I brought my 2015 Cayman for annual spring service and mine is a low mileage auto in pristine condition. The day before it was serviced I went for a long ride and pushed the engine. It delivered wonderfully. Had the 60k service performed and wow. Just wow! The performance went through the roof. I was just shocked at the difference. Wow. Worth every penny. Thank you. read more

I have a classic Mercedes Benz 280C 1978 with original 35.000 thousand miles and after struggling with different shops for more than a year to fix an issue with the carburetor and other maintenance issues, finally, I was lucky enough to be referred by a good friend to Auto Centro. I couldn't be happier with the service I received from Paolo and his staff. Now my car runs like new. I can only thanks them for the trustful, reliable, honest and amazing professional service rendered. Their knowledge is absolutely incredible. I recommend Auto Centro without any reserve. Thanks Paolo read more

I cannot write enough positive things about Auto Centro. They do fantastic work, they go out of their way to save you money as they do that work, and the results are simply amazing. Paulo and Noah are extremely knowledgeable and trustworthy. They really are second to none.​ read more

WORST SERVICE EVER! In short, Paulo the mechanic is a scathing liar. Do NOT trust him. I brought my BMW here to get a major service done and asked about getting a new BMW key. In the end, I paid a total of $1609 ($1234 for a 65k service and $375 for a new BMW key). Problem One: The day after I had the service done, my low coolant light came on. Paulo overlooked refilling the coolant after they performed a coolant flush. I had no coolant in my car which can be damaging if my engine overheated (fortunately, it did not overheat as I didn't drive it much). I had to go to BMW Alexandria to get coolant to refill the coolant myself after I just paid $1234 to Auto Centro. This is NOT acceptable. Paulo tried to make it right and refunded me the cost of the coolant which was $30 but didn't account for my time or inconvenience that this is something they should have handled but were incompetent to do their job. How could a mechanic overlook refilling the coolant? That's a very careless mistake! Problem Two: I bought a new key (this is my backup key for context) from Auto Centro with the understanding that they could install it. After buying it, Paulo said that I had to go to a BMW Service Center to get it installed and that he couldn't install it for whatever reason. If I had known, I would have ordered it directly from the BMW. This is where Paulo is a crook. He told me to go to BMW Rockville to get my new car key installed because he knew the Service Manager. I went there to get it installed and they didn't install it properly. My brand new key was installed wrong, the comfort access doesn't work on the new key. I had to go back to BMW Rockville the next business day to get it fixed and they wanted $225 for a diagnostic and $225 to reprogram the key. I called Paulo to tell him the situation and he said "It's not my problem" and now I'm stuck with a key that doesn't work properly. Because I didn't order this key directly from BMW Rockville, they were no help. Paulo, take accountability for the customer experience. Don't send me to BMW Rockville for a key that I paid you for, and then when the key doesn't work properly, you tell me it's not your problem?! Paulo, you lied and charged me $375 for a new key that doesn't work when you should have told me you couldn't do this service. You're dishonest, unhelpful, and ultimately a crook. Your future and current customers need to be aware of this story as it's a reflection of your bad and dishonest business acumen. Lastly, your shop looks like a shit hole. If I known how disgusting it was in there, I definitely would have gone somewhere else. - The last customer you screwed over read more

I have been bringing my cars to Auto Centro for 25 years for both regular maintenance as well as necessary repairs. It is hard to find a place with the same honesty, integrity and experience like this one. Paulo and the team are extremely patient and friendly and they take the time to properly diagnose what is wrong and what needs to be done. They do not cut corners and the final result is peace of mind on a job well done. I absolutely recommend this shop. read more

Tried them once for a wheel alignment on my Porsche. First time, tech forgot to tighten the lock nut on the toe rod adjustment. Brought it in for a second, complimentary, alignment. Unbelievably, after driving about 50 miles, the steering wheel became severely unleveled. The camber on the left rear wheel had gone from -1.5 deg to -2.5 As measured by my iPhone. Assumed another another loose nut and yes! upon getting the wheel off I found that the tech had tightened the locking nut only finger-tight, it had come loose and the adjustment bolt had turned. To say the least, both errors represent a significant safety hazard, there's no excuse. Paulo is very nice, a great salesman for sure, but the work is, at least in my experience, a danger to customers. One star is a charity. read more

