Amazing, genuine service at reasonable prices. I've recommended this shop to many people for car work and will continue to do so!

I've been going to Nelson's since 2016. I have been to the Uptown location off Lyndale as well as the Green Garage! I LOVE NELSON'S! They treat you like family, never talked down to me or patronize me (a big thing for a female who is used to others trying to make me feel badly or take advantage of me). This has been my experience at all their locations. Most recently, I was heading back to Wisconsin for a family wedding. Long story short- I had car issues and Nelson's was the first call I made. They told me to bring it by and looked at it immediately. They were so kind, quick to act, and empathetic--I truly felt seen and valued. They helped me learn what I needed to do, and worked with me to get the job done right. I had to come for a follow up, and they took care of me again with such kindness, efficiency, and care. Cannot recommend enough! read more

I took my car to Nelson Auto in Dinkytown, where a mechanic named Terry inspected it and came back with nearly $4,000 in recommended repairs--$3,000 just to make it drivable. He then offered to buy my car for $1,000, claiming the shop needed a loaner. When I declined, I was still charged $100 for the diagnostic, despite never receiving a clear or documented estimate upfront. When I asked for a printout of what was supposedly wrong with my car, Terry had to generate it on the spot at a computer, which raised serious concerns about whether he had actually inspected the vehicle at all. There was no prior estimate of $890 to get the car back on the road--this number was fabricated later in an attempt to justify the overcharge. I took my car to another dealership outside the Twin Cities, and for $800, I was back on the road with my car running perfectly fine. This experience made it clear to me that Nelson Auto was attempting to take advantage of me. Nick, the owner, has been frantically trying to scrub my reviews online. Check out Google Reviews too. His story of what happened make no logical sense. I came into the shop to have my car fixed, NOT SELL IT. So why would I walk away from a $4-5 thousand dollar car for only a grand, when it would simply cost me that much to be back on the road - which is all I wanted in the first place. Nick is a profoundly unethical and corrupted business owner who should be ashamed of himself. He lacks the courage and integrity to do things right - just look at one-star Yelp and Google reviews for all their locations and you'll see what I mean. I strongly advise others to avoid this shop. The dishonesty I encountered at the Dinkytown location suggests a predatory business practice. If you take your vehicle here (which you should avoid at all costs), be extremely cautious and get a second opinion before agreeing to any repairs. read more

This was my first time at this near by neighborhood shop. My only problem was a slowly leaking tire. It was getting late on a Friday afternoon as they were trying to wrap up business and take off. I was in and out in fifteen minutes with no fuss no muss. A huge honking nail was pulled and soft puddy replaced the leaky hole. I held off reviewing making sure the patch held and it has. Comfortable waiting area with interesting trivia pictures and items on the walls and pics of Texaco station in place some 70 years ago. read more

Nelson's Performance & Repair - Dinkytown - Auto Repair Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I moved here from southeast Wisconsin and my beloved local shop ... and found Nelson's, thankfully. They went above and beyond doing an oil change and checking (and replacing) my squeaky bad brakes. They recommended tire replacement in the next few months. Later I noticed another weird sound, which turned out to be a parking brake issue from during the repair. They adjusted it for free!! As a retired woman, I felt honored, respected, and cared for. That's awesome, in my book. And the price was right in line with what I'd expect from a good local place like the one I left behind. Thank you, Nelson's! read more

I am so glad I found Nelson's and you will be too. Honest, friendly, professional and reliable. When I brought my 11 year old car in for a tuneup, Tim was great about explaining what was fine, what could wait and what needed attention now. He also explained the cost breakdown and how prices are affected by the pandemic and weather related supply chain slowdowns. Nelson's is my trusted source now! read more

I found out about this place from a family member and love taking my Nissan Versa here. They do a great job. They give you free estimates and the price they charged me for good work was reasonable and they are honest. Their shop is small so it's probably not a place to hang out all day well your car is getting fix. They also aren't open on weekends but they have an after hours drop box you can leave your keys in. read more

Tim and his crew are honest and awesome. They will never give you poor advice and only recommend services that are necessary. Bring your car here! read more

