We were looking for a garage closer than Aurora that we could trust. I saw some positive statements about Independent Motors on NextDoor. I called them and liked how they sounded for my Subaru's 90k service. Not only did they do the service, they ended up charging less than the estimate! They didn't recommend anything I didn't need done. I will trust them with my car the next time it needs service. And possibly my husband's too. read more

Greg , Christian , Sheila and the entire crew made this a seamless process ! My older model RAV4 now handles like a dream , and Greg was able to complete the work ahead of budget , a pleasant surprise ! He communicates well on what needs to be tasked. New shocks really make a lovely impact for driving ! New front struts , rear shocks , differential fluid , and new wipers to boot ! Fresh , new tires are icing on the cake , and what really makes me smile every time I turn the key , is their dedication . Thank you for going the extra mile so my car can too ! You all are a winning team . Superb , I highly recommend Independent Motors . read more

Easy, dependable, excellent quick service. Glad I found a new garage that I can depend on.

Since 2/1989, our Toyotas have been cared for here. Top notch! Honest, ethical Ecologically-careful. Owned for many years by Bill Bender, who established the plea with an informal slogan of: "We won't sell you anything you don't need. Excellent at keeping older cars safely on the road & licensed & inspected, Friendly, engaging people. Now owned by Greg Farnsworth, who is building on the success, as Bill Bender has retired. Look at the S Wall of heartfelt Thank You noted posted from satisfied customers . It will acquaint you with what they do & how they do it. read more

My car was damaged at Trader Joes parking lot - no note. So I made an insurance claim ($250 deductible - estimate appt on Friday). Today my LOW tire light came on for all 4 tires. I had an appt near Independent Motors so I took a chance and ran inside to ask if they could see if my tires were low OR was it my footwell module dying? NO PROBLEM she said. Leave it there and go to your appointment (RIGHT NEXT DOOR) and I'll have one of the guys look at the tires and top them off if that's all it is. came back about 20 min later. The mechanic JOSHUE (sp?) told me tires were ea 4lbs low. He filled them & also fixed the mirror mechanism !!!! so now my tires are full & mirror is working! These guys-AWESOME! (see my other review on GOOGLEMAPS. I'm so happy I discovered these guys now when little things are starting to happen to my nearly 15 year old mini and I don't have to drive 90 miles roundtrip to loveland or denver to the dealer! THANKS INDEPENDENT MOTORS. P.S. You have the best staff! read more

I've been going there 20 years, top-notch communication, service. Fair labor prices, and they use dealer parts.

Sheila was so helpful and easy to work with. They were honest and determined the issue with the car wasn't a big deal like other places said. Very honest and trustworthy. I am very impressed!!!! read more

Staff is very professional and helpful. They seem to really care and want to keep my 16yr old safe in her car

Honest, straightforward, courteous, helpful, organized, reasonably priced (especially compared to dealerships and lots of others) and just plain great service for 30 years on multiple vehicle brands. read more

Too bad that these Yelp reviews of Independent Motors begin with a bad review from 2019. I've taken my cars to Independent for more than 30 years. They are stand-up, capable and most important honest mechanics. I and many others highly recommend them. We are lucky to have such mechanics; they have saved me many thousands of dollars and kept our cars on the road for many thousands of miles. read more

You see, this is what I absolutely love about independent motors... I went in for possible electrical issues with my car and was quoted $310 (which I knew was an honest and reasonable price) couple hours later, get a call from Jason (who is always awesome) and tells me it's only gonna cost me under $20 bucks!!! If they wanted to they could have just charged me the quote (hell, I wouldn't have known the difference) but because of their HONESTY, INTEGRITY, and AMAZING STAFF, they found that what I TRULY thought was something electrical was only a fuze!!! Thank you again to all the staff at INDEPENDENT MOTORS, y'all are awesome, and you already know you got a customer out of me for life and with my old lil beater I'll be back again eventually read more

Independent Motors - Auto Repair Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

It's rare to find such a peaceful, clean, conscious mechanic. Anywhere else you'd most likely find a little mayhem, some miscommunication and a sprinkle of questionable paperwork - but NOT HERE! This place is awesome. They don't rush a quote, they follow-through with everything they promise and they even encourage you to keep an eye on the things that may cause you a little headache going forward. Independent Motors took care of my Ford Explorer Sport Trac, fixed the AC, replaced all sorts of fluids and filters and they found a few things that could have been dangerous down the line. They fixed it all in a reasonable amount of time - and were very kind (and educational) throughout the process. I love this place! Highly recommended! read more

