I've gotten my car maintenance done at Japanese Auto City for the past several years, and I couldn't be happier. First, all the mechanics are extremely nice. They also have very reasonable prices compared to other mechanics and the dealer. But above all, they have excellent service. Usually, they finish repairing my car within a couple hours. The longest I've ever had to wait was a day, and this is a shop that gets tons of customers. Moreover, I once requested that they use a torque wrench on my lugs after they replaced my rotors because I've had bad experiences with previous mechanics over-tightening my lugs using an impact wrench (though I'm now sure that they wouldn't have done that anyway). They actually got their torque wrenches out and did exactly as I had requested! The customer service here is truly unparalleled! read more

Seriously, is it possible to give them ten stars??? Here's the deal - my dealer quoted me around $650 to replace my front right axle on my 2003 Outback (had to bring it in for the Takata airbag recall.) So I took the car over to the folks at Japanese Auto City and asked them to check over my car and give me an estimate for the axle, replace my battery, and replace my headlight. I got a call back within an hour and there was a LOT to be fixed: 1) Replace Right side Axle 2) Replace Battery 3) Replace headlight 4) Clamp exhaust 5) Replace rear stabilizer thingies (sorry, i forgot to write the name of the parts down) Total? $697. He seemed almost apologetic at the total. I almost fainted with joy as I was budgeting $900 to fix just my initial 3 items. In short: You won't be overcharged, you won't be cheated, you'll get amazing service (this is my go to place for any issues with my car). They're knowledgeable, they're honest, and oh my god, I love this shop so much. read more

Jonny did a great job installing a new headlight bulb in a 2008 Prius. Big deal? Yeah! Other shops including my regular mechanic wanted to drop the bumper and charge up to $200 just for the install. Jonny's idea? Work smarter, not harder. Good advice for all. For Jonny he had me on the road in 15 minutes. Did I drive from Maryland to Virginia for a headlamp install? And damn glad I did! I'll be back to Japanese Auto City. read more

After reading all the great reviews here, I decided to get my car serviced here. I tried taking my car here once before but they were busy "eating lunch", so I just left. I decided to give them another try. A while back I started getting an intermittent "check engine" light. After a little while it began to stay lit. I took it to Advanced Auto Parts to get the free diagnostic on the OBD-II error codes. I basically got two error codes that indicated my O2 sensor was bad, and a defective gas cap. The guy at AAP cleared the errors as a way to help me troubleshoot the problem. Sure enough the problem eventually came back. A few weeks later I began to notice my exhaust getting louder and louder. Now I became convinced that the exhaust leak was causing the O2 sensor failure. Pushing off the repair until the last minute to figure out what I was going to do, my registration lapsed. Knowing I'd need to pass an emission inspection first before renewing my registration I had to get the "check engine" light fixed. I didn't bother trying to get a second quote, simply because I needed to get this thing done asap. I called to make sure they could take my car. I was told early morning was the best time to take it in so they would have enough time to work on it. Monday morning, I drop it off and an hour later I get a call letting me know what my options were. I headed back to the shop because I wanted to see first hand what the problem was so I can make an educated decision. I agreed with his recommendations and he proceeded on the repair. A few hours later I get a call say he was done, and I was free to pick it up. When I arrived the car was already parked out front. After paying for everything, I jumped in my car and started it up. Sounded like a new car. I revved it up several times just to hear it purr smoothly and not rough like before. The only thing I wish I would have done was asked for the replaced parts. It's just good practice to do so. Price-wise it wasn't too bad. I was hoping for a litlte less but his labor rate ($88) is probably a lot less than other places...and the owner is probably just as concerned about high costs as you are. I'll update this review if I start having problems with the repair....but otherwise a good experience. read more

Liberty Gas Station - Auto Repair Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Just got a call from them to let me know they moved to a new location. I've been going to these guys for several years now, and I will continue to do so because they are good honest people. New address is below: 311 North Henry Street Alexandria, VA. 22314 read more

Their new address is 311 N Henry in Old Town. They are a little odd/short on the phone but they did good and quick work. Dropped off in afternoon and was called the next morning for pick up. Really helped me out when a rat got caught in power steering belt. The belt was fine so they just placed it back in place and removed dead rat. Says a lot about a place that they didn't charge me for a new part I didn't really need. read more

