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River Road Auto Services
5151 River Rd, Bethesda, MD 20816, United States
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Ji
Review №1

Just terrific service. Professional and no hassle..I continue to go back whenever I need serviceon my vehicle. Most dependable which is veryimportant to me as well.

Ch
Review №2

The staff are alert and particularly helpful and experts at all things automobile. The service Ive received there has been excellent and as swift as possible and very pleasant, and this has not been my experience anywhere else over the years. Thank you River Road Auto Service.Christine de Fontenay

Ji
Review №3

My usual mechanics for my 1988 Jeep went out of business during the pandemic, so when I failed the DC Inspection, I was on the hunt for a new mechanic. I got turned down by a number of prominent auto service providers, because they didnt know how to tune a carburetor. When I took my Jeep to River Road Auto Service, they improved the emissions performance and enabled me to get a waiver approval of the inspection, as well as oil change and diagnostics, all in one day. They were very competent, professional and quick. I was very pleased.

Br
Review №4

Danny and his team here have been more than helpful in dealing with our Maryland State inspection and the repairs needed. We ran into a family emergency and had to leave my vehicle here for a couple weeks and Danny was more than accommodating. upon speaking with him a little further I found out that they are a family-run business which is exactly who we love to support. We will be back for all our vehicle needs!

Na
Review №5

Manager Danny Tomasian could not have been nicer when My battery died at the gas station next door just as I embarked on six-hour road trip to Cleveland. Jumped it immediately but then replaced within 30 minutes when I opted for peace of mind given the age of the battery. Many thanks!!

Ev
Review №6

Love Valero gas station. Have been buying gas there for years since itd gas the best gas prices in the Bethesda

Ar
Review №7

Got my oil change done in good time. Great service.

Da
Review №8

Excellent service each time. 10 year old Acadia. They even fixed a known hard to fix Acadia problem (that the dealer refused to address) and stood by their work.

Re
Review №9

Brought my car in at 8am for a state safety check. They had a busy day, but were able to slot me in quickly. Paid $115, and had the car back home by 10:30. Would return for other services.

Ru
Review №10

I had only used their free tire air and gas prior to this, but now I asked for oil change and lube and tire rotation. I could not be more pleased. It was afternoon and Danny said to call for a time slot the next morning. He gave it then and when I arrived on time, they immediately began working on my car. I could not be more pleased with their service and friendliness!

Sa
Review №11

I had a great first experience with River Road Auto Services the other day! All interactions involved were seamless and straightforward, without wasting time or trying to sell me anything I didnt need. Service was done promptly, and pickup and dropoff times are flexible enough to fit my schedule. Would recommend.

De
Review №12

I have been going to River Road Auto for many years. I have a Ford Escape The service is always high quality, personal, and professional. Recently, I took my car for an oil change during the pandemic. I sat across the driveway on the grass in a safe place while they serviced the car. I felt safe. I highly recommend River Road Auto.

Ho
Review №13

River Road Auto Service continues to be our go-to place for keeping our CRV up to specs on maintenance. Danny and his team are friendly, efficient and pros at all aspects of auto maintenance. They deliver their work on time, and most importantly to me, they are straightforward with what your car does and does not need, and they do not up sell.

St
Review №14

Please Read and dont go there for a Maryland Inspection they charged $115 + $47.5 for re-inspection ! They are mechanics and have incentives to fail your inspection in order to make money with repairs !Similarly too many reviews have stated, dont take your car there ! They failed my car which has only 38k miles, because of one (not so bad) tire. They tried to sell me 4 tires for $1000 and $130 for alignment ! Now the worst part is I came back with 4 brand new tires and accompanying invoice ($600). They made me wait and charged me $47.5 for reinspection. I told the GM BOB Tomkinson, this is abusive. I will definitely file a complaint with MD MVA inspection and also the BBB, so their license for inspection is revoked ! and while I was waiting I heard Danny Tomasian telling a client that he needed to change a headlight bulb for $150 ! How is this not stealing ?

