Always my go to for car problems. Bill is the only person I trust with my car. He always goes above and beyond for his customers. Couldn't recommend enough! read more

Top notch service all around! My car broke down not far from FHP auto shop. Billy was so kind to meet me and jumpstart my car. The problem was fixed within a few hrs. Fair pricing. Great experience. I will def.return and tell friends to call FHP with any car problems. Thank you Billy! read more

My 2005 Envoy wouldn't start which left me stuck 275 miles from home. I called FHP and spoke with Billy who calmed me down and said to tow it in and he'd get right on it, which he did. This is a family owned business with integrity with vast knowledge of automobiles which I highly recommend. read more

On our way to a vacation in Tahoe, our car failed, and it was a miracle we were able to get there. The next day, we started calling various automotive shops, and luckily, FHP Automotive had a spot for Thursday. Bill was so friendly and understanding of our urgency, and without promising that the car would get fixed by Friday, he gave us hope that they would do their best to help us. We dropped the car on Wednesday and explained to him the car will go 20 miles/per hour max. OMG, by Friday, it was fixed, and we were able to drive home. Thank you, guys, you saved us! This is a family business, and both father and son were fantastic to us! We 100% recommend this mechanic shop. read more

Great guys! Had a relatively easy fix for Bill and he did it free of charge. Super efficient and friendly. Could have raked me over the coals like mechanics often do and decided to do the opposite. Absolutely recommend! read more

Terrible business. Went thee for "automatic work" such as oil change, transmission oil change, radiator flush and fill to START with and the owner with his hands in his pockets chit chatting says "Unless you are doing a full tear down and build of your vehicle, I'm too busy." Should be called "Lazy Ass Automotive" read more

Phil accepted the job on Tues. The part came in Wednesday morning. Then came all the lame excuses for not coming to work, holiday traffic, more family time. He locked my car in his garage so I couldn't get to it, possibly to retrieve personal objects, or maybe change mechanics. When I didn't go for the optional $1500 add on proceedure he lost interest in keeping his promise to do the job even if it meant working on a holiday or weekend. The 2 hour job was not done for nearly a week stranding me. This is the worst experience I've ever had with a mechanic. This guy is unprofessional and has no respect for other people's time. I hesitated to do this review because I have been in this neighborhood for many years and hoped to have more supportive exchanges with other Tahoe locals. read more

Bill and his team at FHP Automotive were very responsive and professional when I brought in my GMC Acadia due to some engine trouble that we needed to have looked at before going over the pass a couple days later in sketchy weather with our two small children. Not only did they find a slot for us the same day, but Bill immediately got to work testing the vehicle and was able to help put us at ease. He even waived the diagnostic fee and didn't try to sell us on any other repairs. If anyone is looking for an honest mechanic in the Tahoe area, I'd tell them to look no further than FHP Automotive. Thanks again, Bill and team!! read more

These are the best people in Tahoe area! Had my Jeep totally dead trail in Rubicon Trail. These guys talked me through many tests and options for repair. Incredibly kind and helpful. I've had my Jeep serviced their for a pinion nut repair previously. Super knowledgeable, fair price and honest work. I can't say enough good stuff. Keep in mind, these are specialists in purpose built off-road and custom rigs and not general auto repair. I'm sure they are happy to do an oil change, though you may be better served finding a shop that does that more regurlarly. read more

Your response to my review is extremely unprofessional in its tone and accusations. First of all, you defend yourself from doing anything dishonest while simultaneously accuse me of making myself an easy target to take advantage of. You also defend the honesty and integrity of auto repair shops while insinuating that my own local auto repair shop that I know and trust was lying to me. These comments are hypocritical and manipulative. Secondly, please do not call me "madam." I am transgender, and your own name-calling and use of mocking quotations are not only extremely condescending for anybody, but also in my case, comes off as a bit transphobic. I used your strategy all the way down the high Sierras, with no relief from the squeaking. I may not be very knowledgable about cars, but I know that when my car has been squeaking for months when braking, take it into a shop, do everything I am told to do to stop it, and it stops immediately after the brake pads have been changed, most likely there was a problem with the brake pads and rotors. You can provide all the links you'd like, but the pads needed to be changed and you put my family in danger by not inspecting them fully. Lastly, it's pretty incredible that you are asking me to retrieve my brake pads from over six months ago and drive back to Lake Tahoe from Oakland to show you my pads as proof that you made a mistake. It seems fair that a business (which apparently has either very good records or is making up details online to seem credible--since I came to see you almost a year ago) would be able to find my phone number and give me a refund when they hear from an extremely unsatisfied customer. Your "recommendation" and offer to refund me is clearly insincere, just like the rest of your response. read more

