My daughter took her car to Brent after she called. He was very patient with her and answered her questions as best he could.H fixed the car but the part was faulty (not Brents fault)an issue with part itself. But Brent made it right.He got the car back to the shop and made sure the car was fixed and safe for my daughter to drive. Thank you Brent

Brent is absolutely the most trustworthy and fantastic mechanic you’ll come across, he has helped my family for years and is very loyal. His work is very thorough and honest. I love him to death and my family will continue to go to him for anything. Brent helped me find a used car after my old one was dying, completely set my mind at ease because I know him looking at the car I wanted he would do a great job inspecting it and giving me a good history of what’s going on with the car. There’s no better place in Columbia to go. Forever will go to Brent! My savior !!!!

I have been all over the country traveling and always get nervous taking my van to a mechanic. Let me tell you—Brent is the NICEST mechanic I have ever met. He worked me in to his schedule despite being overwhelmed customers. He was very straightforward and upfront about prices, what to expect, and what not to expect. He even gave me some G&D pizza and pudding when he realized I hadn’t had a chance to eat all day. Fair prices and nice people—I would definitely recommend this shop!

Our van broke down while traveling far. helped us out even though they had their hands full, we’re willing to stay out late to help us out and get our van fixed and back running , very friendly and professional also offered my husband a ride after. really recommend this place no doubt you’d be Satisfied with their service!!

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about this automotive shop. Brent and his crew were an absolute delight to business with. I have had some bad luck with dishonest mechanics in the Columbia area, but Brent was very honest and thorough when explaining exactly what was wrong with my car. If you need a hardworking and overall professional mechanic, then I cannot recommend the Automotive garage of Columbia enough! 5/5

My son had just started his teaching career days ago and his car broke down at 5pm one day. Brent took his car in that night and worked on it late into the night even after hours because he understood the devastating issue my son was under. The repairs were made and car was ready the next morning. Very, very fair cost on the repairs. He was a life saver!! My son will have any repairs done at this shop from now on. If I could give 10 stars? I would. I plan on driving out there from St. Charles just to meet Brent and buy the shop lunch. There is no other place I know of that would put the customer 1st no matter what!

Great place to take your Vehicle! Very honest. I trust his opinion completely. My Jeep is a 2001. Good shape just needed a complete physical. I got exactly what I ask for. Brent checked absolutely everything on it top to bottom. Told me what needed fixed now and what could wait. I am completely happy with the result. Runs like a new one. I am no longer concerned about being on the highway alone. I am not local but will definitely bring it back here when needed . Thank you so much Brent!! Rosemary

Brent and his tears are consummate professionals. He is the most honest, professional, and hardworking person I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Sure his shop is smaller than the big dealerships but when you drop your vehicle off here, you can have the peace of mind that you are not getting ripped off and that he actually cares for you and your vehicle. The job he did for me is not an easy one either. My car basically had to be dismantled to its core. He sent me progress pics along the way with updates to the bill to make sure there would be no surprises. Every price he quoted me with was actually cheaper than anything I can find online. I will be returning to get all my work done here!

Really nice people and really good work!!! I just moved to Columbia and needed a brake job badly. They were so accommodating and also offered me rides to and from the garage, as I am a grad student who just moved into town. Definitely went above and beyond to fix my car and were genuine and nice through the whole process. I will be a returning customer for the remainder of my time here in Columbia. If you are looking for quality automotive work from friendly folks, this is the place to go!

We were passing through town on our way to Wichita, KS, when our Suburban broke down a few miles outside of Columbia. It was 3 am and I asked the tow truck operator if he had a repair shop recommendation. He suggested Brent at The Automotive Garage. The operator said he took his own vehicle there, and that Brent would treat us well, be fair, and give great service.Brent started checking our vehicle out to figure out what was wrong, and did an amazing job of fixing the Suburban. It was a significant engine problem that Brent fixed as if it was new again. Brent worked nights and weekends to get our vehicle fixed. He sent pictures by email to update, and called frequently to keep me posted.Whether you are a local customer or someone passing through, you can trust Brent to get the job done right and at a fair price. He treated us as if we had been a customer for years. Thank you Brent and your amazing team for taking such good care of us.

Brought in my car for brake repair/replacement. They worked with me on scheduling, since I was only able to drop my car off on Saturday. They called me to keep me updated on what was happening, and answered any questions that I had. Im very satisfied with the work done on my car, and plan on taking my car here if I need any other repairs or work done in the future.

