I'm the original owner of a 1999 GMC Suburban and have only had one mechanic shop In Houston work on it. Here in the San Marcos area it went completely out of me would not start all. Took it to Jay and the team at Dealer Alternative Auto Care. Was a real mystery but they figured it out. The divers Side vanity mirror cover was broken making the battery drain and on top of that it triggered the original security system (witch has been disconnected for years) to kill the start of the car. They worked it out and back on the road. Thanks again Jay and team. read more

I was really stuck with an issue with my headlamp on my 2017 Honda Accord. It was not the side that was easy to change. It was on the right passenger side which requires a lot of parts to be taken off to get into where the lightbulb replacement should go and AutoZone where I purchased the bulb could not help me. As I don't live there as I live in another city, referred me to Dealer Alternative which I am so happy now that he did. They were so helpful and I even got to spend some time with a wonderful, beautiful , rescue dog, I believe her name was Sage, a Weimer Reiner mix. They were so efficient, quick, and kind with my situation, knowing that it was going to get dark soon and I needed my headlamp working. I live in a small town and it's hard to find automotive help right away when you need it. I highly recommend them and if I am back in San Marcos and need any other automotive help, I will definitely reach out to them. Five star service. read more

Over a year ago, we had a great experience here. The San Antonio Mercedes dealership told us our older Mercedes needed $1,000's in work and the service manager (Tim) assured us this was untrue and righted our course. Later, they replaced a fuel pump at a reasonable rate. This year, we brought the car in (check engine light was on) and were told we needed a new thermostat which they charged well above the predicted market rate to perform. There is a new service manager who is polite but I just didn't feel the same trust that I had the year before. 3 days after the thermostat replacement, the check engine light was back on and Dealer Alternative told us the waste gate was stuck "open" and unfortunately the entire turbo system would need to be replaced. Gulp, $4,200+ I checked with a well known foreign car garage in Austin and they provided a Mercedes master mechanic contact. $271 later, the master mechanic has replaced a breather hose, a vacuum hose , reconnected two loose hoses and of course charged the diagnostic fee around the turbo issue. Guess what, the turbo is fine and the car purrs. So, did Dealer Alternative knock hoses loose which created the code, or take a short path and just use the code to justify an expensive repair? Did they lie flat out about the waste gate being stuck? I don't know. But I'm very disappointed and don't feel they are the right folks for something other than minor repairs read more

My daughter is going to college in San Marcos and had to have her bumper reattached (clip broke). The owners were so kind to her and fixed her car quickly and for a great price. I'm so thankful to know she has a great shop close by and this mama doesn't have to worry that she'll be taken advantage of. read more

Would advise ignoring this shop at all costs. A year ago or so I started using them because the service manager that was there previously was knowledgeable, polite, and get a fair deal for good work. I was head over heals for this shop previously. This year I took my car in and though the service manager was polite, i feel these guys have gone from a good shop to one you can't trust (have seen other people have a similar experience). I bought a car in bad shape and took it to them thinking they'd have my back but here's what happened. They told me it was going to be just under $6k to replace all sorts of parts which I agreed to thinking that I needed the care back in a timely fashion and so long as it was good to go after I would pay the steep price (literally the price of a new engine). Wrong. Upon completing the overpriced work they told me that unfortunately they couldn't clear the codes and that the only way to do it would be to take it to the dealership (this is bs, and the dealership let me know). So now I was stuck with a car that couldn't pass inspection and cost me $6k to do so plus what I paid for the car. This car was for my childs mother and when I gave it to her after the work was completed she noticed that it vibrated going over 65mph. Also noticed that the "new ac" wasn't blowing very cold for it being a new ac. They said to take it back in and they'd look... She took it back to them and also mentioned something about the headlights not being the same color... this was the part that put me over the edge... All of a sudden they had another bill for another $5k saying that the the wheel bearings needed replacing ($2100) and that both headlights would need to be replaced because if they only replaced one then the other one would be off color because the "halo" was out and the only way to replace that would be to replace the entire assembly... they priced this at another $2300! To buy a brand new set of lights on ebay is about $300 tops. There are no halos in these lights and i fixed the issue for $20 in bulbs! So I was quoted another $5k for wheel hubs and headlight assemblies (which didnt need replacing). They charged her about $200 to "diagnose" this as well. Im guessing they thought I wouldnt see the invoice or that Im too stupid to know how to change a bulb. I did the hubs as well and it took me $80 in parts and about 6 hours of my time, having never done it before. I took it the car to a vw specialist who also let me know that the ac they put in wasn't the right unit which is why it wasn't cooling properly and that there was no chance they did $5k worth of work to the car. He was even honest enough to tell me that he wouldn't work on it because it wasn't going to be worth putting money into it even with what they had done, and that the dash lights issue was most likely from some corrosion somewhere in electrical. Vw dealership agreed this was probably likely. It's a real shame because when I first came to this shop I was happy Id found a local small shop that was extremely fair, but these guys aren't trustworthy at all anymore. They call themselves dealership alternative buy youd be better off going to the dealership than these guys. Photos attached so you can compare their quotes to the dealership or whoever else. read more