Wow!! This place is just amazing! The customer service is top notch! They are always there for you! and this is the only repair shop that I can trust. They treat and care about your car like it's their own, they are honest! No other Car repair shop can provide what Auto Cento Inc. do!! I highly recommend this place to anyone and everyone! Obrigado!!!! read more

My Audi TT's check engine light was on and I went to the highly reviewed Auto Tech Service in DC before heading to Auto Centro Inc. Auto Tech Service didn't have the Audi code to check my car so I went to Auto Centro Inc. Good thing I did, Paul, the owner was very informative. Normally, they don't take walk in but since I was new, they took my car in. My Audi TT came out with 9 malfunctioning codes which would cost an arm and a leg to repair! Paul asked a for some history on how my check engine came about and is very informative on how they work at the shop. I was told, it'll take 3 hours and asked if I want to wait, be taken to a metro, or taken to a shopping center. I choose shopping center to walk around for a bit. I was dropped off and when my car was completed, they came and pick me up. Great Service! He explained that they only change parts that needed to be change because the check engine codes is like a domino effect. One malfunctioning could lead to another one. Sure it did! Out of 9, only 3 turn back on when they reset the car program. To make a long story short, I only had to pay for 1 fault code plus labor! The other 2 was just a loose wire and a broken spark plug! They didnt charge for the loose wire! I had to pay for the spark plugs of course! These guys are honest, they didn't take advantage of me. they could had told me some BS and I would believe them. I was expecting to pay a min. of a grand but ended up paying about 400 dollars! that's how much MIDAS charged me without doing anything to it!!!! Those of you who know how much Audi repair cost, that's a STEAL! I was given all of my old parts that they took out! just to prove that they changed the parts! I would recommend this shop to anybody and everybody! Very honest guys and it seem like people who goes to the shop are the regular. I met a guy who went there since the 80's! Great thing is that they have a big lot! Been to a lot and this is the best Auto Shop in the DC Area! They do all kinds of cars! oh yea, they sell cars too if you need to sell your old one! read more

Auto Centro - Auto Repair Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

10-21-2022: I'm seriously glad I had AC did a pre-purchase inspection of the pricey 2018 BMW convertible I was considering. They found undercarriage damage (the car had gone airborne over a speed bump and landed hard?) that the dealer's service department could NOT have missed (longer story), as well as evidence of some minor body/paint work. While none of this threatened the car's overall integrity, it did sour me on the dealer and I couldn't feel good about doing business there - especially when they more or less disregarded these findings when I made them aware. AC remains an extraordinary, if very busy place for auto service. read more

We've gotten great service from Paulo and Craig at Auto Centro. They kept our old Jetta alive for a long time and always worked with us to keep things affordable and to make the best choices when we were on a tight budget. More recently we brought our newer car to them and when they found the problem, identified it as a warranty repair. They sent us to the dealership and saved us about $400--that to me is good customer service. Also, the classic cars they have on site are cool to look at! read more

