I was stopped waiting to merge when another car came up on my left and scraped my left side and took off my side view mirror. Insurance companies were terrible, wanting to declare the car 'totaled', and giving me a small check to buy another car. I started looking for someone to just put the mirror back on. Got crazy estimates of $2,500 to $6,000. Finally went to Bernie's where Sam said we can do it for $850 plus tax. They did it in two days and it was a quality job. Looks brand new. Sam was great to work with, Martin read more

After taking my vehicle here for 6 years, it's unfortunately time for me to change shops. I'm still happy with almost all of the mechanical work that is done in this garage. I'd give 4.5 stars for the actual service here. However, a couple years back they hired another service advisor (desk guy) who is a bit of a problem. He's nice, but in the used car salesman kind of way. He will pressure you to get work done, whereas the original desk guy (he still works there as far as I know) just says "here's what we think, tell me what you want to do" and then will have a straightforward conversation with you if you have questions or want to brainstorm ideas. If you're good with boundaries you might be ok with the new guy, but I'm usually pretty good about saying "no", and I still ended up with some stuff that I didn't really want/could have done myself. The other issue, which is harder to get around, is that the new guy just doesn't listen. You can explain your problem to him, but he may or may not talk over you or pay attention to what you're saying. You need to be very forceful, to the point of feeling even a little rude (which I hate doing to anyone in a customer service role) to get your point across. It's almost like he takes personal offense if you have a different observation than he does. This is an issue because the mechanics can only fix something if they know what the problem is, and customer history is an important part of that. I was really hoping that the service advisor was just having an off day the first time this happened, because I like Bernie's, but unfortunately it has persisted. For context, I am a woman: I don't want to assume this is part of the problem, but I'm open to the possibility that it is -- basically, this is my caveat that your mileage may vary. read more

I was recommended this business after asking around for a mechanic who works on domestic vehicles and am so glad I found the folks at Bernie's. Charlie was amazing at explaining every service he was recommending on my vehicle, why he was recommending it, giving me accurate quotes on cost of parts and labor, and just being very polite and easy to do business with. I felt very well taken care of and am super happy I chose this business to take my vehicle to. I will be returning for regular oil changes and maintenance in the future! read more

They provided excellent customer service. Got me in on short order and figured out what was wrong with my vehicle and had it fixed before the end of the day. Very professional and friendly. Charlie and Greg did a great job and I will be returning for any of my future mechanic needs. They do full service auto repair and oil changes. They even have connections for window fixes and other repairs. They made dropping off and picking up my car easy and safe with covid precautions in place. read more

Price bit on high end for transmission fluid but they do great work with flushing and everything. Sketchey area so make sure to pick up the car right away read more

Tonight I was driving home and when I approached a stoplight and my car wasn't shifting gears anymore. I had a leak in my clutch fluid reservoir and I knew I had run out so I forced my car to shift gears and found a place that had brake fluid to top it off. The closest place was Bernie's auto which closed in 20 minutes. When I arrived I went inside and asked to purchase some brake fluid due to the leak I had, whoever was running the counter went to the back and gave me a thing of fluid to fill my reservoir and when I offered to pay he said that I didn't need to. This place has amazing customer service and I'm very happy that I was able to experience it. read more

I am so lucky to have found Bernie's. I've been going to this shop for a couple years with my '07 Camry, and every time they have provided excellent care, customer service, and communication. Charlie is awesome, knowledgeable and patient and Tommy is a talented technician. As an Asian American woman and relatively new car owner, I was a little nervous looking for mechanics. I feel really happy I found this shop. Both Bernie's locations have been nothing but patient, skilled, and they clearly care about you and your car. read more

