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    Arlington Auto Clinic

    4.3 (88 reviews)
    Closed • 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    Response time

    20 minutes

    Response rate

    100%

    Services - Arlington Auto Clinic

    Auto brake repair

    Auto engine repair

    Arlington Auto Clinic Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Arlington Auto Clinic

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    Reviews With Photos

    Warning, they charge a credit card fee and don't tell you upfront. They just have this little sign.
    Marc M.

    So an otherwise decent visit was tarnished by my discovery of a line item on my receipt called "Non-Cash Adjust". This is them charging the customer their merchant fee. I got in an argument with the cashier and he claimed that it's new and they now have to pay this. I informed him that every business in the world that accepts credit cards pays a merchant fee, and almost all of them pay it out of their own pockets. In my experience on the very rare occasion that they don't, they are very quick to tell you that you can avoid the surcharge by paying with cash/check. This is also useful to know earlier rather than later since it gives customers some time to get cash or bring their check book while their car is being worked on. Fine, so I'm now thinking the solution to this is to pay with cash. I asked for a chargeback, so we could redo the transaction. I was informed by the cashier that he didn't have the authority to do a chargeback, and to return the following day to speak to the owner. While it could have just ended right there, and be made right, I'm now inconvenienced by having to return. Shady little stuff like this really pisses me off. It's not a huge amount of money at 2.75%, but it's how they don't tell you about it, and then once you bring it up they act like it's this new thing that I wouldn't understand as a customer. They aren't the only store to do this, however there is a right way to go about it. Had they been upfront with me and just said that merchant fees are expensive for their business, and that I can pay by cash/check, thereby saving both the merchant and the customer a few bucks. Something as simple as that would have been just fine. Update: This is a response to SamW who was kind enough to write a reply to my experience. The work on my car exceeded $400. While there isn't a standard definition for a big job, I personally think that would qualify for many. At no point was the merchant fee mentioned, nor was it on the estimate. Had it been, I wouldn't have been surprised at the end of the day. If you take a moment to reread my comments, you'll see that is the point I was making. We are saying the same thing in that the customers should be informed that the customer is paying the merchant fee. Perhaps 99% of your customers if presented this information would be fine with the convenience of paying with their credit card despite the fee, but I wrote about my personal experience, and in that specific case, I was not provided that information.

    Maria-Elena T.

    Despite the fact that I came here at the end of the month, my safety inspection went quickly. They hustle to get people in and out. The store has a variety of oil, beverages candy and gum to peruse while you wait. I don't think I've ever seen so many kinds of oil! They also have a Western Union, ATM, and a machine to buy Bitcoin. No annoying TV or music so you can work on your phone while you wait. The chairs to wait are super comfortable too! Prices are the going rate. Sam is friendly and efficient. I highly recommend.

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    Sam W.

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    1 year ago

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    Sam W.

    Helpful 2
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    5 years ago

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    Sam W.

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    10 months ago

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Sam W.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Sam W.

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    3 years ago

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    Sam W.

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    6 years ago

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    Sam W.

    Thank you for sharing your experience. We hope to see you again soon.

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    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
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    2 years ago

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    Sam W.

    Helpful 1
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    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
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    4 years ago

    They have shown great patience in helping me to get a car to pass emissions inspection.

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    Sam W.

    We always treat our customers like family members thanks v much

    Helpful 1
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    6 years ago

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    Sam W.

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Sam W.

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    6 years ago

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    Sam W.

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Sam W.

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    3 years ago

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    Sam W.

    Thanks Jon, we appreciate your feedback. Have a good long weekend!

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    4 years ago

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    Sam W.

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    Sam W.

    Helpful 1
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    5 years ago

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    Sam W.

    Helpful 2
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    Photo of Mei W.
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    7 years ago

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    Sam W.

    Thank you Mei for the review, we look forward seeing you again!

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    7 years ago

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    Sam W.

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    Sam W.

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    6 years ago

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    Sam W.

    Helpful 4
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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    Sam W.

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Arlington Auto Clinic

    Can you all handle Mercedes Benz? My check engine light is on in my C300. Probably needs an oils change but need someone to check it out and I need to drive it down to Norfolk on Thursday. Thanks in advance for your consideration. 2015.

    What year the car is?

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Arlington Auto Clinic

    “Sam was very responsive to my online query (within 25 mins) and told me to take the car in right away.”

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Capitol Hill Auto Service

    Capitol Hill Auto Service

    (419 reviews)

    Eastern Market, Capitol Hill

    I brought my car here after the temperature gauge started running higher than normal during my…read morecommute. I initially thought it might just be an aging coolant issue, but I didn't want to keep driving it and risk turning a cooling-system problem into an engine problem. Their technicians inspected the heating and coolant system rather than simply topping off the reservoir and sending me home. They found that the coolant level was low and traced the issue to a leak that needed attention. They also checked the hoses and other components of the cooling system and explained what they found before doing the repair. I appreciated that because I wanted to understand why the temperature had been fluctuating instead of just being handed a repair bill. While they had the vehicle, they also checked the heater operation because I'd noticed that the cabin heat wasn't getting as warm as it normally did. The technician explained how the coolant system affects both engine temperature and the vehicle's heating system, which helped everything make much more sense. After the repair and coolant service, the temperature gauge stayed exactly where it should during both stop-and-go D.C. traffic and longer drives. The heater also returned to normal operation. I love that they didn't immediately recommend replacing expensive parts. They inspected the system, identified the actual problem, explained the repair, and then verified that everything was operating properly afterward. That's exactly the kind of approach I want from an auto repair shop. Plus, everyone was professional throughout the visit, and the technicians clearly knew what they were doing - very reassuring!

