Swift VA State Inspection and Emissions with Groupon coupons. First time here. No appointments or reservations. Great Yelp reviews. First come, first serve. Parking is jam packed. Nice waiting room. They have a sister shop next door. A few shops away in the same plaza. Larger. Support this Small Business! I'll be back. Especially, with the Groupon deal. Highly recommend. read more

See all

Came in today for a few services. Got to the shop right at 8 because I had somewhere else to be at 10. I wanted to redeem a Groupon for a state inspection and needed my oil changed. My tail brake light was also out so I asked it be replaced. The gentlemen inside were very friendly and the Groupon was easy to redeem. Here's the reason for the one star: First, I had asked for a rough estimate because of my time constraint and was never given an answer after asking a few different times and to be called since I went to the deli out front of the business. My car also sat up on the lift waiting for the oil change after they realized mid change they didn't have my filter size because I have a newer car. So they had to wait for another shop to bring it over. The oil change and tire rotation took almost an hour and a half. Then while doing the inspection the service man comes in and says that when he pulled my taillight out to look at the issue there wasn't one and the LED plug had just come loose. That there was nothing needed and it just needed to be plugged back in. The whole inspection portion took 15 minutes. Fast forward to the bill- $178 later (mind you I already paid for the inspection via Groupon). I was running late so I paid quickly and left. Once I got to the car I looked at the breakdown. I WAS CHARGED $68 for them to plug my LED taillight back in. I thought this had to be a mistake and called- the man on the phone said this was the labor cost and "at least I didn't have any part costs"... I was speechless!! I was there and saw the inspection that took again 15 minutes tops. I also noticed a random $9 "shop fee" that was separate from labor and parts. I would not recommend this shop based on their practices. I understand a small charge but not $68 for something they know took less than 3 minutes of their time to plug back in! Do better and go elsewhere. Sincerely disappointed in these practices. read more

Update: taking this down for five stars to one. First of all, I called several times today and only maybe about half the time someone actually answered the phone. Who's ever answering the phone is not even located in the same unit as the actual shop. But fine, I've been going here for a year and always had a good experience with Mr. Khan. But then today, for some reason, he decided to be very flippant & condescending...haha, sounds good, not exactly people breaking down your door. Also, who takes an hour for lunch when you're only open from 8 to 4 for inspections? Seriously? You need an hour!!?? Oh my gosh, thank you for that, not only are you out of the way and you never answer the phone but thank you for letting me know what kind of operation and running so I can gladly give my business to someone else. Thanks so much and please find yourself a shop that will be respectful! read more

I called here after Safelite not only made me waiting for 3 weeks with the right parts but cracked my windshield even worse to the spider web all over. A&L dealt with my insurance and replaced my windshield within 2 days after I called. I was very skeptical after being screwed by Safelite but the staff explained the process politely and promptly fixed everything. I am beyond happy. It is hard to find a trustworthy mechanic. But this shop is THE place you should bring your car to. I had to uber to get to this place but it was worth spending that extra money for the good job they did. I definitely recommend! read more

Want to save $3,200? Search for Suchin: "The Engine Whisperer" Shop #1, Vienna: "Your Camry needs a new catalytic converter, $850 now, $2,400 in 2 yrs." Shop #2, Arlington: "...must get a new cad, $850 now, $2,300 in 2 yrs." Shop #3, Alexandria:" ...must get a new cad, $4,340 now, plus I need $940 for "expert diagnostics" Final Shop #4 A&L Automotive/Van Dorn Auto Repair, Alexandria: "You never replace a cad without testing it first: problem is two sensors, a thermostat and a gas cap. Total $1,400 today, and no worries in two years." Meet Suchin, Owner/Master Auto Mechanic/Engine Whisperer When I first went to A&L almost two years ago, I mistakenly went to the shop next door - the names of the two businesses are nearly identical, and I doubt that it's an accident. When I asked for Suchin, the owner that I spoke to on the phone, the happy gentleman told me that he was "out" and to have a seat in the waiting area. Only when I insisted on talking to Suchin and offered to call his cell did he admit that I wanted the shop right next door. Let me tell you, the shop next door is THE ONLY SHOP you should go for auto and truck repairs done right. Suchin's such an expert at diagnosing a problem with surgical precision, that I brought my friend's father's old Chevy truck (the owner lives in Maryland) to A&L for a diagnosis and subsequent repairs. Turns out that Suchin's an expert with all Toyotas, including hybrids. Plus his shops are NAPA/ASE certified experts for Lexus, Scion, GM, Nissan, and Honda. Search for Suchin and tell him that you read about him being "The Engine Whisperer" - dude needs to hear it. His whole team is polite and attentive, with no attitudes or outsized egos. Everyone I've met there simply works nonstop and provides great customer service. Trust me, you can't go wrong with this guy and his auto shops. read more