I'm giving a shout out to Independent Motors in Boulder - a shop I've used much of the 35 years they've been in business (though I nostagically miss their old location on very west Pearl Street). Owner and founder Bill Bender and his staff have always treated me well, done a good job, not tried to saddle me with unnecessary charges, AND they even offer loaner cars which makes it easier given I live 61 miles away! I drive a 2001 Infiniti QX4 with 300,000 miles on it. When having my snow tires put on a couple months ago (like I needed them this year :) ) a Discount Tire shop down in Littleton broke a stud, then gave me a certificate for a nearby auto shop to replace it (free?) When I finally was getting the stud replaced (a 4-hour process as they kept getting the wrong part delivered) the manager came out with a laundry list of repairs and was especially concerned that my front hubs were loose and "really" needed replaced. Factory part, I was told, and the repair would top $2,000. I knew my steering was a bit loose and I was appropriately concerned. It had been on my "to do" list anyway, so his comments weren't totally out of left field. I thanked him and said I have a shop I trust that does most of my car work. I told Bill the situation and made an appointment, finally picking up the car today. Yes, there were a couple of factory parts needed - special screws. They repacked the hubs. $122.50! While there, I had them do a once over, changed oil, alignment, replaced cracked belts under the hood, a couple light bulbs and wipers. Spent $777. Jason was the lead tech. I always trust these guys..even back to my Nissan Sentra and Datsun B210 days. Thanks for your great efforts! And the steering feels firm as ever. read more

Integrity is right -- The folks at Independent Motors did an excellent job of diagnosing and helping me prioritize all of the maintenance and repairs my car needs. Paid $150 for a complete diagnostic on my German vehicle; mechanics were thorough, helpful, patient and competent! Although I opted not to get all the repairs done at the immediate time, I feel very confident that when I return I'm going be in very good hands. Service shop is just absolutely impeccably clean. You can really tell these guys take pride in their business. These guys seem to be very straightforward; straight up, straight shooters. No BS! read more

I actually didn't end up using them (at their suggestion due to some technical stuff on my 2018), but they were super awesome during the multiple conversations trying to figure out what I wanted done on my truck. Bummed it didn't work out, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone needing work done on their vehicle. read more

I was totally bummed to lose my mechanics after trading in my Saab for a Subaru, and my terrible experience at Super Rupair made me regret ever buying something other than a pre-1993 Saab! Then I found these guys and regained faith! They're always honest, thorough, and fairly priced. They're the only people I've taken my car to who haven't tried to convince me that my spark plugs need to be replaced (the previous owner installed pimped-out ones that don't really belong in an old Subaru but will last forever). They're also very friendly, never condescending. What more can you ask for in a mechanic? read more

I had a good experience at Independent Motors. I have been going to Hoshi, but Hoshi was too busy for me. They were good enough to recommend Independent, since my clutch was about to fail. Independent was able to look at it that day, and fix it quickly the next day. They even came in under budget! I'm sure I will be back. read more

I work on my own vehicles and was bummed I when I couldn't do this latest job, but I heard good things about Independent Motors, so I thought I'd turn to them. I couldn't reach two bolts during a starter replacement, so I decided to have Independent Motors do the installation for me. It stinks that I had to spend $200 because I didn't have the means of getting to the bolts, but for first time putting my vehicle in the shop in 5 years, I considered this minor. They did a good job of replacing the starter and were very quick about it. They also made of list of recommendations on what I should do maintenance on and listed the cost of parts and labor...here's where I'm indifferent about this shop.. What I didn't like about their service...$497 to replace an ignition cylinder and get a spare key??? First off, I looked this job up...the ignition cylinder cost me $52 at O'reilly auto parts. The installation?...took 10 minutes! I looked up how to do the job online and it was simple as hell. These guys wanted to charge me $500 for a 5 minute job for them. They are definitely taking advantage of their customers..maybe to pay off the bills of the new location. Trust their work, but also beware of them overcharging you. Do your research before locking down a job with these guys. read more

These guys rock. Chan's is also great--very HONEST, and will tell you when you don't need to worry about something, but they mentioned that my transmission plugs were stripped & I should take it to the dealer, probably to fix it. Boulder Nissan tried for a day, but told me it'd be over a THOUSAND DOLLARS to replace the transmission casing. Second opinion--the guys at Independent Motors were confident, and did great--replaced stripped filler & drain plug, finished it within 3 hours, and only charged me $110. AWESOME!! read more

My car has been on and off dying immediately after I've started it, and the most recent time this happened, I had it towed to Independent Motors. When they got to it, the car wouldn't act up and ran just fine (I think my car hates me). They drove it at least three times that day trying to duplicate the trouble I was having with it. I even stopped by a few minutes before they were closing and one of the mechanics rode around with me and checked it out one more time that night, even though he was already off the clock! They asked if I wanted to leave it over the weekend and see if having the car sit for a couple of days would cause it to act up again, so I left it and they checked on it immediately the next business day. They drove it around a couple more times and did further testing on it and still could not diagnose the problem. When I came to pick up the car they told me that they had put in at least 4 hours into my car trying to figure out what could be causing the stalls and they just couldn't figure it out since the car would not duplicate what I was experiencing. I was worried about the cost when he told me they had put at least 4 hours in but they ended up only charging me for 30 minutes since they couldn't find the problem! They also told me if it happens again, come back immediately and they will put that money into the repairs! They gave me a list of repairs that could be done on the car, and instead of trying to sell every one of them to me, they told me that it wasn't critical at this point to do them. The guys at independent motors seem like they really care about helping you with your car problems and they don't want to over-charge you. I've been looking for a good and trustworthy shop in Boulder for a while and I've finally found it! read more

