Taking my cars there for years. Noticed a recent dropoff in quality over the past 1-2 years. We paid for a car service and only got oil change. Both cars didn't have coolant added; one engine blown. People seemed nice, but trust is gone. read more

We've been looking for a reliable, honest mechanic for our two vehicles in Charlottesville for a couple of years now. Used to go to one of the chain places at Seminole Trail and Rio Rd intersection but change in ownership there has driven that place into the ground. So . . . we read the reviews for API and decided to give it a try for an oil change on our Outback. Very satisfied! They were friendly, quick and reasonably priced. Cost a bit more than the '"Drive-thru' oil changers but not by much and I'll happily pay more for a real technician who knows cars and takes pride in their work vs the low-paid gen x-er working at the drive thru oil change place who spends more time looking at his phone screen than he does at the car. If you're tired of getting quasi-scammed at other car repair/maintenance places in town, API is trustworthy and fair. WE'll be coming back for sure. read more

I was told the computer needed to be replaced on a 2007 Jeep Wrangler that had a few cylinders misfiring. After a very lengthy wait of however many days and delays a technician from Richmond was called to this place to tune a different year, make and model's computer they got off the internet. A brand new one costs at most $400 and I was billed $1,000. I had to ask some nice secretary to help me pay $20 of this outrageous highway robbery in order to make my way home that night. Shortly thereafter this bad tune seized the engine of a perfectly good V6. I would avoid this place if you don't want to find yourself up the creek without a paddle. read more

api is the very best automotive service center in central virginia. conveniently located near downtown charlottesville api is directed by a woman business owner whos honesty, fair pricing, & excellent good nature toward customers (if your service time is short the waiting area has a 'free' snack bar with coffee ,tea cold drinks & some healthy choice snacks). the have a computer & good wifi connection. if you need to leave your car the have a chauffeur & car at no cost to take you wherever you need to go & even better the driver will pick you & take you back no charge. i write this long review as a car i was buying was inspected & api found a rusted out frame that may have caused great injury if api excellent mechanic had not found the defective frame. 20 years with api & i know now why uva medical doctors choose api. read more

Best car service I've had in Charlottesville! I went there to get my jeep inspected. Called last week and they got me in right away. The guys were fast and very kind. They even have a waiting room with drinks and snacks. The ladies in the the office are so nice and accommodating. I'll be back! read more

The folks here were nice, helpful, and wonderfully salt of the earth. I brought my car in here for an inspection and was told from the beginning that they would try their best to fit in my car but could not make any guarantees on whether they would finish it by end of business. I appreciated that they were transparent with their timeframe and communicated that to me. I also liked how nice the woman in their waiting room was. She gave me a tour of the facilities and then said that I could use the shuttle should I need to go anywhere. I was also pleasantly surprised to find they offer a free shuttle service to whatever location (within reason) you need to go. This is fantastic for future use since I now know I can drop my car off before work and still have a ride to work. I had Robert drop me off at the downtown mall while I waited. I was able to work while I waited in the comfort of a coffee shop. Regarding the service itself; JW called me up to let me know some of the issues with my car (to be expected; she's as old as time) and gave me fair price points on the repairs. When I asked his opinion on which route to go he was honest in what he would do and in my case, suggested a patch instead of an extensive and expensive repair. Being on a budget, I really appreciated his input. In the end I felt that I received fair service and helpful advice on my car. I would definitely recommend these guys. If possible, make an appointment ahead of time and be flexible with wait time. Also, if you're a first time customer they offer a free inspection. Just make sure to print out the coupon beforehand. read more

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API Is a wonderful "blast from the past" What I mean by this is SERVICE!! These people can not do enough for their customers. From the honest friendly guys at the check in desk to the nicest lady who takes care of the waiting room, keeping the coffee fresh and a great assortment of yummy snacks for those of us waiting for our car. read more

Api Service Center - Great snacks and fresh coffee in the waiting room! - Auto Repair Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I don't want to write this because these guys are a hidden gem. They're awesome. Just take your care there. End of story.

After it snowed several inches a few days ago, I had to brush the snow off my car (which I did a little too aggressively). In the process, I somehow disabled my windshield wipers, and was frustrated at the idea of having to replace them for such a careless reason. I made a convenient, next-day appointment with API for the first time online, and after taking in my car, they called me about ten minutes later to tell me they had fixed the problem. Apparently, I had accidentally unscrewed something that was preventing the windshield wipers from working properly. Not only did they fix the issue, but didn't charge me even when I insisted that I'd be happy to pay them for their time/trouble. Highly recommend such a kind and considerate business -- thanks, guys! read more

Went here about a month ago for my state inspection; they said there was an issue with my tire alignment, which I found odd because I had the car inspected prior to moving down and they hadn't found any issues. But they said they wouldn't release the car to me unless I paid. The whole interaction felt odd. On top of that, I told them the Maintenance Required light had gone on recently and asked if they could check that out and if they could swap my license plates out. They did neither of those two things for me, so now I have to go somewhere else to get both taken care of. read more

I got my state vehicle safety inspection done here. They were extremely quick and professional. They take appointments for state vehicle safety inspections unlike other places. I will be coming back here for any car issues in the future read more

And yet again, API comes through with the same great service I've come to know. I know the Michelin tires they installed were the best price I'll find anywhere (I already looked) and they let me know what my check engine light was finding and it wasn't anything major. All that and inspection done between breakfast and lunch. They are my kind of people. read more

This place is great and the guys are very helpful. They recently fixed my car for over $1000 less then another mechanic in town estimated. Definitely give them a chance!! read more

I've used them for about 5 years on two different cars and have always had a good experience. They've never pressured me to get work that seemed optional, they've always had prices that were reasonable to what I've been able to research online, and the work is usually fast. Their waiting room is old and eclectic, but has fast WiFi and good snacks. read more