I needed a quick oil change, and called Nelson's to schedule an appointment. They had something open the following day. Once I arrived, they informed me it would take 2 hr to complete. (Before leaving I was asked to provide basic information, including my phone number.) After the 2 hr was over I walked back to Nelson's, and was informed an air filter was installed in my car. The filter was installed without an form of agreement. I will not be going back to Nelson's because I feel somewhat taken granted for. Oil changes should not take that long, (especially with a scheduled appointment), and additional charges should be discussed BEFORE being installed/added. read more

I had a grinding brake issue and called Nelson's for an appointment. Tim answered the phone and told me I could drop my car at anytime and they would check it out. I dropped the car off at 1pm. They were very busy but they were still able to check my car out. I got a call 3-4 hours later and Tim let me know that I needed my rear brakes replaced. He said it would be ready the next day. The next morning at 7:45am Tim called me, they had already replaced the back brakes and they informed me that my fronts also looked rough. I did not feel pressured to replace the fronts but Tim made me feel very comfortable and I trusted that he wasn't just trying to sell me on more work. I had my car back by 9:30am - less than a 24 hour turn around. Overall the whole experiences was extremely pleasant and I think I have found my trusted mechanic. read more

Can't say enough about Tim & crew here. Honest work at very reasonable rates. Had a fairly major repair needed in a short time frame and they delivered. Great to have a private company investing in local neighborhoods that are dependable & trustworthy. You & your car can't go wrong here. read more

Awesome and friendly service. Great people who are nice and trustworthy. Prices are reasonable and they have helped me out at no cost! read more

What can I say? I love this place! I have been coming to Nelson's for about two years on and off ever since a co-worker recommended them and I never regretted it once. I stopped in to a few other places in between that time and I always left aggravated and thinking, "Why the hell didn't I just go to Nelson's?!". All the positive and glowing reviews that other Yelpers have left are absolutely accurate: +Very reasonably priced +Solid and exceptional workmanship +Trustworthy and caring staff (this is a big one!) +Willing to give you a ride to work or let you use a loaner if available +No beating around the bush; they will tell you what can wait and what can't Every time I have come in to Nelson's I have been greeted promptly, talked to like I am an old friend (even my first time!), and respected. I have worked with both Nick (the owner), Brad, and Devin (or Derek? I'm sorry! I can't remember...I was still sleeping. I know it started with a D...) and all have them have been extremely kind, funny, empathetic, and just all around awesome. The most recent issue with my car had me in the shop at 7:30am this morning and not only did Devin (Derek?) drive me to work and graciously sit through [what I think is] witty banter but they had a quote broken down and details to me by 8:41am and my car was ready to go by 10:10am. That's pretty damn fast! Especially seeing as how a different shop totally messed up one of my belts and then couldn't figure out what they messed up when I brought it back in to them TWICE and ANOTHER shop couldn't figure it out as well. Nelson's had it pin-pointed in less than 2 hours. Love 'em. Plain and simple. I am not going to anywhere else but Nelson's from now on. You can quote me on that. read more

I was very happy with these people they are honest and did great work. I think that I have found a service home for my cars and truck.

I really don't write reviews. I created a Yelp account for this one. My husband and I have been bringing our vehicles in to Nelson's for a few years now. Nick is a solid, honest mechanic. He has always gone above and beyond to help us out, and keep costs down. He will tell you straight up what needs to be done, and what can wait for a little bit. It's so refreshing to find a mechanic that tells it like it is! The work he does is solid, and the cost incredibly reasonable. Highest recommendations! read more

