0 stars, either they're scammers or their prices are outrageous. I went here for a vehicle inspection months ago in which I was told I needed around $5,000 worth of work. Windshield wipers I just replaced, exhaust clamps that I had put on myself, and engine mounts that were "basically non existent". Speaking of the exhaust clamps when I got the truck back I heard rattling from the undercarriage, rattling that I have never heard before and i've been working on this truck for months (replacing the catalytic converter, changing the starter, etc.) When I asked the mechanic what that rattling was the best thing he could do was say "I'm not sure" give me my keys and walk away. When I got under the truck to tighten the clamp myself (Which for some reason was $25 when I can get it for $7 from autozone) The manager came out and gave me some excuse about expanding and shrinking. Since I've retightened that clamp it hasn't budged again in months or made a squeak. The wait was long but that was expected due to it being a vehicle inspection. Overall my visit was .5 stars out of 5. The only saving grace was the front desk employee who was a pretty nice guy. But my reasoning for writing this comes after having two friends go to this shop and also get outrageous numbers, one got $6,000 in repairs after inspection and another got quoted a $1,300 brake job just for the front. I really hate to leave bad reviews but please go somewhere else and save yourself the headache. read more

Brakes were in dire need of change and they were able to help me out same day at an affordable price. Would definitely come back again.

The Only Review You Need To Read My family has used Dobbin Auto Repair for their auto repair needs for years. And it's unfortunate that due to a recent incident involving this facility, my family will be taking their business (and money) elsewhere. On February 8, 2023, my Mom took her Honda CR-V in for servicing for one specific thing. Their findings determined that several other items were in need of a repair, so they ended up performing work over and beyond her main reason for bringing the car in (brake check, front brake pads/rotors, brake system flush, wheel bearing & hub, rear tire mount and alignment. Maybe it was time for all of these things to be done, not sure if it was an emergency and they could have only focused on the one thing she went in there to get fixed. But that's not something exclusive to this place; mechanics typically will recommend more work than you came in there for, yadda yadda. She agreed to have everything done that they suggested and they got busy and the work was completed on February 9, 2023. Here's the part that was the problem. After $1,704.18 worth of work done, there was a yellow warning light on the instrument panel indicating that there might still be an issue. Maybe the gas cap wasn't tightened or something else, who knows. But Mom asked the service mechanic if they could just take a quick look to see what the issue was; maybe a quick reset needed to be done or perhaps something was missed with all of the work that had just been completed. The guy told my Mom he would have to charge her $55.00 to look at it. Seriously?? After over $1,700 worth of work and years of our business, the guy couldn't take a quick look just to see what the issue was? I get that if you come rolling in off of the street and want a diagnostic check, there may be a charge for doing that, but the work had just been finished and my Mom was still on site. We don't find it unreasonable to have a warning light looked into from the shop where repairs were just completed. What is unreasonable is to charge for that request. This incident was the complete antithesis of good customer service and rather insulting given the years of faithful business we have given this facility. Because of this, moving forward we will be taking our business elsewhere, and we'll be directing all of our friends and associates elsewhere for all of their auto repair needs. My review will be updated should there any attempts from Management to reach out and provide some sort of recourse for this incident. Absent of that, my negative review will stand. read more

This is the second time I've been here with car problems, and just like last time . . . . great results. My wife's car wouldn't start on Sunday after volunteering at the church. Since I was mowing the lawn I didn't hear the phone when she called. Fortunately she had jumper cables (hang in there, this is leading to the review) and took it to one of those auto parts stores hoping it was just the battery. Their diagnostic computer showed the battery to be fine and said it could be the alternator. Monday morning I was able to get it in no problem. I even told them the battery had been checked and that it could be the alternator. A couple hours later they called after running their diagnostic and said it was the BATTERY! The oil change was about due so I had them do that too. Sure it ended up costing a little more in the end but at least I have confidence that it's fixed now. The staff was friendly, the service was great, it was finished 2 hours earlier than the had originally said . . . . plus the labor was 10% off thanks to a Yelp check-in deal. read more