The first time I brought my car to them the technician ended up installing a part without much care and it prevented my headlight from working. I brought in my car and photos of what I was seeing and they immediately dropped everything to correct it and I was back up and running in 10min with no charge. I was also informed that that that technician was actually no longer with them. How easily they owned up to the mistake and how quickly they corrected it was very professional and instilled a lot of trust. Mistakes aren't a big deal to me, we're all human, but owning up to it and making it right is huge. I want to trust that my mechanic will do what's right, and I'm now confident that that's exactly what they'll do. Will be going to them for all my car maintenance needs from now on and would recommend them to anyone. read more

This is an absolutely excellent shop. They're thorough, and provide great customer service. They've never performed any repairs/services without my authorization, and they don't overcharge. The first time I took my car there, they even gave me a new customer discount without telling me, which I thought was a nice touch. They listen and communicate really well. I particularly like their price breakdown and explanation of the services provided, as well as their use of Carfax to keep track of the work performed. I feel like I can really trust them, and I plan to take my car to Bernie's for any/all future needs. read more

My 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee broke down near Lake Union. An idler pulley had worn out, causing the serpentine belt to come off, causing other issues with my thermostat and a few other things. I called Bernie's because they had many good reviews. Charlie answered the phone and said he could not guarantee a fix soon as they were quite busy and it might be a few days. I told him that was fine, I was not doing much commuting during the pandemic, I simply wanted service from a well reviewed shop. Charlie made sure my car got in and it was diagnosed, quoted, and repaired within 24 hours. I received a full summary of the problems and the bill was clearly laid out. The prices seemed fair and their communication was speedy and friendly. Would highly recommend Bernie's. read more

Absolutely stellar service from Bernie's Automotive! After having my catalytic converter stolen and replaced, I needed a cat shield installed. We reached out to no less than 6 other mechanics, and got several estimates that were very steep and couldn't get us an appt for at least 2 weeks. We spoke to Charlie at Bernie's Automotive, and he was able to get our cat shield installed within a few days, for hundreds less than other places. Bernie's Automotive has our business from here going forward! read more

These folks are simply the best. Got a part installation and tune up and oil change. From first call to driving away after was excellence. When i picked it up he told me what they found and did not try to upsell me or scare me into another sale. (ladies you know what i mean) They were honest about everything. The cost was fair and worth it. i won't be going to any other automotive service business from now on. Thanks Charlie! read more

I've been a customer here for well over 10 years. I like to support a small business that has been passed down from father to son, where they focus on customer service. They took very good care of my first SUV until I sold it at 230K miles, and it was still in good shape. I do think they are a bit more expensive than some shops, but you get what you pay for. They do the extras like drive you to work, vaccuum out your car, and get your car back as quickly as possible with phone updates while it's being worked on. They also do fundraisers for the local high school. I've always felt they are trustworthy and they explain everything to me, which is hard to find in some auto repair shops. read more

So far so good, first visit to Bernie's with my 15 year old Ford Expedition was a success. They'll be taking care of "The Bumble" from here on out. Staff was great, especially Raya in the front. read more

Bernie's Automotive Service - Auto Repair Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Yeah...I dunno. They do a REALLY superb job with the "courtesy inspections" and ensuing list of recommended procedures. They weren't able to definitively diagnose my car's issue but I still managed to spend $600. GREAT customer service - other than having to wait five days for an appointment. I work at an animal hospital and cannot imagine telling someone, 'I'm sorry your cat is sick....we'll see you in five days." I guess if they're that booked up it's a good sign? I know nothing about cars but I get a really strong, "Would you like fries with that?" vibe from Bernie's. read more