We were vacationing in Tahoe and our truck started overheating so I called them right away based on their reviews. Not only did they get us in the next day but they were able to get the part in that was needed for the repair and fixed it that day. I figured it would be pretty pricy considering we were at their mercy, but it was quite the opposite as they came in way less then expected. They called us and let us know the price of the part and that the labor was a quick fix which saved us a lot of money. As if that was not enough to make this review 5 stars the owner was exceptionally nice and honest, I only wish this mechanic shop was closer to home because I would not use anyone else. I would give 10 stars if I could because we all know how hard it is to find a mechanic who is not only honest but cares enough about your situation to get you in the next day. Thank you FHP Automotive. read more

Bill totally hooked my friend up. We finished up the Rubicon trail and she had bent a lower control arm and her steering stabilizer. Bill has the parts to get her safely back in the road to So Cal. He and Dave are very knowledgeable about Jeeps and super friendly. Thank you guys. read more

Bill and Dani are great! Very friendly and honest. Our car started overheating after driving up from the bay area for new years. We called almost every shop in the truckee /north lake area, only to be turned down. FHP got us in right away, listened to our account of the issue and diagnosed the problem. We were able to get out quickly and enjoy the rest of our trip. I wish i had a shop like this at home. read more

Awesome mechanic. I've meet so many crappy/dishonest mechanics in the past, that when one is straight forward, I'm hesitant to believe them. Bill (who I think is the owner), was honest, straightforward and professional. He was the only mechanic opened on Sunday ( I called 6 different companies) and walked me through the process of getting the car there and what a general timeline would look like. He looked at the car, figured out the problem and ordered the part right away. He quoted me a price and ended up go below the quote, when he found cheaper parts. He let me know what was happening in the process, got some a good deal, fixed the problem, all without the B.S. that comes from mechanics sometimes. If you run into car trouble, give him a shout. read more

Bill at FHP Automotive is terrific. Our car died in the cold.... he hooked us up with a responsive tow-truck company that could deal with the snow (unlike aaa) and went to work on a hard-to-diagnose problem with our AWD Infiniti. Great work, great communications, low price. Highly recommended. read more

I was in from out of town, driving down the road and something smells like it's burning; BAH its me that smells!! My check engine light came on and we quickly rolled into FHP automotive. These guys are awesome!! We dropped off the car, they gave us walking directions to this beautiful beach and our car was fixed in less than 3 hours. Talk about impressive! read more

This is an excellent, honest mechanic. We live locally and have been taking our Subaru here for years- mostly for simple oil changes and occasionally something more complex. Anytime we've asked for FHP to check out a noise or the life left on our brakes, clutch etc. they have been honest and try to save us money and get the most out of the part... recommending replacement only once it's at the end of its life. I never write reviews but last time I was there seeing the whole family (3 generations!) at the shop brought a smile to my face and I wanted to share how much I enjoy bringing my car here. This is a family run business and everyone we've talked to is always great. Highly recommend. read more

Love these guys! I admittedly know absolutely nothing about cars besides how to turn the ignition, so for me it's a real relief to have found a mechanic that I can trust to be both fair and honest. I just ordered new tires through FHP and they made sure to steer me in the direction of the best value I could receive for my buck. Honesty and hard work go a long way in such a small town and from here on out I will be using FHP for all of my (hopefully minimal) auto needs! I highly recommend them! read more

As a Tahoe local and Jeep enthusiast I cannot speak highly enough of Bill and his family at FHP. Bill has been an incredible resource in the High Sierra. He has provided parts and service at an extremely fair rate, in addition to an extremely high quality of work that is hard to find anywhere these days! Bill is an absolutely amazing mechanic and awesome human! Jeep or no Jeep, project or problem big or small, I highly encourage you to visit FHP - ZJMike read more

A great experience from start to finish and very impressed with the results. Bill and Danny are easy to communicate and assisted with guiding me to them what I was after with my 1994 YJ wrangler. read more