Dobbin Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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Update. My engine light came back on not even a day after being at Dobbin auto repair. I argued with the owner about warning lights that weren't on prior to being there. He took NO responsibility. After telling him that my engine light was back on, which I originally took the car in for in the first place. He went silent and asked me to bring it back for a free diagnostic. The smart thing to do is cut ties because they obviously don't know what they are doing. read more

Dobbin Auto Repair - Here is his response after I told him my engine light was back. - Auto Repair Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

***DO NOT GO HERE*** They lie and try to scam you, here is my experience. Came here for a state inspection, the failed my because of control arm bushings. They said it would cost me $1200 for them to repair it. Because of parts and 5 hours of labor It is a $70 part and takes 1 hour to fix... I went to a new place for a second opinion and told them why this awful company failed me, they took a look at it and said the was 0 issue with the bushings and I should not have failed to begin with. These people are the scum of the earth. read more

Very Fraudlent repair shop. I took my car for battery replacement. The kept calling for extra problems. At the end the informed that car is not driveable but Charged me over $800. They ruined my engine in trying to do minor replacements. Now they are holding my car hostage until I pay over $800 for repairs that have not fixed my car instead car is not driveable now. They have around 109 cars parked in parking. I suspect they play the same game with a lot of people and end up possessing cars when the fraudulent bill is not paid. read more

I've used Dobbin Auto Repair for many years and have been very satisfied with their work. When I recently asked the owner, Darrel, for his advice on upholstery repairs, which they do not do, for torn leather on two armrests, he took an amazing interest. He found a repair kit on e-bay, ordered it for me, and when it came, after looking at what was required for installing the new material, gave me a great recommendation for an upholstery repair place, which did a great job. And he did not charge nickel for all of the time he spent with on a problem which others would have simply said, sorry, it's not something we can do. read more

They listened to my concerns and had my car ready when they said they would. Gave me a full account of what they did and how much each bit cost. Friendly too! Great experience, sooo much less stressful than other places I have been . read more

I would give zero stars if I could. Do not take your vehicle here to get a state inspection. I brought in my 2021 Explorer and they failed it because I had a miniscule crack on the passenger side bottom of the window glass. This crack had been repaired by safelite. I notified them that the crack had been repaired by safelite and was a tiny crack. The two people in the front argued with me and told me that it had not been repaired. One had the audacity to say they used to work at Safelite and my glass was not repaired. I contacted the Maryland Insurance Administration who advised me to contact the State Troopers. I immediately picked up my vehicle and went to the department of motor vehicles office where a state trooper was posted up. That trooper gave me a phone number to call where I spoke to a Master Trooper and provided him with a copy of my Safelite receipt. That Master Trooper conducted an investigation and contacted the shop to have them change my inspection to a pass. Do not take your vehicle here. I wouldn't trust these guys after this interaction. Who knows how many people they are ripping off or telling they need things replaced that don't need to be replaced. For your safety pick somewhere else. read more

Dobbin Auto Repair - MD State Police response regarding inspection. - Auto Repair Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

So normally I would have had a great experience with this business. Let me get to why I gave them 2 stars instead. On March 24, 2020 I brought my car in for a "eerie" noise I was hearing on the front left driver side as I was turning my wheel in either direction or stepping on the brake. Richard has someone look check out he car out...fine Richard comes out to tell me what's causing the noise as well as give me a whole list of repairs that need to be taken care of. So I tell Richard to take care of the repairs to stop the noise I was hearing, he comes out with a $1,400 total of repairs which include labor. I get all that repairs in March 24th to stop the noise I was hearing only to be back here literally back here within 4 months July 24, 2020 now paying $323.93 for a ball joint to stop the noise again (smh) literally the price for the part is $67 I'm paying for the damn labor I wish I knew how to replace this part I would do it on my own. My only problem is I fail to understand how you overlook a ball joint when I came in March to have the cause fixed not to be here 4 months later for the same reason, but of course I was told that if it was the same problem it would be no charge but of course they going to say the problem is something else because they need to get paid. read more