Christina was excellent help super nice! My vehicle inspection was fast and painless. Will definitely be back here read more

Dealer Alternative Auto Care - Auto Repair Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

I've always come here for something as simple as oil changes or larger projects and they have never done me wrong. Great staff and they get the job done in time. read more

First let's start with why I brought car to them. Needed a Rebuilt motor shaped into Volvo s60 They hassled me about it not being a new motor and scolded me on doubling charge if the rebuilt motor that was delivered didn't work and they were to put another in. Over looking they could just fix any issue the rebuild would have. A MUCH SMALLER JOB AND less charge. Red flag So I instructed them to pull the brand new Timing belt I had paid for on the original motor that had 0 hrs on the belt and install it on rebuilt engine if it was not New. They said of course. 3000.00 later installed running perfect until I put in of course another shop and they showed me a battered Timing belt that could of broke at any time. And BTW that's the reason for the rebuilt engine replacement. My serpentine belt split in half and got ducked into the Timing belt housing and bent my heads. 7000.00 total cost Now an additional 500.00 for a new Timing belt that mow I know they didn't replace per our agreement . Finally I had ask them to turn off a dash low tire pressure warning lite and they wanted 160.00 $ just to look at it after I had handed them 3000 and not doing the complete job. The battery was the last straw for me A 75$ does not fit For 200.00 + installation The one pulled out was a Duralast model 92 sells for 149.00 and they would of made 50$ profit So there total rip offs read more

Dealer Alternative Auto Care - This is the battery they put in 75$ battery and charged 200.00 - Auto Repair Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Great quality service with great and friendly customer service would recommend. Car something wrong and took it in and fixed perfectly and in time. read more

This is the third time that my family has used Dealer Alternative Auto Repair. My 2000 F150 needed some care and new plugs and coils solved the problems. Many thanks! John C. read more

Came in to have my rear axle rebuilt. Christina gave me a ride home in the shuttle car, which is a really nice service. The repairs took several days during which I had to leave town for work. Michael, who was available at any time during the process, was courteous enough to deliver my truck to my house, and park it in my garage! This was a huge convenience for me. I loved everything about the experience. The shop looks clean, well stocked, well staffed and well organized. Customer service was outstanding and the people who work there were great. I highly recommend getting your vehicle's work done here. Also, everything is great with my rear axle. read more

Dealer Alternative is the best! Christine and Micheal in the font office gave outstanding customer service and very professional. Thank you to the mechanics who got my truck in and out in one day. The price was right on as well! It's hard to find an honest and reliable mechanic shop in the Austin. These guys do a great job and shoot you straight. read more

Michael took care of me and my mustang. Oil change, real quick service. Nice attentions.