I was in Tahoe City camping for Memorial Day weekend when my Honda Element suddenly wouldn't start. I know very little about cars and only bought it a few months ago so I was in a bit of a panic feeling stranded at my campsite given this happened on a Friday afternoon and most places were closing/closed for the long holiday weekend. I left a voicemail Friday evening then called again sat AM. Bill called me back before noon on Saturday, spent a few minutes hearing me out on the sounds the car was making etc, then advised I try a couple things (which ended up working!). He was very reassuring and kind on the phone and even said "I'm back Monday so don't worry, if you're still having trouble by then I'll be sure to get you taken care of and safely on your way." Really set my mind and ease and saved my weekend. THANK YOU! read more

We were in Tahoe Ctiy this past weekend and had an unexpected issue when our windshield wipers quit working. We contacted F.H.P., and spoke with Bill, he stopped what he was doing to talk with my husband to try and resolve the issue. Even though it couldn't be resolved by Bill he called later with another possibility for us to check out. Because of kindness, professionalism, and a spirit of putting us before 'just business', he is someone who can be trusted. If we ever need auto help in Tahoe City we would choose him first. Thank you Bill. read more

I went to tahoe for a vacation with my family this weekend when my cars check engine light came on! I called FHP on Saturday and they got me in pretty quickly. I got there and Bill (the owner) was extremely nice and immediately started looking at my car. Turned out to be a misfire caused by a bad coil. They ordered the part and it came in about 45 minutes later. After the part got there they quickly put it in and my check engine light was gone!! I'm so glad I found FHP Automotive, they saved our weekend! Anytime I'm up in tahoe I will definitely call Bill and his crew!!! Thank you FHP! read more

Unfortunately I have to update this with a pretty negative review. I brought the Jeep by last week for a 200K tuneup. The noise that I stopped by about months ago turned out to be a bad pinion bearing. I was told at the time that it sounded fine, but now it turns out it is not. They didn't originally get it up on a lift or treat it like a real complaint so for months I've been driving around on it, causing more damage. The young girl (Bill's daughter I believe) who works the front desk is sweet but seemingly in over her head when it comes to running a shop and proper customer service. I also work in customer service so I get that it's not easy, but she could use some guidance. When approaching me about the work needed, she said "it's a lot....". That made me think my car was about to fall apart completely. What she was referring to was the dollar amount. She didn't have confidence in communicating the work needed and had a hard time getting Bill to come out to speak to me. It was a very awkward interaction, I felt sorry for her and the way she was treated and their back and forth made me uncomfortable. And while yes, it is a lot of money, you're not helping by presenting it that way. I agreed to the work, despite my diminished sense of confidence in them, and she said they'd call me when they had located a part needed. A couple of days later, I still hadn't heard anything (but it's not the first time I've had to call them when they said they'd call me). I called Thurs morning and it turned out they had found a part. I said great, please get it and does Tuesday still work? So I show up first thing today (Tuesday), after changing my schedule around, arranging a ride to leave my car for what was apparently a full day of work... and when I walked in, instead of greeting me, the girl just seemed really overwhelmed "oh man a lot happened while I was gone yesterday", and looked at me like they weren't expecting me / didn't have time. When you have an appt for a full day of work on your vehicle, and you've made arrangements to have that work done, you expect to arrive to a shop ready to do the work. That seems like a pretty basic expectation. And surprise, they didn't have the parts needed to get started on my car. Had anyone called me the day before to reschedule when the end of the day came and they didn't have the parts? No, of course not. They had actually called me to get my mileage and confirmed the appointment. So needless to say, I was pretty miffed. After overhearing more awkward back and forth with Bill who told the girl (surely knowing that I could overhear him) "he did his job" in ordering it and "it's a used part, this is how it works", I went and waited nearby to hear about the MIA part and when it would be arriving. They said they'd know more in 15-20 min. After an hour of waiting and still no update, I gave up on FHP and took my Jeep elsewhere - another local shop that was really professional and quoted me less for the work! Had the situation been handled in a more professional manner and with better customer service, showing me that they actually had respect for my time, I would have been more understanding and flexible. But that wasn't the case at all. Instead I was treated like an inconvenience when I'm bringing them a $1000+ job. It's a bummer because I wanted to bring my Jeep to Jeep people but needless to say, I won't be back. - as for Bill's response, yes I had previously stopped by, but you DIDN'T DO ANY FREE WORK ON MY CAR (and I did express appreciation for your free words!!) so there was no need for an invoice in your systems. You literally didn't touch anything. The second time I stopped by (with an advance call)- when I was looking for an actual assessment - you LOOKED under the hood and told me nothing sounded off when obviously there was something off. Regarding the parts issue... you yourself said it was scheduled to arrive Monday. So when it didn't arrive, did you check on that? Did you call me to say "hey we didn't get the part as scheduled so we should reschedule the work"?? NOPE. Again, had you notified me that I wouldn't be able to get the work done on Tuesday - cool! But no, I made arrangements, taking off work (losing much needed income) to come in and be car-less all day, only to find out that morning that you couldn't service the vehicle. You called me OVER an hour after I left (after telling me it'd be 20) and you're correct - I didn't answer the phone because I was already at another shop at that point and fed up! Sorry you can't take ANY responsibility and that you're offended by how I pulled out! I didn't enjoy being treated like an inconvenience! Next time step up and address your customers with more respect for them and their time. I wasn't rude until you showed a total lack of respect. And you did not come out to address me that day, you came out (with an attitude about it) when I came in for the initial tuneup appt and that was it. read more

