Travis and Carter(?) Both were super kind, able to get me in asap for a state inspection and very quickly the mechanic found a massive leak from my coolant tank. I mean it was empty of coolant when I came in and was completely busted up. Of course they added some stuff that was not as necessary to the list of things needing to be fixed but were honest about what could wait considering I'm on a strict budget and need to save for bigger jobs. General inspection is $30 but that's average for the area of NE Raleigh (I called a few places but decided on this place because when Travis answered the phone he was easy to hear and very polite) Id be back for future help with my car but hoping it isn't any time soon I did wait a fair while but I assume the coolant tank was what made the wait longer that the expected 40m at first read more

See all

Great, great great body work Keep me up-to-date with the service. Everything was communicated on my needs to be taken place. Recommend going back and satisfied customer. read more

Always excellent service with complete transparency about cost of vehicle repairs. Top notch!

I was a really big fan of A&J Automotive when I lived in the area during the prior 2 decades. I used to heartily recommend them to family and friends. I moved out of the area in 2017 for about 5 years and returned to Raleigh a couple of years ago. During that time they were sold and have a new management team. I have now been to their shop 3 times this past year and have had inconsistent service, at best. The biggest issues I have had have been apparent carelessness and poor communications. On one occasion they did a great job in a very reasonable amount of time for a reasonable price. The next time they forgot to attach a couple of wires so a couple of non critical electrical items no longer worked. The third time they did a great job determining why the ignition in one of our cars often would not release the key. They even had one of their mechanics work on a Saturday (non-work day) to get the car ready when we needed it. The fourth time - while trying to identify the cause of the battery dying after sitting idle for a week - they lost the keys to the car - an actual key and remote/fob. Rodney was apologetic about losing the keys and offered to pay for a generic fob replacement. Accidents happen, I am aware of that. But the bigger problem was that they didn't work on the car for several days because they couldn't start the car due to losing the keys and he only fessed up to losing the keys when he asked me if I had another key after I stopped by unannounced to check on the progress on the car's issue several days later. At one point I was assured that the car would be ready with a new key/fob the first thing the next morning. It was not, but I was not alerted to this. It was not available because they introduced another issue. One of the mechanics, in his efforts to troubleshoot the battery issue, pulled a fuse but forgot to replace it or he replaced it incorrectly. When we had enough of this goat rodeo and went to pick the car up, we brought the 2nd key/fob with us to drive the car home. Before we left the premises we found that the other key fob no longer worked either. Rodney was at a loss for why this was and asked me to call him if the Subaru dealership was able to figure out what the problem was. Basically they did a poor job updating us on the status of their work over a multi-week period. While driving the car home we discovered that now the radio and interior lights no longer worked. We took the car into the Subaru dealer and they found the source of the problem quickly - a missing fuse - and fixed it right away but it cost us a $200 diagnostic fee. To Rodney's credit he put in a new battery and gave us a new key and (generic) fob for no charge. 5 stars for the first experience. 3 stars for the second. 5 stars for the third. 1 star for the fourth. That equates to a solid 3 stars. Use A & J at your own risk - they might do a great job, a mediocre job or a poor job. read more

Brad in reference to your reply concerning my brother I wanted to add that I was on the phone from beginning to end. I heard you as you became aggressive, abusive in tone and ultimately trying to provoke the customer. I've read other reviews about you personally as the owner, and it appears this is not your first rodeo. In my opinion you are unprofessional to say the least. Customers work hard for their money and when they choose to do business with any small business as yours, it's typically with the hopes of not just being a number but, to at least be given respect. I heard you cursing and being belligerent to the point of bullying. Never did he threaten anyone as he expressed his dissatisfaction with the way you do business. In my opinion you called the police to try and cause him more aggravation. It is my opinion you are posting the negative narrative to defend your lack of professionalism in being a business owner. I hope as others read this, they will think hard and long about doing business with you at A&J Automotive in Raleigh, N. C. In my opinion your lack of business savvy clearly lets me see that you were promoted to a level of incompetence as you opted to be in business. Just because you can work on a car, doesn't mean you should run a car shop. Just a suggestion from someone who has been a business owner for many years, always try to resolve a business issue with courtesy, professionalism and with the thought of having this customer satisfied and perhaps a repeat customer. Being unprofessional, malicious and petty is not a good look. Although your employees seem to support those antics believe, they saw you in your true light. My brother is no saint but, he never represented himself to harm anyone. He is a UNC Chapel Hill graduate, a community advocate, a Christian and doesn't live his life the way you are trying to have others believe. Like I said on my previous post. DO BETTER, BE BETTER! I wish you the best going forward because God is in control of all that we do. Be prayerful and try to treat others, the way you'd like to be treated. God bless you . read more