A small, personal service oriented Auto-shop. The staff is fast, skilled and honest. Did not attempt to push a single service on me, unlike the ridiculously expensive and pushy BMW, Mercedes and even Honda dealers that i have used with in the past. For my Honda I had an oil service, brake fluid flush and a aftermarket suspension component (rear sway bar) mounted. Rates were good, and I was not billed for hours that weren't spent working on the vehicle, as opposed to a dealer who may charge you an hour for a 20 minute job. Highly recommended for trustworthy, fairly priced work on your car. read more

This is my usual go-to garage for all my car needs, but they get pretty busy so I went to another highly rated Japanese Auto xxxxx shop, that had even higher ratings, for an oil change as they could take me in immediately. After my oil change, they pointed out that I needed to change my torque rod and driving belt and quoted me over $300 for labor and parts. I looked at both and it did appear that they were needing a repair, so I immediately drove to Japanese Auto City and asked them for a quote as well. In the end, Japanese Auto City fixed my car for one-third less the price quoted me at the other shop. In total, my repairs only cost $221 and I'm sure he does an equally good job, if not better than most mechanics, with his over 20 years of experience. Mr. Jung has got to be the most honest shop in the DMV and never over-charges for his labor. To be honest, I really wonder why this other shop has higher reviews than Japanese Auto City especially since their customer service is pretty bad. The guy at the front desk is very curt. I don't think he's purposely trying to be rude, as it might be cultural, but he comes off very impolite. I know this might not matter to everyone as having honest and good service is probably more important, but why not work with someone who is equally as honest and good, and has good customer service? Anyway, I can't recommend Japanese Auto City enough. They really are the best auto shop in the area. read more

Been going here for repairs for the last two times I needed work and felt they were honest, fair priced, and efficient. Brought my car to their new location by 8:30am on Saturday for rear brake and rotor replacement and it was done within an hour and half. Was quoted much higher where I got my inspection at the old town liberty. read more

I've been taking my cars to Japanese Auto City exclusively ever since I got the recommendation at the dog park when I moved here. They are extremely reliable, and honest and transparent with pricing. After bad experiences at dealerships when I was younger I'm very careful who I bring my car to. They moved from the location near 395 to old town Alexandria right off route 1, still all the same people as before but there isn't a sign so it's a little harder to find. There are a couple other businesses at the same location. read more

These guys are great. Got a quote from a tire, battery national chain to replace rear brakes on my Rav4. Took it to Japanese Auto. They said rotors were fine, only need to replace pads. Cost less than half of what the national chain quoted. I'm going to take all my vehicles to them going forward. Wonderful, trust-able service. read more

Consistently excellent work for a fair price. Skilled diagnostic work to find a short I had. Excellent repair of my A/C. They even upgraded my headlights to LED and it looks professional. Not the place for tires or inspections, though. read more

Really happy with this place. They were quick and honest and did a great job with my car. Highly recommend.

This is one of the very few places in town with honest, competent mechanics. Most auto shops immediately try to rip me off when I bring in my car for basics like oil changes, safety inspections, and new batteries. That has NEVER been the case at Japanese Auto City. The only thing they could improve would be to hire more mechanics - they are so busy I am often told to come back the next day because they have so much business for the day. read more

My car wouldn't turn on and the next day i came here & got it fixed immediately. I really appreciate how nice and communicative they were. This is going to be my go to Mechanic shop. Thank you for your hard work! read more

JAC is the best hands down. They are honest, tells you hat is going on. they are busy that is for sure. I would not take any of my cars anywhere else. When Mr. Jung calls you he tells you your estimate in "sorry" tone. He tells you what is going on... and uses OEM parts. He will only fix what is really broke, he will not upsale your fixes. I have been using mr jung and company for about 10 years. He has fixed my 1993 Mazda truck, 2010 forester XT, and 2003 Matrix. It is great to know that with my cars have mileage and age he keeps them going. read more