I chose this place because of proximity to my house and because they work with CarMax's MaxCare program. I am so glad I found them, as Sachindra is a true gem. The air conditioning in my 2014 Ford Escape has been wonky and after a 95-degree day last week I had had enough. I called A & L and they said I could bring my car by same day. Sachindra didn't find anything wrong but he did some digging. Turns out Ford put out some sort of service bulletin about select Escapes built between 2013-2014 and trouble with a small part of the AC system. Sachindra called me and explained that even though he wasn't seeing a problem that would be an option, to replace that part as outlined in the service bulletin. He told me exactly what I would pay and patiently answered my questions. 2 days later (the part had to be ordered) my car is good as new and I am ready to tackle the summer! At no cost they also screwed in a piece of the underbelly of my car that was hanging down a bit. You can tell from talking to Sachindra that the shop is his passion and he wants to do right my customers. He is a small business owner who gives his business 100%. Will definitely return and recommend this shop to local friends. read more

Great place. Always consistent and get the work done same day usually. Prices are much better than any big shop you'll go to. My go to for anything i need fixed on my car. read more

I went into A&L Automotive because my vehicle was making a mysterious rattling noise under the driver's seat. A&L diligently went through the process of elimination and discovered the problem - it was my driver's seat and not the exhaust system or brakes. Further, they changed my oil filter and cabin. I thought these were already changed at a previous oil change but it was not. As soon as I drove the car, I noticed better performance immediately. Mr. Sachindra Desaram and crew were very professional, kind, and displayed expertise in their profession. I am very grateful for their consultation and service. My car runs better than new. This is a trustworthy business providing excellent quality. Please visit! Thank you! read more

NOW GSA CERTIFIED! This is the most honest and best garage in the northern Virginia area. I take both my vehicles here because I know Sachindra will be honest and straight forward. I no longer take my vehicle to the dealer like I used to, I have found the honesty and comfort in this mechanic shop. Do yourself a favor and check them out! read more

I had a wonderful experience at A & L recently. Everyone was so friendly and kind. The price was extremely fair and they had me out quick. They even took care of all of my warranty paperwork. Will definitely be back. Courteous, Professional, and Honest. 10/10. read more

Excellent service and trustworthy recommendations! They showed me the damage to my tire rod that they ended up needing to replace, and explained the repairs well plus kept me appraised of the estimate along the way. Will definitely be returning anytime I need repairs! read more

I have a really old car that needs lots of TLC and a mechanic that will be patient with it and with me. I came here after dealing with a sketchy mechanic who told me to simply buy a new car. Sachindra and Leslee took INCREDIBLE care of me from the start. Sachindra gave me a ride to the metro so I could get to work after I dropped my car off and within a few hours I had photos of the issues sent to my phone with quotes and how urgent the repairs were. A&L was unbelievably fast and professional. Their rates were comparable to other garages, but the difference was that I actually knew what I was paying for! When I picked up my car, Sachindra explained the repairs to me and also made a long term maintenance plan for me. I will be back as soon as my car lets me know it needs some attention. read more

Sachindra and his small but mighty team made coming to get my transmission serviced feel like I was visiting family. His pricing was fair and he was able to help me same day. I have found my mechanic for all future needs. read more