An
Review №15

It was a great experience! Everyone I’ve spoken with is very friendly, service is always very fast, and the communications I received were always clear and detailed.

ma
Review №16

My daughter and I were in Chevy Chase for a medical appt. We live almost 2 hours away. During the last half of our drive my brakes began locking and my car was hard to control. I found River Road on the internet, called and spoke to Danny. I explained my situation and he waited over 2 hours until we were done our appt to check out my car. He was so helpful. He kept my car overnight and fixed the brakes. It was done quickly and efficiently. I can’t say enough about his professionalism and honesty. If I didn’t live so far away, I would give him my repeat business for any car repairs or maintenance I needed.

Sc
Review №17

The clients needs come before the business needs. Even though they might make a profit on placing new products, they decide if it is better for the client to get a new auto.

St
Review №18

I have used them for over five years on as many cars for the family. They have always presented excellent work and at a very reasonable price, and timely. They are easy to deal with. They have sound judgement. They do not overpromise. They take of the both the little and big things that go wrong with a car.

Ad
Review №19

The actual repair work they did seems to be done correctly. The cost isnt amazing but this is Bethesda. My major issur is that i had a large scratch on my hood after picking up my vehicle. The vehicle was either hit by someone while sitting in their parking lot or they scratched it when it was in the shop. Either way less than ideal.

Sh
Review №20

River Road Auto Service is the neighborhood auto repair place youve been dreaming of. Fast, friendly, and competent. Always helpful and never condescending. My favorite.

Ni
Review №21

The folks here fit me in last minute on the day before the holidays for a necessary service (that I should have had done far earlier). They were gracious, accommodating, and seemed to genuinely act as if they were happy to help. Even after adding a recommended repair and a tire rotation, the cost was more than reasonable. I truly appreciate their taking care of us. Note, as a bonus, they are located immediately off of the Capital Crescent Trail.

Ma
Review №22

Honest and thorough! Unassuming locale with five star service.Came in for squeaky brakes.They did a full inspection, filled the tires, checked the engine, and told me no work was needed. Charged me nothing. Didnt upsell me on anything and even discouraged me from doing unneeded work.

Da
Review №23

Fast service on a state inspection, but they misplaced my key and took a moment to find it

Ed
Review №24

Fantastic, friendly and efficient service. Communicative about what my car needed and fast to execute the work. Amazing prices for the work! Highly recommended!

Da
Review №25

My mother had to pay a $700 bill to replace a 2004 Honda Accord Headlight. Reason given: a tiny scratch on the left headlight, although it did not seem to be an issue during a previous visit. They explained to her that its a very difficult process as they need to take apart the entire front of the car. In reality, only the bumper and some plastics need to be removed, video available on Youtube for the exact same model. The part cost is only $40 online, and it took me 30 mins as a non-professional to change the other one.I wish shed talked to me about it before paying. would not recommend this place to anyone, especially if you dont know much about cars and want to be able to rely on honest professionals.

Ni
Review №26

This place is professional, kind, friendly, and knowledgeable place to have vehicle serviced. I would come back and recommend for all your vehicle needs.

Ch
Review №27

Theyve been my go to auto service for the last 3 years. They have always done a great job. I have every confidence in their work.

El
Review №28

My husband got an inpection here. It was good. They dont lie

Co
Review №29

Both the owner and manager were friendly. They fit me in quickly for the state inspection. They, quite legitimately, failed the vehicle for having foggy/discolored headlight lenses. They offered to restore the headlights for the vehicle to pass (for $100). They took no offense when I said Id try to do it myself first. After I cleaned them inside and out, I brought it back and they inspected, passed it, and had me off within 5 minutes.

Ma
Review №30

Fast, honest, fair work. Total pros, and no BS. I have used them for years, and cant imagine taking my car anywhere else.Second review....As always, a great job done by the crew at River Road Auto Service (Dont confuse them with River Road Auto Haus....PLEASE dont...) They did the work quickly, and with great customer service. They even recommended against doing a filter change I asked for because the filter was still clean instead of ripping me off for service I didnt need. I love these guys!

Al
Review №31

Excellence.

