Richard was a great help. He got us in quickly and for a great price. Would highly recommend!

This is the only shop I come to! They do great work and don't sell you on a bunch of bs and don't overcharge you. The only place I ever recommend to people :) read more

Only repair shop that can always fix anything I need fixed. Prices historically have been free to less than $100 depending on what I needed.

To be clear, this is not the business on 503 E Hillsborough - rather in the Heights itself - see contact information below. Richard is an honest, very proficient automotive technician. He quickly tested, diagnosed and serviced my AC system and had me on my way in less than an hour. It was a joy to find someone who knows his trade and due to a home / shade tree by business model can charge reasonable rates due to his low overhead compared to larger businesses with fancy waiting areas. Heck, he even offered me coffee. Richard is a fellow combat veteran and it is my pleasure to do business with him. I recommend him unequivocally. 1700 Northeast Lambright Street, Tampa, FL Richard (813)446-2760 read more

Total Rip off - Work order MV4446. They replaced front struts and rear shocks that did not need replacing. The original problems, engine light (emissions code) and rattle (sway bar bushings) are still not fixed. Rattles continue and light came back on (reset it only) Complete robbery. Do not take your car here. read more

It's nice to find a shop where quality, honesty, and great customer service rules. I'm sending everyone I know to Richard's.

Wonderful service!!! Went above and beyond! I'm very grateful to have brought my car in here for a second opinion. They did not take advantage of me and seemed genuinely pure at heart! read more

Richards is a gem in Central Tampa. I would recommend this place to anyone who needed any work done. I got a quote from a dealership service department to do a lot of work on the front end (cv joint, tie rod end, control arm), Richards came in for the exact same services at literally 1/3 of the cost AND they were able to get to it in 1/2 the time. I've been going there for almost 10 years, and I'm driving out from Brandon to go there. Never had a bad experience. Let Tom and the crew over there sort you out. You wont be disappointed. read more

The staff at Richard's are very friendly. I am glad to have a reliable mechanic in our neighborhood.

Great service and even better prices Front and Rear brakes with rotors and pads Even fixed my bumper without even asking They really look out for the working class Price are very reasonable and consumer friendly. read more

Blown away! Very thankful to the fellas out here that physically showed me what the issue with my vehicle is instead of throwing a clipboard at me with a list of parts Super helpful pleasant guys over here and they even buffed my cloudy headlight as a cherry on top. Thanks guys ! read more

I got to the shop@6:45 am told Tom the problem i had with my vehicle he asked if i am leaving it . I said no because i came from Riverview he said they were pretty back up from yesterday which was evident by the number of cars but he said let him check to see what the problem was I knew he would let them know if I have to leave it .He check took his time will attending to other customers.As his staff came everyone was so professional.It was a very good experience he told me if the problem exist he would to do some more investigating I would highly recommend this auto shop. read more

I needed new brakes and rotors and a few other small things, and Firestone quoted me over $1,400! I had done some research and knew that price was way too high, so I brought it to Richard's. He did all the work for less than $400. Even better, he is the nicest guy and a straight shooter who I trust. He's also right around the corner and he got two new customers for life that day (my mom lives a block from his shop and she had been taking her car to Firestone for years). I can't say enough good things about him and his business! read more

Twice now I have taken my Jeep, which has many modifications for off-road driving, to Richard's. The first time I needed a new alternator; most recently a new ignition coil. Both experiences resulted in my Jeep being fixed the same day, flawlessly, expertly, and with fair pricing. Very highly recommended. 1997 Jeep, heavily modified, and used primarily for off-road use. Original owner. read more

Still have my old car and got a flat this weekend and the AC wasn't blowing as cold anymore. Took it to Richard's and they tested the tire and it was just a leaky valve that needed to be replaced. Looked over my AC and added more fluid with a dye in it because they couldn't find a leak. They said if it stopped blowing cold to bring it back so they could fix the leak. They could have tried to replace my tire or come up with a repair on the AC, but in both cases did what was necessary to fix it without charging me an arm and a leg. Super honest and got me in and out in under 5 hours. I can't recommend them enough. read more