I wanted to give Bernie's my money but unfortunately I could never get them to give me a quote. I was looking to have a PCM replaced on my car and called Bernie's for a quote. The woman on the phone said she would call me back in a "few minutes". I followed up 5 hours later and she let me know she was waiting for a supplier to get back to her, and she would call me back asap. I waited a couple more days and called back again. I talked to the same woman who mentioned the person (Will?) who had quoted my jeep had scribbled it down and was not totally clear which price was mine. She gave me a quote (with a 20% discount for being a new customer) at which point I mentioned it seemed high. Again, she said she would have someone call me back. I waited a few more days (over a week has passed at this point) and called to follow-up. The woman told me they needed to see my quote from the other dealership to get information so they could properly give me a quote. They mentioned they needed my VIN which I said they had, but they were insistent on seeing the quote. I sent the quote that evening and was told I would hear back the next day. I waited a couple days and followed up. The woman mentioned the person who was quoting me was out for the day and they would call me back the next day. At this point 2 weeks had passed and I never received a call back. At this point I cut my losses and driving my car to Tacoma to get it fixed. A few people had mentioned high price quotes for basic things. I got the feeling they were playing pricing games the whole time. Just give me a decent, fair quote and I will get my car fixed. I don't need jacked up prices in order to be given a "20% discount for being a new customer" read more

Customer service always determines whether I'm returning to a business or not, especially from my first impression. Well, Bernie's went above and beyond for me today! I wish I got the name of the guy who helped me. He was so attentive, courteous, and QUICK that I didn't get a chance to catch it. I walked in needing a new signal light, my hubby wasn't able to do it as I jammed the bumper in, so I was expecting it to be a pricey job, and was afraid that I'd have to buy a whole new bumper panel. Dude said he'd check it out, popped the hood, got a new bulb in the shop, replaced the bulb, and popped the light fixture back in. LIKE A NINJA. It took 5 minutes if that and then he goes "have a nice day!" and I was like "how much do I owe you?!" and he was like "don't worry about it, happy holidays!". WOW! :) I don't expect FREE service in the future, and maybe he saw my 7-mos. pregnant belly and wanted to be extra nice, who knows. But I'll def. be going back in the future for any other car needs. read more

I'm normally pretty wary of car repair shops but Bernie's Automotive restored my faith in them and I have gone back to them many times over the last ten years. I had to replace some tires in Portland and used Firestone. At my alignment last month, Firestone on Aurora in Seattle told me that I had to have new front brakes and rotors and that the sky was falling. They gave me an estimate of $596 for their Plus Brake job with a limited warranty of 24,000 miles or 24 months on the parts and 12,000 miles or 12 months on the labor. I asked them how much brake lining did I have. No response. So I took my 98 Volvo S70 that I rely upon to get to my QuickBooks and Quicken clients that I set up, review, and train at their offices and homes in the Greater Seattle area to Midas who also tried the same thing. Only their estimate was $715 but they offered a "lifetime warranty" on their brake pads but not for their labor which was only warranted for 90 days. They also neglected to tell me how much brake lining I had. Since I was having my 30K tune up at Bernie's, I was curious what they would say. Will told me that I have about 3mm (the first auto shop who gave me precise numbers) on my front brakes. He said "You can replace them at your next oil change. You don't need to do them now." So I asked him how much I should start budgeting for this repair. He replied, "Oh, about $400 and that includes the rotors. And that is covered by our 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty on labor and parts." You can trust these folks to tell you what and when you need to repair, at a lower price, and a superior nationwide warranty. read more

This guy had the opportunity to rip.me off bit he dint did great job in my car such good coustomer service and honest. I.will be taking my car there next time I have issues with my car read more

I've been going to Bernie's for several years and so glad I found this place! I've had excellent service for my '02 Nissan Sentra for everything from brakes/tires to engine repairs (catalytic converter, transmission problems). They have great deals for oil changes - doesn't even compare to the Grease Monkey-type places - they check a ton of other stuff and offer free towing. I feel they go the extra mile in quality of service, I always feel my car is in the best possible shape after each visit, and in the one case when something wasn't completely fixed which they quoted me on, they took it back right away and fixed it till 100% resolved with no extra charge. The customer service is outstanding, they've always taken the time to explain in simple terms what was wrong and what was needed to fix it. I can tell these guys have a passion for cars! They also offer rides to and from their shop if you need it (within Ballard) which was the icing on the cake for me; it was so nice and convenient, not many places will do that! Even as I am now moving to California they took the time to help me find an excellent auto shop in Santa Cruz. I was worried about finding another reliable and welcoming auto shop, but feel they've set me up good in my new neighborhood. Thank you for your diligence and excellent follow-through! read more