Great shop for our Toyota. Greg was super helpful and transparent upfront. We appreciate their efforts to take good care of our new Rav4, also they let me drive a loaner, free of charge while waiting. Highly recommend Independent Motors!! read more

I contacted independent motors from a great reference. Upon hearing about their work I immediately took to the internet to find out if they could work on my 1986 Nissan Hardbody. It was with great relief and comfort that I saw listed on their website that they have been a specialty shop in Nissans, and specifically hardbody's amongst other models, since 1984!!! However, it was to my own dismay that I requested an appointment and was contacted and informed that they no longer have interest working on vehicles prior to the year 1996. Very disappointed in the website for portraying false information. 0/10 would not recommend. read more

I have been very impressed with these gentlemen. I was referred here after a horrific experience at Boulder Toyota. It was a lot of work but Jason and the guys at Independent Motors got my FJ running at tip top shape. Great service and very reasonable prices. Especially considering the quality of their work. Also the best alignment I've ever had. I love that the owner Bill drives the shuttle. It's very rare you have an owner that is so invovled in customer service. If your looking for a mechanic you can trust, these are the guys! read more

Been going to Independent Motors for about a year now and I'm extremely happy with the service I've received after switching from another local Subaru dealership. All I can say is that Sam is the best service writer I've ever encountered, and I have worked at a dealership before, dealing with many of them. The mechanics I've talked to seemed extremely knowledgeable and were very friendly. In fact, one time when I needed a shuttle ride, the only person who could help me out happened to be Bill the owner and he gave me a ride without hesitation. Talk about good service! My repairs have been done in a timely fashion and have been reasonably priced. I will continue to only take my WRX here and would recommend anyone who has a car under their service umbrella to give them a shot. read more

Over many years and four different vehicles, I have always found Independent Motors to be our most trusted ally in maintaining three Nissans and a Mitsubishi. With that many vehicles and countless repairs and service, we've rarely had anything that wasn't done to our perfect satisfaction the first time. Cars are complicated, and in the few instances where we've had to follow-up, their response was prompt, concerned, and usually involved meeting us halfway on any additional work needed (if not just outright including at cost!). When we've needed to save money they were honest about the bare minimums; when we were ready to "do it all", they've coached us on the best way to spend our maintenance dollars for the long-term. We've also had Independent do pre-purchase inspections for us, and help us calculate when it was best NOT to spend more money on a vehicle; they've never missed a beat. These guys are pleasant, knowledgeable, communicative and honest. This review is a bit different because it's based on our long-term relationship, but perhaps that's what matters most for car repair and maintenance. Now if only the new front counter could become as cool as the old location's ... :~) read more

Trust in an auto repair shop is what you are really hoping for when you need service or repairs. As a Boulder native my Mom used Independent Motors for her Honda and recommended them to my wife and I years ago. Straight up and honest is what they have been in our dealings with them. They will fix what is wrong and not sell you on un-necessary repairs. I now live 100 miles away and we do not take our Toyota's to anyone else if we have a choice. I have had cars towed there when needed. I rarely talk up any business, this is the exception. Mike Galvin Colorado read more

We moved to Boulder and could not find a good auto shop. Even the Lexus dealerships were terrible. I'm so glad we found this shop. The guys are beyond helpful and fair. I highly recommend independent motors to EVERYONE! read more

Hey, finding a good mechanic is a crucial as the right bar in every town I've moved to. Don't know why it took me 3 years to find these guys and only I work 10 blocks away. They do it right: Need an oil change? They'll do it for a great price and no bullshit about needing this or that, trying to sell you crap you don't need. It's clean, friendly, inviting (who says that about a car place?), free bottled water, juices, loaner cars, a comfortable waiting room and free WiFi! Fo' Shizzle! this place rocks. Makes you kinda glad you live Boulder, makes up for all the yuppies...almost. They even had Buddhist quotes that you can take with you. I noticed a general feeling of peacefulness and graciousness, like they all enjoyed what they did. I'll be going back, it might be better than my bar... read more

Had a great experience with selecting and getting new tires put on my Mini by these guys. Talked to a couple shops in town and these guys were the best. Love the friendliness, responsiveness, cost, and cool West Pearl vibe. read more

