I can't speak enough about this shop, the owner, and the staff. The times in which we live now, you can't beat quality work as well as people of integrity. I absolutely love, love, love this auto repair shop. The owner, named Winter, and his wife are incredibly nice. As a woman, I had an issue with auto repair shops seeking to take advantage of me; unfortunately. I've been going for over five years, and Winter and his staff have always provided me sound counsel concerning my car. Of course, there have been times when you are forced to take your car to the dealership because of a special part or some type of recall that only they can do or provide. But you can bet that once they finish, and if anything, else outside of this goes wrong or is a concern, I'm back up at TOTAS for the care and maintenance of my car. Since going there, I just discovered that some of my extended family on my sister's husband's side, as well as a cousin on my mother's side, take their vehicles to TOTAS. Small world... It's a hidden gem in the heart of Silver Spring. I'm a firm believer that I want to see everyone (deserving) who works hard prosper as they should. The prices are definitely reasonable. read more

Love this place. They are so quick and efficient and reasonably priced. It is first come, first served so bring your car in early and 99% of the time I get it back at lunch. They diagnose but don't push you to do anything you don't want which is awesome. read more

We love this place and have been going back for the past few years for several cars by now. 1) They are very polite and nice. Very important. 2) We've never felt they ripped off anything. Usually the prices are kept low and often lower than we expected it to be. 3) They're fast. For instance, when we brought a car for state inspection at 8am, they called us back as it's done at 11:57am, as they said they'll be done before noon. They kept their words. 4) When we bring our car for any problem, they call us back explaining the issues and the cost first, and once we agree to fix the issues, they'll do so. They fix them quickly, too. For those reasons, we trust them and feel if they say it'll cost X amount of money to fix any issues, we trust that's most likely the lowest price we can find (unless you have an uncle who can fix your car for free). The fact we have a go-to place when it comes to our car is such a huge relief. We love this place and want their business to be successful! Thanks a lot! read more

I love TOTA! Their service is fantastic, their diagnostic skills are superb, and the prices very reasonable. Highly recommend.

I have brought a variety of cars (US brands, German, Swedish, Japanese) to TOTAS over a few decades and they have provided exceptional service on all. Their prices are reasonable and their service is timely. If there will be a delay, they let me know. They are also very nice and very knowledgable. read more

I came here for an oil change and state inspection. They did the job well and in a timely manner. Price seemed reasonable. Convenient location and good service. read more

I went here for a MD state inspection - prices were very affordable and services were great. My brake pads needed to be replaced to pass inspection and they replaced them the same day. I would highly recommend this place. I wouldn't go anywhere else but here!! 10/10 service. This is my go-to shop. read more

This is the best repair shop I have ever been to. They are honest and more than reasonably priced. And they are fast. Very highly recommended. read more

1. I have used their service for quite a few years and they've always done a great job with my car. I've never had to take my car back to fix a previous repair, etc. Everyone has been professional and nice. 2. They have never tried to add on a repair I didn't need and always sought my permission when something unusual cropped up. 3. The shop has always been first come first serve. As such they don't take appointments. 3. Prices are very reasonable. 4. Only downside is no waiting room but I walk to Whole Food and chill with my hot coffee. Speak to Winter when you go. read more

Been taking my GWagon here since I bought it and these guys are fantastic!!!!! Honest and professional and they will go the extra mile to make sure you are happy. You will not have any complaints with Winter and the team. 100% A+ operation. read more

Takoma Old Town Auto Service - Auto Repair Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

I have tried using their services several times due to the positive reviews, and the response rate is absolutely AWFUL. I have gone in person multiple times inquiring about how much it would be to fix my car, but I get told to leave my information down and that they would call me back asap. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A CALL BACK FROM THEM. When I would try calling them about their services, it was the same thing, "We'll call you back asap," yet I never got a callback. The last time I spoke to them, I brought this issue up, and I was "promised" to get a callback and "not to worry". But as I guessed again, NO CALLBACK! read more

I've been taking my car here for a few years - for regular oil changes and other services. They have great service, don't up sell, and have always taken good care of me and my vehicle. Their pricing structure is among the best I've seen in the area. I am a loyal customer! read more