THE MOST EXPENSIVE TANK OF GAS EVER - By: Lydia H. Normally I feel like I can't fully pass judgement on an auto shop until some time has passed since I took my car in, but I feel it necessary to state how impressed I am with the mechanics and service at Auto Centro. A coworker of mine recommended Auto Centro, but I did a little research on the bill rates at Curry's (where I usually go) and VolksWerks first. Turns out that Auto Centro charges almost $30 less per hour than the other shops. Score. I have to admit that I was a little skeptical going in, but said coworker has never led me astray regarding car issues. As a little back story, I filled my car up a couple of weekends ago at a little gas station in Warrenton. As soon as I left the station, my car started making some weird rattling noises. When I tried to head home from Culpeper some hours later, my car wouldn't start. I added some oil and tinkered around under the hood a bit, and it reluctantly started. A few hours after I got it back to DC, no such luck. After hearing about Auto Centro and because I get free 100-mile towing with AAA, I decided to have them haul my car up to Rockville. Vijay at Auto Centro initially told me the ignition coil was bad, so they ordered a new one and replaced it. He called me afterward to tell me they got the car to start but that it was idling funny and smelled like kerosene or diesel. There was some debate as to whether I put diesel in my car, but after calling the station and performing some calculations on the bank-statement-charge-to-gallons-pumped ratio, I realized that this was not the case. Also, just to set the record straight, I have never put diesel in my car in all my years of driving. In the end they discovered that the gas was, in fact, contaminated. I was moderately upset by this, as I started realizing how much all of this was going to cost. After they drained the gas, Vijay called to tell me that when they put the old ignition coil back in just to test it out, they realized that though it had a weak spark (which combined with the bad gas wasn't allowing the car to start), it would actually last for at least another year or more now that the gas was good to go. He recommended that I just leave the old one in and let them send the new one back to the manufacturer. Whaaat? I didn't realize they could/would do that. They absolutely did not have to tell me this and could have just charged me an extra $500 or so for all the hours it took to figure everything out. The fact that they were so honest with me is what will keep me going back. Having a mechanic that will tell you the truth and doesn't take you for ride (har har), coupled with reasonable bill rates and respect for the customer does a great auto shop make. If you don't live in Rockville, get AAA and have them tow your car there. The money you save in bill rates and the time you save in headaches are worth the membership fee. read more

BEWARE!!! Whether buying or servicing a car, this is NOT the place to go. I purchased a used car-3 years old with 35K miles. BUT: My 2006 Jetta car did NOT come with an owners manual, proper spare tire or 2nd key. It DID come with a COLONY OF ANTS, and a faulty tire with a bent inside rim that had rusted over (it was covered by the hub cap). While the owner Paolo is very affable, he is not genuine or responsible. There is poor communication between Paolo and his service department as the most simple things such as removing a screw he promised (that had rusted completely through the license plate holder) are easily forgotten on two separate occasions. When I first purchased the car, I felt these little things were not worth getting upset over, but the lack of efficiency and effectiveness at this place of business is what makes dealing with them most frustrating. I was assured that 4 things would be addressed, and after waiting hours, they return the car with only 2 done and no one said anything about how they hadn't finished. I guess I am just supposed to figure it out on my own and contact them. AGAIN. My advice to you, if you are even considering using this place for service or to purchase a vehicle, go watch how many "fires" Paolo and his sales department are putting out, every minute. The phones are ringing off the hook- people are calling and coming in not happy with the condition of their vehicle, the length of the service, or what service was actually done. It almost sounds as though he is running a call center for defective products, well maybe he is. read more

My family and I have gone to Auto Centro for over 20 years. Paulo and his staff do an amazing job both in maintenance and car sales. If you need a car, they can find you one at a great price. We have bought at least five cars there over the years. I just bought my awning S4 from them, and was able to negotiate this one while in Japan. Paulo and his father have built it from a tiny bay in a row of other auto repair shops to their own standalone building filled with wonderful cars. Highly recommend, especially for German cars. read more

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Auto Centro! I read an excellent review of Auto Centro from an Audi owner several years ago and decided to try them out. Their price quotes for Parts and Labor were significantly lower than that of the dealership. They replaced all my breaks and I did not find any problems afterwards. I through their customer service was awesome! The dropped me off and picked me up at the Rockville Town Center so I can hang out at the Library and grab lunch while I waited for the work to be completed. Anyway, I recently had my 90K service and timing belt replaced by them. I did not notice a drop in the quality of their service. I read a few of the negative reviews of the place and even though it is understandable that not everyone will be happy, I really do not agree with most of them. Well, let's just say that this was not my experience. If you have an Audi and it is pass it's warranty (like mine) and planning to keep it for a while, I Highly Recommend Auto Centro in Rockville. read more