Dobbin Auto Repair - Repairs from 3/24/2020 - Auto Repair Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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I came in to get my AC serviced and they did an excellent job. They are very knowledgeable, honest and I did not feel pressured. They explained exactly what I needed. And I felt the service was fairly priced and performed fast. Thank you Dobbin Auto repair. read more

Dobbin Auto Repair - Business - Auto Repair Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

I stopped in to get my brake pads only changed on all 4 wheels and an oil change. I was originally told $300 plus cost for brake pads once they figure it out due to sizing differences. They took all day to get back to me and eventually reached out at 4:12 pm that day. Was told that brake pads were around $257 for all 4 wheels, which that alone is a rip off. Said ok, assuming the total cost was around $557 for the job as was assured they could get it done before the shop closes at 5:00pm. Get a call at 4:58, 46 mins after I told them to proceed with the install, saying my car is done. I arrive at the shop to be told I owe $808 which included 4 hours of labor, even though they only worked on my car for 45 mins. End of story I will be going after this shady company and I would stay FAR away from these scam artists. Imagine what other shady business practices they're doing if they try to scam people on labor this badly. read more

Came to Dobbin Auto repair for my state vehicle inspection after dealing with some scammers at another garage (I take extremely good care of my 2016 Toyota less than 80K miles but of course the other garage 'found' issue after issue ). Dobbin was fair, fast and reliable. Hopefully won't have to see them again anytime soon but will be back if o need to. read more

I have been bringing my car here for years and they do good work. I recently brought the car in for repairs after receiving the estimate I decided to get an additional estimate. Best place to compare prices is the dealer so I took it them. The dealer estimate to do the same identical work was 20% cheaper. How is that possible? They use original parts and are factory trained. There was no special coupon or discount applied. I decided to read some of the reviews here and on google it appears to the reviews they have been overcharging for years. They don't have a shuttle service or provide a loaner car for major work, the dealer does. They don't use OEM parts, but charge dealer price. I recommend you read the reviews here and on Google. On reading the reviews the owner always replies to them with some excuse always passing the blame to the customer. It appears the owner sleeps well at nights. One thing he overlooked was Karma.....What goes around comes around.... To the reader: Always get an additional estimate you can do it over the phone. Call the dealer this way you have a cost measuring guideline. Yes, I have been overcharge for years and not overjoyed. My fault! lesson learned. read more

Very nice people The wait was a little longer but the shortage staff is affecting everyone Other than that the car runs smoothly now read more

My 2007 Honda Civic wouldn't start and I got it towed to Dobbin Auto Repair and next day they gave me an estimate of $2300 to replace a new battery when the battery was only a year and half old, to replace the ignition system and fuse box and to reprogram the key. No way I am in a position to spend $2300 on a 2007 Honda. For the diagnosis, they charged me $220 when most of the shops don't charge more than $100. I was pretty upset about it. I got the car towed back spending another $125. I then hired a freelance mechanic and he fixed the car in 5 minutes. All he had to do is to reprogram the key. The car has been running fine since then. No issue at all. Now I get to believe that this Dobbin Auto Repair is no longer a honest service provider that I always believed they used to be. I recommend all the customers to stay away from this shop unless you want to get ripped off. read more

Terrible service. Will never return. Tried to get an inspection and they claimed things were broken because a pipe was wet and needed to be fixed before it would pass. Took it to a different place in town the next day and it passed with flying colors. This place is skeezy and I certainly won't ever let them touch my car again. Update in response to owner: While you do not have control over Maryland's regulations, you do have control over lying about whether or not a part is broken. When we asked your employee to show us what was broken on the car, he showed us the pipe and said that because there was moisture, it needed to be replaced. Along with the mechanism that the pipe fed into. This is an absolute garbage response and was a completely unnecessary repair since nothing was wrong and the car wasn't behaving the way it would had that part been broken. And when we took it to someone else the next day, without making any fixes or adjustments, the car passed with flying colors. And quite frankly the company we took it to was much more professional and legitimate when comparing to yours. So no, I will not be returning. read more

