I went to Passport Infiniti for my 30k oil change, lube filter, and tire rotation. They came back and said my rear brake rotors and pads were worn out and needed to be replaced for $800. I might look stupid, but I am not that stupid! I declined the service. We have taken my wife's car to Del Ray Service Center for the past few years. I knew I could trust them for an honest assessment of my brakes. I left Passport Infiniti and went straight to Del Ray Service for a second opinion. They were busy when I walked in, but they took the time to take a close look at my brakes. They assessed that my brakes are good for at least another 20k miles. It is sad that the dealership Passport Infiniti that I bought my car from has such a dishonest service department. The great thing is that the people of Alexandria have an honest Mechanic at Del Ray Service Center that they can go to and get a truly fair assessment of their vehicle. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for an honest, talented and great Service Center. read more

This was my first time coming here, and they were able to fit me in last minute. They took care of my safety inspection quickly and professionally. Really appreciate it--thank you! read more

Just tried to get inspection done since there were no customers. I tried to ask where I should leave my car if they were able to do inspections. Before I could even speak the gentleman in the garage continuously and angrily yelled at me to park my car to the side. I just got in my car and left because the fact that this business is cool with being rude and yelling as a go to with customers is crazy. I have never been here before but gladly won't ever try again and will tell others to not even bother. read more

After a $40 fix-it parking ticket for not having an annual safety inspection sticker immediately following VA auto registration, I went to this service center to ensure both of our vehicles were in tip top shape. $20 per inspection (no additional charge if a re-inspection is required) with same-day availability. Sam was kind enough to help me switch out my LEDs back to the required halogen to pass the inspection and was very personable. A terrific (albeit efficient) vibe with excellent customer service. Recommended! read more

I came in and asked for an oil change. I ended up with the attached bill, $129 for an OIL CHANGE. It took me 3 phone calls and nearly 3 hours to figure out when my car would be ready. When I showed up, I was stunned to see my bill. Yes, I asked for a good quality oil, and they gave me one (Mobil 1 European engine formula). However, they charged me $13 per quart for an oil that sells for $23 for 5 quarts on both Amazon and at Wal-Mart. Now, I'm not one of these people that thinks they should charge me exactly what the oil costs. I get it: they need to make a profit. But $129 for an oil change is extremely excessive. I asked for an explanation of my bill and didn't really get one. Pretty much just "yeah, that's what it costs." I thought Yates was the service center around here that was known for high prices, this place gives Yates a run for its money. I'll never return, not even to refill my gas, which is sad because this used to be my go-to gas place. No longer! Edit: I decided to do some research on the cost of an oil change for my car, with this oil. I called 11 different service centers in the Alexandria area and asked what a 2018 GTI oil change would cost me, after all taxes and fees. I also asked for the same oil, Mobil 1 European engine. 7 out of 11 places used this same oil, the other 4 used something else. 3 of the 4 non-Mobil 1 places used a high quality full synthetic oil that is approved by Volkswagen, one place used an oil I had never heard of and wasn't on the VW-approved list. I averaged all the prices and got $101.25. This does not include the place that used a non-approved oil, because it was an outlier (and also came in the cheapest at $66). Only one other place, Yates, charged $130, every other place was cheaper. The lowest price was $80 (excluding the $66 outlier). The median price was $103. If I further limit my data to only the 7 places that used Mobil 1 Euro engine, the average price was $109. This means Del Ray Service Center was on average between ~$20-28 dollars more expensive for this oil change. My sentiments remain the same, I'll never be back. But because they weren't as overpriced as I originally though, I bumped the review up from 1-star to 2. Do with this information what you will. read more

Del Ray Service Center - Did you ever think you'd be paying $129 for an oil change? I didn't! - Auto Repair Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Twenty year customer, with 2-3 cars. I always went here for inspections. No more. New Mechanic, new ownership. I'm a mechanic and maintain/restore/refurbish my own cars. Failed inspection due to play in tie rod. Removed and replaced the part, which was perfectly fine. That's a $600 repair for most people. Glad it only cost me my time. Go see Joe across the street. Shame. They used to be good. read more

I was definitely waiting for this place to respond to my review and as expected, they didn't disappoint. I will be reporting this response to Yelp for completely falsifying information. At no point did I ask how to get around the inspection - what an absolute joke of a claim. Legitimately laughable. Here's a top tip, Alex: Either get off Yelp completely or actual hire a customer service professional to oversee customer relations for your sham of a business. read more