I've been bringing my car(s) here for 8 years! I make the trek from south Seattle to Ballard for all of my repair and service needs, because it's worth the journey to work with a repair shop that has integrity. Will and his team are super helpful and knowledgable. Their pricing is fair and their customer service is top notch! Is it weird to love your mechanic? Not if you are talking about Bernies! :) read more

Being newer to the Ballard area I was skeptical of finding a new "go-to" mechanic since I had found a great one when I was in Everett. I was really pleased with their service and their willingness to help. Granted most companies should be like this, but most never are. These guys actually care. I had a control arm and axel snap on me meaning my car completely disabled. I had made an appointment the night before and then while driving it broke and I needed to get it towed to the shop. They kept me in the loop every step of the way and did what they could to keep the price as low as possible. I'll definitely go back and recommend other local friends, family, etc to check them out! read more

I highly recommend Bernie's, a locally owned family business where the owner and employees know how to treat people well!

I want to give a big thanks to Bernie's for their ability to help me out on short notice. I needed to get new brake pads and brake fluid before my track day that was coming up in 4 days. Even though they were booked out a week-and-a-half they said they would help me out and fit me into their schedule. They were able to have my car ready to go in time and the work was professionally done. I would highly recommend them to anyone and go back to them in the future. read more

This is my first review.ever. My husband and I have been taking our cars to Bernie's for the past 6 years or so years. We've always been really pleased. I'm writing this review to give kudos to them for the excellent service I've just received. My car was leaking water in the front floor of the drivers side and passenger. I took it to them, they fixed it. When I got home it was still getting wet. I took it back and they had quite a bit of work to do to try and figure out from where the water was coming in. It entailed taking the car completely apart. They supplied me with a rental car (their expense) and fixed my car for a fraction of what they should have charged. Partly because it wasn't fixed the first time and partly, I'd like to think, because I'm a loyal costumer. I can't say enough good things about them. I've even used their roadside service in the past which is also awesome. read more

I liked the owner. I needed a lot of work done on my car, and a neighbor I trust who has lived in Ballard for years recommended this place. They helped me get my car to a place where I feel safe driving it on the highway, and also made recommendations on what I should spend money on now and what can wait. read more

These guys go above and beyond to meet the consumer's needs. I was extremely impressed with how friendly and helpful they were in fixing my car! Special thanks to the mechanic who was absolutely amazing! Thanks Will Ingle! Because of his service, Bernie's Automotive will be my first go-to place for any future car problems. read more

Friendly and top-notch, above and beyond service! I brought my Jeep Grand Cherokee in for routine maintenance. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable - they gave me a "max price" quote guarantee, which I appreciated for visibility, and desk side knew all about the operations and were able to walk me through what to expect from having/not having work done. Mechanics went above and beyond repairs, giving me extra service at no charge and even offering me extra benefits like roadside assistance without me having to probe them for it. I also was able to pay with a 20% savings coupon. Prices were exceptionally fair based off my experience. It's been a week, and my Jeep is still running great (survived a trip to Mt Bandera). These guys know customer retention is key to successful business, and I'd highly recommend them! read more