Yelp has again pulled through! When I got my car inspected at a local gas station in January, they told me that my CV boots were torn and should be replaced, then quoted me almost $1k. I, the discerning consumer, asked if the repair was required to pass inspection. When they said no, I said fugghedaboutit! I definitely don't have that kind of money to throw around. Fast forward five months, and my car starts to make a horrendous clunking sound when I accelerate or deccelerate. Or turn. Or reverse. Okay, pretty much if the car moves at all. And it may have been building up for a liiiittle while. Like since March. But it became completely horrendous just this week. Totally not willing to pay the $1k quoted by the gas station, I logged on to my trusty Yelp to look up some mechanic shops. I narrowed it down to Japanese Auto City and some other place that I can't remember. Eventually we decided to take it to JAC because both my husband and I drive Japanese cars, so we figured it would be a good place to have experience with. I called on Thursday afternoon, and they said if I could bring it by Friday morning, they'd have it done that day. Score one - I was definitely expecting to have to leave it overnight somewhere! On Friday we brought the car in and described the problem. The guy at the desk said that with that much noise, the car was probably going to need a whole new front axle assembly. So I'm expecting to have to shell out some serious bucks for my 13 year old car. Not that I don't love my Civic, but really was not feeling paying half the car's value for repairs. Happily, they proved me wrong again! The full cost for parts and labor was just over $500. Almost 50% less than the gas station had quoted me! That, my friends, is the way to a girl's heart. An hour after I dropped the car off, they called me to confirm the problem and repair cost, and then he mentioned that he saw from the sticker on my windshield that I was overdue for an oil change, so he'd checked my oil, which was low & dirty (that's what she said) and asked if I'd like them to do the oil change as well. I figured why the heck not, it's already there, I don't want to have to worry about bringing it in somewhere else. Then, I got a call at 1pm - less than 5 hours after I'd dropped the car off - that it was ready to be picked up! I've had state inspections take longer! I hopped a cab over to JAC and imagine my delight to see that the oil change, including filter, fluid top off and tire pressure check, had only cost me a whopping $12! My car rides as good as new.* We will definitely be taking our cars here for all future service needs. Thanks Yelpers! *As good as new for a 13 year old car, that is. read more

Best shop to take your import. For me, I sometimes like to buy my own OEM or performance parts online. The owner has no problem installing them for you. This really lets you save on both the labor and the parts. He charges $88/hour for labor. At the Acura dealer, I was quoted $96 for labor (1 hour) + $120 for a drive belt. I was able to purchase the belt myself for $35, drop my car off with the part on a Saturday afternoon, and pick it up an hour later. This is my "go to" place for all auto repair work. (edit - misquoted $48/hour, it's actually $88/hr, but he will charge fractions less than .5 and divide the labor charge on the invoice for each task completed - the $48 was how much he charged to replace a serpentine belt in an Acura TSX) read more

I take my Honda accord here to get it serviced and repaired. The guy who runs this place is an honest hard-working man who has never let me down. I trust this place with my car when I can't do the repairs myself. I've had my brakes fixed here. I've had my engine re-mounted I've had the timing belt replaced and have never had any issues with the repairs that were done. I've purposely waited several months to see if any issues would come up but after six months there have been no issues with any of the repairs that were done. I am also a huge procrastinator so here's my review... even though this is a Japanese import shop I would highly recommend this place to anyone. Mind you the price is not cheap but it is fair because you couldn't rely on the service and the guys that work here are knowledgeable and they do the job right. read more

It's just that I can give 5 star only if someone goes above and beyond the required. Apart from that Fair, Fast, Transparent...what else do you need. My Car: 2006 G35x Infiniti Problem: Cam Shaft Sensor Replacement Time: 2-3 Hours Cost: $227 read more

I have been going to this shop since it first opened. The mechanics are knowledgeable, friendly, and very quick. They check out the car very quickly and give you a call before touching anything, even if you say "doesn't matter the cost." They want you to know upfront what the cost is and how long it takes. Transparency in DC?!! To give a list of what I've had done there: Fixed my automatic window to roll back up; replaced my ignition when the key stopped working; installed a new clutch ($400 cheaper than the dealership!); changed my oil and fluids; fixed/replaced breaks; replaced my seals. My car recently died on me and they allowed me to keep my car at their shop until I figured out what to do with it. Amazing, right? read more