You will not find a more trustworthy and honest mechanic in the Tampa area. I have brought my cars to them for 10 years and they are unfailingly honest. A perfect example happened this week. I brought my car in to have the front and rear brakes fixed since the dealer quoted me $1,200 when I went in to take care of some recalls. I called Richards and they told me it would be about $350, so I brought the car in and left it with them as I have for years. They called me later in the day to tell me that there was nothing wrong with the brakes and it would be a waste of money to replace the brakes. Knowing I was prepared to pay $350 for the brakes they chose to be honest and not charge me anything. I recommend to all my friends to go to Richards because of things like this (it's not the first time this has happened). I have complete trust in this shop and would recommend them to anybody. read more

Richard's is the best and most honest car repair facility in Tampa. They have amazing customer service and have always done quality work for my family. Highly reccomend them to all my friends and family. read more

Great communication, very honest and fast work. We have used them multiple times. Normally we get same day service unless it is a major job.

My 2001 AWD Yukon with 175k miles performed well driving 10 hours to visit family but a front end noise got louder and concerning. Prior service dept visits at two local dealerships yielded no explanation despite months of repeat visits and diagnostic charges. With just 4 days before a return trip of 10 hours I called and my car was evaluated with 2 test drives and at least an hour or more of inspection on the rack. My suspicion that front CV axle and joint was the source, a potential breakdown on the road and even loss of control during highway speed. I was wrong. The front joints were good and the age of the vehicle prompted recommendation for a though greasing and lubrication of the front suspension and wheel/axle parts was done. The expensive removal/replacement of CV joint/axle/boot was not necessary but could have been done and I would have paid an unnecessary high repair bill. NO CHARGE was collected for the time, trouble and effort for over an hour's work, on short notice. I expected to pay the diagnostic charges, as is routine at the dealership. The noise was nearly eliminated and confirmed by the mechanic's final test drive. I was greatly relieved and finally felt confident that I would make the return drive without breakdown or severe accident. The service manager would not accept payment but rather welcomed me back for any future repairs or concerns. I learned from return customers that it was the owner's first day of retirement while I was there. I am sure hoping this review gets back to him. Despite his absence, his reputation of HONEST, THOROUGH, ACCURATE AND TIME EFFICIENT SERVICE CONTINUES, EVEN WHILE HE IS AWAY. The manager was friendly, professional and involved with each and every mechanic doing evaluation and repair. The place was organized and busy. Each customer was kept informed of the progress of their vehicle's repair. I witnessed the art of professional auto repair like I've not seen in decades. I thought personal auto care was a lost art due to the dominance of expensive dealerships. At 68 years of age my faith in the local mechanic has been restored. I and my daughter's family, both recently relocated to Tampa, will certainly be back to Richard's Automotive service; simply the best as so many other reviews has stated ! Michael Smith-O'Brien from Missouri read more

When it comes to Auto Mechanics Richards is unparalleled to any other mechanic when it comes to honesty and a fair price Richards chooses to replace ONLY what's needed instead of gouging you on repairs that are not needed. This is why they are booked every day. My family has been using them for 20+ years. I'm a car buff and this is the best mechanic I've been to in my lifetime. Even friends were not as good as them. Do yourself a favor and give them your business. Trust me you won't regret it. Every friend I've recommended thanks me. read more

Great place recommended by friend to put on tires. I ordered tires on Tirerack.com and TireRack delivered the tires next day. Dropped car off early morning to have Richard's put them on and I got my car back before noon. What a difference working with someone who is professional and doesn't try to upsell you on things you don't need. Highly recommend this place. I will be back. read more

I've been going to Richard's for almost a decade. Always honest (which for a mechanic makes him worth his weight in gold in my opinion) and his prices are competitive and reasonable. He will tell you what needs to be fixed, he'll tell you about potential problems down the road but won't pressure you to repair it if it's not necessary, he'll give you options if possible. Can't recommend him enough. read more

Literally, have been going to Richard as a kid.... Every car goes to him. New purchases and maintenance. I know we all care about their car, without it I can't work. He has the lowest best oil change for my car. I travel Atlanta to Tampa all the time & he keeps me good. I am not paid or asked to do this review, I'm just a regular person who will only take my car to Richard. My mom did and so will I. read more