Tim and this shop are incredible, honest, and diligent. We just moved from California and bought a vehicle here that had been running rough. The seller's mechanic worked on it for a couple weeks, tried some things, and gave up. The seller took it to the Nissan dealer to get a professional diagnosis; the dealer said the catalytic converters were bad and needed to be replaced ($2600+). We cut a deal with the seller, knocking the price down $2600 and we'd replace them ourselves (Nelson's estimated $1300). Tim and his mech began the work and called immediately to tell us the dealer flat-out lied to us and the catalytic converters were just fine. Then began Tim's genius. The problem with the vehicle was insanely elusive, untraceable and the diagnostic codes were not making sense with what they were seeing. Everything they were trying was coming up with mysterious results that were neither consistent nor coherent; this is where the seller's mechanic and the dealer likely gave up on it and knew they had easier problems to fix with other customers. It was an incredibly long process, luckily we had time and a second vehicle. But Tim never gave up. He'd call with updates regularly, and, we could tell he was bummed not to have better news, but he persisted. In the end, it was the vehicle's main computer that had gone bad - hence, the nonsense codes. Tim didn't just order up an expensive new computer, rather, he found a used one and was able to reprogram it ($250). Granted, all of the time/labor and outside Nissan consultant added to the cost...but in the end it was still only $1300, which is what we were ready to spend. AND, the pitiful dealer would've taken our $2600 and then plenty more to find the real problem. We highly, highly, highly recommend Tim and this Nelson's. True, honest values. Thank you. read more

Honesty.Honesty.Honesty. These guys are great at their jobs, and they're not looking to screw you over. Seriously. I used to go to Valvoline, Jiffy Lube and I always got that special feeling that they wanted me to bend over with my wallet sticking out of my toosh. Not Nelson's. They check your car out, do a quick oil change, order parts from NAPA, put those parts on, and send you off with a reasonable price. That's it. None of that "You should put the XX Blue Oxen Engine Supreme Fluid in your gasline or your car will explode" crap. Also, they have Golden Tee in their lobby and there's a Subway right next door. Honest.Reliable.Reasonable. read more

Nelson's Auto Repair on E Hennepin Ave in Minneapolis is the best place ever. These people know their shit, are honest, fair, good at explaining things, and always get the job done efficiently and quickly. I literally have zero complaints about this place and have been taking my Volvo here for years. I'm a young woman and have been taken advantage of at shops before, but absolutely never at Nelson's. This is a shop you can trust! These people will have your back! read more

Spoke with them on the phone. Instead of instantly trying to take my money they suggested a cheap alternative I could try myself. Good people read more

Brought in my vehicle for some front end noise and Tim took a look. The tech couldn't find anything on the test drive or on the hoist. Came to pick it up and pay only to find out there was no charge. Honest shops like Nelsons can be hard to find. Great people. read more

Finally a place I can take my car without feeling like I need an attorney with me to make sure I'm not getting screwed. Nick and crew are some of the nicest and most honest people I have dealt with when it comes to automobiles. They have on more than one occasion told me to hold off on things that didn't need to be fixed/replaced whereas I feel most other places jump the gun to make money. You will never feel like you're being viewed as a dollar sign here. Quality work with emphasis on customer satisfaction. Highly recommend. read more

If I was rating just my oil change from there (about a year ago) I'd give it another star, but the last issue I had, my electronic windows didn't work, I had to come in three times. Each time claiming it was fixed when it was not, and because of the extra times I had to bring it back they charged me for "extra time." One time I got called to come pick it up, showed up and they hadn't even started working on it because someone forgot to order a part. They are nice overall but I felt fully taken advantage of. Should have gone to the dealer. read more

I have never encountered a more honest and reasonably priced auto repair business quite like Nelson's. The owner Nick is very down-to-earth and treats me with respect even though I can be clueless when it comes to car related issues. Because Nick is so fast, efficient, and honest I have recommended him to many friends and family. When you've had people take advantage of you or overcharge you for car repairs like I have in the past, you learn to recognize a keeper when you see one. Nick and his staff are definitely keepers! read more

In and out for an oil change, $19.75 total, including taxes. Friendly people, no hassle, no trickery. Will come back for future oil changes for sure! read more

I have been using Nelson's for the last 2 or 3 years. They have great customer service and are committed to keeping my 2005 Toyota Corolla going for as long as possible! Nick, the owner, is a big Corolla fan and I hope to get to 300,000 miles with their help. They fix what needs fixing, and don't try to sell me unnecessary extras. read more

Fair, honest, great customer service!

