I came out of a 13hour shift exhausted to find that my tire was completely flat. I was able to blow it up and drive straight to preferred auto. As a brand new walk in customer, they were very kind and professional! They fit me in quick and I was out of there in 30 minutes! I am impressed with their swiftness and their lobby chairs are quite comfortable. They patched my tire for $40 which I think is great! I would definitely recommend them for your auto needs! read more

Long time customer, finally writing a review. I started bringing my vehicles in starting in the early/mid 2010s as I remembered my dad was bringing his vehicles to them when he worked close by. Reliable team, prompt, responsive and great service. Even when there have been small issues they worked with me to my satisfaction. They've taken care of my Acura TL, and then my SQ5 and now SQ8 at reasonable costs. Recently they fit me in next morning from an overnight text to fix a tire puncture... in at Friday 8a and out by 830a during their pre workday rush. As long as I'm around here I will keep on going to them. Thanks Gary, Todd and Team! They are like longtime friends now. read more

After an incredibly stressful situation with my Honda CRV dying, Gary and the team at Preferred Automotive helped diagnose and fix the problem. The team was kind, respectful and knowledgeable. They definitely made me feel more at ease with the issues. They tested my battery and determined it to be the problem. They replaced my battery and had it ready by the end of the day. I will definitely be a repeat customer with preferred automotive for any needs I have in the future. read more

Man man man.... Got stationed in the area and was looking for a good garage when I found these guys. Super cool and chill dudes that made everything feel welcoming. They have a first time customer discount and give you a very detailed explanation and list of their inspection. I recommend this place 100%. They even gave me some cool spots to visit. read more

I brought my car in drivable, to check on a few things and was met with a 20+ long list of what needs to be done. The price quotes for things had me audibly gasping. I politely told them I don't have that kind of money to fix all that right now. I requested to just change my oil and I'd pick up the car. When I picked up the car and started driving my car sounded 1000x worse than it did when I brought it in, it sounded so bad I didn't feel safe driving it at all. I immediately took it to another repair shop and they took care of the issues without costing me a fortune. They even told me some of the previous things I had been quoted for repair at Preferred were not necessary and didn't make sense to them. Glad I went elsewhere. read more

I started getting my car serviced at Preferred Automotive somewhere between 2010 & 2012, when I formerly worked within walking distance from their location. I now work in downtown DC, but I continue to travel back to them (including taking the Metro for drop offs & pick ups), because of their good work, & friendly but professional customer Svc. The dashboard ck engine light has been chronically lit in m 2010 Volvon since I brought it used in the mid-2000s. They were able to get the Ck engine light off when I last took it in to be svc'd. They dx the possible root cause(s) & said that it might come back on. But it's been almost a month & it has not come back on -and- it passed inspection on the day of the repair! There are only 2 things that I wish they'd change: 1) add a location in/closer to DC :) & 2) not charge (customers) for any of the credit card usage fees. read more

Needed major maintenance on my car, including replacement of front and rear struts, battery and radiator, hoses et al. Company thorougly explained why this maintenance was necessary, Good value for cost. read more

My first time ever going to Preferred Automotive was excellent, for my first time ever going to a mechanic shop on my own. The shop was clean or well laid out, the area around the shop wasn't crowded, and the employees were friendly. Preferred Automotive kept everything cool and organized to understand the ins and outs for those who aren't versed in the automotive mechanics world. I had the pleasure of speaking with Todd, a representative of Preferred Automotive, and he was very attentive from the beginning, kept a line of communication open, provided clear details of what needs to be done, understood what the customer wants and was very flexible, and closed out everything leaving a very happy customer. I walked in being nervous at how much things could add up, Todd gave me the break down and was understanding on what I wanted done, and had me leaving Preferred Automotive knowing I had quality work done by the hands of people who know their stuff. I definitely do recommend this place. read more

I took my 2017 Chevrolet Cruze here after doing very little driving in the past 4 years. Very soon after I dropped the car off, I received a text report of the inspection including photos. The team diagnosed replacement of fluids, a tune-up, and determined the three PCV valves needed to be replaced. Two of the valves are on order and will be part of the next service visit in 5,000 miles. Very happy with the service and in particular, felt no pressure to buy things that weren't necessary. Preferred Automotive is my new go-to for car repairs! read more