When it comes to the typical high-end German shop Auto Centro is definitely short on appearances and organization. BUT what they lack in appearance they more than make up with fair prices and getting the job done right. I have been taking my Audi here for about two years and I would definitely recommend them to anyone who needs work done on a VW/Audi (out of warranty). The service writers and management appear pretty disorganized and sometimes you have to wait while they play musical chairs in the parking lot but these are small issues when compared to their low prices and ability to get the job done right the first time. I don't know if you know what a clutch does or how it works but in an Audi, replacing it is probably one of the most involving processes conceived by man. Literally the entire front of the car is removed: engine, exhaust, transmission front bumper and 700 other little tubes / wires. Then once the new clutch is replaced it all has to be precisely reassembled. They pulled it off on time, below estimate and without so much as a new rattle. read more

For me, it's all about trust with a mechanic. I don't know too much about cars so I have to take their word for it. Having been fleeced in the past and been talked into buying the proverbial undercoating, I am very wary when I go to a new auto repair shop. I'm glad I went to Auto Centro to get my Nissan Quest fixed by Dave - one of Paulo's crew. My rear brakes had seized up (among many other things I had neglected over the years) and rendered the van inoperable. So I had it towed to Auto Centro over the weekend and got a call Monday morning from Dave with an estimate. I was given options on what repairs were immediately necessary, and which ones I could hold off on. The price was fair and my car was finished the next day. It would have been done on the same day, but I had opted for some of the other repairs to be done and those required parts that couldn't be had until the next day. Dave kept me in the loop during the whole process and never did anything without my consent. Overall a great experience and I am truly happy that I found a mechanic I can trust. My van runs like new now. Thanks Dave and Paulo! I'll be back with my other car soon. NOTE: I have been a long time member of Yelp, but this is my first review. I just thought I would put it out there because I was so impressed with the service I received. And it's so damn hard to find a good mechanic these days. read more

This is a wonderful father and son business that has always given 200% of their attention to our aging family fleet of cars. Albiono and Paulo DoCouto and their very excellent team have cared for our cars for over a decade. Many times we've not been able to afford all the repairs needed, but they've always prioritized the list and told us what was critical and what was not. Plus, if you're looking for a mechanic for your vintage or antique import, you won't find better anywhere. It's about an hour and a half or longer round trip from our home, but we wouldn't take our cars anywhere else. read more

In July 2012 I owned a 89 Mercedes 560SEL and a 2001 Audi A6 station wagon. I was having all kinds of problems with the Audi and my Mercedes mechanic told me to go to Paulo at Auto Centro in Rockville. I went in with a computer report generated from my Mercedes mechanic on all the problems with the car and met with Paulo. By the end of the day he called me back with details on all the problems, told me he did not think the car was worth all the effort it would require and asked how long I had planned to keep the car. I told him a year and we decided to work on the issues involving safety. We nursed the car through another year, paid some attention to the long-term mechanical problems but I could see Paulo's point on the Audi. He helped me sell the Audi. In May of 2013 Paulo had a long-term customer interested in selling their 2002 Acura MDX as they were trading up for a new MDX. I was in the right place, at right time and after reviewing the maintenance records with Paulo I offered to buy the vehicle. I paid below market price for the MDX and I paid a separate but reasonable repair bill to bring the vehicle to standard including tires. The car has been flawless since May 2013 and I couldn't be happier. In April of 2014 with my grandchildren a month away from spending a good portion of the summer with my wife and I, we knew the Mercedes wasn't going to be comfortable and felt the MDX was too small so I went to Paulo again to inquire about another vehicle. Within a month he had another long-term customer with a 2004 Toyota Sienna Van coming available. I test drove the Sienna and purchased it below the market price and again I paid a reasonable repair bill to bring the car to standard. We logged a lot of miles in this car over the summer and it ran like a champ. But a lot of times it's the service after the sale that counts and here's my story. On our return trip from NC an 18 wheeler lost it's tire cap at 70 MPH, the cap hit the underside of the van and damaged the muffler pipe and tore out the supports to the pipe. Toyota wanted $1,312 for the part and Paulo found an aftermarket pipe for $283 that he cut and welded the catalytic converter, which was new when I bought it, and I got away at less than half of what it might have cost. With four stories on three different cars over a two year period the outstanding service I have received from Paulo at Auto Centro has been unmatched in my lengthy vehicle repair history and I cannot envision going to another establishment for automobile repairs. read more