For over a decade, I have been taking my cars for safety and emissions inspections to "Joe" at this Shell station, and the service has always been great. Although I've never made an appointment and other cars are invariably ahead of mine for service, the inspector, Joe, always greets me personally, never turns me away, and advises me of how long the inspection will take (usually 1-2 hours) so that I can plan my time usefully. In an era when "customer service" has become an anachronism, it's refreshing to come across someone like Joe--as personable as he is competent. Moreover, it bears noting that for a decade the cost of inspections has barely risen: today's service came to total of $20. Put me down as a very satisfied customer! read more

I was able to pull in without an appointment and get an emissions test and a safety inspection. The station is on an incredibly small lot which makes parking a pickup truck. But the service was fast and there is a Bistro across the street for breakfast. Highly recommend the Del Ray Service Center. read more

Given Ive prompted a response from the manager - manager never spoke with me directly so there's no truth to me being rude at all. The middle eastern guy who spoke directly with me can attest to the fact I was far from rude. Bottom line: if the vacuum is in an inconvenient spot, MOVE IT. read more

Del Ray Service Center - Why have the vacuum placed here if you're going to block the space with cars that need to be serviced ?! - Auto Repair Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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I re-read my review of a number of years ago (man time zooms by) and I wanted to amend what I wrote. They do more than state inspections...a lot more. If you survey the service stations up and down Mount Vernon Avenue, Del Ray Service Center is really head and shoulders above the rest. They install breaks or tires and do other repair work in a straight forward, no nonsense sort of way. Honest pricing for work that you don't have to worry about. They're the one service station on Mount Vernon where things are fixed right the first time! I'm not mentioning any names (rhymes with Bates), but there are other service stations where you have to return so often that your car can find its own way there! read more

Recently posted on Neighbors: "Del Ray Service Center = scammers. I've learned not to take my car there for Safety Inspections as that "test" is way too subjective and DRSC had routinely failed me for ludicrous, non-relevant issues in the past that other stations later said we're not necessary for safety inspection. But since they are so close and since I figured for Emissions Inspection, they couldn't gin those up as it's run thru the DMV computers and tied to your vehicle VIN and the state testing equipment. Well, DRSC has found a work around, after 5 mins, mechanic comes in and says that my car failed emissions. I asked to see the computer printout. He said, "oh I didn't test it because it will fail, I heard a noise in the muffler and the insides are corroded." "Can you show me?" "No, it's inside the muffler" "So it never actually failed the emissions test" "No, I didn't test it because I can't test it until I replace the tailpipe and muffler. It would be $1,025" "OK, no thanks." Drove to a service station a few blocks away, and mechanic hooked car to testing equipment, ran the test and 5 mins later handed me the computer printout that indicated that it passed every test." read more

I've been coming here for the last couple of years for inspections and they're always quick and reasonably priced - *without* needing to make an appointment. The real reason I'm writing this, however, is the fantastic service I got this week when I dropped by for a headlight restoration. First of all, it's hard to find many places in town that will do it for you. Sure, you can get a kit anywhere, but the headlights always turn out better when you get the professionals to handle it for you. They had the best deal on any restoration that I could find in the city. They had my car in and out in a half hour. I had time to walk across the street, get a cup of coffee and a slice of banana bread, and walk back to see the best my headlights have looked in years. Not only did the manager handle this himself, he *also* put in a new light bulb I picked up at AutoZone - for free. Other shops wanted to charge me $10-$20 just to stick the bulb in there. I've always been treated so well when I come here and the staff is as friendly as can be. The manager believes in taking care of the Del Ray and Alexandria community and the reputation he's built speaks for itself. Del Ray Service Center will always be my shop of choice. read more

I've been getting my car inspected and fixed up here for five years, it's always speedy and never overly expensive. It's also helpful that you can pick up and pay until 10pm. In addition to that, they go above and beyond when it comes to customer service! Long story short my husband picked up our car thinking it had already paid for, when it had not been! Plenty of places would be understandably angry and perhaps charge more for this, but when Chris called the next day he was very understanding and I paid the same bill. TLDR: great work and great people! read more

"Our number 1 priority is customer service." VERY far from it! During the Colonial Pipeline shutdown I came here to get gas after seeing someone else pumping their tank. Apparently, that someone else was the owner, and he repeatedly told me that there wasn't enough gas to go around and ONLY he could get gas because he was the OWNER and he can do what he wants. Not only was his tone extremely condescending to me when going on about this, but this is a form of discrimination and greed. Holding onto ESSENTIAL goods during an emergency just to take care of YOU and YOUR OWN first. Extremely disappointed by the "customer service" here and will never consider this place again for any of my auto needs. Money is a form of support, and by no means was his behavior and decision something that I want to support, especially during this emergency. I'm also African American, so do as you wish with that information. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else with better customer service and no discrimination. read more