I've had nothing , but a great experience at A&J. I drive a lot of long distance trips and am really anal about making sure my car is good to go on the road. I'm the client that thinks they hear something all the time and brings it in. Under normal circumstances with opportunistic car shops this , I'd be a monetary wet dream for them. I've never felt taken advantage of, over sold or under explained my options. My main point of contact is Rodney in the front office. Lawd that man has patience. I know myself and I'm and overly inquisitive, over communicating Steve Erkel type that just shows up unannounced with my vehicle, saying "shhh, do you here that? That's a new sound" However, Rodney is great at explaining things, talking you down a ledge when you're stranded and stressed, fitting you into the schedule, not trying to bill unnecessary work, thoughtful, kind, knowledgeable, personable and a straight shooter. Just from dealing with me alone he deserves a raise The rest of the office team are really nice and when I go to take my car in it's always a pleasant experience and not a fearful one. I look forward to it actually. I feel confident and have a trust worthy relationship with A& J. The office is clean and has a nice feminine touch to it. They also have loaner cars depending on the work you're having done and availability. Bathroom is pristine. The best way I can describe A&J is: they are the Cheers of automotive shops. Feels like family, everybody knows my name, and I'm a regular. I will continue to support and I highly recommend A&J ! read more

Came in and the guy Rodney at the front desk was cursing at one of the technicians. That is very unprofessional. If you want to run a successful business you may need to correct him because that's not appropriate in a work environment. The profanity used was way out of line. I don't know who is over him but the was he acted was very disgusting. I'm contacting the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU to have them look in to this matter. read more

Charged over $150 for a "complementary inspection" and the work that they stated they'd do (remove a pad that was torn and hanging down in the engine) wasn't completed. Car continues with same problems it had when brought in. read more

Went in for a simple 'pre-owned vechicle inspection' that on it's own was $176. Nothing was even done and they wanted almost $200. When contacted for an explanation there was none, when pushed further we were told to calm down and given a variety of excesses. If you just want to over price your service, just say that and maybe be upfront about it. When paying there was an additional 'shop supplies fee' as well as one of the workers pulling out a printed paper of a quote for vehicle inspections being $300-$400, I had to stop myself from laughing. I was also approached when I was outside by the same worker who said "we like to pay our emplyees well" I thought you said it was the 'market rate' though lol so you do CHOOSE to charge that much. I would figure that as an indepentant business who cares about people you would understand things being exspensive and willing to help them. But hey maybe you only get that when you say please and thank you :) read more

I have been going to A&J for auto service for several years and have always been completely satisfied. I began with my old Volvo which was kind of limping along, and they kept it going but advised me to begin to think about replacing it, which I had to do when it was totaled while parked in front of my house. I am now driving an older Acura, given to me by my brother who had been planning to sell it. Thankfully, it only needs the usual checkups and replacements, but I would not think of taking it anywhere else. The staff is friendly, the service is efficient, and the mechanics are excellent. Ray has always been able to provide a loaner when the service is going to take long (once, a car he bought for his daughter!). read more

I have been going to A&J for many years now with my 2004 Yukon and these guys always do a great job! I brought our 2008 Lexus to them (230K miles) because of the front end shaking. They went above and beyond to make sure it was fixed properly. It is not often you can find an Auto Service place that is reliable and fair and A&J IS the place! I tell my friends about their service and they are always impressed. read more

I usually "Yelp" if I have excellent service OR if I want to warn others not to make the same mistake I did. This review falls in the latter category. I had been dealing with a broken and stranded car for close to 24 hours when I finally decided to bring it to a shop. I mistakenly thought A&J's was a shop I had been to years ago, so I called and made an appointment to have my car towed there. The gentleman who answered the phone was nice enough on the phone, but when we arrived - from the minute I walked in the door - this man was passive aggressive and incredibly rude. He not only talked down to me, but he didn't listen to what I was telling him. I went outside to put a part in my car and burst into tears! I was already under such duress and he had NO empathy. He was demeaning and couldn't grasp the fact that my car had an error code that locked it down. When I walked back in to let him know I was having the tow truck take me elsewhere- I was crying- and he gave me the nastiest "oh boy! I don't want to deal with this crying crap" look. :( NO compassion. Only passive-aggressive attitude problems. Yuck! I won't make the mistake of calling A&J's on Departure Drive in Raleigh again! *UPDATE 8/27/14* Well, I've changed my "star count" from "1" to "3". I am doing this because I received a call from one of the shop's owners to apologize for what happened. She seemed to genuinely care about the fact that I had a bad experience and wanted to make it better for me. I let her know that there was nothing I was looking for - I won't be going back - but that I DID appreciate her call. I was especially impressed at the effort that they made to find my phone number to call me. Apparently they had to "dumpster dive" to find the card that I filled out with my info on it (they - understandably - threw it away when I left). read more

I went for a pre-purchase inspection for a used car, and I am so glad that I did! Unlike other car shops, this place is punctual and started on my car the minute I walked in at my appointment time. Their thoroughness with the car put me at great ease in making such an important, large purchase. I ended up buying the car thanks to them not having found anything, except for minor things (new windshield wipers and an oil change). I highly recommend this shop! read more