My car had some major mechanical issues after an incident and I was referred to Auto Centro by one of my friends who has been the customer for many many years. I was very worried about this since these were mechanical issues and I care about my car so much that I would not accept anything other than perfect. So, I trusted my friend and I took it to Auto Centro. Paolo was my POC. I'm telling you this guy treated me like a family member right from the beginning until the end of repair period, which was about a month. He called me periodically to give me status on parts and repair. He went over working hours and stayed with his mechanics after business hours to give the car back to me before the long weekend holiday so I can enjoy the car. He went above and beyond just a regular mechanic. This guy is real expert and my car was absolutely perfect and I was so happy to get it back after a month. The way he treated me when I visited him was amazing....he sat with me and went over everything just like a family member. Very honest and hardworking man. He also works with a team of dedicated mechanics that are expert as well and a family. I will certainly bring my car back here if I have any mechanical issues....no doubt. And, thanks, Paulo!!!! Keep up the great and honest work. read more

Let me just start by saying these guys are great. I own a 1986 Volkswagon Vanagon and finding anyone who is willing to work on these old machines is quite a task in itself. When I called them with my problem they were very compliant and helpful. The work I needed would only take an hour or so and since It was a slow day (cancellations because of snow) they told me to bring the van right in. Well on the drive there (from Baltimore) the majority of my exhaust pipe completely fell off on the van leaving it broken down 18 miles away. I got it towed to Auto Centro and to my surprise Paulo went completely out of his way to call multiple of his suppliers to locate these special pieces for my van (parts are hard to find). He was able to get the parts and told me he would do his best to get it finished that day but no promises. Long story short his highest payed mechanic ended up staying till 630 and got the van completely done!! Paulo didn't even charge me extra for the over time hours (I would never expect a shop to do this). I'm a 22 year old with not so much money and they did their best to keep it cost effective. I would recommend this shop to anyone with car problems and especially anyone looking to get quality work done on their Vanagons! Thanks guys!! read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE. Even though they told me to trash my car, I love this place. Let's start at the beginning and go through every step of awesomeness: I called for an appointment and was told they were busy for 2 weeks. The lady on the phone was very friendly, and put me down for 2 weeks from the day I called. She also said she would call me if any cancellations happened so I could get in sooner. It turns out she DID actually do this (crazy for a car place, right?) but I missed the call, so I just came in for my appointment 2 weeks later. And she remembered me! I was blown away. I got there at 7:30 am (you had the option of doing a night drop the evening before your appointment or getting there at 7:30), and several other people were dropping their cars also. Paul was there getting people signed in, and he knew several people by name. He offered them rides. He also told his employee he would pay for Starbucks that day, which I thought was really nice. I love bosses who are nice to employees. When it was my turn, he asked me if I wanted to wait for the car. I needed the speed sensor checked before I went ahead with other repairs, so I said I wanted to wait for the speed sensor. He said that made good sense, and that he would try to do that test first so I wouldn't have to wait long. He came back several times to tell me that they were working on the car, which I thought was very considerate. He finally came back and took me aside to give me the bad news: my car was unsafe to drive, and he really discouraged me from driving it at all. He gave me a piece of paper with a list of the dangers, and took me outside to show me himself. I had sort of been expecting this, so I asked how much I owed him. And he said NOTHING! Right then and there, I fell in love. I couldn't believe he had done everything he had done for free. He walked me out to my car, told me to drive it slowly and stop driving it as soon as possible, and told me that he would be happy to check out any other car I bought before I bought it. I drove away sad about my car, but knowing I had found my mechanic. read more

For 7 years I have been a customer of Paulo at Auto Centro. All my vehicles have received great service and repair. Paulo is honest and will fix any problem. The recent addition of Crage is definitely a delight. He is very caring and always attentive to my needs. I highly recommend this business. read more