Go to this place. I took my car in because I thought my bearing was shot out. There was a very loud rattling noise so instead of checking it out myself, I decided to just go straight to the shop. Bill (the owner), calls me back and says that the bearing is okay and there was actually a branch caught in my wheel. He then said that it is free of charge. Also, he has you sign a diagnosing form with a price attached but says it is only a formality and will not charge the diagnose. So yeah, he had the opportunity to charge me loads of money but instead took the branch out and gave me my car back; free of charge. Not to mention, a handful of people referred me to FHP and I am obviously VERY satisfied. I am definitely buying Bill a six pack of very nice beer. Take your car in here. Seriously, I don't think it could get more honest than this. read more

This is the most reliable, honest, and fairly priced mechanic I've found in N Lake Tahoe. You'll find Bill working late nights and weekends (even holidays), which is awesome because cars don't always break down 9-5 monday to friday, right? Especially for people who have car trouble while they are here on holidays! They have good rates and don't mark up their parts as much as some other shops do. I don't love going to the mechanic, but these guys make it as painless and pleasant as possible. 2 enthusiastic thumbs up! read more

Found ourselves stranded in Tahoe with a severed brake line and Bill the mechanic came to the rescue. His daughter Brittney immediately picked up our call, gave us a quote, and kept us posted throughout the whole process. The work only took a couple hours and the price was solid. Bill has a great reputation around Tahoe and I can see why, call him up for your auto-repair needs! read more

I LOVE these guys! Super high integrity and happy to help you. Snapped a tie rod off my Jeep and was worried it would take weeks and thousands to fix. Took less than a week and way less expensive than I thought it would. And I like talking to them. Too often in Tahoe you get surly, annoying, crusty people in services companies who are put out to help you. These guys are the opposite. They're smart, they're super responsive, they're very knowledgable and explain things in a clear, straightforward way. They seem reasonably priced, too, and aren't interesting in gouging you. Can't say enough and am going to give them another project momentarily. read more

They took my car with short notice on a busy day when no others could find the time to check out the warning lights that had been coming on intermittently. Bill didn't find anything wrong since the warning lights weren't coming on then, but took it for a test drive and gave us advice in case the drive home was problematic. They were very nice, professional and only charged me for a half hour. Super good experience with a mechanic, and they'd also been recommended by a fellow Subaru driver in a coffee shop read more

When leaving Tahoe I had an issue with my car overheating. It was Super Bowl Sunday and I had very little hope of any auto shops being open. I found FHP through Google and gave them a call. Bill was about to leave to go watch the game, but hung out at the shop until I got towed there. When I got to the shop he checked the cooling system and said the thermostat had to be replaced. I ended up having to get a hotel and staying the night, but the next morning Bill fixed the car and it has been running well ever since. Bill was a great guy and the fact that he stuck around on Super Bowl Sunday with the 49ers playing was awesome. I highly recommend his shop for both the work he does on the car and his willingness to be as helpful as possible. read more