I have been coming here to get my car repaired since 2002 and will never go to anyone else! Richard checks every car before it leaves his shop and has staff that explain and show everything they are going to fix before they do it. His parts and labor fees are always fair. Please support this small business because it is one of the best in Tampa Bay! read more

Richard and his team have been my "go-to" for many years. As the saying goes, once you find a good, honest, reasonable mechanic, you stick with him. I have always been satisfied with their work and customer service. Also, Richard takes the time to answer any of my questions and after analyzing the problem, provide feedback which is straight forward and easy to understand. No wonder he is a success. N.T.M. read more

Just an honest shop!Richard sleeps good at night for sure!Thanks for helping my son and being a straight up honest guy!!I highly recommend this shop!!Bring your car here if you dont want to get ripped off! read more

What a great business!! I went to the dealership and was told I needed $3900 in repairs. I had my timing belt break and I needed to fix lots of things because I broke. I called Richard's because of the other wonderful reviews on here and told him what the dealership said. He told me that there was no way for the dealership to know about the repairs they were suggesting unless they put the new timing belt on already. He said more than likely all I needed was a new belt. Got my car there he checked it out and voila!!! All I needed was a new timing belt for $266. I was looking at junking my car out when the dealership said that number, but here I am 1 day later driving my beloved car and it's running SO GREAT!! Richard's now has my husband and I as customers for life!!! What a great feeling it is to find an honest mechanic! read more

First I want to say, this is the most honest mechanic shop I've ever been to. I went to another dealership for a routine oil change and they insisted that all four of my brake pads needed to be changed. It seemed a little odd considering I just bought my car and the brake pads were brand new upon purchase. They insisted that my brake pads were all the way in the red and would be dangerous if I didn't get them changed quickly. Feeling odd about the news, I decided to take my car to Richard's and get a second opinion. Not even 10 mins after my arrival, a nice gentleman called me to pick up my keys. He told me ALL of my brake pads were perfectly FINE! Still pretty much brand new. I was so appreciative, not only to know I was fine, but appreciate of the honesty of this establishment. So many people get taken advantage of and don't even realize it, but Richard's Automotive IS AN HONEST PLACE OF BUSINESS. It's the small things that matter and because of this, I will bring my car to them from now on! Thank you Richard! read more

My vehicle over heated while traveling RT 4. I used Yelp to locate a reputable auto repair center. Richard's was given 4 stars, so I had the vehicle towed there. Most of us have shared the nightmare of being taken advantage of by unscrupulous repair shops. I found Richard to be head and shoulders above the rest. I explained the overheating history of the vehicle and Richard performed a simple test to help diagnose the cause. Within minutes it was determined that a head gasket had blown, avoiding needless repairs to the cooling system. He explained the major expense of replacing the engine and recommended scraping the vehicle based on age and cost. I requested a bill for his services and I was told NO CHARGE that took the edge off a bad day. Although I live on the other side of Tampa, I will patronize Richard's Automotive Service for future auto repair and maintenance . read more

I went to Richard's cause of all the positive reviews here on yelp and on google but the sign that says $9 99 for an oil change should have been a red flag. I had a anti-freeze leak from a hose connected to the engine. They quoted me $70. After they fixed that THEN they said the water pump was also leaking anti-freeze. $300 total. The moment I drove off my air cut out for a second then came back on. I took the car to my father since I didn't want Richard's team of parts-chargers touching my car anymore. My father found a small fresh cut in my vacuum hose that looked like it was done with a razor blade. Thus I'd loose my AC when the car was moving fast enough. I'm assuming the large amount of reviews this place gets is due to them trying to drown out the negative reviews. They seem to have a higher than normal amount compared to all the other car shops nearby. Avoid. read more

Fast, honest, affordable! My check engine light was on and stopped by to have it checked out. I was dreading the cost of the diagnosed emissions leak. Their knowledgeable staff had experience in the specific code that the diagnostic test noted as the problem. This eliminated the need for exploratory engine surgery. Within 1 hour my car was properly diagnosed and fixed. In the event of any other needed repairs I will definitely return thank you for great service! read more