I've been doing to this place since I started driving, but even before that my father is one of his long time customers when he opened years ago. Ralph is an honest man who is very dependable and as he says "if the doesn't seem to have fixed the probem, bring it back." By going to him I always save at least 40%, compared to other shops. He does most repair, except exterior body work, alignment, and new tires. What I usually do is give him a call the day before and tell him what is going on and drop off the car before he closes or overnight in the drop box with a note. I leave him a list of what I need checked or fixed. I give him a call the next morning around 9 or 10 am to follow up. I count on him to always fix what is needed. Many times only 2 or 3 things need fixing or he tells me I can give the car more time on getting that fixed. He also let's you bring your own parts, but he doesn't give a waranty on outside parts. He is usually open M-F 7am-6pm and Sat 7am-12pm. Sometimes it gets backed up, but that's the reason I always call him to make sure he can get stuff done in my available schedule. He will only sell you what you need. read more

These days it is very hard to find a good, reliable and honest mechanic but I think I did. I was at an outing and one of the attendees was raving over their mechanic and how great he was. So I took the name and number for the mechanic and it was for Sachindra Desaram of A&L Automotive. The one thing that immediately impressed me was how responsive he was to my texts and phone calls. I told him I needed a brake job done along with some other little things. I took my vehicle in and dropped it off. Before I left, Sachindra and I ended up having a delightful 30 minute conversation about the history of A&L and life in general. A day later my vehicle was fixed and the price was very reasonable. If you are looking for a good, reliable and honest mechanic, take your vehicle(s) to Sachindra! read more

Sachindra at A&L Automotive is great! He's super friendly and genuinely seems like a good, honest guy. Got some work done on my car about a year ago and everything has been working perfectly! They were super flexible with my time. They let me drop it off when I needed, let me leave it there for a week while I was out of town, had it ready to go when I got back. It was also a little cheaper than I expected, I basically just listed off the few issues it had and said to fix them. I was expecting a few random expenses. But they fixed the two big issues and said that was it. I've been very happy with their work and will absolutely be going back. read more

Ralph (the owner and manager) is a very poor business man and his customer service skills are sorely lacking. He failed to provide me with an itemized receipt for a repair he performed. When I requested an itemized receipt he made one up without regard to the actual numbers (See Below). There was a difference of more than $50 and I knew that he had charged me for an emissions inspection I had already paid for elsewhere (and thus didn't need). Additionally, when I showed up to pick up my vehicle - after it had been at his shop for 2 weeks - the engine cowling cover was completely unreinstalled in my E150 and my parking brake was broken (which I did not notice until after I had left). He jammed the cowling back on while I waited (incorrectly I might add) and broke a small piece off in the process. I brought the van back to him a month later to point out the broken hood latch and again request an itemized receipt (which he then gave me as referenced above) as well as repair of my hood release latch. He first denied he broke it and then said that if it did break while in his care it was because it was old (this may be) and he wasn't responsible for it. He also told me that he had fixed my fuel regulator sensor - a $2-300 repair, that he would not take payment for (apparently because he felt I had maligned his honor with regard to the hood release). Good thing too, as it turned out he actually hadn't replaced the sensor, but instead just did something to get the Service Engine Soon notice light to turn off. After some bickering, and an agreement that he could fix the latch for less than $50 when I next brought the van in, I got in my car and left. While driving away I discovered that my radio wouldn't work. I went back in anf told him about this too. The respo se was the same. It turned out someone had turned the balance and fade to max and in this cofiguration no music could be heard. I also noticed that my tank was virtually on E, and I'm pretty sure I had AT LEAST a 1/4 tank when I dropped it off (but pretty sure it was a 1/2). This morning I dropped the van off for the hood release latch repair we previously disussed and all was apparently ok... I told him that I would need an itemized receipt for the work showing the break down of cost for time and materials, and he said ok. An hour ago I called him to find out if my car might be ready before the end of the day. When Ralph answered the phone he said, "they" had sent him the wrong part, that he would not have it ready for me until tomorrow, and that I would need to come get it before the end of the day as I was a "hard case" and he wouldn't let me leave it on his lot overnight. Note that he never made this plain to me beforehand or bothered to call me once it was clear he wasnt going to have my car doe today). That it would cost me extra time and money was of no concern to him and when I voiced this point he finally told me he would no longer work on my car. Sooo... I take a $10 Uber to get my car and guess what - he's lost the key to my van and an hour later he still can't find it! A great mechanic? Not from what I've seen! A HORRIBLE customer service experience - YES! read more