Found the outfit on the internet and was impressed by their ratings. All was confirmed when I first took my MAZDA CX-5 there. Today, the car underwent routine minor maintenance, and the work was done promptly and right! The report is very complete and clear as to the state of the vehicle, and the next steps are explained plainly. Gary, Todd and the team are not only capable, they are just plain nice persons... Highly recommended!! read more

Preferred Automotive will be my place to go for my car services. Staff were professional and very responsive. They texted me after I dropped off my car one hour later and attached images where they found problems. Price is very reasonable. I will definitely return for future car services. read more

Getting to Preferred Automotive from where I live is a hike (I live out of state) and I have to take time off of work to get my car serviced there, but the peace of mind is worth it. I take my car there for oil changes too because I don't trust anyone else with it, even though I have to drive 45 minutes out of my way to get there. My car is one year away from qualifying for antique plates, but Gary keeps it running like new, despite the numerous meltdowns its had. When my car has major work done, they even wash it and clean the inside. I also appreciate the pictures they send me when my car has an issue, I don't really have a clue what I'm looking at, but it's nice to know that they try to explain problems to me when something is wrong. I'm not surprised at all that Preferred Automotive has so many five-star ratings. As I waited for my car, I noticed how every customer that came in was as loyal as I am. I'll be taking my car in to Preferred Automotive for a long time. read more

Fixed my emission problem and they were the only place that was able to fix my defective key! They've got great service even when understaffed and were transparent with the issues with the car. It was a bit pricy but you get quality service! read more

I'm surprised folks think these guys are knowledgeable, when they do all diagnostics using a computer and only use one brand of products (Valvoline). They told me my car need over $1000 worth of work because I had a leaky gasket. When It only needed to be cleaned. It wasn't leaking, it was just crude buildup after 120k on the car. I went to Dobson's Shell and they charged me $168. Oh and they forgot to reset their app, so when I went to pick up my car, all the lights on the dashboard were flashing. And though we talked about doing an oil change, I thought they would only do it if they worked on the car (as oppose to just a diagnostic). Which they charged me $50 for a basic oil change! (Didn't even check the fluids)). Only use Preferred if you want to give away your money aw read more

I love PREFERRED AUTOMOTIVE. Genuine 200% customer service. On time, respectful, and diagnostically astute.to keep car operating efficiently. Best shop in town. Been going to the shop for 20 + years, no problems. Mike, Gary and Todd make sure you will be safe on the road. They are extremely personable and a great group of guys. Ann read more

TLDR: They are honest and competent. My perception is that they have enough business to not feel any pressure to sell work that is unnecessary and not in the best interests of the customer. I left my car in their care on the recommendation of both my brother and my wife. My brother selected this place due in large part to their online reviews/reputation. My car had been making a rattling noise and so I took the car in to be serviced. I received a call a short time later letting me know that they had identified where the rattling noise was coming from and a few other maintenance items I should consider taking care of while the car was in the shop. Which is pretty standard in my experience. When I picked up my car the front desk agent took me through the work done and the attendant charges. When I asked questions I received thoughtful and thorough responses. After some probing I realized that they could have "recommended" more work and thus increased their fee but had chosen not to because they did not feel it was necessary or in my best interest. I think that if I had not asked additional questions I would not have found this out. I attribute this to a culture of honesty as a matter of routine. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants honest and competent mechanics. read more

The guys at Preferred were great. I called about an oil change, figuring I'd have to make an appointment. They told me to come on in right away. They did the oil change and upsold me on a couple of things that I really needed anyway, so I consented. They told me my tires were getting to the end of their life, but didn't need to be replaced right away. That's always a good sign you're not getting taken - at least in my book. I think it was a little expensive, so I didn't go the full 5 stars. I'm new to town, so finding an honest, friendly mechanic who won't poke holes in your oil pan - you didn't, did you, guys? - is a win. I'll go back when I need those tires. read more

