we had a blown turbo on our Tiguan and after some work was done we realized it just wasn't worth saving. These folks were fair and honest about whether it was worth fixing and even undid some work they had done without charging us fully. Very honest and trustworthy. read more

I agree with all the favorable comments about the guys in the shop. I'd give them 5 stars but today my Tiguan began acting up. Just had some work done 2 weeks ago on that vehicle.and every thing was great. Does anyone know their email address? I'd like to alert them of the problems. Don't need all of Baltimore know whats happening. Greg Jackson Happy customer since 2020. Moved here from Portland, OR. Their, I found the best mechanic. The guys at Desmond's are displaying similar traits of that mechanic at Desmond's awesome repair house. read more

This is a general review not based on one experience. I love this auto shop. At this point I won't even take my car to the dealership for service unless it's absolutely necessary. Desmond's is my go to. These guys are friendly and most importantly they are HONEST. As a woman, I've definitely had experiences with other places where I felt taken advantage of or overcharged. You know, you go in for 1 thing and you suddenly need all this extra stuff done right then and there? That just hasn't been my experience. They really worked with you and put recommendations for service on the receipt, no pressure. The focus is fixing the most urgent matters first. Service is very fast, never had my car in the shop all day. They get the work done and get you out ASAP. Highly recommended. read more

Been using Desmond for the last 2 years and have been very happy with their service. In my last two visits I was expecting to replace my brake pads, but they recommended some simple service saving me $100's. Always quick and reliable repairs. read more

I used to have work done here when Desmond was still running it. He was a very good man and a very good mechanic (I appreciated both). I recently moved back into the area and rediscovered Desmond's. I wasn't sure what to expect with new ownership. I was very pleasantly surprised. Ray and Tim are great! Tim is easy to deal with and very pleasant for the front end of the business and Ray is a very competent mechanic for the shop part. I don't often recommend companies these days but I wholeheartedly recommend Desmond's. It is a pleasure to find competent, pleasant people to deal with. Especially these days... read more

Ray and Desmond's are the top notch, especially for aircooled VW work. After another shop completely trashed my engine attempting a rebuild, Ray took the time to find the right parts that worked best with what was salvageable from my existing engine. No more oil leaks or knocks. Engine is super smooth and has awesome power. I've dealt with three other aircooled shops in the area for various repairs and they are by far the best. Super honest and super fair pricing. They will get your engine running to its potential. I will definitely be returning for service when needed. I cannot speak highly enough of this shop!!!! read more

Desmond's Auto Service - Auto Repair Near Me - Parkville, Maryland

I LOVE Desmond's! We moved to this neighborhood 6 years ago and noticed this little, unassuming shop on the corner that always seemed busy! Something happened with my car and I didn't have time to go across town to my old mechanic (note OLD mechanic!). I called and dropped my car off that night. I received a phone call by 9 am the next morning with an explanation, quote and promise to be complete by end of day. Great first experience!! I took my husband's car there after the Toyota dealer quoted us $2400 for repairs/replacement to the axle and driveshaft of his 2007 Camry. Desmond's (Ray actually!) talked me through every line of their quote, was shocked at their charges and did all the work (plus oil change, tire rotation, fluids) for just over a grand. Car drove like new when we got it back! My car had the check engine light on. They fixed it, but the light came back on within a few hours. Took back the next day and they apologized profusely and fixed it on the spot (the new air filter was loose!). I could go on and on. I will never take my car anywhere else. EVER. read more

Hands down the best place to have your car repaired or tuned up. I was fortunate enough to have a friend refer me to this shop, and I am forever grateful. They are very fair and do not try to up sell you on unnecessary repairs. Everyone in this shop is pleasant and easy to talk to as well. While it is never fun to have something go wrong with your car, Desmond's does their best to make the situation as painless as possible. And I appreciate it! Thank you Doug and everyone at Desmond's! read more

I brought the car in twice because they couldn't access the car without the code showing the first time. I can just look at my phone to see the log of codes so I don't understand their logic. Make sure to take your car to another mechanic who knows what they are doing. I took my car here following other people I trust and later realized it was a mistake. You will be lured in by average or lower pricing... I urge you, please go elsewhere. I can guarantee you will find a better mechanic by taking a harder look for one. I took my car in to figure out why it was overheating as well as showing a code. They come up with nothing for the overheating, say they fixed the code problem, and let another problem go without attention that can destroy an engine. Without a second mechanics look at my car. I would be a thousand dollars short and still not have the problem figured out. Thank you for reading my review. read more

Second place I've gone for work on my 98 audi a4 and the best place. I was referred here by a friend and couldn't be more pleased with the service I received. As a young female with little to no experience or knowledge with/of cars, I do not feel like the wool is being pulled over my head. They are kind and hard working. If I dont move anytime soon, I see myself going to Desmond's for a while. read more

I love Desmond's. I used to go to another local family owned business because of the convenience of not needing to make an appointment for an oil change, but I never appreciated the attitude I got at the desk. All of my interactions on the phone and at the shop at Desmond's were always friendly and respectful, and they always did a fantastic job with my car. I recently moved so now it's a bit far for me, but I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone in the area. read more