I'd like to say if you are looking for a respectable reliable shop this is the place. Had some work done and was giving a warranty. Had an issue with my truck and the shop pick up my vehicle up in fix me up no charger under the warranty. These guys were reliable I figured I was gonna have to pay u always have to pay. Thank you guys for fixing my truck I am very appreciated. read more

We recently moved to this area from Plano. I do not want to drive to Austin or SA for my maintenance. It is almost impossible to find someone down here that work on a Mercedes. Not only can they - but their prices are amazing!!! Top notch customer service as well. They have definitely earned my business! read more

Dealer Alternative is one of the best shops in town! They provide trustworthy, consistent service and good prices. I don't trust anyone but them with my Subaru! read more

I needed the evaporator coil replaced in my daughter's Jeep Patriot. It's a very labor intensive job that requires taking apart the dash, removing the console, and even removing the steering column! The first mechanic I took it to declined the job but recommended Dealer Alternative. I looked up Dealer Alternative on Yelp and was interested to see that they offered online price quotes. Because I was having a busy day and knew exactly what was wrong with it, this seemed like a good option. I sent a quick message and was given the option on Yelp to send the same message to other area shops, which I did. Within an hour I received a message back from Jay at Dealer Alternative. Based on the 5-7 hours the other mechanic estimated for labor, I knew he was offering a more than fair price. I received a second estimate from another mechanic that was $500 more, while a third mechanic declined the job. Most of the messages I sent on Yelp went unanswered. I was also glad to hear that the shop was open until 8 pm and I could take my vehicle in that evening. I work in Austin and live in Kyle, so I knew it would be a trek to get down to San Marcos, but with their late hours I didn't have to worry. When I got to Dealer Alternative, Jay and the business manager talked to me like I was family and the Jeep was a mutual friend who was ill. As a woman, I've had the experience of being talked down to on many occasions, but that was definitely not the case here. While the Jeep was being fixed, Jay gave me daily updates on it. With my permission, he even texted me pictures of the Jeep taken apart. I always knew what was going on with it and what the timetable was. When I came in with my daughter, he explained to us both in detail what they had done to the Jeep to repair it. Dealer Alternative is a clean place and they have a very nice courtesy shuttle. The business manager drove me over to pick up my car from the other mechanic. She was very friendly and professional. She asked me if the other mechanic was my regular one and I said no, and I realized I haven't needed a mechanic since I moved to Kyle three years ago. But I know now where I will go in the future if I do need one. A place that is clean, reasonably priced, professional, and puts your mind at ease: Dealer Alternative. read more

I had originally gone to a different place to get my oil changed and was turned away because they were too busy and they wanted to keep my car all day - when all I wanted as an oil change. I'm not very familiar with San Marcos so I started to panic and had no idea where to turn to. I drove around for a bit and passed this place on my way to another place. I pulled into the parking lot and looked at the reviews and knew I could trust this place. The shop is very new and very clean. I walked into the office and asked Jay, the owner, if I could get an oil change. He helped me within seconds and also explained the differences between the two oil changes he does. He put it into simple words because I have no idea about cars. He let me sit and wait in the office with him as they changed my oil. He offered me coffee, beverages, and even some snacks while I waited. He strikes up conversation the entire time so I didn't grow bored or restless. I absolutely love this place. I would recommend this to anyone needing to get their car looked at or fixed. Their prices are very reasonable and the atmosphere is very cozy. I'm so glad I found this place in San Marcos because it's hard finding a mechanic that you trust. I hope a lot of people read and see this review and go visit Jay himself. read more

I personally haven't gone but I drive by it everyday to my apartment and they have good jokes. My fav was the Pumpkin Spice oil change and the apple/ windows joke read more

Everyone was super friendly! I no sooner showed up, handed over my keys, sat and looked at one thing on my phone and it was all done. Fastest service I've ever had. I will definitely be coming back here and recommend it to anyone needing any work done on their vehicle. read more

Highly Recommend!!! Really terrific staff and very competent mechanics. They fixed my transmission and had me on the road extremely fast. Honest and up-front and called, texted and emails regarding quotes, authorizations to perform repairs and updates on progress. read more

My manager recommended this place to me and it did not disappoint! They found the problem and got my car back to me within 2 1/2 hours. The shuttle service is also very convenient. The staff was very friendly and I will definitely be back! read more

When I took my vehicle in, I already knew what needed to be replaced. I didn't have the time for the labor, so I came here hoping to receive a reasonable price for the job I needed. Not only did they charge an outrageous amount just to look at the car, but they immensely overpriced the foreseeable labor. There are two other automotive shops I called for quotes, and they both quoted me far less than these guys. On top of that, they didn't even charge to see the vehicle like this place did. When I tried to get my car back, they told me it "finally gave out". So, it was running acceptable for the past 2-3 months, but the one sliver of time period that I decided to get it inspected, it just gave out? Horrible. read more