Za
Review №32

When I went in to drop my car off I was told to fill out a form that included a list of services. I marked oil change, tire rotation, transmission servicing, and under other asked for the air filter to be checked as indicated by my cars service lights. They could not give me an estimate of how long this would take other than by the end of the day, so I caught an Uber home.4 hours later Im thinking my car HAS to be close to finished for such routine servicing, so I called the shop. I was then told that no, my car was not ready, because they were waiting on parts that they had ordered for my car to be replaced and there wasnt a close parts shop....at which point I stopped them dead in their tracks and asked why are parts being ordered and replaced on my vehicle when I never asked or authorized them to do anything other than the services I requested on their form?!?!The guy started explaining minor problems (battery sensor, tire pressure sensor) I was already aware of that they said they noticed that just HAD to be fixed to which I told them if I wanted repair work done I would take it to a dealership with a Honda certified mechanic. He went on saying how the repairs wouldnt be covered by any warranty, that they would charge more, etc and I told him flat out that I would not be paying for anything other than what I had asked for.I was then abruptly put on hold and when the phone was answered a few minutes later I was told that they would have to give me a part for free because one of their mechanics had already snapped off and thrown away one of mine, then when I asked if they were in the habit of performing and charging for unauthorized repairs on vehicles brought in for an oil change they said my car could be ready in 20 minutes.On the Uber ride back to pick up my car the manager called me to continue trying to talk me into the work saying how expensive the parts were (an entire cable has to be replaced to stop the battery light from coming on but it charges and works fine) which is 1) not my fault they ordered and 2) even more reason they should make sure they get customer authorization for the work they are performing!!! I mean, what was the plan had I waited longer to call and not been able to afford to pay them for these expensive parts and repairs after coming in for simple servicing?!?!When I picked up my car the manager showed me the tire sensor they had snapped off and thrown away then chucked it back into the trash in front of me, but Im assuming I didnt really get that part free given that the same indicator light is on. To top the whole experience off, after I paid they didnt even have my key but instead left my vehicle parked around the side of the building unsupervised, windows rolled down, and the key just sitting in the ignition.They did take care of what I asked for though and if you have a wide open budget for them to just start doing whatever they want to your car no questions asked, Im sure they do quality work.

M
Review №33

DO NOT USE THIS SHOP FOR STATE INSPECTION.Original review: Ive just moved to the area and was looking for a place to get an oil change. These guys were super helpful and got my SUV ready within an hour for a very reasonable price despite being very busy. I will definitely be going back for other service work in the future.EDITED TO ADD:My original 5 star rating is changed to 1 star after I took my Subaru Impreza for state inspection. They fraudulently failed it saying the steering rack was leaking and that it would need to be replaced at a cost of $1500. Unfortunately for them I’m a automotive engineer and after they failed it a second time I took it to another inspection where it passed.Total fraudsters!

Am
Review №34

I have had my car serviced by these guys several times, and they are always kind, and take the time to inform you of whats going on with your car. I highly recommend their services!

Jo
Review №35

My 16 year old Lexus SUV has been serviced at River Road for 7 years. The service has been incredible. Estimates are fair, repairs are done at the time Ive been told they would be and best of all there is the highest level of personal service. If I cant get a ride home, someone will drive me there. Thats going above and beyond what one might expect.

Fr
Review №36

These guys are great! The manager of the shop live up my street for a while so we developed a good personal relationship with these guys. I would definitely recommend them to anyone based on their professionalism, quick turn around time, and competitive pricing!

Me
Review №37

Made an appointment at 8am for a MD State inspection, gentleman said it would take an hour or so and be done by 10am. At 10am I went back, car still in the same spot I parked it in. When asked why it had not been inspected yet, I was told there were 5 inspections in front of me, at an hour a piece. Why make an appointment for 8am then! Its my only car and didnt have anyone to pick me up, kinda hard to leave it for 5 or 6 hours. If you value your time, find soneone else who will also value it.

Pa
Review №38

Have been taking my cars there for over 20 years. Have gotten great service every time. They consistently cost less than a dealer. Repairs are done quickly.

An
Review №39

They are good people, and on this the reviews are fair. However, Google classifies them as transmission specialists. I took my car with a transmission problem and all ended up in a waste. They may not have the equipment to do a proper diagnosis. They go try and error, which can be very expensive. They should not have taken my car if they were not being able to do a proper job. Not the place to go with a transmission problem, even if they are classified as transmission repair.

Ma
Review №40

Ive been bringing my cars here for service for 20 years and have never been disappointed. Danny makes sure I keep up on my scheduled services so that my car is safe and running well.

Ha
Review №41

Absolutely the best garage experience. They take great care of our cars and never push unnecessary repairs. We have complete confidence in them.