READ MY ORIGINAL REVIEW BELOW THIS ONE. October 14th 2010 Auto Centro allowed FBI access for the purpose of installation of a GPS tracking device without warrant. This review was filtered at the request of Montgomery County Police ( Tactical Division ) and the FBI. ________ UPDATE: April 8, 2010 I thought I had been through a lot till now, but I was wrong. I just got word that parts removed from my car, were used recently to repair my next door neighbor's car, which is identical to mine. In other words, this case has expanded to possible collusion and fraud. All I need to hear next is that the local police gave it their blessing, and I'll call the FEDS in. I drove my car for about 5 miles today and though it is drivable, the issues for which I spent $800 today and waited a week, persist. That is, the engine is idling rough and I feel like it's about to stall on me at any moment. Is that burning oil that I smell? This is not good :( Time to call VISA to cancel this transaction. Before doing so, I called them and got to speak to someone that I had been led to beleive didn't exist- the original owner, Albino ! To my surprise, he treated me even worse than his son did and mentioned that he was dissapointed at my Yelp.com review. Rather than offer to make good on the poor workmanship, he threatened to sue me if I contested my VISA bill. Anyone out there reading this. Be careful. Someone was browsing a Ruger handgun website when I was in there. I might wear a Bullet proof vest, the next time I visit them. I guess they're expecting some angry and dissatisfied customers to go back. Not I. I prefer the democratic and legal routes. I hate doing this but too many good people are out there trusting Auto Centro based on a lost reputation. This business is finished, unless they shape up. read more

AutoCentro is fantastic. I've brought many cars to them and they always provide great service at fair prices. However, they go behind just doing that. I've gone to them with challenging issues with my cars and they always nail it. They recently fixed a motor in the seat that had been broken for years (the previous owner just lived with it). The dealer said it needed a new frame. AutoCentro fixed it with a $40 part that I supplied. Awesome! I am grateful to them! read more

We live in Ellicott City (an hour away) and have been bringing our cars to Auto Centro for years. Tried going to Pep Boys in Ellicott City for something we hoped was simple, and instead received a highly inflated quote. My husband then proceeded to tell me "I told you so" and then reached out to Auto Centro. They were very busy, as usual, but still took my car in. They proceeded to not only tell me what my car really needed, but also showed and explained the why in a clear manner. Bottom line, they ended doing more work to my car than Pep Boys quoted for less. Their top-notch knowledge and professionalism makes the long drive worthwhile. read more

Why not go to the dealership? This repair shop with charge you as much as the dealer and will make up faults with your car, so that you end up getting things fixed that never required fixing anyway. I learned that after spending 2.5K here and none of the issues that I went with were addressed. The owner Paulo sounds like a great guy, but I will not trust him with another penny. They have a cool collection of old Vdubs, Fiats and Porsches, but I think as cool as that collection is, I ended up financing a part of it. For 2.5K, I expected something to be fixed on my German import. You can skip this place or learn an expensive lesson, like I did. read more

Let's first start by saying Auto Centro has been highly rated in Checkbook Magazine for years. Checkbook does their homework when rating businesses and auto repair is no exception. Yelp is another great resource, but a phone call or visit to Auto Centro will certainly reaffirm the positive things being said. Auto Centro should be at the top of your list as it's family owned and run, honest, and still more reasonable than any dealer out there. How do I know this? I've been going there since the mid 80's with a wide range of vehicles (Mazda, VW, and Audi). I've always been treated with respect, honesty, and integrity. Most importantly though--- they fix my car. The age of the internet shouldn't replace common sense. Like I said, the thousands of repeat customers they've had over the years should speak volumes. I still encourage you to go see for yourself why all of us having been going there for years. The staff is top notch. read more

Good honest service for your luxury car. They perform a thorough check up for your car. Prices here is also fairly reasonable.

This review is not for a car purchase or service at Auto Centro rather it is for help buying a car from out of state. This week I was lucky to have Auto Centro provide advice on things to do before buying a car out of state and having it shipped. This was my first experience purchasing a car in this manner and I was nervous. I called Auto Centro and was lucky enough to get the owner Paulo who took time out of his busy day to provide some very specific steps to do prior agreeing to purchase the car and how best to transport the car. This was a big help to me and am thankful I reached out and was lucky enough to get Paulo. Thank you Auto Centro! read more

My husband and I have been taking our cars to Auto Centro for over 15 years. Paolo, Albino, and their crew are smart, reliable, conscientious, and honest. Not to mention knowledgeable. read more