In a bind needing a tow to a mechanic, we searched google for a good mechanic as we were tired of our the last few places we took our car to. They were just too shady. We came across this place with great reviews and after all was said and done we were not disappointed!The owner was extremely kind and personable. You could tell by the way he spoke with you he cares about you and your car, and really wants to work with whats best for you even if it wasnt through them. Which was a refreshing change of pace.The job needed for two parts to be ordered and they were in extremely fast and with so many cars parked there that he was working on it seemed like it might take a bit to get it worked on, but as soon as the parts were in it was all fixed up and we were out the same day as the last part came in!If I HAD to pick something bad about this place itd be the location of the office is hard to find if youre a new customer. There is a bunch of buildings around that look like could be it. And when you find the correct building the one side is a different business, so you have to go around.But overall I strongly recommend this business! Great people and excellent work

Brent Pappy is the most detailed mechanic we have ever used. My college-aged daughter has a 2007 Altima that was jerking upon acceleration at speeds of 30-40mph. We thought for sure it was the transmission. The car was not showing any engine or transmission lights so Pappy had to diagnose it by replicating the event. He came in to the shop on Saturday and Sunday, drove the car quite a few miles before and after repair. He sent quality pictures to us as we dont live in Missouri and updated us via phone with the costs and options. Pappy discovered it was the engine coils and not the transmission--saving us a bunch of dollars! We had him perform quite a few other repairs as this car hasnt had a lot of scheduled maintenance. And since our daughter was getting ready to drive out of state, we wanted her to be safe. The final bill is amazingly detailed. My daughter has now driven the car and says it is perfect. No weird noises; no odd smells; smooth driving with quick acting brakes. You pay for what you get. Thank you Pappy!

Lost power steering on a 99 suburban and brought it to Pappy. It took 4 days and a $180 diagnosis fee for him to tell me that it would cost $1300 for him to change the power steering pump. Keep in mind the vehicle is worth $2000. I brought it to another shop (did not tell them of his prior diagnosis) and was driving it 4 hours later for $400.

Brent is a liar. Im updating a prior review of mine on this account so everyone will see. Nearly 2 yrs ago I took my vehicle to him because my wiper blades were malfunctioning. I had to be in KC later that day with my child, and from the reviews he appeared to be the best choice. NOT THE CASEHe charged me $215 to replace my wipers and a retaining nut on my wipers. He also took nearly 6 hours to complete this simple fix, and was difficult to work with when I suggested that the price was high. On my previous review, he flat out lied and said I was never a customer of his. As another reviewer stated, he cant handle criticism. Observe how he will flat out lie in order to refute any poor reviews.He may seem to be a great mechanic to people who have no concept for what appropriate mechanical costs are (because he can sweet talk them and take advantage of them), but the guy is a snake in the grass pure and simple. I have a mechanic in my home town who blows this shmuck out of the water. This guy is a clown.

Brent is such a nice, respectable man. Listened to my engine for free and told me what he thought was wrong. Instead of trying to sell me on getting it fixed he was honest that I could survive without fixing it. Highly recommend!!

Brent did a tremendous job evaluating both of my vehicles for much needed repair work. With a limited budget, Brent explained and prioritized the repairs that were needed to extend the life of our paid off autos. Once in the shop, all items that needed to be fixed were fixed to perfection. One vehicle did provide a bit of a challenge of which Brent successfully found a wiring issue that was causing the engine light to come on over and over again. I was extremely happy in the work he performed and the communication that was provided to me as a customer about the what, why, how and when.Two thumbs up for The Automotive Garage of Columbia!

Being new in town, I was worried about finding a reputable, honest mechanic. After reading Google reviews, I decided to give Brent call. He has exceeded my expectations. Hes a great communicator and always explains the issue in a way thats easy to understand. When you talk with him, you know youre dealing with a good man. These are top-notch people—I highly recommend Brent and his team.

Brent did a great job fixing my car. I had originally taken my car to the dealership where they told me I needed a new alternator and were going to charge me an arm and leg. I took my car to Brent and he discovered there was in fact nothing wrong with my alternator, I just needed some belts and pulleys replaced. He was up front and honest , he took the time to explain what I needed and he saved me a lot of time and money. He even stayed late so he could have it back to me the next day. Thank you Brent for you hard work!

My daughter and I were stranded in Columbia on a Sunday with car trouble and this is the ONLY place who would answer our call and see us. They worked very late into the evening to make sure we could get back on the road by Monday morning. The whole team is super nice and go above and beyond. Thank you, Brent.