Del Ray Service Center - Auto Repair Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Avoid at all costs. On the corner of Mt Vernon and Monroe, this former Texaco station has attempted to go independent and sell gasoline and service to whomever shows up. My advice, the Shell station across the street is definately worth the drive. The storeclerks are rude, unkempt, and generally unwilling to do even the most menial tasks requested. The grounds are awash with the evidence of poor housekeeping and bares notice that this is not a good place to do business with. Service is sloppy at best, and promises were not kept the last time we attempted to get service from them. In short, even if you break down - the only thing I'd ask from them is a public payphone to have your car towed to a reputable repair facility. Oh, and the gasoline is higher than most others in the area as well. In short, I don't expect them to remain in business for long. read more

I have been getting my state inspection here for many, many years. Great guys. Today I took in my 1994 jag. It passed the safety inspection, but then the battery died in the parking lot. They tried to jump it for me. But the battery was too old and wouldn't hold enough of a charge to get the car into gear. And they didn't have that battery in stock. But they tried to help and I appreciated their efforts. Nice people. Yes, I ended up calling AAA. Recommend them as well. read more

Fantastic Service. They came in under the estimate from 2 other locations, found a fault from a previous repair, and did so in a friendly manner. I try and do most repairs myself, but even I get over tasked, so knowing they have my back means that I will be back. Thank you Chris for all of your help. read more

I had state inspection, oil change, tire rotation done a couple of weeks ago. I knew based on a previous visit to my dealer that my rear brakes were needing replaced, so I got that done too. These guys did a fantastic job with all. Even installed (gratis) windshield wipers I had separately purchased (but hadn't installed yet) since mine were going bad. Anyway, I've been coming here for years for inspections and to fuel up - it's great to know that their repair work is great (reasonably priced, timely, quality work by friendly people) too. Oh, and all of this was done on a Saturday without an appointment. read more

I have been getting my car inspected here for the last few years and after reading some of these reviews I wanted to share my positive experience. The man who checked me in was helpful - he told me the wait would be 1.5-2 hours as there were several cars ahead of me, showed me where to park, and suggested I grab something to eat at the cafe across the street to help pass the time, which I did. My car was ready almost exactly 90 minutes later. It couldn't have been more painless. read more

I've been coming here for years and recommended it to many people, but last night was it for me. Friday I paid around $1300 for work (brakes rotors etc) Chris as always offered a fair price. The next day I noticed loud noise from my new brakes. Phoned Chris and as it was a holiday weekend he asked me to bring it by Tuesday. Tuesday morning I drop it off and explain I have to bike to work and won't be able to pick it up that night. Chris calls later and apologizes. He says the brakes needed adjustment and they must not have test driven it after they did the work. He also tells me no charge on the adjustment which seems odd since it wasn't done right but that's just Chris which was fine At approximately 8:30 I get a call from an employee telling me I need to pick it up tonight or if not early the next morning. I try to explain I work nights and the only reason the cars there is because the work was not done properly but that falls on deaf ears. So I have to leave work early and bike back from DC to get my car. I tell the person I talked to that this is messed up and again my cars here because it wasn't done properly on Friday. I also tell him I think I'm done as a customer and ask him to have Chris call me tomorrow (today). His response was no if you want to talk to Chris you can call him. I'm sorry I've supported this place since I've lived in Del Ray and I believe in loyalty but it's got to work bo To his credit Chris phoned me today. I'm not sure if I will go back here but he was as always very polite and professional. Alex. Your cashier telling me he would not give your manager a message to call me and telling me if I wanted to talk to Chris call him myself is in no way a "miscommunication " it's bad customer service plain and simple. read more

These guys are honest, bend over backwards to be accommodating, communicate clearly, and have all the benefits one would come to value most from a neighborhood mechanic. My car inspection on my new vehicle was finished by the time I had eaten breakfast at the cafe down the street! Serendipity! Chris deserves special kudos. When my ancient Honda finally bit the dust, he was the one who impressed upon me how the best decision would be to put it to rest, rather than drop a bunch of $ on trying to bring it up to par. And he didn't charge me an arm and a leg for the diagnostics necessary to draw that conclusion (like some other mechanics most certainly would have). The only downside is while I live around the corner, I work really far away, so their standard business hours sometimes may preclude me from bringing my vehicle here. Bottom line is: highly recommend this shop! read more