We have been here twice and the service was great and they were very honest. Had radiator hose issues and oil change. Richard is great to talk to and pretty accurate with wait time. Would recommend this garage. read more

I have never been more pleased. The honesty, professionalism & willingness to help is overwhelming. There are no games or second guesses. They tell you the truth rite out of the gate. I guess that why Richards lot is overflowing with vehicles every single day. Thx ever so much, esp to my favorite expert tech Robert. read more

I got my brake pads and rotors replaced. Tom and his crew are very honest and trustworthy. I had a weird noise coming from my car after they worked on it and when I brought it in the next morning, they put it up and fixed it right away at no extra charge. Appreciate finding a place like this, you won't regret getting your car serviced here! Thanks again, Richards Automotive! read more

My son and I have taken our cars to Richard's Automotive for years. They replaced a switch on my Jeep last October. We needed to access a button in that switch last Thursday and found the new part was not the same as the part that was there before. I went to Richard's on Monday to ask why I had not been told that at the time of the repair. I walked in, said good morning, told him I had a question. He asked for my receipt which I gave to him. The rest of the mostly one sided conversation, screaming was extremely unprofessional, unethical, and abusive. I could not believe how this man was talking to me. He screamed at me to leave, never come come back, to tell my family and friends to never come to his e. shop. I never raised my voice. To make matters worse if that were possible he started making nasty comments about me before I had left the premises. My warning to all is beware of this man's unprofessional behavior. Apparently, you cannot ask questions for the expensive repairs done to your vehicle. read more

An honest automotive shop is hard to find, but look no further. Took my car to a different unnamed place close to my house out of convenience and was quoted $900 just to diagnose the problem because they had to remove the engine valve cover. That kind of cash requires a second opinion so I did some research and found Richard's. They exceeded all expectations. Dropped it off the night before (drop box is near soda machine) and called at 6:30am to describe the problem my car was having. Around 11am got a call saying it would be about $300, no need to remove the engine valve cover. The car was ready by 4pm and the problem was fixed. Richard's is about 10 miles from my house but I won't go anywhere else in the future. read more

Having been left stranded in a parking lot with no idea where to tow my car, a friend recommended Richard's. I then recalled another friend telling me she used to take her old car there for maintenance and repairs. I figured I had nothing to lose so had it towed there after hours. When I called the next morning, imagine my surprise when I found they had already checked out my car and figured out what was wrong with it. My car was fixed and returned to me in no time, all at a fair price. Richard was polite and professional. I definitely recommend him! read more

Richards is probably the most popular repair shop in the Heights area. I've used this place for the last 7 years or so, no matter where I lived in Tampa, and it has been good and reliable. My only complaint would be once they changed out my fuel injector and it failed within a year and a half and they refused to take care of the cost and replace it again or free. That rubbed me the wrong way at the time. I'm looking for a new mechanic in the Tampa area at the moment, but haven't tried anybody else because luckily I haven't had any major issues (I do all regular maintenance tasks myself). To be fair, this was the only bad experience that I've ever had with the place. But once is enough to put someone like me off for good. A firm three stars seems fair. read more

The first time I went to Richards it was out of convenience. He was open and I needed help... I then took my truck back for a tune up and noise in the front passenger wheel area. I knew there were several things wrong and fully expected 15 to 1600 dollars. To my surprise it was only 800 and before doing the work, he actually tried to talk me out of it saying the age of the truck I should just get a diff vehicle but for me that wasnt an option so he did the work. Since then he has also changed my fuel pump and done oil changes. I couldnt be happier with his work. When my fuel pump went, he even worked with a tow truck to get it there from my office as I dont have AAA. The tow bill alone would have been over 100 dollars but on my bill it was just 50 and I didnt have to pay the driver up front I was able to pay it when I picked up my truck the following day (pay day thankfully). I recommend Richards to all my friends and co-workers and anybody else looking for a decent person and great mechanic.... read more

I went there and they said I need $1600 to fix my AC on my Ford and went somewhere else spent less than $200 3 months ago and is still working great ! I will NEVER go there again ! read more