Ro
Review №42

I just got gas here, but the employees and managers were kind and friendly. the store is well stocked with corner store needs. There are 4 gas stations on this corner, and this one is by far the best choice!

An
Review №43

First garage Ive come across in the area that are not swindlers. Had an issue with my lower engine splash shield dragging. I called, they told me to bring it over, they fixed it in under 30 minutes and charged me a more than fair price.

Pa
Review №44

Took my vehicle there for a Maryland inspection. No problem getting an appointment, and the car was in and out fairly quickly. While the car was being inspected we grabbed a bite at the Ledos just a block down the street, and just as we were paying the bill we got a phone call from the manager saying the car was ready and that it had passed. A very positive experience.

Da
Review №45

After the Honda Dealership at College Park tried to weasel their way out of paying for part of a repair I needed that was a direct result of their shoddy work, River Roads Manager Bill Tomkinson helped me understand exactly how the dealerships bad work led to my car breaking down, thereby stopping the dealership from not paying for the work.After this experience, I naturally felt compelled to work with River Road the next time I needed work, but surely felt a little paranoia about any auto repair shop. I took my car in for brake and rotor replacement, as well as the replacement of a switch that was faulty. They did great work and their prices were very fair. Its nice to know I have a shop I can rely on so close by.David

Ti
Review №46

Long story short, these people are only here to gouge your eyes out for work that you probably do not need. Plenty of other reviews here will tell you the exact same thing.I would leave zero stars if I could. Went in for a simple oil chance and told I would have the car back in an hour. Two hours later, I have to call in to see whats going on, only to be told that there is something seriously wrong with my brakes that I needed to address immediately. When I asked the guy to elaborate on what was wrong he simply repeated himself (like fantastic, I heard you, please explain further). The price for this work was staggering, but based on the level of seriousness the mechanic described to me, I figured that I needed this work. He gave me no timeline for how long the work would take, so I had to call in several times throughout the day, and I was told repeatedly that they were waiting on parts to come in. Finally, I get fed up and decide to walk over and take my car back from them no matter what state it was in. As I am about to walk through the door, they call to tell me its ready. They make sure I pay before they even take the car out of the bay, and then the mechanic drives away with my car without saying anything. They then told me it was to test drive it (which makes sense, but seems like something they could have done before I paid for the work). The mechanic brings it back and just puts the car right back into the bay without saying anything. I am then told that the new parts they had just installed HAD FAILED DURING THE ROAD TEST!!! The manager proceeds to tell me how bad his day was and how nothing was working out for them, as if that is the correct response after messing up work on someones car. Their rental car doesnt work, so I had to walk home. The next day, after calming down, I try to get an explanation from the manager as to how necessary the work was for my car, to which he basically said that in a month or so I might have noticed the brakes start to shake a little bit. The car was unlocked with the keys on the visor when I went to pick it up, ALMOST 30 HOURS AFTER I DROPPED IT OFF DESPITE BEING PROMISED IT WOULD ONLY TAKE AN HOUR. Dude kept telling me about how bad their day was and gave me a weak apology, but offered nothing for my trouble. Not to say that I deserved some kind of handout, but Im surprised no one even offered to pay back some of the exorbitant price I paid for this unnecessary work. Look anywhere else for your car needs, unless you have no problem having shotty work done on your vehicle for 5 times the going rate.

Ch
Review №47

Bob is awesome, helps us out everytime we need him! If your looking for an honest repair shop this is your needle in the haystack.

Br
Review №48

If I have vehicle problems, I will go here and only here. I had friends visiting from out of town who broke down while they were here, and I wouldnt allow them to go anywhere else. Just as I had told them, Danny was very accommodating and helped them to get back on the road in no time. My family and I appreciate River Road Auto Service very much!

Al
Review №49

I took my car to have fixed a right outside mirror, where the glass had come loose and was hanging. I thought the outside mirror needed to be replaced. Instead they worked to get the glass back in place at no charge. An honest auto mechanic is very hard to find.

Sa
Review №50

Have used them many times and they are great mechanics. Highly recommend!!!

Sh
Review №51

I believe they may have done something to my car, didnt put things back in place because the car was fine when i took it in, they even told me I didnt have to fix it right away and then the car dies in the middle of the road the next day. After charging a whopping $330 for a diagnostic. I will never go back there!