I will preface this review by saying that up until this moment, I've been a Yelp user for almost 2 years without writing a single review - mostly using it to look up businesses and compare. However - taking my car to Desmond's was without question the best decision I've ever made when it comes to repairing my Beetle. Two different repair shops "diagnosed" my issue and quoted me between $800-900 - Desmond's did it for under $300 because the "issue" found at these other shops was not actually the problem. As a college student, a female, and an owner of a used Volkswagen, (three things that tend to put me at an immediate disadvantage when I need automotive service) these guys have been such a breath of fresh air to work with. The repair was timely, every step of the process was communicated to me in a friendly way, and never once did they try to sell me something I didn't ask for. I wish I could give them more than 5 stars. read more

I used to take my car to the Heritage VW in Parkville, but with the price and service leaving more to be desired, I needed to find an alternative. Desmond's came very highly recommended from a fellow VW owner. Everyone here is very polite and have great customer service skills. I took my 2003 VW Golf to have some maintenance done and they did a great job at fixing the issues. I love Volkswagen and I don't care what people say about them. Also, I get to pass by Desmond's everyday and get to see all the cool cars in the lot! read more

Great service (especially for VWs), good prices, friendly staff that will gladly answer your questions and very reasonable prices. Recommended. TDI owners, they have VCDS to properly set the timing on your rotary-pump cars. read more

First and foremost...my experience was phenomenal. From the first contact phone call to the day I picked up my car the customer service was exemplary. I'd had issues with my car and had taken it to various shops for a year experiencing expensive and temporary repairs time and time again. I found Desmond's on yelp and after reading the reviews I decided to give them a try. I had a ceiling number in my head that I was willing to pay to fix my car. What really impressed me was that after hearing my tale of woe regarding my car they told me they would figure out what was at the root of the issue and they did just that. They not only fixed the problem but they were so affordable that I also had my car inspected, brakes done, windshield replaced and 4 new tires. And all that came in well below my established ceiling number. If you are in need of auto repair, I recommend Desmond's without hesitation. I have complete faith in their expertise and integrity. Hope this helps! read more

We just moved to the area and my daughter recommended these folks. They are fantastic. They made a customer for life today. Fair pricing and a detailed explanation of what was wrong. Great service all around!!! read more

Amazing Job. I had a power steering issue for over a year that was reluctant to be fixed anywhere else. Desmond did the work the day after i called and had it completed by noon. Amazing service and great price. Thank you so much! read more

If I could give zero stars i would, they kept my car for a month not communicating about whats wrong, they fixed it for a much higher price than what I agreed to without checking back with me and within a week from getting my car i am hearing a squeak and I am dreading having to deal with them again. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone read more

I've been around the block and have a solid base of mechanical no how so I'm very reticent to use mechanics. In my new job I don't have time so the wife suggested that someone professional work on our car. From the get go, there shop was HONEST and responsive. They did such a good job for a modest cost that I've returned multiple times for service. I own a Suburban, so yes, they work on a multitude of makes/models. read more

Always heard how awesome this place was, but never took my car to it. Now I wish I had been coming here all along. But better late than never. The flex pipe on my catalytic converter came apart recently (on my 2005 Jetta), and luckily for me I was close to Desmond's. It was late in the day so I had to leave it overnight, but they got to it first thing the next morning. They not only explained everything to me, but they also checked with a dealership that they work closely with (probably the only VW dealership I will trust now), and found out that this issue was covered by an extended warranty through Volkswagen. He gave me the name and number of who to speak with, and didn't even charge me for diagnosing the issue! Very friendly service. No BS. This was my first experience with them and I will absolutely be going back from now on if I need anything. read more

Desmond's Auto works on on Volkswagen and Toyota only. They know their VWs - with decades of experience behind them, I wouldn't take my car anywhere else. Doug, Desmond & their staff work hard to deliver high quality service at fair prices, personalize their service and especially as a woman, I've always felt fairly treated there. The only downside is there's at times quite a wait to get your car in, especially for routine needs - so call early! But they are worth it. My boyfriend takes his 94 Camry there as well and has been happy with the results... read more

If you have a Volkswagen, this is the place to go. Awesome service, though it helps to call for an appointment. Fair prices. They never treat you like an idiot for asking questions, and when you probably are being idiot they don't try to gouge you. They become like family. There's no place quite like it. read more

Sent Ray a message for a quote on an exhaust issue, and he directed me to another business (Mid-Atlantic in Guilford). I appreciate that!