    I'm really glad I decided to bring my car to Capitol Hill AUot Service. My check engine light came…read moreon, and the engine started sputtering right when I was commuting past Independence Ave. I honestly don't know much about cars and was sweating over how much a major engine repair might end up costing me. Form the moment I talked to Chris and the staff, though, I felt completely at ease. They diagnosed a bad ignition coil, gave me a staightforward estimate, and didn't pressure me into adding any unnecessary fixes. They knocked out the repair the very same day, and my car has been running perfectly since. It's tough finding a trustworthy mechanic in DC, but these guys are the real deal.

    Jim's Automotive

    Jim's Automotive

    (63 reviews)

    Because of the Yelp reviews, we tried this place out…read more Can't add to the great reviews more than people have already have said. We've gone back several times and recommended this place to others. They are honest and don't overcharge--so unusual these days. I don't hesitate to recommend this business. They have nighttime drop-off which is very helpful. You may not see their location immediately. They are located behind the 7-Eleven on Columbia Pike. If you have car troubles, you need to call Jim's Automotive!

    I'm honestly struggling to write a review as mine would just echo what everyone else has said. This…read moreis a good shop. Mechanics are honest, don't overcharge, and in my case, actually undercharged me the last time I was in. They only charged me for 1/2 an hour of work, $80, even though two different mechanics had looked at it multiple times to try to identify a slight rattling noise. They said it is not a safety issue, they will look again the next time I get an oil change, and if it gets worse they will be able to identify and fix it but as it isn't a safety issue they don't want me to put money in it unnecessarily at this time. They did let me know of some repairs I will need in the next year. I never feel like anyone there talks to me differently or charges me differently for being a woman, which is a stereotype you hear about mechanics (though honestly I've dealt with that more with HVAC techs, but I digress). When I dropped my car off on a thursday evening for a friday appointment, Rich called me back an hour later just to let me know he had looked at it already and didn't think it was anything to be concerned about but would do more work in the morning, which i really appreciated. When I was leaving after picking up my car I spoke to a woman who had been going here for, I think 15 years and said Rich takes great care of her antique car. The only other thing I'll add is the store has stickers on the door in support of gay rights and BLM, which you just don't see at mechanic shops, and I feel good about supporting a shop that supports my values. My assumption is the stickers signify all customers are welcome and will be treated fairly, which maybe isn't always the case in mostly straight white male-owned spaces.

    Ben Nielsen's Skyline Automotive

    Ben Nielsen's Skyline Automotive

    (122 reviews)

    Amazing experience. My car felt like the transmission was going to explode and took it in last…read moreminute on a Saturday - so glad they were open. Turns out the last mechanic I went to didn't even install the transmission lines correctly. They were able give me a loaner car to go support a friend that day in Harrisonburg. They then didn't try to upsell me on a bunch of things and made it clear what should be immediate fixes vs what could be delayed or not done based on what I care about. Great service across the board. Will be going back for any other service needs.

    I'm extremely disappointed with my recent experience here. I previously had my vehicle inspected at…read morethis shop on December 20, and it passed inspection despite the same minor damage to the rear light being present. This crack has actually been there since October 2022 and has passed Virginia safety inspections multiple times since by a myriad of safety officers at different shops. Now I'm suddenly being told that the vehicle will not pass because of this crack, and I was quoted - nearly $500 to replace it which is way more than twice what I have found this repair can cost elsewhere. When I questioned why something that has repeatedly passed inspection is suddenly being rejected, I was told they have a new safety inspector. I understand that inspectors must follow Virginia's requirements, but that explanation raises concerns about this shops consistency. Customers should be able to expect the same inspection standards regardless of which employee happens to perform the inspection. What was especially concerning to me was the apparent lack of a consistent standard operating procedure. If one inspector repeatedly approves an existing condition and another rejects it, there should at least be a clear and consistent explanation for the difference. I have no issue repairing something that legitimately does not meet Virginia's safety requirements. My issue is the combination of inconsistent inspection practices and then immediately being quoted nearly $500 for the repair. Given the history of this light passing inspection and the amount being charged to replace it, the entire experience unfortunately felt like a money grab to me. This experience has seriously damaged my confidence in this business. I would recommend that anyone receiving a rejection here ask to be shown the exact reason for the failure and get a second opinion and outside repair quote before authorizing any work.

    Arlington Auto Clinic - autorepair - Updated September 2026

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