Horrible service & overpriced. Do not take your vehicle here. Took money for work not completed. Alex R you were upset the minute I explained I wasn't having my vehicles serviced through you because I'm aware of the ridiculous over priced charges you charge on parts and labor. You explained that the vehicle had failed previous inspection which I had no knowledge of. So the vehicle failed again which is understandable. Why would I waste $20 if I had knowledge of this. Alex R didn't bother to explain that I had 15 days to return the vehicle with all issues repaired & would just be required to pay $1. This guy wanted to charge me an additional $20 if I returned. Then he handed me a piece of paper with all required work to be completed that appeared to be written by a kindergartner. The next day I took my vehicle to be serviced by my personal mechanic, I then was informed Alex R gave me 2 repairs that was incorrect. Explained I need a park light bulb which turned out to be a side marker. Then rear rotors which turned out to be just front rotors. It can be frustrating when you're told incorrect info and purchase incorrect auto parts when you're vehicle is being serviced at that moment. I've always dealt with this place but under different management. I chose right not to return to this place. Everything on my vehicle is repaired and all is well. Save myself tons of wasted money. I have left other reviews for this location to avoid others dealing with this matter. Have A Nice Day read more

When I first moved here, my car had been in storage and my battery had been disconnected, so my car didn't have enough emission data to pass an inspection. I had to go back twice (after driving 100 miles; thanks environmentalism) and they were insistent on charging me only once. I absolutely will be going back to them (but make an appointment). read more

As others do, I skip over the 5 star reviews and immediately look at the bad reviews. But I'm compelled to write a review and add my name to the long list of existing 5 star reviews for this place. Being new to the area, I was referred to this shop for a state safety inspection on my 2003 Chevy Avalanche. I never drive that thing and I was so worried it would not pass for some unknown reason. Also, since this was my first visit to this shop, I was worried they might use the state inspection as an opportunity to get more business and charge for things that didn't really need to be done. Well, Ken and the nice gentleman at the counter (sorry, didn't get your name) put all my fears to rest! I was in and out within 20 minutes (10 minutes less than what they told me) and they didn't try to pull any funny business or force unneeded repairs just to pass the state safety inspection. Thank you again for your honesty; a rare find in today's automotive repair and maintenance business. You have just earned yourself a new customer. :-) read more

After a different service station in town tried to gouge me on price, I was refreshed to take my vehicle here and have them give me a fair and up front estimate. They got the job done and saved me countless dollars just by being an honest business. Will gladly return for just about any of my vehicle needs. Highly recommend. read more

Slower than molasses. This is also a boy's club. If you are a woman your car will get bumped in line. Very slow and inefficient. Was there for 2 hours on a Monday afternoon. read more

I must admit, I wasn't planning on using the Del Ray Service Station for an auto repair. However, when filling up my very old Land Rover (Series IIa), it started leaking gasoline profusely. My wife and I were hesitant to drive it home so I decided to leave it with the mechanics for repair. They repaired the leaky fuel hose quickly and for less than I was expecting. Based on that experience I returned a few months later for a much bigger job - replacement of the Land Rover's steering box. Despite this being a complicated job, they did the repair quickly (next day) and affordably. The mechanic was extremely gracious with his time in explaining the details of the repair, as well as providing a few tips on other issues that will likely need attention at some point. Overall, nice guys, quality work, and a fair price. With an old vehicle, it's only a matter of time before I'll be back for another repair job. read more

I have to give these guys a 5-star rating, because one of the mechanics, Chris, just helped me out in a big way! Now, we haven't had a big problem with any of our cars since moving to Alexandria, but these guys are our first choice for all our routine maintenance, such as inspections and plugging leaky tires (fair prices and either prompt service or an accurate estimated waiting time). But today, they went above and beyond when I locked myself out of my vehicle while parked just a quarter-mile down Monroe Street. Chris jumped to my rescue and within minutes, I was back in my car and finishing my errands. Talk about excellent customer service!! And while they would have been totally justified in charging me for the service, they instead just waved me on and thanked me for my previous business! Thanks, guys; you can bet we'll be back. read more

Fast, courteous service. What more can you ask for. Super convenient location that fits in perfectly with the small-town America feel of Del Ray. If you bring your vehicle(s) here for VA state inspection, you should expect a short wait 'cause everyone comes here (that speaks volumes for the service). Oh yah, gas is always cheaper than right across the street at Shell. read more

Sam gave me excellent advice about a car battery issue. He sent me back to my precious service place to get the battery replaced for free since it was still under warranty - losing the business for himself. He restored my faith in mechanics! read more