I'm not sure who I spoke with, but based on the other reviews, it was probably Bill. Anyways, here's the skinny: Bill's a completely upstanding, honest individual, who, had it not been for his kindness, I woulda been stuck in Tahoe an extra two nights (which means additional hotel and food costs). The story: after skiing at Homewood on a Saturday, I walk to my beater car in the parking lot and somehow the security system gets tripped whereby I can't even start my car. I read the owner's manual to disable the system but to no avail. I do a Google search for mechanics in the area, and to my pleasant surprise, someone picked up the phone at 5pm, long after closing time (I was fully expecting every garage to be closed the rest of the weekend). I told Bill my plight and he walked me thru step-by-step how to reset the security system. After his help, I was able to start my car. Even more surprisingly, he didn't ask for one single penny - simply a guy helping out an idiot who didn't know how to disable his security system. Moral: if you run into car problems in North Tahoe, give your business to Bill and FHP. So refreshing to meet such an honest mechanic in this day and age. Thanks, Bill! read more

These guys are amazing, some of the most honest guys in the business when that has become such a rarity. They tell you what needs to be done and what can wait and all with a reasonable price. They are a small shop, so it can be a few days before they can get you in, but with a little patience, you will not be disappointed! read more

Competent and honest. Looks like I'm not the only one who thinks so. I made an appointment, and they still CHARGED ME LESS than an hour to diagnose and fix my problem. read more

I highly recommend FHP. Bill got me in to fix a destroyed CV joint in the midst of a crazy MLK weekend and a state of emergency weather scenario with feet of snow that was keeping the rest of the area in a standstill. He got me in and out in the same day, making it possible to handle a family emergency that would have been much, much worse without his kindness and impressive ability at being a mechanic. Thank you Bill, Brandi and the rest of the crew at FHP. You guys rock!!!! read more

I had an appointment at this place, which it didn't matter because when I arrived I had to wait over an hour because the mechanic wasn't there.The mechanic was apparently having a bad day because he arrived he was very rude to me. He used some bad words and was disrespectful when asked to show me what was wrong with my truck. He wrote me an estimate that was $200 higher than other shops I had gotten estimates from. I would not recommend this place. read more

There is a reason this place has 5 stars. This family business helped me out with my car when no one in tahoe or truckee would for a week. They are super cool, priced right and awesome. 4 people worked on my car at the same time to get me back on the road. read more

FHP Automotive - Auto Repair Near Me - Tahoe City, California

See all

Bill & Dani are superb!! I arrived in Tahoe City for the American Heart Tahoe Fellowship. I had problems with my clutch and Bill knew right away what to do for the problem. Turns out he's also an expert with 4x4 trucks and knows how to deal with electrical problems. The prior owner for my 85 4runner used household wire on the battery and Bill came up with an alternative solution to fix it the right way. He's honest and took his time to troubleshoot the issues. I'm moving to Ohio in 2 weeks and I'm sad that I can take FHP Automotive with me!! I found Bill and his team after word-of-mouth from Graham at NAPA auto shop. I also told the folks at Granlibakken to send future clients their way. Thanks for a wonderful experience!! Summary: excellent customer service, great price, experts in automotive care. read more

I got my 2008 Honda Civic towed here thinking it was a radiator issue with fluids leaking on a weekend because the tow truck driver mentioned it was open on the weekends. Well they weren't available that Christmas weekend but on the Monday before Christmas Eve they provided me with excellent service. Dani was very courteous and helpful while Bill correctly diagnosed that I had an issue with a crack in my engine block. It wasn't an issue with the radiator at all but rather the antifreeze leaking through the letters on the engine block. Bill took the time to research and find that the engine block had an extended warranty. He also called the Honda dealers to try and help me out with a towing situation. I really appreciate the excellent service! I totally recommend FHP auto if you have issues on the road when going to any of the ski resorts on the west/north side of Lake Tahoe or in Tahoe City especially as they are open on weekends. read more

Hubby drove our car off the road because of the icy roads. After the tow truck got it out it was making big clanking noises. This guy didn't have to come in on a Sunday and it's also a holiday weekend but did anyway to checked it out for us. Fixed it right away. Thanks! We have three kids and have a long drive ahead of us. Really appreciate it! read more

Just before Christmas last year when I was about to embark on a drive to San Diego, my transmission began slipping. The business manager at my work recommended FHP and they were kind enough to work me in. Bill took it for a test drive, did a lot of research to see if there were recalls, and gave me as much info as possible. It was a hybrid and he decided I should take it to the Honda dealer in Reno as he did not feel he had enough experience with my car model. AND he refused to take a dime for all the time (over an hour) that he spent with me and my car. The integrity of this shop is impeccable. read more