Everyone who works here is really nice. I don't know much about cars, but I feel confident that they were being fair with their pricing.

A little disappointed as of late. They used to be extremely timely and I knew the work done would be above top notch and for an amazing price! But within the past 3 months I've taken my car there several times for routine maintenance....only to have to return my car there again within 2-3 days for them to fix the same issue again. After taking my car back to be worked on a second time, it is always an incredibly long time for them to even get to looking at my car. (probably because they close the entire shop for an hour in the middle of the day for lunch)...then they usually tell me at the end of the day, that it'll be another couple days until the work is complete. I love local mom and pop shops and always want to support them in anyway that I can...however they are making it hard to do so because I can't adjust my schedule enough for them to have to fix the same issue 2 or 3 times over the course of 3 or 4 days. And there seems to be a breakdown in communication between the front desk and the shop itself, as every time that I've called to check status I've spoken to a different person.. I really do love this place...I'm just a bit bummed as of late. read more

Fantastic mechanic shop! If your tired of the outrageous prices and impersonal service at the dealers shops give these guys a try. The owner is really nice and works with you to get your car fixed correctly and quickly. I've taken my car there multiple times and it has always a great experience. He is a very honest mechanic and will only recommend stuff to fix that truly needs to be fixed. And even then he does his best to find you the best deal on parts. The work he has done for me has always been top notch and I never had reoccurring problems after the work. Dealerships and most other mechanics wanted $1000-1400 to have the timing belt and radiator pump replaced in my GFs civic. He did it for $700. Support this great local business! read more

I have always had a good experience with Paradise, but they are busy. Make sure to schedule appointments and be prepared to leave your car for several hours. read more

Had a great experience at Paradise. Everyone who works there is very friendly and nice. I would recommend going here.

Very helpful, easy to get an appointment. They do a good job. The only garage we'll ever use.

I recently went to Paradise Garage to get my car tested for the VA State Inspection. My car needed some work and they were trying to charge me an obscene amount in the costs of parts and labor. I took my car to another mechanic and got charged less than half the price for the same replacements and labor. I'm a young, college female and I felt as if I was being taken advantage of. I would not recommend this mechanic. read more

We moved to Richmond about a year ago and we had been looking for a local garage. I had had some negative experiences with "chain" garages, and I really value that local shop wherever I live. We've had some bad luck with cars over the past year and have had to have our cars towed a few times to Paradise. Whether they're changing your oil, or fixing brakes, the team at Paradise is always friendly and honest (which is of great importance to me). read more

I've been living in Richmond and going to school at VCU for about 2 months now. In that time span, two separate things have broken on my car. The first day I got here, my cooling fan went on me. Not being too familiar with the area, I turned to Yelp to help me find a reliable mechanic. I lucked out in that Paradise Garage is only three blocks from my house, and they got the best reviews! The only complaint I have against them is that they took my phone number down wrong the first time I went in, so I ended up having to call them to check on the status of my car, but otherwise, I was extremely satisfied with the service they provided me with that first go around. My car runs better than it did before. My second encounter with Paradise was when it seemed I had a bad wheel bearing. I brought it in, told them my suspicions, went home to get ready for class and before I had even left my house, they called me with a diagnosis less than an hour later! They're extremely nice and friendly people, and the girl working the front desk will chat with you if you call in about anything. I tell anyone and everyone to go to Paradise if they need anything fixed. Quick turn around and reasonable prices! What they quote you for is what they charge you. They don't add in any extra fees or other things like that. Honest mechanics, and that's hard to find. Take your car there! You won't be disappointed! read more

My car just stopped when I was on the highway when it was snowing in Feb. and I had to get it towed to a shop. This one happened to be open at the time and they even waited for my car to come in despite the snow building up. They looked at my car as soon as they reopened after the snow and told me that the repair the needed to be done (spark plug blew out and took the threading with it) would be very costly for them to do but they had done preliminary research for me and found that it should be covered under warranty if I take it to the dealership. I cannot say how grateful I am for their advice and honesty. Because they gave me a head's up with that information I did my own research and verification with the car maker which came in handy when the dealership tried to scam me out of my money by saying it wasn't covered (vaguely told me not covered by my warranty after which I quoted the warranty to them and then had to tell them I knew the mileage on my car their only response being, 'they marked the mileage up wrong'). I'll definitely be back for future services and have literally told everyone I know about how grateful I am with my first time despite only doing a diagnostic there. read more

Usually just use this place for inspection and oil change, and nails in my tires. But with a few other small jobs they were really helpful explaining things over the phone. I never have to wait when I come back to pay. Everyone that helps me at the desk is always really friendly. Great local garage! read more

Close enough for me to walk to, honest, fast and reasonably priced service. Haven't gone for any major repairs but all my oil change/inspection/taillight replacement type services have been painless. Thanks guys! read more