We found Dobbin Auto Body to be reliable, competent and fair in a car repair we had done a couple of years ago. Danny, a co-owner, was good to deal with and went the extra mile to insure that the repair was done correctly and timely. He even went so far as to reimburse us for a day of car rental when the parts delay caused the promised date to go over a day. We were very satisfied with the experience and would recommend DAC to others. read more

I was looking for a place to get my windows tinted and based on the reviews on Yelp! (thanks Yelpers) decided on Performance Auto in Columbia, MD. I called to schedule an appointment and was able to get one the very next day which was awesome. I arrived for my appointment and was greeted warmly by the receptionist. I didn't catch her name but she was incredibly patient and explained the different options and degrees (?) of tint. She also had one of the service technicians come out and look at the car to help me decide which option would complement my car. The service took about an hour and once it was done, the receptionist walked with me to my car to inspect the work. One of the other reviewers mentioned that they didn't clean up in the car and left some debris so I made sure I opened each door to inspect the work. I must say they did a terrific job. No complaints here. Do note that the tinting of the windshield is considered a separate order and not included in the price. I thought it was so I mentioned that and they took the car back into the shop to tint the windshield. This part took close to 40mins but I didn't mind the wait. This place gets quite a bit of business which I see as a testament of their workmanship. While I was waiting, about five other people walked in to get either their windows tinted or their cars detailed. I would definitely recommend place to get your car windows tinted. read more

I just had a new engine put in and Denad is very good at what he does. My engine bay is very clean. read more

Dobbin Auto Repair - This is the engine after Denad put in - Auto Repair Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Took my car in for a check engine light this morning, and they got back to me in a few hours about everything that was going on with my car. The technician I spoke to (I'm sorry, I forget his name!) was very upfront about pricing and did everything he could to find parts at as little cost as possible. I didn't end up doing the repair (age and mileage of vehicle), but all prices were quoted fairly and everything was throughly explained. When I picked up the car, the gentleman working the desk showed me one of the issues that was found and put some air in my tires. Excellent service! While I didn't use them this time, of no fault of their own, I will be going back for any future repairs. read more

BEWARE!!!! TERRIBLE SERVICE. OVER PRICED! Will never return. Do not recommend this place at all. Took to another auto repair shop and dealership for second/third opinion. I was shocked dealership was cheaper and advised not all the work Dobbin Auto stated needed to be done. Third auto placed diagnosed car as well without me letting them know any issue or that I had gone somewhere else and they stated same information as dealership and more than half the price. Recommend doing your research before selecting Dobbin Auto Repair. I obviously didn't but hopefully it will help someone else save time and money from making same mistake I did. read more

Beware of this place. Took my car in for a MD Safety Inspection and got it back with a broken part that was not broken when I took the car in. Of course that section failed the inspection. They acknowledged the issue then came up with 2 versions of how it happened. Instead of offering to fix the part they broke, they had the audacity to quote me a price for repairs to the damage they caused saying "the car is old" and offering to take $30 off the inspection price. Now I find it hard to trust what they say is wrong or if any repairs are done properly. Never again. read more

My husband and I have made several visits to Dobbin Auto Repair since we moved to Columbia. They are professional, kind, knowledgable, and most importantly honest! Their honesty & overall level of quality will keep us coming back. It's always nerve wracking trying to find a reputable auto repair shop and we're very grateful we found Dobbin Auto Repair. Highly, highly recommend! read more

Dobbin Auto Repair was fast, friendly and honest. I felt that I was charged fairly, and they squeezed me in in a hurry. Thank you! read more