My car wouldn't start, and a neighbor recommend I take it to TOTAS to get it looked over. They were busy, but they diagnosed the issue quickly and had my car working by the end of the day. Their rates were reasonable and their work was good; I will definitely return. read more

I've been coming here a little over two years now and always get excellent service. They are pleasant and fast and I've never had an issue with work done. Love this place. read more

This place is excellent! Highly, highly recommend them. I used to go here more regularly years ago when I worked and lived nearby, and they were always fair with their pricing, communicative, and honest in what needed to be taken care of immediately and what could wait. In the past, Bobby was even honest with me about not investing in unnecessary repairs when my car was getting quite old, which I really appreciated. Recently, I went back and they showed that they continue to offer extremely reasonable pricing and a quick turnaround time for service. I very much trust them, which is so important to me! read more

I lived in Silver Spring for 3 years, and my wife and I brought our cars to TOTA for all of our work. They always did an excellent job, listened patiently about issues, explained things well, and did the work quickly and at an excellent price. They never tried to upsell, and they were very thorough (always did a general safety inspection with any job) and honest (they told me when a repair was essential vs recommended, that I could wait 6 months or a year to fix an issue, etc). They were very kind and professional. I highly recommend this outstanding mechanic. read more

Broken down 8 hours from home, gave the receptionist my telephone number 3 times, she asked for it again... Tells me she "forgot it already". I was trying to get an idea of how long it would take to look at my car and she told me I would "have to drop it off in the morning, they would look at it when they had a chance and maybe call me back". Completely unacceptable for someone trying to get back home! read more

The first time I went there was about two years ago, to get a Maryland inspection for my car. They were very friendly, informative, provided the service quickly, and I was not charged any extra fees. Fair price. The second time I went, about a year ago, was to have the front grill on my Toyota replaced. They showed me somewhere I could buy the part online for a much cheaper price than they were able to get it, so I did, and when I brought it there they installed it for me for a much lower price. I went again today, with a headlight bulb, as they are very difficult to replace in my Toyota. They took me immediately, charged me next to nothing since I had already purchased the bulb, and I was out the door in 15 minutes. Honesty and kindness wins. Very highly recommended. read more

Great auto repair shop and prices are reasonable. A friend recommended this shop and I was so pleased with their service I recommended it to my family member. No hesitation about coming back for my future auto needs. read more

I always go here for an oil change and service. The price is fair and the service is top notch. I have an old Subaru Forester 2003 and it needs lots of work. In the last 4 years, I return here and no where else in the DMV. My only advice is to try and get the parts on Amazon or other places and bring them in--usually parts are 30-40% less than buying them at AutoZone, etc. Then you will only pay for the labor. read more

What a great group of folks who work to get your car repaired and repaired right. They quoted me a fair price and my car was ready and seen in no time. I wouldn't hesitate to bring my Toyota back here if needed in the future! Thanks to Rose and Winter for all their help, good customer service, and friendliness. read more

I've been taking my car here for over a year so I figured it's worth writing a review. I can't say enough about this shop--it's an honest place that does good work quickly and cheaply. Winter, the head mechanic and owner, knows cars and he doesn't suggest things you don't need. I have a 2000 Jeep Cherokee that requires a fair bit of maintenance. One time, I had a problem that required some welding, which these guys don't do. Winter drove my car to a shop nearby, got a quote, and had it fixed the same day by the other shop--managing the entire process. He also never charges for basic diagnoses or anything gratuitous. Just some examples of how they will go above and beyond to help. Highly recommend. read more

These people are absolutely the best! This family has run this place for decades and their honesty, integrity and skill has never flagged. I've gone in there, as a regular, when they didn't have time to do an oil change right at that moment, but, since I was running dry, they had me pull up, filled up the oil reservoir, and sent me on my way with no charge! Same thing happened with a nail in a tire one day. They have cared for my cars with maintenance and fixes after accidents and emissions equipment going bad, and always, always, tried to keep my costs down to the minimum needed for quality work. If they went out of business I don't know what I'd do. I've taken my cars there since the 90s! Jill Raymond read more

They're always taking care of my Subaru Forester like their son Reasonable price Skillful and reliable staffs Easy to deal with them read more