As a young college student, it is daunting to find a mechanic to work on your car when you dont know a thing about them. I really lucked out going to this shop. He was very understanding of the fact that I am on a college student budget, and dont have a lot of money to spend. I was informed throughout the whole process of what was happening to my car, and what the costs were going to be. There were many things Brent fixed on my car and did not charge me for, and I am very grateful for that. He really cares about his customers, and that is very evident the minute you meet him and walk into his shop.

My experience with the Automotive Garage of Columbia was EXCELLENT! I had been having issues with starting my car and losing gas very quickly. The first place I went claimed it was my battery and replaced it for $150. However, the problem kept happening, so I knew I needed to go somewhere trustworthy and reliable.I could NOT be happier with the results. Brent is the most caring mechanic I have ever met. I am a 22 year old woman, which can cause some mechanics to up-charge me. Brent found me the cheapest option that would also yield the best results. He even provided my pictures so I would understand exactly where the problem was. He spent a lot of time perfecting the fuel line that was damaged, and making sure it would fix the problem. He even fully checked the car for other problems and filled necessary fluids, such as the windshield washing fluid.Further, I had a problem the next day that was causing my car to make noise. I took it back, and Brent found it was an easy fix (shield loose on my exhaust pipe) and did not even charge me!This place is excellent!

I cannot recommend Brent highly enough. He is of a breed of mechanics that is getting harder and harder to find. Hes honest, he is not only willing to explain things to you in detail, but wants to, hes not at all condescending, and hes very knowledgeable and capable. Hes also a genuinely nice person and enjoyable to talk to.My sister and I were on a cross-country road trip and stopped in Columbia for gas. Thats when we discovered that our parking brake no longer worked, and as the car is manual, that was a problem. It was Saturday afternoon, we were planning to spend the night in Topeka, KS, and knew we were unlikely to find a mechanic open on Sunday. We started calling mechanics in Columbia at random, and struck gold when Brent answered and said we could come by.He checked out the car while we waited, discovered that the problem was more extensive than he originally thought it would be, but not as bad as it could be, and agreed to STAY OPEN LATE and fix it for us. Another employee also agreed to stay late to help him out. At every step of the game, he came back and told us what hed found and what he was doing and asked for our go-ahead to move forward. Several times he also took us back to the car to show us what he was talking about. I got the sense that he sincerely wants people to understand their cars and what hes doing to them, and believes thats an important part of his profession. After a couple of hours, they had fixed the problem, charged us a more-than-fair rate, and we were on our way to Topeka.While this experience would be enough for me to commit to going to Brents shop for life if I lived in Columbia, he also has a bulletin board in his office full of cards and reviews from people whove had similar experiences and are grateful for his service. I got the sense we definitely did not just catch him on a good day.

This shop (Brent) is amazing. My wife was driving cross country with our four kids, and was having car troubles. They got as far as Columbia. I was able to direct them to this shop based on the great reviews. Brent stopped the work he had scheduled (sorry whoever else got delayed) and worked on it until it was done. He even ordered pizza for my kids while they were waiting. Amazing service.

Brent just does an amazing job. What makes it great is that he is always 100% upfront about whats wrong, how long its going to take, and how much its going to cost. When I take my car in I dont have to worry about him trying to find other things are wrong with my car in an effort to make a few extra bucks, and Im confident he fixed it right the first time.I highly recommend the Automotive Garage to anyone and will be taking all our family cars there in the future.

When I came to pick up the car was fixed and he had taken care of a few little extra things at no charge. The repair had taken a little more work than he expected but he was kind enough to keep the price at the agreed upon amount. Now, I dont expect him to do that often but in this case it was a great help to us.This is my first experience here but it was a very good one.UPDATE 2014: I updated the stars to reflect my experiences since last writing a review. Nice guy, great customer service, but not sure the costs for repairs are competitive with others around town.

Brent has been a pleasure to work with. He is without a doubt one of the best mechanics in Columbia. I would highly recommend Automotive Garage for anyone looking for trustworthy mechanics that will not only go the extra mile, but will also charge you a fair reasonable price. A+

I had my driver side window fixed before starting a major road trip--so imagine my surprise when it got stuck halfway down!!! I googled mechanics and this place got the best reviews. I drove over, and was beyond blessed that Brent and Serina took time out of their very busy day to assist me in my minor emergency--storms were coming!Not only did Brent get my window back up and was able to diagnose the problem; but what impressed me the most--their genuine kindness and impressive wall of local heroes.