Hands down the best place to take your car in Richmond!! My '97 honda has over 200,000 miles, and Paradise has kept it on the road for the past several years. When I first started looking for a mechanic I stumbled across reviews for Paradise and was pleased to see it was just a few blocks away from my apartment. Now several years and one move later I'm happy to walk an hour just to take my car back to them. Whether I've brought my car in for a simple inspection or had it towed there for a major repair they've had my back with fast turnaround and fair prices. In fact, the owner even stayed late today to finish up a repair on my car so that I would be able to get to work tomorrow morning. I seriously can not recommend this garage enough, and there's NO way I'm taking my car anywhere else. read more

I took my car here last year and received what I felt to be great service. I actually went twice, 1st time no problem found, they didn't charge me a diagnostic fee but suggested I drive for a week and see if the problem happens again-it did and so again I went back, this time they were able to pull the code and fix the problem. I did get the diagnostic fee this time which I had no problem with and understood. Everyone was friendly, explained in detail the problem, fair pricing and overall just great service. I have referred them a few times since then. read more

Overall I've had pretty good experiences with this garage. The first time I took my car there, the bill ended up being more expensive than the initial estimate, even thought the work was the same. I asked about it though and they explained the bill included parts from a different supplier than the first estimate. They hadn't finished the work yet and were able to bring the price back down, but I would have paid more if I hadn't asked. read more

Don't listen to the people who complain about this place. They probably would have a complaint for every aspect of their lives if you asked them. Anyway, Paradise is a great business. They are honest about their work, have great prices, and all around good character. What more can you ask for from a garage? I went in to get my car reinspected and a guy came out to the alley to replace my lightbulbs for me and printed off my sticker. It took a few minutes. I would recommend this place to anyone. read more

Haven't been in the shop yet, however I did call for an estimate. He was very nice and helpful on the phone. Basically told me how much I would be looking at told me to drop off between certain hours and they would keep me posted on the progress. read more

If i could give negative stars I would. DO NOT GO HERE. Terrible experience. I took my car here to get the clutch replaced and because of the good reviews on here, I thought I would receive good service at a decent price. I was SO wrong. My car sat in the lot for MONTHS, with little to no communication from them as to when they could repair it and at what cost. Weeks after pressing them to move forward with fixing and still no progress report, I decided to take it somewhere else. At this point they told me they had already started repairing it, and it would cost $75 more than the original quote. I finally was able to pick up the car and conveniently for them, right as I was moving out of state. When I picked up the car the clutch was still not working correctly to which I was told "It just needed to be worked in". There was also a vague explanation about "not being able to find all the parts". 2 months and $1000 later ($500 more than every other garage quoted me at since) the clutch is completely broken again and the car is inoperable. At my wits end, I called to plead for some sort of refund but was disregarded by the owner. I was completely taken advantage of by this garage and am now $1000 in the hole, 4 states away and have no vehicle. DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! read more

After reading good reviews, I decided to set an appointment up to get my state inspection here. I dropped it off Friday morning at 8:30 and asked how long it would take. The lady said a couple of hours, which was very vague. I was fine with that since I had no where to be until 2, and surely it would be done then. An hour passes, two hours, three hours, and then four hours later...I still do not receive a call. I finally decide to call them at 1:00 asking if it was done..only for her to tell me she needs to check (checking only took about 20 seconds) and tell me that it was ready. I was a bit annoyed that it had been ready and I didn't receive a call. Overall, I wasn't pleased with their customer service and won't be going back, but they got the job done. read more

The hidden fees are crazy. They literally charged me a fee to use their own tools on top of the labor fee! Good work on my car though, just don't like getting ripped off. read more

Very friendly, got the job done quick. Listened to my concerns. Had a wonderful experience that proved that this place is honest, I'm very grateful to have tried Paradise. Will definitely be going back, thanks guys for the integrity! read more

Poor customer service and expensive prices. They can't accommodate same-day requests, so they recommend appointments. I made one for an oil change a few days in advance, and dropped off the car first thing in the morning. When I showed up, they didn't have a record of my appointment, but told me they could get the job done by the end of the day. I called a half hour before they closed, and they hadn't gotten to the car. They promised to get to it first thing in the morning, which meant that it was done around noon the following day. To add insult to injury, the cost of the oil change was significantly more expensive than at the dealership...which is notorious for price gouging. Won't be returning. read more

This is the place to go for car repairs in Richmond. Took our car in because it was making a weird sound. The owner came out and diagnosed the problem within 5 minutes of me getting there. When they called back later in the day with a price quote, they gave several options and explained each in detail. The issue was the clutch on the AC compressor, we needed a new compressor. I also decided to get the timing belt replaced at the same time. They started work the next morning, when the new compressor came in. The woman at the front desk said that the repairs usually take 2 days, I asked if there was any way it could be done in one day because it was a Friday before a three day weekend and I didn't want to go the whole weekend without a car, she said she would do her best. At 3:30 that afternoon, she called to say it was done. I was thrilled. I went over and picked up the car, then drove it to pick up my wife. While driving it, the transmission seemed to sputter. I was totally bummed, because I thought everyone had probably left the garage so I would have to deal with the issue for the weekend. However, I called to leave a message and the owner picked up. "Bring it back now, I'll wait for you" he said. My wife and I went back to garage, it was now past 5pm on the Friday before a holiday weekend. The owner meticulously looked over the car, tested several things, and was able to determine that when they replaced the water pump with the timing belt, a little bit of liquid had gotten on the crank sensor and was messing up the signal. He cleaned it out, and took the car for a test drive to make sure it was working. The entire time, he was so nice, and friendly, despite staying late to help us out. It was so nice to deal with someone so dedicated to his customers. The car drives great now, and I will definitely take it back there for any repairs in the future. Just an all around stellar experience. read more