I'm not from around here and the mechanic I was originally going to tow my car to was very busy and suggested Dealer Alternative Auto Care for a faster turn around. DAAC had my car up and running in no time! And they could've charged me all kinds of things, or try to sell me on things I didn't need and I would not have been the wiser. I thought it was a far more complicated issue. They were honest and fast and good ole Texas friendly. I can't recommend them enough! I only wish they were closer to where I live so they could be my go to mechanic from now on ;) Thanks again y'all! read more

So I found I had a dead battery at 7:30pm yesterday. I looked around and found this place, and requested an appointment. The awesome lady at the front desk called me the next morning and worked around my school schedule to get me in first thing. I was in and out within maybe two hours with a new battery and new oil. The owners are awesome, the dog is cute, the techs are great, honestly this place is the bomb. They even have a shuttle to take you home if you don't want to wait there (but i stayed for the dog, snacks, and Hulu). Being new to the area along with being a college student having car troubles can be scary, but this shop is great and reliable, and I will definitely come back for future maintenance. Thank you read more

Great service at reasonable rates. Jay is very knowledgeable about all kinds of cars. He and his crew really get it right.

It was terrible. I needed a new battery. The dealer would have charged $245 out the door, they charged $290! They marked up the price of the battery ridiculously. At AutoZone, the battery was $159 with a 5 year warranty. They charged me $228 for the same battery with a 1 year warranty. I had already had my car towed here and couldn't tow it again to another place but save yourself the hassle and money - DON'T GO HERE! read more

This place is great! I'm happy to have found a shop I can trust. Jay and his crew keep my car running well without costing me a fortune.

My student has taken her vehicle here in the past and was happy with the results. On the contrary today was a different story, the quote to fix her vehicle was absolutely outrageous!! Not only was the quote way overinflated but they charged her $100 just to look at it without doing anything to the car! I am so disappointed, I believe they were trying to take advantage of her. I called our mechanic (we don't live in San Marcos) and he was also very surprised at the charge for what they diagnosed. It is a shame that a young person can't get honest help with their vehicle while away from home at school. Ridiculous!! read more

Inspected my car in about 10 minutes. Friendly staff and great service! I will definitely be going back when I have an issue with my car.

My car completely died in the middle of the road and Dealer Alternative care was able to get my car back to 100% in no time. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. The environment was great and the service was spectacular! Definitely would go back! read more

Dealer Alternative, new name/new owners, but seem to be carrying on the same exceptional level of customer service as noted below. A/C failed on my aging 2000 Silverado -- called these folks and they figured out the problem (compressor clutch) and had me in cool air by the end of the day. Great work and, even better, friendly customer service! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

This is simply the best automotive repair center in San Marcos. My wife and I have taken both of our cars here for a few years, and I trust these guys with everything that needs to get done. They are honest and their work has always been top notch. I have received quotes for various maintenance issues, and L&S always comes in well below other shops in the area. Highly recommended! read more

I was very disappointed! My boyfriend took my car in to get looked at, because it had two things that was happening to it, they were able fix one of the problems, but they were told about the other problem and there we go taking it back because the other problem was still there ! They had the car for almost a week and was told that they don't charge by the hour and that they were still trying to pinpoint the problem so they replaced a sensor and that they want to keep it one more day ! But it's going to be $500 for the 35 hrs they had it for a sensor!! Really!! on top of the $247 we were charged for the first problem and had already paid. Then try to say it maybe the radiator ?? That's not true because the radiator is new. They good scammers! I will never go back . I will make sure ppl know. read more

Just a good old fashion honest auto shop!!! Took my truck to them thinking it would need complete front end work and all it was, was ball joint on one side. They could have taken advantage and replaced items that didn't need replacing...and they didn't...you can't put a price on honesty!!! read more

I had really great service here. I would highly recommend this place to anyone. They were very friendly and even drove me back to my apartment while I waited for my car to be fixed. read more