I cannot say enough good things about Jung's quality of service, sincerity, and professionalism. I have taken my car to Japanese Auto City on several occasions. Once was to fix a frayed cord issue, another to diagnose a light/power issue, and most recently to fix a battery/computer issue caused by another mechanic. For the latest issue, I dropped off my car shortly before he closed on a Thursday night, told him about the issue and my thoughts on what might be causing it. He told me he would take a look the next day and let me know. The next day, I got a call and my hunch was confirmed. My car's auto throttle was not properly re-calibrated after NTB installed a new battery. They said they would have to recalibrate it manually, but wanted to replicate the issue and do a battery of tests to confirm that it was indeed the issue. They asked to keep the car another night to continue testing. The next day they were fairly certain they had fixed the problem and said if I wanted I could take the car back, but I gave them permission to continue testing to replicate the issue when the engine was cold, which was when the issue was primarily occurring. Jung called me the next day to say the issue was fixed, the car was ready, and he would charge 1.5 hour of labor for a price of $135. When I went to pick up my car, Jung refused to see my credit card until I was satisfied with their work and had taken it for a test drive to ensure my satisfaction. I went on a 30-minute test drive to test it in a variety of situations and the problem was completely fixed. Again, they only charged 1.5 labor hours despite putting in much more work to diagnose and fully repair the issue. You won't find a more honest, sincere, and quality mechanic than Jung. He truly wants to help you, doesn't want to up-sell you on something you don't need, doesn't want to overcharge you on labor (his rate is $88/hour, which is extremely competitive), and will not let you leave until you are 100% satisfied. I cannot say enough good things about this shop! I'm writing this review a month after the work was done, and everything is continuing to work perfectly. Thank you! read more

A "Me, too" post. Took my 2001 Subaru Outback for a significant long-overdue repair on the basis of Yelp reviews. I had some reservations when I finally located the shop--sort of modest and out of the way. I am glad to report excellent honest work, and even the incidental repair of a minor but annoying headlight issue that the dealer and 2 other shops had said that the cost of repair would greatly exceed replacing the headlight 2x/year. Recommend without reservation. Thank you Mr. Seo! By the way, at the end of the block toward the school (head right from the shop facing the street and make the 1st right ), catch the 10A bus on the far side of the street for a quick ride to the Metro at Crystal City. read more

Japanese Auto City is the best. We've been taking our cars to Johnny for a couple years now, and will never go anywhere else. Johnny is always honest and takes great care of our vehicles and never overcharges. Highly recommend! read more

Amazing! I read the reviews and I was skeptical, but after a poor experience at the place I was going to bring my car today, I had to look elsewhere. When I talked to a customer in the waiting area who had been bringing his car to JAC for 30 years, his testimony matched everything that I read here. He'd been talked OUT of doing expensive work on more than one occasion, and given alternate options that saved him money. He also brings his european car here as well, so if you have a domestic or european import, it's probably worth asking if your job is something they can do. While I was waiting for my friend to come pick me up, Mr. Chung* came out to give me the play-by-play, which I really appreciated. He has mechanics, but he does his own work too, and I really admire that work ethic. The place is definitely no frills, but don't let that dissuade you -- it's because they focus on fixing cars, not interior decorating. And it should go without saying that you should not count on this, but the price I ended up being charged was LESS than what I was quoted. Apparently it took less time than anticipated. That is amazingly honest, and I could not be more impressed. From now on, I am recommending this place to everyone I know, especially close friends and family who trust my judgment. * I believe it was Mr. Chung -- he seems to be the owner/operator/mechanic. I will verify and follow up. read more