After UHaul completely botched my truck reservation at another location, the guys at Nelson's really came thru and saved the day. Can't say I'll be coming back for any UHaul related business ever again, but after reading the glowing reviews for their repair shop I'll definitely keep these guys in mind next time something breaks down. read more

These guys are great. Very honest, do good work, and frequently suggest ways to save on the repairs. I have sent many friends and family here, and they all come back happy. I hope that Nelson's is around for a long time! read more

Tim and his team are very honest, smart, hardworking people. They never try to swindle you or sell you stuff you don't need. I've been coming here for my oil changes and when my check engine light comes on, they let me know it's computer code acting up due to the cold but the part is actually fine. I'm from California and I know a lot of places I've been to tried to pull fast ones and take my $$$, but not this place. Truly a hidden gem. Thanks Tim and the team! read more

After seeing good reviews on yelp, I decided to bring my car here for a routine oil change. No regrets. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. I knew my car had some issues and Tim, the manager, was very helpful and suggested necessary repairs and some that could hold off because of cost. He did his best to find me quality and less costly parts. Good service! read more

I've been using Nelson's as my auto repair shop since they first opened. I have found them to be honest, helpful, professional and expedient. As the other reviews note - Nick and his crew are honest with you about what needs to be done and what can wait. Nick has even taken a moment out of his day to take a quick look at a problem I was concerned about with my car, verified with me that I just needed to change an easy part, confirmed that I was comfortable enough doing this on my own and sent me off to the parts store he uses. When I leave my car there they check to make sure that I have a way to get back to my home or office. Nick is a kind & ethical person and has donated to a local non profit I was representing that helps the elderly stay in their homes and serves the neighborhood - Southeast Seniors. I always try to send my friends, neighbors and co-workers to this shop and highly recommend it! read more

Two years later, I'd forgotten about this incident and was super surprised by a call from the owner today. He responded to my former review by apologetically explaining that the issue we'd encountered happened during a period of mismanagement by a staffer they no longer employ. He looked into it and agreed we were probably overcharged, and wanted to make things right with a partial refund or a credit towards some future service. That's above and beyond customer service IMO, and I wish we were still in MN to give this great neighborhood place our business! read more

Good techs... Ownership and customer service is a joke and liars And Mike is no longer there.

Brought my car in for a vibration issue that was likely caused by a fault engine mount piece. They replaced a dogbone mount, which did not ease the problem and wanted me to bring it in again for another part to be replaced. I took the car to another shop and they explained that the dogbone did not need to be replaced but a larger piece of the mount was causing an issue which they replaced and fixed the issue. They also found that a variety of bolts in the mount had been stripped by Nelson's mechanics. Overall bad experience at Nelson's, take your car to another shop before taking their advice on additional services. read more

Broke down in the area. Had engine replaced. Mediocre service! Be prepared to have smoke blown up your ....

I had a great experience here! When my car broke down it was just a few feet from the driveway of this place and I really lucked out! Jordan was super friendly and helpful, I was even offered a ride home when I had to leave my car there for the day! My car was completely fixed and was running like new after they fixed it. I was also able to pick my car up the same day I dropped it off. Pricing was reasonable too. I will definitely be coming back for all future car repair needs! Thanks guys! read more

Can't get over how awesome these guys are! Whenever I've taken my car to a shop in the past, I've considered it a good experience if they didn't try to take advantage of the fact that I'm a girl who knows nothing about cars. It was considered a great experience if they didn't take advantage of my lack of knowledge AND actually made an effort to make sure I understood what was being done to my car. These guys blew those standards completely out of the water! I went in because I live close by and I didn't want to take my car on the highway cause my brakes were acting up. This is, by far, the most customer friendly shop I've ever been to! Mike went above and beyond to make sure everything that was being done to the car was understood by both myself and my dad (who lives 2.5 hours away- Mike called him several times to make sure he was up to speed!) and he actually listened to me when I said I only wanted to fix what absolutely needed to be done- I never felt an ounce of pressure to agree to more repairs and spend more money. When he had a doubt with the original diagnosis, he took the time to research my vehicle and did some homework and actually found an alternate cause for the issues I was having- which ended up being my problem, and it was a cheaper fix! He made sure he was 100% confident in the diagnosis before just going into the repair, only seeing dollar signs (has happened to me before!). I unexpectedly needed a new coolant reservoir and he didn't charge me labor to put it in. He welded up my exhaust pipe for free cause it was zip-tied up and clunking around. I could go on all day about how great this place is. It's the best. Trust me! read more