I've been to TOTAS three times now and each has been good. They are always so nice and helpful. They've never tried to oversell me on additional work that needs to be completed. Furthermore, I appreciate how straight forward they are with costs on labor vs parts. I'm not from the area so it's great to have a reliable mechanic!! read more

These guys have been pretty good. The first time I brought my car there it was because the engine light was on. They checked it and told me not to bother getting it fixed, because the problem I had was no big deal. The light went off on its own a few days later, so they weren't kidding! I didn't owe them a penny. I was impressed that they were honest, so I brought my car back to them when my AC went out. This time, everything they said they wanted to do checked out with my friend who knows a lot about cars, and they suggested going the cheaper route (which also checked out with my friend) rather than...well, it's complicated. Anyway, my AC works now and I payed them the price that they quoted me verbally. Yeah, customer service is a little weird. You can't make an appointment which I think is why things take a little long. It kind of seems like they have a bunch of guys working on a few cars all at the same time. I'm sure there's a method to the madness, but it's a little disconcerting. Regardless, the important thing is that the TOTAS guys are honest and do good work, and I wouldn't hesitate to take my car back to them. read more

The people at this place are very nice and friendly. There was a problem with my car so I brought it in to be checked. Their service is pretty fast. The owner is a very honest man. He suggested not having to fix the "problem" as it was not a big problem. He even called up the dealer to check if that part for my car was still under warranty. I later asked the owner about bringing in a car that I wanted to buy for checks, he said he could do it for me. Really nice people. Saves you tons of cash compared to bringing it to the dealer. read more

TOTAS Silver Spring is as trustworthy, affordable, convenient, and friendly as car service gets! Our family has been using them for years and have had nothing but outstanding service. We take our Chevy, Nissan, and Kia there, and they can handle all those makes and models fine. When my Kia was dying out of nowhere, the mechanic explained that I needed a part that normally was replaced in pairs and would be really expensive. He suggested based on his experience that we just try replacing the broken part first, and if I had issues he would put the other component in for no extra labor. I didn't need to come back, he was right! Saved me hundreds of $$$. When we need service we can just drop the car off, no appointment necessary, and almost always the car is ready before the end of the workday for pick up from the shop. That simply doesn't happen at other car repair places. I don't normally give 5-star reviews, but these folks are worth it. read more

Short review: this is a great, friendly place that you can really trust. Long version: I was having trouble with my battery draining while my car was off. I took it in and Bobby said the alternator needed to be replaced. He had some trouble finding one, but after a couple hours it was ready. A month later, that alternator burst into flames while I was driving on the highway. Now, this alone would suggest that this shop uses unreliable parts, but really this could have happened from any shop: the real test is how they respond when something they provided causes more problems. Well, Bobby never tried to claim that it wasn't his alternator or that it happened because of something I did or because of the car itself. He just took the car and got it taken care of. It took a little while to get all the parts, so in the meantime he made sure that the guys who made the alternator would reimburse me for a rental. In the meantime he called regularly to update me on where things were with my car. Finally I got to pick up the car; Bobby showed me pictures of how he had to pull out the entire dash to access the engine from both sides, how he replaced everything that had been damaged, washed it all out, and also replaced my brake lights even though I didn't know there was anything wrong with them. I signed and was on my way, without any talk of me paying anything. In other words, this is a place that comes with a real warranty. I plan to go here for any problems as long as I live in the area. read more

I recently bought a used car that needed work to pass Maryland inspection. I took it here and they were fantastic, I got a reasonable quote which was lower than two other places I tried and less than half of what my usual garage quoted me. The work was done, communication was great, and they came in slightly under the price they quoted me. I couldn't be more happy! read more

I have been taking my car to the TOTAS 2 shop in Silver Spring for mechanical issues, and when my car was in an accident this summer, they referred me to their body shop in Rockville. It is run by a woman named Jenny, and she could not have been any nicer or more helpful. From the minute I walked in, she was on top of my situation. She was a tremendous help in working with the insurance companies to make sure I got the fullest extent of what I was entitled to. By the time that car was repaired, it appeared to be in much better shape than it had been before the accident. It would be difficult to find another family of shops that could deliver the level of service and quality of care I received from TOTAS 3, as well as TOTAS 2. I highly, highly recommend this shop. read more