Dobbin Auto Repair - Dobbin Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

The owner has a very rude demeanor. He literally yelled at me in my face. The customer service is not exceptional as indicated on the website. I felt intimidated and scared when he walked up on me to scream at me about my car. Do not come here, they are not professional. Update: he replied that he's sorry that he offended me... he's not! I even told him I was going to write a review he said go ahead. Also there wasn't an issue with me moving the car it was the delivery... he yelled and said that I was inconsiderate. If he kindly came in and asked I would've moved the car with no problem. Now that I am writing a yelp review all of sudden he's sorry. Sir you're rude... it is not good business practice to antagonize any customer whether it's yours or your neighbor's and then tell the customer to go ahead and write a review as if you don't care or you don't need the business. Anyway good luck to anyone that goes here apparently they treat you awfully and then get scare when you write a bad review. read more

Dobbin Auto Repair - The guy on the end is the not so nice owner that yelled at me. - Auto Repair Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

The DAR team was professional and courteous. I needed my brakes looked at and an oil change. After dropping my car off (without an appt), Richard called me back and said my front brakes still had 30-40% of life but my rear brakes and rotors needed to be replaced. DAR completed the work before 5 pm that day and I was good to go. My only challenge was during payment. I always use AMEX and DAR only takes AMEX with a 20% add'l fee, which would have cost me another $100. I had my check book and was able to pay using a check with no add'l fee. Overall, I'm very pleased with the experience. read more

Never go here for an inspection unless you want to pay $100, they charge $20 extra for tint inspection and fail you for wiper blades that are brand new. I moved here from WV and never had a problem until now. I will never be coming back to this establishment. They are ridiculous. read more

THIEVES!! I am assuming the good reviews are from personal friends or fake accounts. My car was vibrating at high speeds. I took it here based on good reviews. I was told my rotors needed turning to the tune of 600.00+. Car still vibrated at high speeds after they did work on rotors. After a rotation and balance at another shop the vibration stopped. I was told tires needed balancing that is why car was vibrating. If I felt confident in a lawsuit win I would sue their ---es!! A personal friend also did a state inspection at Dobbins. She was told she had to pay 600.00 for motor mounts. I guess 600 is the amount for people they deem to be fools. Please stay away from these THIEVES. They also did not give an estimate before inspecting the vehicle and don't post hourly labor charges. I believe this a law. They have no mercy on your purse or wallet. They stole my money for a bogus repair please don't let them get you. I am hoping to save someone anyone from getting ripped off. You have been WARNED! read more

I called yesterday on Friday afternoon at 4:00 and was able to schedule an appt for an oil change today. There were a few times available. When I got there I was welcomed by Sabrina at the front desk. She was very friendly. She informed me it would take about 50 minutes so I waited for my car. (I arrived to my appt 20 mins early.) The waiting area was very clean. There was a water dispenser, coffee machine, tv, an array of magazines, what appeared to be two laptop stands (laptop not provided), and a restroom. The waiting room is very customer-oriented. My car was delivered within the time I was told. Given that I arrived to my appt early, I was expecting that I would have to wait longer than 50 mins but it was done within that timeframe. Upon completion of the oil change, I was told that my battery post and terminal needed to be cleaned. That took only 15 additional minutes. It was also suggested that I do the scheduled maintenance since my car has reached 100K. That will need to be done another day as that could take 4-5 hrs. I was pleased with the facility and the quality customer service. The oil change was slightly higher than I've paid elsewhere but for the convenience of the location and the good customer service I would come again. read more

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Terrific service. The gentleman who assisted me was quick, responsive and answered all my questions, beyond everything he was extremely friendly! I went in for a state inspection after buying a new vehicle and would definitely go back again! read more

Came here for a MD inspection which I passed and it went great. Service was on time while I waited. Also, the mechanic noticed that my gaskets had started to leak a little and alert me to bring my car to dealership asap as I was still on warranty but barely 1000 miles from the end of it. So this saved me future issues and a good audi repair bill. I will definetly come back and recommend anyone to get serviced or just to do an inspection. Audi repaired the gaskets but told me that they rarely have anyone come in for this while on warranty. Truly saved me $$$, as now they didn't have a choice to fix it as it was brought up by a prior mechanic. P.s I do all my servicing timely at the dealership and yearly so surprised Audi hadnt mention this before. read more