Everything you could ask for in a neighborhood mechanic. I walked into the Del Ray Service Center with a check engine light displaying and a deep amount of skepticism for mechanics. Of course, like most mechanics these days, they said that it would cost $90 just to hook it up to the machine and get the code for the error. I consider this tactic to be a scam and pushed back pretty hard. Eventually, though, they explained that the fee included more than just a 3 minute computer scan. It included their confirmation of the problem and the diagnosis of what it would take to fix it. They also said they would charge me nothing for the test, if they were unable to fix the problem. Now, I still would prefer to just pay for the actual time spent diagnosing rather than a flat fee for diagnosing. But the mechanic here was patient with me (and I was not the easiest customer to deal with), and they were honest. They ran the test, told me they couldn't fix it for me (and that may just be a censor error), and charged me nothing for it. I also used this station for a safety inspection and to recharge my air conditioning. I asked them for an emissions inspection, and - instead of charging me for something I asked them to do - they reminded me that my emissions inspection wasn't due for another year. At the end of the day, they are what I want in a neighborhood service station. I don't expect high end repairs from a shop like this. I want a shop like this one to give me basic service, quickly, and with a friendly demeanor. They give all of that in every way. read more

Friendly, helpful, and willing to go above and beyond. I'm a life long customer.

These guys were great. Got my car inspected - usually when this happens they suggest a slew of immediate repairs that need to be done. No BS here... just quick effective service. The guy inspecting my car even took off the wheel to peak around and fix some squeaking that was bothering me. Add the local main street feel and overall it was a great experience. read more

Del Ray Service Center is always my stop for gas in Del Ray. It's always at least 7 or 8 cents a gallon cheaper than the Shell Station across the street. My wife and I have had our cars serviced and inspected here the whole time we've lived in Del Ray and always been pleased with their service, including some oild changes, tire repair and replacement. They work quickly and do quality work. They even talked my wife out of some of the 30,000 mile checkup items Honda listed as "mandatory" when my wife took her car there. (I agreed with them, too.) They could have made an extra buck on her for pointless checks, but instead explained why they weren't crucial at 30,000 miles and saved us some money. They're only a block from where I live so it's really easy to leave a car there for service and walk home. That won't apply to everyone, but it's another plus for me. Highly recommend. read more

The guys there are always honest and upfront. Anytime I've taken my car in, they lay out just what my options are without trying to oversell me on anything Separately, I once paid for services in cash and didn't realize I had dropped a one hundred dollar bill. When I got home, I was obviously upset and called to see if I had given them too much. They immediately said that one of their guys found the money on the ground, which they could have easily denied. Shows their honesty, good to still have people with that sort of decency! read more

They got me in on a busy Saturday for an emissions inspection for my older car, and I appreciate it! I spoke to one of the technicians about how long the wait was, and even though there were a lot of cars ahead of me and they were pretty overwhelmed, he told that I could drop it off. The man at the counter was very pleasant and polite when I picked up the car. The emissions station/garage had already closed, so he didn't know whether the car passed (it did) but he was very pleasant and I'm sure he had to deal with a ton of people. A couple of years ago my partner had mixed results getting his car repaired here, but I don't have any recent experience with repairs or maintenance work here. I definitely recommend for emissions inspection. Thanks again! read more

Just read all the other 5-star reviews, and feel compelled to add another. as I have nothing but positive things to say about Crist and his shop. I had been taking my Pathfinder to Wiygul on South Pickett St. for the last 5 years prior to last August, when they said I needed $4-6k in work just to pass inspection. I had always been skeptical of their services, pricing, and always finding 10 new things wrong, especially for such an established shop. I gave up and started researching new cars when my wife suggested to try the 'local' shop on Mt. Vernon. I did, and from the beginning it was obvious that Crist was an honest broker and went out of his way to be helpful and accommodating. I passed inspection with only a few hundred dollars of minor work, and the car has been running fine for the last year with no problems. Over the last year or so, they have helped me with many minor issues and Crist always immediately comes out to help and talk it through no matter how busy they are. It is truly amazing in this day and age to deal with such a personal and honest touch. Last week, he stopped everything and rode with me to figure out a rattling noise on one of their busiest days and times, which he then fixed a week later for a super low price. They are so nice I even try to accommodate them and their schedule when having work done because I appreciate all they do for me, so I'll take the car in on a different day/time that makes their life easier. I think that says it all. Looking fwd to many more years of service and life for my car. Thanks guys! read more

Terrible place! I took my car in for a safety inspection and they told me I needed $400 in repairs. I took my car to my mechanic in Fairfax and he made all the repairs and passed me for $100. read more

Christ took time out of his busy day to assist me without an appt. he diagnosed my issue without being pushy to return for the repairs. I will definitely bring any future maintenance issues or repairs to this family owned business where I know I'll be taken care of! Thank you so much for helping me! read more