Let me add my voice to the chorus. I drive a 1996 Honda Civic with 150,000+ miles on it. It runs well enough, but lets just say it's lost its showroom shine. I recently took it to JAC to have the heater fixed and the driver's side door handle replaced. When I dropped it off, I mentioned that you can't use the passenger side lock because many years ago, someone tried to jimmy it with a screwdriver. I always mention this as a courtesy when I have my car repaired because I don't want the mechanic to try to unlock the passenger side door and get the key stuck. When I picked up the car, not only had they fixed the heater and the door handle to my satisfaction and at a reasonable price, but the mechanic also suggested that I try the passenger side lock. He said they had found a small piece of metal it in. They removed the metal and oiled it, and now it works--no extra charge! What a great way to treat a new customer. I can't believe they took such good care of my old Honda. I'm a customer for life. 200,000 miles, here I come! read more

Finding a trustworthy mechanic who won't rip you off or find things wrong with your car when in fact nothing is wrong, is hard. So here is my take: I've looked for a trust worthy mechanic for a while since I've moved down here and per suggestion of fellow yelpers.. I decided to check this place out. I've gone there multiple times to get services for my vehicle. The First was to fix my horn. They took a look at it, gave me a quote (asked if i wanted factory or generic brand). They mechanic said that the work actually took longer than he expected but he only charged me the quoted rate. 2nd trip was to change my serpentine belt (since the Honda dealership said i need to change it). one of the mechanics took a quick look and said it looked fine and i don't need to change it (at no charge). I mean who turns business away??? so I can honestly say I will be back there if i have any problems with my car. One more thing, if you want something to get done, you have to go early, otherwise they get "booked" and turn away cars in the afternoon time. First come first serve. it's probably better to call first to see if they have any available slots. Edit: 5/27/2015 This was regarding one of my many trips to JAC but this one involved my car breaking down in the middle of the road, and I had my car towed to JAC. The problem with my car was that the engine began to sputter and the rpm dropped very low (less than 500 rpm). I figured this was gonna cost me. JAC called me after they had checked everything and the problem turned out to be bad engine oil (which i got from another shop). They test drove my car and also left it at idle but they could not reproduce the problem that I had. No issues with my engine since and my car is running great. Suffice to say, I've gone back to JAC if i have any problems, concerns, or a simple oil change. Note: They do charge to refill your washer fluid ($3-$5), which I will probably decline or tell them in advance not to do so since I can buy my own and fill it for cheaper. read more

I was told that my alternator was bad, after having replaced my battery. Japanese Auto City quickly scheduled me for an assessment and tested the alternator and found it working well. This check was done quickly and cost a nominal amount. It saved me money! read more

I came here twice and was happy that the mechanics here are honest and nice. I don't know much about cars, so I was worried that I might be taken advantage of in terms of price and was kind of afraid that I would receive a long invoice of repairs. But this was not the case. I first came here for a pierced tire. There was a nail in my tire and so I drove to the shop to get it checked out. The mechanic told me that I didn't need to get it fixed since it didn't pierce my tire. However, he saw the worried look on my face and said he could just pierce it and fix it for me if I felt better. It's funny because he could read what I was thinking and I definitely felt better that he fixed it in the case that my tire did burst when I drove. The second time I came, I was concerned about my brakes. They fit me in and took a look first thing in the morning (8am) and told me that all was good. Apparently, my brakes still looked brand new (I replaced them 2 years ago and thought they may need repair) and probably wouldn't need to replace them for another 4 years. Weird to me, because I constantly have to replace them. Yay! I saved some money there. Thanks fellow Yelpers! I found a trustworthy mechanic. read more

Diagnosed the problem right away, called me multiple times to make sure the work was priced right and the timeline worked for me. They fixed my car for a very fair price and got it done super quickly. I'll be going back to them for all my maintenance needs from here on out. Thanks guys! read more

This place is top notch. I have been going here for 3 years and Jung never disappoints. The other reviews are spot on about this place being professional, courteous, and fast. I went to another garage for a yearly state inspection and failed on a few things. Jung informed me that one of the items I didn't need (of course it is the most expensive one on my list), but unfortunately he informed me that since I failed it I needed to get it done in order to pass inspection. I wound up having his garage do it all and glad I did because I rather give him me money than other flaky garages. I should have went to him from the beginning but unfortunately he does not do appointments and dropping my car off is difficult because I need my car and don't have another car. His garage was hundreds cheaper for the same service and my car runs like it is brand new and I have a 2007 Maxima. He even did things I didn't even ask for like fix a plastic piece under my front end. I also asked him to check my tire pressure system because something was wrong with it and he informed me on the phone he does not have the technology to fix it but when I picked it up he informed me he reset the light. I was so happy because I hate lights on in my dashboard. He is one of the only people I know that actually addresses all my concerns and more! He even showed me the old parts. No other garage has ever done that. Quality mechanics (and business people for that matter) are hard to come. He definitely takes pride in his work and is never pushy and always is for the customer. Really cannot say enough great things about him! read more