Brent is a very trustworthy mechanic, and I am very happy with all of the work that he has done on my cars. I especially like that he will usually show you the parts he replaced/fixed on your car without you even asking. I know enough about my cars to change the tire, check the oil level, etc., but I always like knowing more about my car and how it works. Brent does a great job explaining what is wrong, offering several options for repairs (like what needs to be fixed now versus when something could wait a little longer) and always gives me accurate estimates. I feel very lucky to have found Brent, have recommended him to all of my friends, and highly recommend him to anyone else needing repair or maintenance work done on their car.

Straight truth: This is the best automotive repair place I have ever been to. Brent is very friendly, knowledgeable, and completely honest.Being new to Columbia and never having a previous issue with my car (hence to need to take it in for repairs), I was at a loss where to take my old car after it mysterious refused to move after stopping at a red light. After Google searching for garages in Columbia, The Automotive Garage of Columbia was the first thing to pop up, and the numerous enthusiastic and positive Google Reviews (27!) immediately caught my eye.Well, I decided to trust the reviews. And boy, am I glad I did. Not only did Brent quickly diagnose my problem (busted transmission), he did so at a very decent price, which made the decision to junk my car very convenient. Not only that, but he graciously allowed me to keep my junked car there for a few days while I purchased a new car (something I had been planning on doing anyways).Long story short, trust Brent. Hes definitely earned my business, and while I hope to not have to see him again soon (fingers crossed!), I know that if I do, my vehicle will be in exceptionally honest hands.

Brent is the small town mechanic that everyone should know and trust! Our vehicles have needed ongoing service over the past few years and Brent always does great work. His team is very thorough, clearly explains the costs and options available to the customer. He takes the time to drive the vehicle before sending it home with us to make sure it all checks out. As someone who travels frequently for work and relies on a 10 year old vehicle, Brent provides peace of mind to keep me going!!

Brent runs a great business! He took the time to explain the problems with the car and let me know the repairs that were a priority and the repairs that could wait. He was great about letting me know the progress of the repairs via email and phone calls since I am not located in Columbia but have a student at Mizzou there. I feel very blessed to find this great mechanic in Columbia!

I am finally able to get around to writing this review (vet school keeps me quite busy!!) My car had broken down on me after filling my gas tank at a sketchy places in St. Louis back in December. I could not figure out what happened. Two men looked at my car and could not figure out the issue with it!!! When I finally got my car back to Columbia, MO. I knew I had to find a mechanic that would be genuine with me and find out the underlying issue. Ive had bad experiences with mechanics who just wanted my money and had terrible customer service!!! So, I googled several places and read MANY reviews. I finally found this place!! Again, I was still a little uneasy going to a new place (since Im from MA) but I had to get this issue fixed ASAP. The fine people at Automotive Garage were exactly the people I was looking for to work on my car! They were some of the nicest, genuine, and easy going people Ive ever met. I could feel how much they truly cared about me (and that was the only time weve met!) Even their cat is amazingly friendly haha! Whats even more amazing is that they went in on a Sunday (when they are usually closed) JUST to fix my car which took literally ALL day. They knew how much I needed my car to get to school!! They figured out that the gas I put in my car in St.Louis was CONTAMINATED (be careful where you fill your tank!!!) They even showed me pictures of my car smoking up the WHOLE garage! Yikes! Luckily they were able to save my car and I have not had ANY issues since! I will definitely be taking my car there whenever an issue arises with my car. THERES NO BETTER PLACE!

When I left this garage, I thought Good people really do still exist in this world. I had instant gratification and the owner/employees were very helpful and sweet! I will be bringing my car back to this garage for anything I may need service with. Great place to go!

I took my Nissan Frontier in to Brent a few months ago after the Nissan dealer diagnosed a whining noise in my engine as the timing chain beginning to fail. I was also having issues with my transmission not going into gear. Brent did some extra diagnostics on the truck and figured out that both issues had to do with some clogged filters in my transmission system. The extra diagnostics cost some money but I ended up not needing a new timing chain OR transmission. Brent and his mechanics fixed the issue and the truck has been running good ever since. I feel like this situation had potential for a mechanic to make unnecessary repairs to make money and that wasnt the case. Brent took the time to explain everything to me about what he was doing and he was a straight shooter the whole time. I feel like this is an honest shop and I will be using their services in the future. I would recommend this place if you need auto repairs.

