt like I had to sleuth to avoid unnecessary costs. Update: The owner called me to apologize. He clearly cares a lot about his customer relationships. He refunded the "service pack", and hopes that we'll give them another chance. read more

I orginally went to Bradham for a brake inspection asking them to change my front brake pads because they looked worn to about 1/4 inch. They charge a $60 brake inspection fee that can applied to work that will be done if needed. Instead they applied some brake cleaner to my rear drum and adjusted the parking brake for $120. They said it was unnecessary to change the front pads and I could drive it for another 8-10k miles or another 6 months or so. I didn't trust their opinion because my brake pedal felt low and my stop distance was pretty poor, so I got off my lazy ass and decided to just change it myself this weekend. There is no way there was 8,000 miles left in them, the photo is attached. The driver side brake pad was worn to 1/8th of an inch, which means they needed to be changed. They were probably just waiting for me to ruin my rotors and charge me $500+ for a brake job that I did myself for $45. Bottom line I don't trust their work and am now wondering if they changed my oil filter. Since Bradham wants to get all technical, there was actually only 2mm at the thinnest point of the pad. But that's besides the point, we all have bad days and make mistakes, but you blaming me for not 'understanding' your explanation is not helping you. I'm sure that you are very busy selling your windsheid washer fluid flushes for $250, perhaps your time would be better spent training staff or doing the repairs requested. read more

Bradham Automotive - The pads that Bradham mechanics told me had 8,000 -10,000 miles left in them and keep driving them. - Auto Repair Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I came because my car sounded weird and needed them to check my brakes before I got on the road (I'm visiting family and drive down from Boston). They got me in last minute, figured everything out, and did a general inspection of my car. They let me know what absolutely need to be fixed and what they recommended to get checked out soon- didn't try to force anything on me. On the contrary, when he told me I should replace my rear differential fluid, he also recommended I wait until I get home to my local mechanic because it wasn't like a super emergency and that I should have major service like that done locally in case I have any problems. Super transparent, super quick, and I really appreciate that they told me about everything and quoted me before they did any work.in addition, there was a yelp deal that saved me some money, and my price I paid was way under the quoted price! If I'm in the area I'll def use them again. Highly recommend!! read more

I was referred to Bradham by a former co-worker who told me they were honest and would tell you what *didn't* need to be done. I haven't been disappointed. They tell you what needs to be fixed right away, and what can wait. Their prices seem reasonable (I don't really have a lot of basis for comparison; definitely better than the dealer). Today they even didn't charge me for a quick fix that they did while I waited (bumper was hanging off, needed a clip). They have a loyal customer for sure, and I refer lots of people there. I created this Yelp account just so I could tell everyone how great they are. read more

I'm not one to write a review for a car repair shop, but I have to say that this place is by far the best in the area. I took my Chevy S-10 pick up here a few years ago when I was having random braking issues. They were great, very honest and up front with what was wrong. They have inexpensive labor charges for the area - even offered me a cup of coffee when they were explaining the issue. My Blazer still is under an extended warranty, but I still take it there when I have wear and tear repairs. They are great. read more

You want to bring your car here!! I always feel confident in their honesty. I've trusted them for about six years now. They do things right. They are not the cheapest, but I've found through the years that while price is important, it is definitely not the most important thing!! It is worth it to know that this establishment has been around for many years. And I feel comfortable knowing that they do not try to tell you that you need repairs that you do not need. read more

Great experience. Noah was extremely helpful, knowledgeable and professional. He took care of my needs and answered all of my questions. I will absolutely recommend Bradham Auto and will be bringing my car back here when need be! Thank you Noah! read more

I waited until the last possible second to get my car inspected and had to get in line with the rest of Alexandria. Bradham Automotive was incredibly nice and helpful, let me leave my car there for the day while I walked to work, and called me to let me know that one of my inspections wouldn't have to be renewed until the following year. Overall, super pleasant and easy to work with. Waiting area was clean and air conditioned! And I can't begin tell you how personable and informative the staff was. Will definitely be returning (though hopefully not too soon). read more