Premium pricing for dodgy work and lies. "New customer discount" "worked you a deal" should all be red flag statements for inflated pricing. I know we are in the city and prices can be more but I HIGHLY recommend shopping around even if it's just for an emissions waiver. Don't really know where to start. No value placed on your time as a customer. Sketchy expired "certifications" and me running around Seattle for two days as a result of their incompetence. Took a Jeep that is primarily used as a camping/adventure rig here for a CEL to get diagnosed and possibly get fixed/waiver so I could get my tags renewed on the jeep. Typically I like to work on the rig but at this point I needed a professional diagnosis. Come back to me with an estimate for work, great okay wow that is expensive for exhaust work.. so it was time to just get the waiver and explore options at exhaust shops.(Called around and every exhaust shop came in at half the price I was quoted. 2500vs1200.). Also the hunt to solve my CEL and problem should of started on fuel/ignition codes not bad exhaust convertors, talked to the WA state ecology department and they were dumbfounded by this ultimate estimate of work to get the jeep up to emission standards. Go in get my jeep, run down the codes and disregard to every code EXCEPT the Catalytic Convertor codes. I get the signed work to bring to get my waiver from the test facility. I ask Allen at their front desk if I need the jeep or if I can go in my other car to save the hassle of driving on expired tags, he says oh ya you don't need the jeep. WRONG, okay go back home with my other car, order an uber to the shop across town, get there at this point pretty pissed off so I just get my jeep and go back to the test facility and get the needed second test and go into the office to get my waiver. At this point I feel home free only wasted my whole morning on this. Except in the test office they said the person from Bernies who signed the document is not in their system as a certified person to do the waiver from the shop... that I needed to go back AGAIN to the shop and get this other person to sign. At this point I call Bernies to find out what is going on, Allen picks up I ask for a service manager, oh he's busy working on a car at the moment but how can I help you? So I explain to him what i was just told. His response... "oh ya our technicians certification expired and he's the one who signed off on your work, but if you try the process again tomorrow it should work cause he got an extension to the end of the year." This point I called the WA department of ecology and they helped me get my waiver done immediately and were very kind and legit gave me a better run down of the codes and what they mean. This is the part that got me to all the way to 1 star. The explanation from someone helping me from our state ecology gave me better insight than the shops service I paid for, he was going to follow up with bernies. Also 7 dollars to put window washer fluid in was pretty funny too. My other car is a newer Audi, when I bring it to Seattle Audi, they charge a premium, in return they value my time and respect me. They take time to walk you thru any warranty work or simple maintenance if you show interest and ALWAYS communicate everything. read more

Great service and clear communication with the shop! Stayed within my budget to get my classic car in good shape for sale.

This place is amazing! Will and his crew are knowledgeable, dependable and put their customers' interests first. Earlier this year I bought a 2004 Wrangler and these guys inspected it forward and back and came back with a list of pickup items that I could take back to the dealer I bought it from. Thanks in no small part to the professional way Will's team put it together, the dealer actually performed some of the repairs. And when the dealer's shop got stuck on some things, the guys at Bernie's even helped them over the phone. Since then this is the only place I take my Jeep. These guys give great advice when it comes to lift kits and suspension work, and my wrangler runs fantastic thanks to their care. read more

After my previous mechanic moved out of Seattle, my 1999 Toyota Tacoma didn't get all the care it needed. A power steering problem forced me to look for a new shop. Bernie's was close to home and said they could take a look right away. They fixed the steering problem and also detected the deferred maintenance issues. The took care of all of the needed maintenance for slightly under the very reasonable estimate. Done on time and with excellent communication. read more

Fantastic service. I'm a returning customer who recently had a vehicle inspected by Bernie's prior to purchase. They were busy, but dropped everything and crawled under the truck to find a tiny oil leak from the front main seal. Saved me a major headache. They were fast, thorough, knowledgeable and kind enough not to charge me for the quick inspection. These guys are great. read more

Super impressed with the customer service here. My car was parked with a dead battery not 50 feet from the shop, but I was worried I'd have to get AAA to tow it the half block. Having purchased a new one from Les Schwab, Will made an exception to offsite inspection (I've never had a mechanic come to my car) and came up to take a look. Not five minutes later the battery was good to go. Thank you again for taking a little time to make my day. You have a new loyal customer. read more