Oh my gosh I cant say enough good things about Brent and his staff at the Columbia Automotive Garage! Theyll make sure you have a safe ride before you leave and theyre the fairest prices around town for sure. I had my car towed to Brent, but they offered me a ride if needed and they called me a couple days later to check up on my car too! I will always take my vehicles here from now until forever

When you walk into a mechanics shop and the walls are plastered with pictures and and hand written thank you letters, you know youve found a gem. Easily one of the most kind and good natured people Ive ever known. Ive lived in four states and have had 7 cars in my 26 years of living and Brent is the best mechanic Ive ever had by a country mile.Do pass this place by!

The owner Brent Dobson has integrity equal to the level of doctors.A shop you can truly trust for honesty.

BEST SERVICE EVER. I have had problems with my car for years and I have never had as good an experience getting it fixed as I did with Brent and The Automotive Garage of Columbia. First off the service itself is excellent, Brent really knows what he is doing, and my car has never run better. He did everything he could to keep the price of fixing it low, and got it done in half the time of other garages. Brent keeps in great contact with customers to let them know exactly what is wrong, why it needs to be fixed, and how he is going to do it. He isnt vague and insistent like other garages that just want your money. After explaining everything to me, he found another problem and ended up just fixing it for free. The customer service here is unparalleled. Brent and his staff are great people who really care about customers, they periodically check-in to make sure everything is running alright in the car! There need to be more honest, caring business men like Brent. I recommend this garage to all of my friends with car troubles, and as long as I live in Columbia, I will be taking my car to this garage.

My car is working wonderfully after being fixed by Brent! I was recommended by a friend, who was also recommended by a friend, and its been a chain of happy customers! Not only am I happy to support a local business, I support the honesty and hard work Brent into vehicles and his business. He was sure to call me before he fixed anything on my car to update me on the problem and to see how I wanted to move forward. When I picked up my car he even showed me the old parts that were replaced and explained why they were old/bad. I have never met a mechanic to do that, and I will continue to service my car with him and tell others about the Automotive Garage of Columbia!

The best place to get your car fixed in Columbia, absolutely no doubt about that! The owner Mr. Brent is an amazing guy and one of the extremely few mechanics who actually care about doing a great job and customer satisfaction. From identifying all the problems correctly to explaining every detail in terms of what was wrong, what the recommended fix was and why it was needed, at every stage he would proceed only after I had completely understood the issue and the costs involved.Not only did he throw in a number of additional services at no charge, he didnt even charge me for a couple of parts because he hadnt considered them in the initial estimate and he didnt want to charge me a cent more than his estimate. Exactly the opposite experience from other places which would happily tack on $50-100 to the estimate towards the end.I drove out of the place with absolute confidence that some really good work had been done on my vehicle and that I hadnt been ripped off for it. Absolutely recommend this place!

I would highly recommend The Automotive Garage to anyone in Columbia looking for a good, honest, down to earth mechanic. I was very worried about taking my car in due to the face that I have been taken advantage of at other shops around town. I called Brent and he was able to get my car in that day. When I arrived he took my car for a test drive to see if he could detect any problems by just driving it. When no problems presented themselves he hooked my car up to the diagnostics machine and then showed me the codes that came up. They were all pointing to the same problem.... with the transmission. I can assure you that at most garages around town I would have been told that I needed a new transmission and that would be the only thing that would fix it. Brent was able to pin point where the problem was and order just that part. He then had the part ordered and put in within 24 hours. When I arrived to pick up my car he walked me thru everything that was done and where the problem was. He had also inspected the rest of the car and noted that there are some things that are going to need to be serviced in the upcoming months. Brent had even topped off my fluids just to make sure that everything was good to go. He took care of small problems that I didnt even know existed that could have become big and expensive problems. To top it all off, Brent called me Monday to make sure that the car was running smoothly and there were not any problems. I would HIGHLY recommend this shop to anyone and know that if I need my car serviced again, I will be taking it to the Automotive Garage.

My daughter has a 2004 Infiniti FX35 with over 175K miles. Brent is a magician keeping my daughters car running. He is honest and creative and true to his word and I highly recommend his shop. Stop reading anymore reviews and give his shop a call.

Five stars ten times over. Brent and his guys went above and beyond to get my jeep repaired. I was told by two other auto shops the body control module was shot and the part was no longer made for my year jeep. Brent actually took the time to look at the entire electrical system and found the problem. The bcm was not even close to being shot, and the repair was simple. It just took a lot of time to pin point the precise part causing the electrical problem. Brent was also great at taking the time to show me what he was doing and why. Amazing business! My husband and I will be bringing our vehicles here for as long as we are in Missouri.