I've been here twice for two separate issues with my car and each time I have been satisfied with the work. Todd and Mike are very pleasant and they answered all my questions honestly and were very knowledgeable. They are transparent and fair and the quality of work is excellent. I am glad that I used them and will refer them to anyone looking for a great mechanic. read more

Needed to clean out the remains of a rat infestation under the hood of my car and was told it would cost me $168 but was charged $279. At the same time I was recommended to swap out the engine air filter and was showed a picture of the air filter. The problem was that the filter was from another car, mine was fine. I wonder how many more times I was given a false picture of parts needed repairs in the past. This came on top of an earlier mishap when they forgot to properly screw on the cap to the oil fill hole on the engine. It fell of and caused an engine repair error. They sent me to the dealer to fix the engine problem, where they discovered the cause. That cost me a pretty penny too. Enough. read more

I scheduled an appointment a week in advance for a check engine light. The man I spoke to on the phone was very kind and professional. When I dropped my car off, they confirmed all of my information from the call to make sure they could reach me after the diagnostic. About 2 or so hours later, someone called me to let me know what work needed to be done. I told him I would have to hold off on that for now until I have the money. He did not try to pressure me to get a line of credit or anything that several other shops have pushed me to apply for in the past. He very kindly said that it was not problem and they would put my car back together for me to pick up in another hour. When I came in later to pick up my car, they gave me the receipt and informed me that they already applied the $50 new customer discount. I didn't even know to ask for that or that it was offered! Definitely will come back here again. Thanks for the great service! read more

Gary and Todd are super friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. I was impressed when on my first repair, they gave me a comprehensive report on everything wrong with my car. When I recently had a big timing chains cover resealing job, unforseen complications arose that delayed the repair. They told me they'd take care of me and they went above and beyond to do so! When the repair was done, they compensated my wait with a huge discount and even threw in a free car wash voucher :) I love coming in because they're fun to talk to and are really good at educating me about why nuanced car problems could happen. Best customer service, hands down! read more

I have been taking my old 2000 BMW 323i to Preferred Automotive since I moved to Maryland about five years ago. I have kept the car for sentimental reasons, until, finally, the serpentine belt and tensioners broke down. As usual, I had the car towed to Preferred Automotive. Although the costs to repair the car were no longer worth it, they let me keep the car on the premise until I had a plan of action. I worked with Todd and he was great at coordinating keeping the car on the lot until I could get it removed. The entire staff was amazing, professional, and helpful. Knowing my situation, they always gave sound advice regarding the car. These guys are honest, trustworthy, helpful, and do a great job! read more

Synopsis for the lazy reader: The customer feedback ratings on Preferred Automotive are excellent for good reason. I give them top marks on integrity, proficiency, value, and customer service experience. Take it from an ex-Army mechanic. You will not find better than these guys. Honesty: Top priority for me. My impression is that these guys are professionals with integrity who are genuinely trying to fix my car in the most affordable way possible. Really that says it all in my book. Proficiency/Timeliness: I got a strong sense these guys know their business well. After describing symptoms of a weird intermittent problem with my car, they had a good idea of possible causes before the diagnostic was done. They had my car fixed, tested, and ready to pick up the next morning. Good thing too because I needed my car back. Price/Value: The price for repairs was more than fair. Also thank you for the 50$ new customer discount. Customer Service: All employees with whom I dealt were friendly and courteous. Fun bunch of guys who seem to enjoy their work. Discovering this place turned out to be quite a blessing. Goes without saying I will highly recommend them to all friends and family needing auto repair. read more

I wanted to update my rating since I have been using Preferred as my go to auto repair shop for the last three years. Since I gave them 5 Stars last time (2013) I am happy to reaffirm that rating. These guys are great - all of them. In fact I've recommended several friends and co-workers to them and all have thanked me for helping them find a reliable and honest shop. Having a mechanic (or group, in this case) that you can trust is one of life's underrated pleasures. read more

This mechanic should be your most trusted for any problem. The team are clearly experts and are very helpful. They fixed a problem with my wife's VWs AC that the VW dealer failed to solve twice. One time I brought my truck to fix an odd issue and the mechanic took a quick look and let me know that for them to troubleshoot it it would cost a good amount. The mechanic gave me an honest recommendation to fix it at home that worked! Such honesty in a mechanic is refreshing. Other times they have fixed complicated problems for me quickly. They also send me coupons regularly. Best in the area read more

Very pleased with the service and was able to save some money. The main front desk staff was pleasant. Plan to return in the future.