First learned about Auto Centro from my former boss. Both of us are car guys, but only he has the collection to prove it. I trusted his recommendation over two years ago for my Audi A3 and Auto Centro and Paolo (the owner) have not disappointed me. Paolo has actually shown me the worn or broken part that was causing the problem for which I brought in the car and brought in the new one to show the difference. No shop has ever done that for me before. He's given me options and a schedule to repair only the most important items when my budget would only go so far. AC's pricing is honest, with very competitive parts costs. No unnecessary services unlike the place I was going previously. Most importantly, Paolo uses good judgement and won't rush a job if it will be unsafe or of poor quality. He's a nice guy, but he's also direct. For you gearheads, AC is willing to install performance parts on a case-by-case basis. There are a lot of variables and you have to talk to Paolo directly about it, but he's open to it. The only word of caution is that they are VERY busy. More often than not, I have to call an hour before they close after having dropped my car off the night before just to figure out if it's even been looked at (usually has been). If it's an extensive job, I usually have to wait another day before they even get to it. There have been a few instances where it's been tough to get an appointment in a reasonable timeframe (under two weeks), although it's getting better. Lastly, they don't service domestic cars which is a huge disappointment if you have a U.S. nameplate vehicle in your household. read more

These guys are great, professional, courteous , fair priced and helpful. I am so glad i have found an honest repair shop. Highly recommended. Bob W read more

Paolo Do Couto and his guys have done a phenomenal job taking care of my 2009 M3 covertible. Pricing is very fair (much better than the dealer) and they are much more thorough. Would highly recommend. He also can find you that special car you are looking for! read more

I will keep this short. I have been going to this shop for more than 30 years and have ALWAYS been incredibly happy with the work and/or purchase. In fact, I would not buy a car without having Auto Centro look at it. See for yourself. You'll be glad you did. Ken Shields read more

My first dealing with Auto Centro and Paulo was definitely not the best way to buy a used car. After just moving into the area my car died, completely, and I desperately needed a new (used) car quickly. I found Auto Centro on the internet, it was nearby and I gave it a shot. I went to Auto Centro to look at and possibly purchase a used Passat that was advertised in my price range, but upon finding out that the car would not be ready for three weeks since it needed a new transmission, I asked about the car sitting next to it, it was only $1500 more so I said I'll take that one. I didn't test drive it or even open the door and sit in it before agreeing to purchase it. I admit, it was possibly not the smartest decision at the time but it worked out well. The 1998 A4 2.8 Quattro I bought from Auto Centro in 2006 served my family well for a number of years and was serviced faithfully by Auto Centro (even though in 6 years they never did find the repair records that pre-existed my purchase), until the car's unfortunate demise. About 5 years later, that car was totaled in an accident and since the first automobile from Auto Centro had served us so well. I asked Paulo if he had another Audi available that was a little larger for a growing family. Paulo let me know that he had a 2005 A6 3.2 Quattro in which a replacement engine had been put a year or so ago (with around 50,000 K on it) and the car itself had an odometer reading of about 98,000 K miles (Actually I took it out for a test drive but it was cut short about 3 blocks away when the car ran out of gas). Paulo said the car needed a little cosmetic work, but had no major issues and that he would make a number of fixes to the car to make it presentable, these issues included the repair of the front passenger molding on the door as well as the fixing the headlight on the driver's side and the parking brake since they were generating error codes that could be seen on the dash board. We agreed on a purchase price and Paulo representing that the car had no major mechanical issues and that he could have sold the car at a higher price with the cosmetic issues fixed, but that would have just raised the asking price. I purchased the car in early April and took delivery the next month before all of the issues had been fixed. Some of those fixes proved to be a little more difficult than originally thought, and I needed the car because it was replacing my one car that had been totaled and my insurance was no longer willing to provide a rental. What happened next was just a cascade of things going wrong. But I have to admit, Paulo stood by his guarantee, even when he took a bath on the deal. First the molding repair turned out to be a $500 part with painting, then the headlight was one of those adaptive headlights that couldn't be repaired and had to be replaced (about $1000 as a new Audi part at the time, but I was OK with a re-manufactured part). So, about $1000 in parts and labor lost from the price. Then, about a week or so after these issues were fixed the key-less entry fob malfunctioned. It locked in the ignition and could not be removed. Whatever it was it went wrong in some major cascade of destruction. Over the next 2 months, I ended up with 3 different loaner vehicles from Paulo as they kept trying to figure out what was wrong. They ended up replacing the key fob, $300, about $800 in assorted switches and modules for the key reader, and $1200 for a new steering column in parts, and probably some ridiculous amount in labor and other things (he gave me the parts invoices - some of which had $0 charge). At one point, they even put the car on a flatbed and drove it over to the Audi dealership service center, and the dealership couldn't figure out what was wrong. It was just a comedy of "this won't work, order another part and try something else until it works." At one point, I got a call to pick up the car because it was finally fixed, but when I got there the front console was completely disassembled and all over the front seats. Needless to say, I couldn't quite drive it home and Paulo was flabbergasted. In the end, I did get a vehicle that worked and that I was happy with. I was pleasantly surprised that he didn't try to worm out of the repairs or try to charge for the cost of the repairs which were significant and surely had to have included significant labor, especially since the repairs lasted almost two months. All I can really say is that it was really nice to deal with a shop owner/mechanic who stood by his product and his guarantee. And I would definitely recommend his service. Even if you have a few (or many) bumps in the repair process, the end result is a vehicle that you can trust not to leave you stranded (because it works). And that's why you go there in the first place. read more