Bernie's was recommended to my daughter by a friend because my daughter had no idea where to go to have her car towed when it broke down. Initially, we thought it was an answer to prayer that this great place had been recommended. After an entire day of having her car, she called and Bernie's said they were just looking at it and would call the next day. They did not. The following day at noon, still without a word from them, she called and was told the car would need a new engine. She had suspected that since it was old and had been gifted to her but was still traumatic as she is a struggling student trying to make it on her own in Seattle. To add insult to injury, when she went to get her belongings out of her car, she was told that she owed $130 for diagnostics on the car. While this is not outlandish, someone should have told her ahead of time. That is a lot of money to a young girl who is new to this level of adulthood. I am furious that no one EVER called to update her on her car. She had to initiate all contact. And if that charge of $130 was justified, at least she could have been told ahead of time. It is a terrible situation all around. She is now without a car. She is out $130 for absolutely nothing to show for it and Bernie's is not a place I would suggest anyone, especially not a young woman who just needs an honest opinion should go. I'm only giving one star because she said they were "nice." She is more generous that I am. Shame on you for treating a young, hardworking student like that. read more

I was originally looking for a shop that was close by to service my Jeep. The dealership is in Renton and it was a extreme hassle to get my car down there. Drop off meant I'd be without the car for 2-3 days, even for an oil change....or 3-5 hours if I waited for them to finish. I noticed several reviews noted the prices were high...I did not find that to be the case. In fact they steered me away from doing unnecessary work and gave me an assessment of the vehicle's condition. The employees were professional and genuinely friendly/courteous. The service was prompt and I got my vehicle back same day...unlike at the dealership. judging by other's reviews, it seems I'm not alone in finding this to be a good shop...I'll be going back PS: As normal check, I also went to the Northwest Better Business Bureau, just in case there were any checks against them. Bernie's Automotive has an A+ rating. Not sure if other people do this, so I thought I'd mention it. read more

I've been using these guys for a decade, Will has always taken the best care of me and every vehicle I have brought in. Working in the customer service field, I am always so grateful when I go to a place, or call them on the phone, and consistently get treated amazingly. I can't recommend these guys enough, I've sent all my friends to him as well, as finding a good mechanic who actually fixes your car, instead of just ordering a new part, is soo rare and hard to find. Keep up the good work guys, you have a customer for life! read more

I HIGHLY recommend this auto shop. Being someone who does not know anything about cars, I was very lucky to have brought my car into this shop with employees that care and are patient. My car is over 200k miles with not much life left and Charlie helped me understand what was needed in terms of safety and what wasn't. Extremely affordable and kept me updated through the whole process, couldn't be happier! read more

My 2003 Honda Civic happened to break down in the parking lot of a 7-11 after I got off work; called Bernie's as they were in the area and had good reviews. The mechanic got to me quickly, jumped the battery, and did some little diagnostics while he was there; What I thought was maybe the result of a dead battery may actually be an issue with the alternator needing replacement, which does indeed seem to be the case. I wasn't charged for jumping the battery, and the mechanic recommended I put my tip towards the cost of a new alternator and leave a positive review instead. Fair enough! Will be taking my car here next time I have issues with it. read more

Bernie's maintains two vehicles for me, a 1978 Ford pickup and a 1995 VW Jetta. The truck has become the envy of the working neighborhood, and the Jetta looks and runs like new. I keep my vehicles a long time, and I trust the people at Bernie's to care about them as much as I do. In fact, my Jetta had been maintained it's entire life by Carter, but I felt the service Bernie's provided for my truck was superior. The first time I took the Jetta to Bernie's they fixed a long standing problem Carter had not been able to. This is the value of a small community oriented shop. Service is impeccable. I have made Bernie's job difficult at times due to mistakes on my part, and they've always accommodated my foolishness. If you have vehicles you care enough to maintain, Bernie's is a service shop to consider. Their people care about the quality of their work, and about the operations of your vehicle. read more