During our trip down to Hilton Head from NYC, we heard a funny noise coming from our car all of sudden. Lucky enough we pulled over and ended up at Preferred Automotive. Thank god we did! Not only did Todd quickly take a look at the car but end up finding a bag that had gotten stuck in the front by the engine which was causing the noise. Todd was so nice and welcoming and absolutely expected nothing in return for the work he did. I would recommend this place for those living near by and anyone facing car issues on a road trip passing through! Thanks again! read more

After seeing all the great reviews of Preferred Automotive throughout the internet, I decided to give them a shot for my recent 90K maintenance work. Boy, was I glad I did. I found everyone from the folks at the front desk (Sean and Gary - one of the owners) to the mechanics to be extremely friendly, courteous, and honest. Sitting in the office waiting for my car, I was amazed with how well both Sean and Gary knew their customers even asking about their family. It was obvious that these were long-time customers as their interactions were so genuine. This is something you definitely do not see at the dealers or any franchise shops. These guys don't pressure anyone into unnecessary services, they take the time to explain everything. They were so honest with everyone. By the way, if you need to go somewhere (e.g. shopping or work) after dropping off your car, they'll be more than willing to give you a lift. That's just great customer service. Another positive, free secured wifi is available in the waiting area. Are you tired of going to the dealer or franchise shop for your car? Looking for a great, friendly, family-owned place? If you are, then Preferred Auto in Rockville is the place for you. I will definitely continue to use them for routine maintenance in the future. read more

I had a great experience. My car was overdue for scheduled maintenance after a series of awful experience at the dealership, but found Preferred Automotive online and scheduled an appointment easily. I was pleased that everyone was friendly and extremely responsive. Staff took time to walk me through each finding of the diagnostic individually, what it meant, and suggest what could wait. I ended up having an issue that took some troubleshooting, but Todd and Gary resolved it! I appreciate the honesty and dedication to informing customers about the services provided BEFORE performing them. I'll definitely be back and highly recommend this company. read more

Todd, Gary, and crew are awesome. I've been taking my car there for several years. Several of my colleagues also take there cars there as week. Todd and Gary will take care of you and make sure your car is running well. read more

Gary and Todd are awesome. Gary and his team take pride in providing honest fair pricing, quality work and friendly, informative customer service. They run a tight ship and have taken the time to trouble shoot and help me save money on parts and labor several times thanks to their professional knowledge. I truly appreciate how they explain the repairs and even go above and beyond by emailing a checklist (+ photos of those parts of the car so you can see that it is leaking or needs repairs!) of the recommended repairs in order of priority of what is urgent and what can wait, so no worrying about a hard sell on repairs or getting ripped off. I've never seen a checklist as thorough as this provided at other mechanics. It's always been just having to trust other mechanics at face value, and I've often gotten taken advantage of that way. Besides showing proof of their honest fair pricing and proof of the need for said repairs with photos, the checklist is a great tool that helps me budget and plan for the other items that can wait. With them I feel like I'm winning at adulting! LOL. I've been going to them for a few years now and trust that I can rely on Gary and team. This is the one mechanic shop that I've been to ever that I come back to consistently. I've been to a bunch of crappy dishonest shoddy mechanics that stress me out, but I am happy to say that I never leave Preferred Automotive stressed, in fact I often feel relieved pulling out of their lot. I also prefer to support small local businesses that I believe in over big name chains. Preferred Automotive has earned me and my husband's loyalty! read more

These gentlemen are super nice, fast, efficient, honest and really helpful. I work across the street so it's super helpful but the cherry on top is the service! They are sooo nice! And really go above and beyond to provide great service! read more

Gary is very knowledgeable and friendly. He will walk you through everything to be performed, AND offer you alternatives for comparison to help you save money which is precious. I was offered a link to a very detailed analysis of my car which includes items of 'service required', 'service suggested', and 'items that are okay'. It helped a lot with prioritizing, and Gary was absolutely not pushy with repairs that could wait. My car is noticeably a lot smoother, I enjoy driving it every day, and I got a follow-up text from Gary a few days later to make sure things are okay. Will continue to visit long as I'm in the area. read more