I've been coming here for some time now but my last visit wasn't so we'll. I had some major work done and a tire rotation and balance. Well the bolts on my front tire wasn't tight and my wheel came of while I was driving trying to get off the highway. Contacted the shop about it and all they said was we gave the info to our insurance. The insurance isn't covering it because it was a mechanics negligence so know I have to get legal involved. Find a shop that stands by their work. read more

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Didn't actually use there service. Called about some work needed and they looked into it and responded quickly. Thanks

Superb service! I took my chronically problematic car to this place twice now, and every time they are finished with it, my car runs perfectly again. Alok was my mechanic and he was super thorough with everything that was going on with my car and even gave me suggestions about my tires' warranty instead of ripping me off for it. I don't even live in Columbia but if something happens to my car and I can make it to Dobbin Auto Repair I would absolutely do it. read more

I hesitated for a long time to write this review. In terms of service, I have little to complain about. The mechanics and associates were expedient and updated me frequently about their progress. I have not had enough repairs done in my life to know how the price compared, but my insurance covered it, and the rates seemed reasonable. However, that will be the last time I use this place. When I came to pick up my car, one of the employees was having a personal conversation on the phone. I don't care about that; we've all done it. However, he used several gay slurs in the conversation, which I did care about. He noticed my unease and apologized, and enough time has passed that I do not even think I could reliably tell which employee said it. I know many people would say "get over it," and I did. I did not try to get the employee fired, and I waited a very long time to mention this anywhere. My only response is to go to their competitors instead, which I have every right to do. read more

I'm going to go on record and give this place 5-stars after all. Their honesty regarding repairs and price, good advice on how to cut costs (without quality), and fast work times make them the to-go place in Columbia. I have now had one major repair (struts), one major piece of maintenance (fuel injection cleaned), two oil changes and a minor repair (small hose). They have always provided fair price for labor and parts, told me where to go if I wanted to find the parts cheaper, and even instructed what needed to be done and what could wait. My vehicle is usually done within 12-36 hours, and if they say it'll be done by the end of the day they mean it. The main mechanics/owners are extremely knowledgeable, recognizing common problems or concerns based solely on the model, make, and year. I've even been able to describe stuff in layman's terms and they still can determine what needs to be looked at. I also like that they send you updates for regular maintenance via e-mail, something many independent garages don't do. I will continue to use Dobbin Auto Repair and have recommended it to everyone I know in the area. I hope they maintain this level of quality, but judging by the other reviews it seems certain! read more

Get a scan tool and check your codes before and after coming here. Came in with cylinder misfires and left with 3 more codes... also get the feeling they tale parts from your car to sell to others do just be careful you pay for them to do nothing but take from you. read more

I needed to get my car inspected and found this place through yelp. When I called to check prices, they were the cheapest around. Dealers want to charge $95, other places want to charge $80. This place was $60. I was able to schedule an appointment for a Saturday and when I drove up, they knew who I was, even though I had never been there before. I had called a few days before to see if there was a Starbucks or Panera nearby and the guy said there was a Starbucks across the street (not quite, but a short 3 minute walk). When I got there, I saw that they had a really nice waiting room, but I needed my morning fix, so I decided to walk up to Starbucks anyway (which was also a positive experience, clean, TONS of seating and surge protectors with extra outlets so you don't have people jostling for the 2 good seats by the outlet). I had been told that it would take them a few hours so you can imagine how happy I was when they called to tell me it was ready in just over an hour. The car passed inspection and even though the guy recommended getting 2 new tires, he wasn't pushy about it at all. There were no hidden charges. I paid exactly the price I was quoted over the phone. The (VERY) minor downside was that the shop was tucked far back behind a few other shops. But, if you know this going in, you'll be ok. Even though this place is 20-25 minutes away from me, I'll be going back. Thank you to the other Yelpers who directed me here. They were not wrong. read more