My car died on me on a Thursday night, stuck in downtown Boulder. The guys at Independent had it up and running before the weekend, which helped me out alot. They were totally professional and courteous, and didn't try to rip me off at all (my father is an ASE certified mechanic so I've been exposed to the business). I will be bringing them all my car repair business, which hopefully won't be much. ;) read more

Went in for a routine high-mileage service on my Jeep Liberty... found some obvious stuff like brakes/rotors were necessary... had further problems with some rear axle bearings as well... spent a decent amount of money to get the car dialed back in for a few more thousand miles, but it still wasn't quite right. returned to Independent Motors and they acknowledged that they had missed something. then they offered to do the work at their cost... I wasn't even sure I'd be able to afford to get the additional work done, yet they went above and beyond to fix something that they missed... great customer service, great experience overall... would recommend to anyone! read more

I've now taken two different cars into these guys and both times they've gone above and beyond what was required from your typical service. As a fairly new Boulder resident, I was most nervous about finding a dependable shop, but these guys have proven to me that they are my shop for years to come. If this review wasn't enough to convince you to check them out, their 30+ years as a Boulder business should tell you something. read more

This place is great. Really friendly, honest people who are all about customer service, and they seem very technical as well. I even got a free ride home with the owner after I dropped off my car. Their prices seem reasonable as well. Highly recommended. read more

They are the most honest people here. I have been going to them for two years now and they always do what is best for me and my family, not what is most profitable for them. This keeps me coming back! They also will squeeze me in when they are busy when my car is really in need of maintenance. I wouldn't go anywhere else. These people are smart, nice, honest, and affordable. read more

After my van quit running in the middle of the street had it towed to Independent, based on Yelp reviews. In spite of not having an appointment, my van was serviced and out the door in a relatively brief period. Jason did an excellent job of communicating and I have no reason to think the work was not done properly. On the less positive side, I have 10" scratch on the side of van that wasn't there when I dropped it off, and the odor of gasoline is quite strong inside the van and I'm still hunting for the source. Based on a Google search for average costs, the final invoice was pretty close to dealer price. read more

Independent came highly recommended from a friend and he was right. I had just come off a terrible experience with another shop in town and these guys delivered in spades. More precise diagnosis and as a result they were able to pinpoint the problem in my car and repair it for a THIRD, yes, ONE THIRD the price of the other shop in town. My car runs like new. These guys are professional and courteous but also direct in a way I'm used to hearing from a good mechanic. They tell you what needs to be done and what can be skipped. I'm so glad I found these guys. A dealer needed to fix one last problem with the car and they even discounted the repair to compensate for how much that would cost. Um, what? That is unreal service. read more

This place is the real deal - a trustworthy, independent shop staffed by old-timer and young people who are expert mechanics. They've been caring for our aging Toyota 4Runner (207,000 miles and counting) for nearly a decade and we've had nothing but good experiences with them. Quality work done right, at a fair price, by people you can trust. read more

Over the years I have had Independent Motors take care of 2 vehicles: a 1997 Nissan Pick-up and a 2007 Prius. The guys are always friendly, pleasant and right on with their quotes for work. They never proceed without calling me first (in case they found something unexpected). They also take the extra time to give each vehicle a "once over" and make recommendations for any future needs (when brake pads will need to be replaced, etc...). I attribute the fact that my little truck runs like it's brand new to the excellent care by Tony. And because Independent Motors is pro-active, I've never had any major issues or expenses. read more

I think their friends wrote the other positive reviews. My experience is quite different. My usual mechanic couldn't fit me in for an emergency repair and recommended Independent. On his recommendation I had my car towed there. I was given an estimate of nearly $800 to fix the fuel pump. I called my usual mechanic to ask if that sounded right. He thought it was absurd and squeezed me in. (Yes, I had to pay yet another tow bill to get my car from Independent to him.) He fixed my fuel pump for $204.00. That's 1/4 of what Independent quoted me. Not only that they left the car in worse shape than when I gave it to them. The battery was dead and the starter was unhooked. When I requested they refund the $49 they charged me they refused and even got nasty with me. Such a shame. My usual mechanic is getting tired and I would love to have another reliable place to take my car. Independent Motors is definitely NOT it. Stay away. Stay away. read more

Rip-off artists, Took my Nissan Sentra there today to have the AC recharged. I paid $194.54 to have them tell me that I have a hole in the condenser and that it will cost me an additional $772 to have it replaced for a grand total of $966.! I picked it up and paid nearly $200 for nothing but a diagnosis that I'm not even sure I trust. A friend at work suggested I call Keep Kool in Denver, where I was quoted a price of $400 - $450 total. Sure wish I'd asked in the first place! If money is no object, as I'm sure is the case with many Boulderites, these guys may do okay work but if money is tight, as it is with me, stay far away from this place. read more