Visited for an oil change- they were friendly, professional, and got it done on time. Didn't pressure when they called to inform me of other suggested work. It was a good experience, but it was pricey. I came here because it's walking distance to work and has good reviews, but I probably won't be back. Here a synthetic oil change cost me $92, my last synthetic oil change was only $35 at another shop.. read more

EXCEPTIONAL customer service. They do everything they can to not just tell you what's wrong but to teach you about it. They have pictures, videos, and an online service that goes through all parts of your car. They are very organized and get work done in a timely manner. In terms of the work they do and the people there, 5 stars, as good as it gets. Only reason I give it 4 stars was because the cost was a lot higher than anticipated for an oil change and inspection, even with their $50 dollar off "first time customer" coupon. I understand every mechanic is different with their costs and crews, but was the most I've spent for something like that. Knowing that now, I will still probably go back to Preferred for future work. Just something to be aware of for a first time customer. I can't emphasize enough how great the customer experience is. Friendly and honest people. If you're ok with spending a bit more for their work, it's absolutely worth it. read more

Last week on my way to work the dreaded orange engine light appeared on my dashboard. Being newer to this area, I quickly Googled "best mechanic near me" and came across Preferred Automotive. Before 8:00 a.m. I made a call, expecting to leave a voicemail, but instead was greeted by Todd's friendly and helpful voice. I explained what I thought might be wrong but admitted I have no automotive knowledge and just spent an arm and a leg at the dealer to get something else replaced. Todd told me I could bring the car in anytime that day and that someone from the shop would drive me back to work. He shared that before they did any work on the car, he'd give me a call and explain what was wrong. That afternoon, I dropped the car off and was pleasantly surprised when Todd told me he was going to take $50 off the final bill since I am a first time customer. Sure enough, Mike (one of the owners) drove me back to work. Not even four hours later, I got a call with a full explanation of what was causing the issue, how much it would cost, and that it could be ready for the following afternoon. With the explanation of what was causing the issue, Gary (another one of the owners) shared there were more pressing (LESS EXPENSIVE!) issues that he thought should be fixed first. If I hadn't had the ultimate trust in Preferred Automotive before, this sealed the deal. Seriously, when has anyone ever been told to spend less money at a mechanic? The next day, Mike called to let me know things were ready. I went to pick up the car and again, Gary explained everything that had been done and that I should feel safe and confident with the repairs. Driving off the lot, the ride was noticeably smoother and I got a text from Gary a few days later just to make sure things were still OK. I would go back in a heartbeat. read more

These guys have been servicing my car for over 3 years and I have no complaints. The entire staff is friendly and honest; they are not there to take advantage of you. They have kept my car in pristine condition and I couldn't imagine taking it anywhere else. They are a little more pricey than the competition, but the long-run benefits for your car are worth it. read more

Amazing! By far one of the best automotive shops I've been too. They are well documented in their inspections and are very well knowledgeable. I love how the inspection report is digital and includes what and why they recommend services to be done. They even include photos on some items. I had my transmission worked on, and while pricey, they made it worth every penny. Their prices are competitive with quotes to other places I reached out with. I've now had the vehicle for a few weeks, and it drives perfectly. They are well knowledgeable and aren't trying to sell you on the unnecessary. If you have any questions just give them a call! After you finish speaking with them, you'll know exactly why I speak so highly of them. I will bring my vehicle back undoubtably for my maintenance and repairs. Their customer service is amazing! Their technicians are knowledgeable. Their prices are competitive. Why are you still reading this? Give them a call! read more

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I have an old Volvo that needed new brakes. After a full inspection they found some a lot of other issues that needed to be addressed. They were great at breaking down what needed to be done right away and what could wait to be fixed. They listened to my input, and fixed what I asked. They also checked in on me after to make sure everything was working well. Definitely will be back, and recommending them to everyone I know. read more

Good service, friendly staff. Will provide costs up front and recommendations with no pressure getting certain services. Highly recommend.