I have been taking my Audis ( at least the last 5) to Auto Centro after someone in Maine recommended them to me, this was about 10 years ago. I have never regretted a minute of it. Paolo and Vjay have always been attentive and informative no matter what problem any of my beloved Audis have offered up to me. This past week I had the opportunity to have them work on a Town and Country minivan and a Hyundai Sonata and i received the same impeccable service and assurance that i receive on my Audis. Paolo and Vjay, thank you for taking care of my Audis so I feel comfortable owning such tempermental cars. read more

Very friendly family shop and very fair prices. I will definitely go back for my Audi.

More often than not, I rant rather than rave, but in Auto Centro's case, I've taken the time to rave. I've been taking my VWs to Paulo and his crew for many years now and I've always felt like they have been able to diagnose and fix the problem the first time, in a reasonable amount of time and at a fair price. I have an Acura TL with a check engine light that I took to another repair shop in Gaithersburg (more on that in another post) and they were quoting me about $700 to replace both the pre and post catalytic converter O2 sensors. I took the same problem to Paulo who told me it would cost about $300 to replace both sensors. I'll continue to take my vehicles to AutoCentro and highly recommend them as a non-dealer auto maintenance center. read more

An honest, good shop. When I moved to MD from VA 9 years ago, a friend recommended I take my car here for the MD state inspection. I'd heard horror stories from others who went through this process--making up repairs, failing cars without justification. Not here. They checked it and passed it with very minor fixes. We've been taking cars there ever since (Mazda, Subaru, BMW, Audi). In fact, we have bought a couple of cars from them and been very happy with the service. If you own an import (especially a VW or Audi), you'll want to give this place a try. They won't do unnecessary repairs or try to "up-sell" repairs like they do at the dealer. If they say work needs to be done, it does. And their prices are usually cheaper than most. read more

Highly Recommend this Place as Best and Most Honest Service you can get for your car in the DC MD VA area. I've taken all my cars for repairs to this place: Volvo s40, Porsche 944, Toyota Camry, and Mazda 6. I usually go to the dealers when they give me a discount on oil change and then they give me a report of what I need to fix, which is always ridiculously expensive and then I take it to Auto Centro and it's usually 50% or more cheaper than the dealer. I've never had an issue after the repairs and the service is just outstanding and honest. For instance they told me that my mazda 6 needed some repairs but I asked them can I go another 6 months to a year without repairing them? They said yes you can. Most other places would say No even if they knew you didn't need to repair the parts right away. I like the fact that they are just honest and tell you the prices for the parts and the service so you know EXACTLY what you're paying for. I've shopped around and have found no place better than this. read more