I love Desmond's Auto Service. It is the only place I would ever take my car for service and repairs. The entire staff is fantastic to deal with and completely trustworthy. I trust them with my VW that I love, and know all work that is done, truly needs to be done. Many thanks to Ray, Tim, Jim, Stephen, and Tina for always taking wonderful care of me and my VW. You will not be disappointed by taking your vehicle there for service and or repair. read more

I have owned my 2005.5 VW Jetta TDI for almost 5 years, I at the time had 232k miles plus on my car and this was only the second repair shop to work on my car since I've owned it. I usually perform all maintenance and repairs (aside from tires) on my car myself. Long story short... My car just so happened to break down on the day of the riots in Baltimore and the closest towing company would not tow my car across town. After doing a search for Volkswagen Repair shops I found Desmond's. It was about 3 miles as the crow flies away from where I broke down. While the work performed on my car seams top notch the time involved was not. My car was towed in on Monday night, It was looked at on Tuesday and determined that it would need to be brought inside to for further diagnosis. That didn't happen until FRIDAY. I was given a call on Friday afternoon and told what the problem was (Shifter Assembly, the thing inside the car that you select your gear on) and told that it was an $800 rare dealer only part. I was hesitantly given the option, to provide my own part only if I agreed that the neither the part or the work would be guaranteed. After doing some research, I offered to provide/have a new part shipped from a parts supplier that had the part for only $600... I again was told that the work couldn't be guaranteed. Reluctantly, I agreed to order the part through the shop/dealer, on Monday of week 2. Once ordered the part didn't arrive until the following Monday afternoon, Start of week 3. There was only one of the part I needed in the country. The repair was started on Wednesday afternoon of week 3 and wasn't finished until Thursday afternoon. When I received the bill I was surprised to find I was only billed for 4 total hours of labor, but oil was added to the tune of $12 for the QUART and it wasn't the same type/weight of the oil that was in the car already. Bottom line: While the repair was completed and I was satisfied with that only, it took IMHO way too long. I have never seen a shop drag a repair on as long as this. Here is my warning the shop does good work but is just SLOW. read more

I have been going to Desmond's for the past few years. Everytime is wonderful (as wonderful as it can be when your car goes on the fritz). Recently I dropped my car off on the weekend because my breaks needed to be replaced. They were quick and got my car back to me before New Years. They went over what was wrong and how they fixed it. They were very informed and I will keep doing business here for as long as I have VW's. read more

Once again, Ray and the gang at Desmond's go above and beyond with integrity, honesty and damn good work. Actually saved me over $400 compared to my VW dealer estimate! And they don't try to sell you anything you don't need. Brand new or 14-yr old, they treat our babies like their own!! read more

I wouldn't trust anyone else to work on my VW. I've been going to Desmond's for 30 years. Great service, fair prices and a great staff. Call for an appointment because they are always busy. It's worth the drive no matter where you live. read more

I have used yelp for a couple of years now and never felt inclined to write a review. I have worked in shops and have friends that own shops. So saying that, i can say thay this shop was like coming home. Awesome customer care. Other customers here had awesome things to say. VERY knowledgeable and willing to answer questions. My car is my baby and i am funny about who touches her. Will never go to any other shop again. Car enthusiasts dream! But equally wonderful for the general public. read more

I've been taking my VW here since 2009. They're honest, fast, and good people. Very helpful and I recommend them completely. VW isn't cheap when it comes to maintenance, but Desmond's is reasonable. Only knock against them is that the shop is closed on the weekends. read more

Would not take my VW anywere else. Doug, Desmond and staff are great mechanics and pricing is very fair. Highly recommend.

Ray and his team is amazing! Took my car to another shop and had a feeling they were just trying to get money out of me. Ray and his team were direct, worked with me, and presented as very knowledgeable and professional. I have already told my coworkers to use this shop. read more

You might have to wait for them to work on your car, but it is worth every hour of every day you wait. If you have a classic, they will take care of you. If you have a clunker they will take care of you. I've taken 3 different vdubs there, I can't say enough good things. read more

I've had my car for a few years now and no one has treated it better than the guys over at Desmond's. They're always straightforward with you and are even willing to give you quotes upfront. The best part about it all is that the pricing is always reasonable. I've only been there 3 times but I don't see myself taking my Camry anywhere else read more

I must say that this was a very pleasurable experience. I read reviews of Desmond's on various sites, and decided to give them a go. Their specialty is Volkswagen and Toyota, but they can do it all. I dealt with Ray, who is very friendly and informative. My 85 year old mom owns a 2003 Honda Civic, and one day at a doctor's appointment, the car would not start. In addition, an emissions light came on that same day. She managed to get a hot shot and get the car home. I drove it to Desmond's for her on a Friday afternoon, and I was told by Ray that they would do their best to get to the car as soon as possible. One word of caution: They are not open on Saturday or Sunday, so if you can hold off with the repair until the beginning of the week, you'll get the car back sooner. If you can't do that, I suggest exercising patience. The car did, indeed, need a battery. Ray told me that all they use is Interstate batteries, and I told him that was fine as I have one that has lasted 12 years so far. He ran a diagnostic on the car for the emissions light, and it turned out to be a loose gas cap. Get this...no charge for the diagnostic. How many places would do that? Ray said for something that simple, he couldn't charge for it. He also gave it an oil change. So I paid for a battery and an oil change, and labor. $170.00 (Interstate batteries are expensive, but cost effective). Oil change was $40.00. If this was Heritage Honda, or most other places, my mom would have gotten robbed. Between her age and gender it's almost a given. Thank you Ray, and the staff at Desmond's, for a rare happy experience. read more