They should use a gun instead of pliers and hammers. On Thursday(april 29) I've been there to do a maintenance. Robby(technician) asked me for $1,570.00. This service cost me $400. Stay away from these guys. read more

I have a 2001 E320 Benz that had been sitting in my driveway for over a year. It wouldn't start even after a new battery and starter. I was so afraid of how much it was going to cost to have this car serviced I let it sit a little while longer. When I finally got the courage to deal with it, a friend told me about this place. I had the car towed thinking it would take several days. I recieved a call later the same day; it was just a fuse and some minor lose wiring! No attempt to over charge me. No scams. No mess. I went and picked the car up the next day and it's been running great. The people were friendly and I have zero complaints. I will take the car back her let for regular service. I am very satisfied. read more

I've been bringing my two cars here for a few years and was completely pleased with the level of service I received. That was until last month, when the mechanics destroyed my trucks engine (also read Beth B's comment who had a similar issue.) My GMC needed some repairs and considering how well they worked on the truck before I did not hesitate to drop my car for repairs (even though I now lived an hour away). I had alignment work and the engine coolant lines replaced and this is where my month long truggle with the TOTAS and the owner, Bobby began. I purchased all the parts needed to complete the work from a parts place nearby, where they have great prices. The owner of this parts place actually referred me to TOTAS a few year ago. So I drop the truck off and I get the call about a week before Christmas to pick my truck up. I pick the truck up and drive my car home. The next day, I began my commute to work and no more than a few blocks away from the house (and before I get on 295) do I start to hear a knocking sound, which gets louder and louder, and the check gages light comes on. There was NO oil in my car. Extremely concerned, I immediately put over into a gas station and pop the hood but I didn't need to as I see a huge puddle of oil on the ground. I have the car towed back to Bobby and he says the coolant line was not the exact fit which caused the oil to leak. The coolant line is replaced again and I pick my car up. On the drive home I still can hear the knocking sound from the truck and I let Bobby know something does not sound right and the car is towed back once again. Now, I do not believe Bobby was the cause for the coolant line being the wrong size, but I think he does NOT review the work of the other mechanics. If he did, it would have been apparent that the car was leaking oil heavily. Now because of this neglect and unskilled mechanics the leak ruined my engine. And Bobby would not take responsibility for this issue but his guilty conscience kicked in and he agreed to put in another engine. After SEVERAL more tows back and forth, and two used engines later, I guess my truck is repaired but I am not convinced. I am taking my car to the dealership to see how much more damage TOTAS caused. Only bring small issues here as they seem unskilled to handle larger car issues. A lawsuit may be pending for their damage...Beware! read more

I can't say enough about this place. I own a VW, so having even basic maintenance can get pretty expensive. An example, my headlights need to be changed. I went to the dealer and they quoted me $120! That's just nuts. A friend recommended this place to me. I bought the bulbs at the dealer and came here. They replaced them for $20! The owner is just great, straight forward, if he can't fix it, he'll tell you up front. I still drive from Sterling, VA to get my bulbs changed. I've also had tired replaced and of course oil changes...no problems. Wish I could find someone as reliable in VA, until I do, I'm coming here. read more

Like the reviewer who previously posted, the address on this post showed a different address than where they currently are located. I was confused, but that was my fault. I dropped my car off at around 5pm, went grocery shopping w/ a roommate and while I was in the store, they called back and said that they needed to replace the muffler and a gasket. They said it'd cost me $225. I said fix it. They said they'd call back when it was ready to be picked up. I finished grocery shopping with my roommate, drove back to the house, was unloading food, and they called back and said it was finished. I picked up my newly muffler-ed and gasket-ed car and was home by 7pm. The people working there were friendly. I thought that they seemed like they knew what they were doing, but I did find it odd and a bit unprofessional that they never asked to see my license or vehicle registration or insurance. I guess that could be a good thing for someone who is driving a car which they don't have any of those documents.. read more

I have been taking my car to this shop for years because of their reasonable prices, quality of work and quick turn around. However, over the last few years their repair quality and attention to detail has really dropped. On more than a few occasions, I had to take my car back to them to get the repair done properly. On occasion, I discovered the problem had not been fixed while picking the car up, so I either had to drive the car right back or just left it on the lot for them to fix properly. The prices are great, but the savings are quickly eaten up when you have to take time out of your schedule to bring back the car repeatedly for a problem they said was fixed. read more