Went here to get my ac recharged. The staff here is extremely friendly and efficient! We were there for at most 20 minutes and within that time they asked if we wanted any refreshments. The waiting area is very clean with a flat screen TV. This place is so customer focused that they even gave us a welcome bag as a thank you! I would highly recommend this place! I know I plan on using them for my car needs. read more

I took my 08 F350 to Ray and his team over at A&J Automotive and they did a fantastic job replacing my air conditioning system. They were several hundred dollars cheaper than other reputable shops in the triangle, and Ray is a straight shooter which I like. He did not try to upsell me on anything, and was very honest and trustworthy. The turn around time was unbelievably fast, and i got a great warranty on parts and labor. I will be a customer for life!!!! read more

I received a call from the owner a couple weeks after my service and complaint. They sent me a check to cover the cost of their damages that I incurred at another shop. They took responsibility for their mistakes and I truly appreciate it. I still won't return, but they did step up to address the problem. read more

They were very helpful and kind. They offered me homemade cookies when the wait was longer than expected :)

I have been using A&J for a few years now for regular maintenance as well as repairs on my personal and business vehicles. The crew seems to always strive to get any services done quickly so my business doesn't experience a high level of down time. They are also polite and a couple of the guys made the effort to remember my name, which I appreciate. I would recommend them for any repairs large or small. read more

I have been taking my three vehicles to A & J for years with only a couple of problems until recently. I had my car serviced about a month ago and they failed to install the motor air filter. I drove a month with no filter which can cause problems with the engine. For the heck of it, today I checked to see if there was a filter. There was not and there was dirt and sand in the air intake area. I called Ray today and told him I just could not continue to use his shop. I would always wonder if I should check behind them. I hope my engine was not damaged. read more

I was purchasing a used vehicle and Brought it to them for a pre purchase inspection. They said everything looked fine. Tires, Brakes, no active leaks and etc. I bought the car on their word. I got it home and looked under the car and I could see a leak and oil caked on that just didn't happen. I called them and they had me bring it back. After 3 trips back and forth for a month they finally(I think)got it fixed. I bought the car for my daughter. The day we picked it up from being fix she got her license. The next day was her first day driving alone she broke down on 440. Called the dealer and he said to get it to them and they would get it to A&J. Now they aren't fixing it because it's not the same issue. I would steer clear of this place and Silver States imports.(A month and a half owning the car and the only place we drove it to is the mechanic and back home). read more

Great service. Diagnosed my problem or lack of problem and I was on my way. Didn't charged me either. Pep boys tried to charge me $400 for a fictitious problem. These guys were great. read more

Nice but overpriced. Charged me $600 to change my rear hub & wheel bearing which turned out to be a $50 part that took less than an hour to install. $550 per hour is ridiculous. read more

I was visiting Raleigh from out of town when our car broke. It was on a Saturday on a holiday weekend and I was stuck. I called A&J Automotive and they had my car professionally repaired in a couple of hours at a fair price. I wish we had a place like A&J Automotive in our hometown. read more

A&J Automotive I have been using this shop for over ten years, and I have always felt resecpted every time I have carry my car in for repair. I am a single women, and I live on what I make, and therefore I am very careful about spending my money. A&J always have give me what I pay for when I carry my car in. I trust then fully when it come to taken care of my car. Moreover, one thing for sure If Ray, tell you that something need repairing I just say go ahead and take care of it. I am a firm beliver that you get what you pay for in life. I have no problem pay A&J for their work. Cause I know that if something good wrong in the time limited that you have it repair A&J will take care of it without try to charge you for something that they did not have to fix just to get extra money. I have to carry my car in around November of 2016 because my check engine light can on. A&J did the repair I pick up my car and did not give it a second through. In December one Sunday on my way back from church my check engine light can on, and my heart just sink. A week before Chrismas and all I could think of was I did not have the extra money for the repair, so I has to make a discision gifts or my car of Crouse I needed my car to get around. No brainer. When I was call to come and pick my car up, I ask Ray how much was it, and he responded no charge. When they replace the valve i the frist time it pick up some trash, and that was cost the engine light to come back on, there was no charge. That what I consider a honor business man. If you are looking for an honor repair shop, this is were you need to take your car. Moreover, to any female that are looking for a great mechanic, A&J is were you need to take your car. You may spend a little more, but it is worst it knowing that some one is not trying to take advance of you because you are a female. Moreover, that if A&J say that it have been fix, you can leave knowing that it have been fix. I am driving a 2001 with 188,000.00 ml on it, and it run like a sewing machine. I will be looking to buy another car at some point this year, and I will ask Ray about the two cars that I have in mind to buy. I will take his advice on this purchase cause he will be the one taken care of that one as well. Let me add I have not receive any discount of payment for this review. Not one pennies I am doing this because I know what it feel like to pay to have work done on your car and you still have the same problem a few day later. When you take it back, you are told it something different when you know in your heart of heart that it the same problem you already pay to have to repair. Not at A&J Automotive. read more