St
Review №52

They were able to repair my fender liner and it was inexpensive.

Ti
Review №53

My go to place for all things car repair related. excellent service, good prices, and nice people.

Ja
Review №54

I have continued my car service repairs at River Road Auto Service because of their professionalism, timeliness and knowledge of my cars needs! You wont be disappointed or overcharged!

Ja
Review №55

They service was great and the people were very friendly and helpful. I would go back again the next time my car needs service!

pa
Review №56

Fast service. I dropped in the morning and got report in email by 10.30. fast and descent ppl

pi
Review №57

Good price on rear brake job. Excellant service went above and beyond to get work done in a very short time.

ha
Review №58

I have complete confidence that they will take good care of my car for a fair price.

Jo
Review №59

Always helpful, reliable, accurate, professional and affordable. Great service, honest estimates and ready when promised.

Li
Review №60

I came here to get an inspection before heading to the MVA to get my title/registration/etc dealt with. As a young woman, I usually get treated like an idiot at these kind of places. These guys never talked down to me, they asked me questions and if I couldnt answer them they didnt treat me like I was stupid, they simply showed me how to find the answer.They were friendly, professional, and fast- my inspection was done before I was even finished getting groceries next door (great locaiton, by the way)Will be reccomending these guys to all of my friends and coming here again for service!

Fr
Review №61

Exceptional service. Fair prices.

vi
Review №62

I went to this Auto service for State inspection. First of all this is an expensive place, they charge $90 for inspection and if your car windows are tinted they will charge extra $22 to certify it, i.e total $112. My tinted window got passed inspection as expected, as it is already VA certified but my car inspection got failed. The reason they gave me is that my right side headlight adjuster is broken or non functioning. They told me there is no way to fix it, only thing we have to do is change the head light assembly which will cost me around $680.I was in shock as I recently purchased the Vehicle and got pre-purchase inspection done from BMW certified auto shop.I asked person named Danny, is there a way you can make the light aligned so that I dont have to spend that much of money. He told me lights are going way up and there is no way to fix it other than replacing the assembly. I was not convinced and want to give a try with different Auto shop. I took my car to my friends Auto shop guy in VA, he inspected and said nothing really wrong with light, he showed me that right side light is going little bit up. He told me he can fix the alignment but he will charge me $100. I thought its better to spend 100 then 680 and I got it fixed. Next day I took it to a shell petrol pump in gaithersburg and get it inspected, and my vehicle got passed. They just charged me $69.95 thats it. Point here is River Road Auto Service is not customer friendly and they just dont want to miss the opportunity to earn extra money from the customer. They charge way lot compare to other(initial inspection cost me $112 but one I get it done in Gaithersburg MD charged only $69.95). I am highly unsatisfied with this Auto shop and never return back and suggest others to stay away if you want save money. If anyone from River Road Auto service reading this review than please do the real work and fix the problem which can cost less to customer rather that going for shortcut. If you agree return my money back.

Su
Review №63

I ran in there to buy a bottle of diet Coke

Je
Review №64

Top gas at most reasonable price for Bethesda

Be
Review №65

Good people Good service

Lu
Review №66

Great work, fair price, night shift worker was unfriendly, had no clue, but during the day the place is a good place to go!

Ke
Review №67

They are so rude!

Al
Review №68

Too slow

Di
Review №69

Everyone is Always professional and friendly and they always do excellent work and repairs on my car!

Information
7 Photos
69 Comments
4.3 Rating
  • Address:5151 River Rd, Bethesda, MD 20816, United States
  • Site:http://www.bethesdaautorepair.com/
  • Phone:+1 301-986-1221
Categories
  • Auto repair shop
  • Auto tune up service
  • Brake shop
  • Oil change service
  • Transmission shop
Working hours
  • Monday:8am–6pm
  • Tuesday:8am–6pm
  • Wednesday:8am–6pm
  • Thursday:Closed
  • Friday:Closed
  • Saturday:8am–6pm
  • Sunday:8am–6pm
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance:Yes
Offerings
  • Oil change:Yes
Amenities
  • Mechanic:Yes
Planning
  • Appointments recommended:Yes
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