Dropped my car off at 2:30pm and waited until 6:30 before they could inspect my car. My car was rejected when its never been rejected before. They had a long list of items to get fixed that I have never been told was a problem. Don't go! read more

I've been really impressed with Paradise Garage. They're very honest and will only perform the services and repairs that are really needed at a very reasonable price. After a couple of bad experiences with the local BMW garage, I've permanently changed and couldn't be happier. read more

Very rude - clearly interested in getting maximum out of my wallet. Never going back.

Made an appointment to have my car checked for some weird noises at 10am. Didn't get to it til 530pm. Why even take appointments then? Won't be coming back since they always take 6 to 8 hours to get to my car. read more

Best repair shop in town, period. I was born and raised in Richmond and had a dozen bad experiences with a dozen auto shops over the years before finally finding Paradise. I haven't gone anywhere else since. Honest guys, fair prices, quick but meticulous work, and of course a great central location for those that live or work in the city. If you treat them with respect, they will do the same, plus some. read more

Paradise called me after seeing my review and acknowledged that I was overcharged for my tune up. The owner has agreed to reimburse me some money. It was refreshing to get the call and speak to someone openly about the services received and how they could positively respond to my experience. read more

I got stuck without the correct tools to replace some parts and had to button up my work and take it over to Paradise Garage. They had no problem installing the parts I provided. Their labor rate was as I had expected and is on par with other shops in Richmond. I dropped it off shortly after they opened and it was done by 5pm; no appointment. Next time I can't handle a job in my backyard, I'll head back to Paradise. read more

So I haven't even gone to get my car yet, but I just got a call stating my car passed inspection. I'm just so excited! Since I've had my car I've always kind of gotten ripped off when it comes to inspection time since its older. It's like a target for mechanics to cash out. This place is HONEST and friendly from the moment you walk into to the door to receiving a phone call back. It didn't hurt they had a puppy as soon as I walked in too (sorry Greg for wanting to steal your dog haha). I also love that the owner is involved in his company. My fiancé checked in to see his availability and though he was busy he was really nice and told us a good time to bring it in. I instantly felt like my car was in good hands. For now on when I need any future repairs, these are my go-to guys. They were slammed full and are really busy so if you go there be sure to think ahead. It's so worth it! It's really weird to see negative reviews from people on here bc I've had some really bad experiences before with about 5+ places. This is the most sincere place I've been to in a long time. What a relief! read more

Paradise Garage was amazing! The best garage I have ever been to. I went by there a couple weeks ago to have my state inspection and never once felt like they were going to tack on extra "problems" to give them more money. Everyone who worked there was very helpful and friendly. I am definitely coming back and if you live in the VCU area I suggest you do too. read more

Greg is amazing. Honest and fair. Best independent mechanic in richmond.

Greg is the best as is his team. Always fair, quick, and makes me laugh. He is also a wonderful heartache counselor!!! I would never take my car anywhere else in RVA read more

I have taken 3 cars to Paradise to get tune-ups at the 30,000 and 60,000 mile markers. Having just moved from DC, it was so nice to see the bill at over $200 less than what I would have paid in the DC area for the same job. They only did what was really necessary and saved me some money. The work took 2 days and I could not pick up the car right away, but they didn't charge any extra leaving it around for another day. They are very casual and helpful, just factor in some time for the job to get done. This isn't a same day shop! I think it's worth the wait. read more

These guys may very well be good mechanics, nice people, whatever. But beware. They wanted $300 labor, and $500 in parts to change the plugs/ignition coils in my wife's mazda. A 30 second google search showed the parts as being $200. I called them, and was told "we don't use the cheap chinese parts". Told him the cheap parts were $60. These for for Beck/Arnley/OEM parts. "Oh". Can you get me a better price, or can I use my own parts? "We won't warranty the parts, and the labor will be 25% more". So $375 (and why should the labor cost more?). No thanks. Have never done this repair (although I'm a shade tree mechanic). Took me 1 hour, 45 minutes including clean up. Next time around I could do it in an hour. So basically, even if the cheapest that they could get the parts for was $200 (and they get wholesale pricing), they wanted $600 for an hour (or 2, if they're doing it one handed) of labor. Rip off. I'm sure this is done all the time by mechanics, and most people don't think to question it, but if you're already charging $X/hr for labor, why not just charge for the time you're spending on the repair? read more