Stopped here when I had an emergency with my car. Despite the fact that they couldn't help me because it was 5 minutes until closing on a Friday, they helped provide me some guidance on my issue and some suggestions. Great service. read more

My husband had his car inspected here, and they dinged him for all the expected items (windshield wipers, etc.) Unfortunately, they also made up a couple of large ticket items. The most egregious being that they said his brake rotors were the wrong size. The rotors have been untouched since we bought the car, and no inspector has said anything about them before, including this same place last year. Only get your state inspection here if you want to be blatantly ripped off. read more

Trustworthy and reliable place to get your car serviced! It was very easy to contact them via telephone to set up appointments. They are very fast and efficient with Virginia safety inspections, car repairs, and general maintenance. Oil change and filter change are also much cheaper here than in other places I've been. Will definitely be using API as my go to for any car issues! read more

WOMEN/MINORITIES: BEWARE IF YOU NEED ANYTHING BEYOND AN OIL CHANGE OR TIRE PLUG! I took my car here on the 1st of July to get an inspection. I wasn't in a rush, it's a second car that doesn't get used much and I could wait a few days, and fully expected to require a few repairs. He told me it wouldn't be done until the 6th which was fine. Except it didn't get done until the 11th around noon. I was in culpepper at the time and asked what the price for parts and labor would be. I let him know that I can get the parts at the store cheaper and I would bring them once I got back to town. I ordered the parts online and left immediately to pick them up at Pantops. The parts were dropped off at 4pm on the 11th and I was told they would get to it when they could. Essentially, they put me in the back of the queue. Fast forward to today, the 14th. I called right when they opened and was told that they still hadn't gotten to my car, my husband asked why and we were told that because it took a half a day for me to get them the parts, they couldn't guarantee a completion time. Essentially, if I would've either bought their parts or magically made my purchased parts appear at their doorstep, we wouldn't be still waiting. This is an extremely bad business practice, no mechanic I've ever been to has penalized me for purchasing my own parts. No mechanic should also let an inspection sit for 10 days and then put off a 3 hour job for 3 days. These guys could've cared less about getting my car done and decided to jerk me around for two weeks especially since I wouldn't buy their overpriced parts they get from retail store next to them. read more

My first stop into API was in 2013. Not knowing what to expect, I asked someone in line at the desk what they thought and they said "this place was the best." It's now six years and counting and many of my biggest ticket service needs done to this same truck and I know for a fact that they really are the best! My eleven year old pickup still runs like new. Even when I'm trying to do more than what is needed, they always stop me and ask "are you sure you want to do that?" Then explain ways for me to save money and keep my original factory parts working. It's happened a few times, especially this time with my AC condenser, saving me over $800 parts & labor! There is another mechanic in town who would have marked me up higher than that, but not API. They handled other odds and ends as well, if they see something they usually bring it to my attention. With the money I saved this time around, I'm going to take the truck back next month for a few pre-winter services I'd been putting off. The only down side is there really is no parking but that's the price you pay for being so popular! read more

This place is great. I took my car there the whole time I lived in Charlottesville. They're good, fast, and they don't try and jerk you around. I'm a woman and they didn't try and give me any of the fake repair crap some other mechanics do. Love love love them. read more

They were the two friendliest guys I ever met at a garage. Take customer service seriouly have a vast waiting area.

I couldn't be happier with API and especially JW who runs the place. They bent over backwards to not only fix an emission problem, but worked with my extended warranty company to insure I paid as little as possible out of pocket. Because it took a bit longer than intended, when I went in for another issue with my tire, they took care of me at no charge. They are highly ethical and efficient, and I have complete trust in their services. read more

one of the best places to get car serviced. I visited this place the first time as my tire pressure was low and they didn't find a leak the first time. The second time I went in with the same problem they found a nail in the tire and fixed it for free. Great customer service and very friendly staff. They also offer complimentary rides to and from service center and free wifi in the waiting area. Very honest service. read more

I've taken my car here a couple times now, and the service has been great each time. Without a doubt I'd recommend this place over University Tire & Auto, Jiffy Lube, or any of the other places around Charlottesville. The people at API know what they're doing, they don't overcharge you, and they're friendly (and will provide shuttle service if you need to drop your car off). read more

Superlative service. Extremely friendly, welcoming, courteous, and professional staff. Very responsive and accommodating on short notice request. Work was completed in the time and manner described/quoted. Perfect example of service and customer care like it used to be. Highly recommend API for your automotive needs. read more

I took my car in to replace the exhaust. API gave me a quote which was $200 cheaper than a competitor. I dropped my car off and their shuttle service gave me a ride to and from work. The staff is very friendly and my car runs better than ever. I was very very pleased with the work they did and will recommended them to anyone needing work done. Thank you so much read more

I have had pretty good experiences with API over the years and have even recommended them before, but when I have an instance of gouging or unnecessary repair, I never go back to those shops. (Sadly I am running out of places to get auto repair.) Went in for an alignment ($80, or so) and was told I needed camber kits for the rear wheels. Took them five hours to obtain parts, get them installed, and do the alignment. (The mechanic admitted that he had never installed these kits before.) Bill came to $400. Okay, fine. Service manager told me he had done his best to keep the price down on the kits and only charged me $66 apiece for them. Later I looked up the same part number online and found that I could have walked in off the street and bought the same kits for $30 each at the NAPA Autoparts store IN THE SAME BUILDING as API. Maybe the parts and repair were necessary, and maybe it takes five hours to do the work. But don't tell me you tried to help me on the parts and then overcharge me. Wish Whitey the best, but I'm done with his shop. read more