No one enjoys car repairs but Justin and the team at A&L made the experience pleasant, working with me every step of the way. After diagnosing the issues, the team worked with the insurer and the Mercedes dealership (for parts) to get what was needed. Since the parts took a few days, they worked with me to ensure I had my car to use when they couldn't work on it. Justin kept me updated and taken care of. Good job guys! read more

A & L Automotive quickly diagnosed and repaired my Subaru Outback check engine problem. They found a Subaru service bulletin that accurately described the failure with the cvt transmission's control valve assembly. After replacing it, it cleared the check engine code and the transmission shifts very smoothly...much better than before the failure. I am very pleased with the repair and their technicians. I highly recommend this company! read more

Totally recommend them - excellent customer service and I trust them. I've been coming to these mechanics for over a year - both at this location and his previous one. I drive a 16-yr-old car so I don't want to spend a lot of money on the car, and I don't have a car background and I trust them. They help me save money by telling me which repairs are required, optional, or wait-and-see. Always friendly, polite, and courteous. With the billing, they'll give me estimates, and when they can't, they explain why, so I'm not surprised. Have recommended them to friends as well read more

It is very hard to find a good mechanic shop, it is even harder to find an honest shop that you can trust and who has fair prices. You will find all of this at A&L. I would recommend them to anyone. read more

While I have been in the area for a few years, I haven't had the need for a mechanic. That all changed with the purchase of an older car for my son. Sachindra was very helpful in assisting us with initially a failed emissions test. But this later turned into finding or building parts necessary for the car at minimal expense. He kept me informed throughout the process with daily updates and answered whatever questions I had. I highly recommend A&L Automotive as the place to go for any mechanical needs. They are cost efficient, reasonable, accessible, and timely in their efforts to get you back on the road. Thank you! read more

Sachindra and his team is the best team of people to work on your car! They are always honest and professional with my 2006 Mazda 3. They keep this thing well taken care of even with its 205,000 miles. read more

Excellent service and price. So happy to find a fair and honest mechanic that I can count on for all of my car repairs.

I stopped in A&L Automotive by recommendation. I had an issue with my tire and needed someone to take a quick look. Sachindra was available and took care of me right away without an appointment. He took the time to remove the tire and take it apart to see what the exact issue was. He recommended to order the parts and that he would be able to install. He went above and beyond to search for both parts from other shops and kept me in the loop about pricing. He did not charge me for the consult. Great personalized service! Thanks Sachindra! read more

Sachindra is my only go-to mechanic on the east coast. He goes above and beyond and truly cares about getting the best job done. I highly recommend A and L Auto. read more

Sachindra is such a genuine and honest mechanic! He takes such great care of my car every time I come in and for a good price. He never rips me off and will always make suggestions of what I should and shouldn't do with my car. I've met a lot of annoying mechanics that either try to charge me ridiculous amounts, tell me false things (cause I'm a female and think I don't know anything about cars (which I don't lol) ) or hit on me. It has been such a relief to meet a mechanic I can trust. This is a place you definitely want to bring your car to. I recommend him to anyone I speak to that needs a mechanic and my family members go to him as well. read more

I have been going to A&L Automotive for at least 15 years. I had very good experiences with the previous owner, Ralph. This was my first experience with Sachindra Desaram, who took the business over when Ralph retired. I brought my 2003 S Type Jaguar in because the check engine light was on, and it needed an emissions inspection. The check engine light was because of a defective knock sensor, which didn't affect engine performance. Sachindra tried alternatives to replacing the sensor, as replacing the sensor involved removing the water pump, in order to get through the inspection at the least cost to me. He wound up replacing the sensor, which was more expensive, but based in my experience, his price was cheaper than other shops that work on Jaguars. I found he was very knowledgeable of the maintenance requirements for the car. He was also very flexible with arrangements for me to get the drive cycles done to reset the sensors in the emissions control system. I plan to return to have some additional work done soon. read more

Great auto shop for anyone looking for a knowledgeable and honest mechanic. I drove over something and punctured my transmission pan. My car was in the shop for 6 days! It was agonizing without my car, but the shop owner kept me informed every step of the way. We spoke everyday about the status of the repairs. He patiently explained what needed to be done and why. And the cost didn't drain my bank account! I would highly recommend A & L Automotive. read more