Have had exemplary service from TOTAS, both at this "new" location and the larger shop on Fenton which they vacated a couple of years ago. They did exactly what they needed to do with my car, and somewhat less expensive than the quote. I had a leaking power steering problem. It was determined it was the pump, they replaced it with good results. I added an oil change. They didn't try to oversell me, the mechanic talked to me in real-time before he started the work which I appreciate. I think we can Enlighten each other, Yelpers. With a few tips, we can make it easier on any business that we review. In the case of a car repair place, we gotta think. If you go in close to quitting time, or on a Saturday when there might be an earlier closing, or when there is a foot of snow outside, conditions might be working against the process. When you take the car in, write the stuff you need down....I always put it on the computer so I can have a legible print. I leave it an envelope when I leave the key in the key drop. I use my phone number, and ask that I get a call as they do the estimate. When I hear what the price is, I am likely to ask for an oil change even if has only been two months (I try to remember to take a look for a new oil filter after paying for an oil change. I've gone to shops where I was billed, and the other mechanic thought that someone else had done it). There's only so much information that can be given over the phone before you bring it in---be realistic. Is this a sales call? Is this person buying or fishing? Have you ever been in a store with your purchase in your hand and had the cashier take a phone call that goes on and on? Wait a minute, I'm The Customer, you're talking to: The Maybe. Nobody can diagnose something over the phone, not the doctor, not a mechanic, nobody. In the case of the Yelper here who's story of a car run without oil is sad commentary. I would insist that the business make it right. The 5K is far too much to ignore. Small claims court would be real easy, and the court is in the same neighborhood as is this shop. The shop should be made accountable, they would have the capacity to re-install an engine and should have been made to do it. Anyone would know, we have a sick car here, maybe it doesn't have oil. Gauges and idiot lights cannot be depended on, we have to have a car on a diagnostic machine before taking it for a test drive. It is strictly an "unknown but should have known" story. I remember calling back a SS takeout place. I had grossly the wrong order. Since I hadn't been there before, I didn't know what it should look like as I was leaving. I called the manager to say it--there had been no busy-ness in the restaurant and there were 3 employees observing. The manager said the one thing that made it okay in my book---"Let me know it's you when you come in, give me a chance to make it right". Well, I never did, but they still have my business because he disquieted my complaint simply, and taught me a lesson---you gotta give a chance "to make it right". Lots of people here have found TOTAS to be honest and fairly priced, we can only hope the jeep story didn't get to the owners who should have had follow-up calls "to make it right". Everybody makes mistakes. Doctors bury theirs. We have to work together to make businesses responsible for blatant errors. Let's make the work they do as easy as possible, but the other side of the coin is, make them aware of mistakes and give them a chance to correct. Car repair is no fun. Nobody wants to spend the money, everybody waits until something is falling off or smoking before getting in there and then want to be a ten dollar bill-- like these people don't have expenses. I try to make it as easy as I can for car repair people. Did I ever tell you about the time I brought two pizzas and a half gallon of lemonade and cookies to the shop that was open on Sunday and did such a good job with my tires? read more

I have taken my multiple cars to TOTAS for over 15 years and have never been disappointed. They have gone far beyond the call of duty, helping me out immensely when my car overheated on the Baltimore beltway (I live in Takoma Park) when I had a five year old in tow. I would not trust my car to anyone else. Their prices are fair and they do not add on unnecessary service charges. read more

Wow, I love this place! I needed to install a tow hitch on my 2005 Accord last minute on a Saturday afternoon. U-haul sold me the parts but couldn't do the installation. I called around to several mechanics though most refused because they were unfamiliar with the procedure. It required a bit of ingenuity, including drilling several carefully aligned holes in the bottom of the trunk pan. Letting someone take a drill to the car was a scary thought. However, Bobby and his crew at TOTAS did an amazing job. I actually enjoyed spending the hour or so in the shop with them. The procedure was new to them as well but they did an extraordinary job. They clearly care about their work and went above and beyond in my case. I look forward to using them again for whatever service needs arise. read more