Honest. Fast. Inexpensive. Didn't try to sell me something I didn't need, and found a nail in my tire during routine oil change. read more

The owner gave me a much lower estimate to fix my brakes than another area repair shop. He called when he needed to do extra work, and showed me the worn out parts he replaced. The price was reasonable and he fixed my brakes the same day. I highly recommend this shop. read more

I have taken my car twice for an oil/filter change. Both times the car was serviced in a short amount of time and with the highest quality oil. I felt the quality of service was efficient, reasonably priced and professional. I would definitely recommend Japanese Auto City to my friends. I feel my car is in trustworthy hands when I leave it with them. read more

Me Jung is a professional and punctual mechanic, he found the problem with my A/C and fixed it less than 5 hours. My car is Honda CR-V 2010, and the A/C shine and cooling colder then my freezer. Thank you! Highly recommend business read more

An outstanding shop. Jung is as honest as they come and has always looked after my cars like they were his own. Highly recommend.

OK, I'll admit, I don't know much about fixing cars. I mean, I couldn't even find the hood latch on my Scion, much less do anything once the hood was open. I had a burned out headlight. I showed up and Mr. Jung promptly looked at my car, even though I didn't have an appointment (I was detained several hours later than I'd told him I'd be there). He pulled out the bulb, showing me how, and, when he didn't have one in stock, he said he'd have to order it . . . but then thought better of it and sent me up the road to AutoZone to find my own, giving me the accurate part number. One hour later I had installed my own new bulbs. Total cost (besides the cost of the bulbs): $0.00. That, my friends, is outstanding service. I'll definitely be taking my car to this place if I need more substantial work. The other reviews here are spot on about him being professional, fast, and courteous. read more

Mr. Jung is as honest as they come and a very skilled mechanic! You can't ask for a better place to take your vehicle to for maintenance, whether it's something small or a major repair, your vehicle couldn't be in better hands if you bring it to Japanese Auto City. On more than one occasion I've taken my Honda and/or my wife's Honda here after receiving quotes from other auto shops or the local Honda dealerships around Alexandria and Mr. Jung has always been lower priced (sometimes to the tune of a few hundred dollars) and he always tells us what is necessary to be done now and what we should be prepared for down the road. Never once have we felt "swindled" or taken advantage of. Mr. Jung is VERY quick, professional and offers a personal touch that you will not receive at the dealerships. Would give 10 stars if possible! read more

Jung is as good as it gets! I brought my car in for what I thought was a ball bearing issue or possibly an axel on my Mazda MP3. I said I know the cost please fix it. I was called back in about 20 minutes saying the car is completed. I thought to myself there is no way this work can be done so fast upon returning to the shop the good news was brought to me. The clicking noise I was hearing was a loose brake caliper (missing screw). I easily could have been charged a few hundred dollars but this is a very honest man and I am happy to call him my mechanic read more

Japanese Auto City has saved me thousands of dollars in just 2 visits. The quote from the Shell Station in Shirlington to replace my radiator was upwards of $1100 and Japanese Auto City fixed it for $600. Dropped my car off and it was ready the same day. The same shell station failed my car for inspection 6 months later (you think i'd learn not to go there, right?) and a second service station quoted me $1700 to fix the power steering and replace the rear brakes. I took it back to Japanese Auto City and they pointed out that there was nothing even wrong with my power steering - you don't find that kind of honesty in many (any other) repair places. I took the car back for inspection after they cleaned it up and sure enough, passed. These guys won't take your money if the repairs aren't necessary and if a repair is necessary, they have extremely great prices and will also suggest used parts depending on the situation. I plan on taking my car back every time. read more