My son was about ten miles outside of Columbia, MO on his way back to Mizzou when he hit a deer on the highway. Since he noticed radiator fluid leaking on the ground, we knew we needed to have the car towed somewhere but had never used a garage in Columbia before. After a bit of research on the internet we found The Automotive Garage of Columbia. Wow...did we ever get lucky! Turns out we could not have picked a better shop. Brent Dodson did an incredible job fixing my sons car. He even repaired a couple of things that had been a problem before the deer incident. He kept us informed along the way. I cannot say enough about how terrific Brent and The Automotive Garage of Columbia are. You will not go wrong taking your car to Brent for small or large repairs (ours was large). He is honest, detail-oriented, and extremely thorough. Thank you Brent for helping us.

The best repair shop to fix your car in Columbia Missouri. Mr. Brent is a great mechanic. I trust him.

Brent is very meticulous about the work he does. Makes certain job is done right and cuts no corners. Friendly caring service.

Brent is fantastic. Hes always taken care of me and works to get me the options that work for me. He and his staff have gone above and beyond to help me out several times. If Ive got a problem with a car, my first call is to Brent.

My daughter goes to the University of Missouri and had car trouble in the middle of the semester. Since she was 6 hours away from home, we relied on online reviews to pick a place for car repairs. She dropped the car off with Brent, and we waited for his assessment. When he called, it was not good news. The cooling system was falling apart and the car was leaking oil in several places. Brent gave us an estimate, while warning us that he might find more problems as he took the car apart. We opted to fix the car, since we really didnt have time to take off and find a new vehicle for her to drive. Once the transmission was out, he did find more issues that needed to be addressed, and we agreed to pay for those. As Brent was working on the car, he sent pictures and updated us on his progress. He explained in detail what he was working on and finding as he fixed the car. After they had the car for several weeks, Brent and another mechanic worked through the weekend to get the car finished. When the car was repaired, Brent showed my daughter all the parts that he had replaced and what was wrong with them. Because they had the car for an extended amount of time and the repairs were much more than he originally quoted, Brent discounted the labor by quite a lot and even replaced a few parts without charging us for them. I would definitely recommend Brent and his team to anyone looking for auto repairs, they are fair and honest!!

Brent is very thorough in diagnosing and repairing automotive problems; Ive had my car for many years and Brents repairs always last. Its a pleasure to know a friendly, honest mechanic.

If you are looking for a quality repair and someone who takes pride in his work as well as helping others Brent at the Automotive Garage of Columbia is your man. Brent is precise and particular!

I was out of town in Columbia for a conference. Late Saturday afternoon when needing to leave, my car wouldnt start and did not respond to being jumped. I had to be towed to The Automotvie Garage being the only garage I found open at the time. I didnt realize I had lucked into the best automotive garage in Columbia! What a blessing to have found this place. Very knowledgable, extremely clean shop and the best part was they got my car going and I was able to get back on the road. I felt confident about driving my car for the 3 hour solo trip back home. The Automotive Garage is where all Columbians should take their car troubles!

I recently looked around town for the best and most trustworthy auto shop in Columbia, MO, and settled upon Automotive Garage because of their good reviews. My skid plate fell off underneath the car, and I went to Brent, and he was very approachable, nice, and explained everything that was wrong with my car in detail. He gave me 2 options to fix my car, with one option to buy a new part, or the 2nd option being he would fix it personally (not something that most automotive places will do). He presented me with the option that cost me a lot less than buying a new one, and he took out his own time to save me money. He fixed it up really well, and he even changed my other fluids in my car and inspected everything else at NO CHARGE... which is very generous. Overall, Brent seems very trustworthy and knows what he is doing.

Amazing service, very professional, a lot of care, community minded, honest, clear and thorough in spoken and written explanation of work done to my car. I am happy to know these good people and 100% recommend to all my family and friends.

Very fair price and was concerned about the customer and not profit. Great mechanic and even better guy.

Brent is by far the most trustworthy and honest mechanic in Columbia. He always gives a fair price and is excellent at what he does. Before the automotive garage I had been to many different shops trying to figure out what was wrong with my car, all gave a different diagnosis, all claiming to have fixed the problem but sure enough the problem was still there. Once I went to Brent he figured it out right away and it ended up being a cheaper problem than most shops had claimed. Ive been going back ever since and have been more than happy with his work. Hes also very fast at fixing the problems. I recommend him fully and wouldnt go any where else! Its hard to find a mechanic you can trust and you can trust Brent!!

We have nothing but good to say about everyone at Automotive garage. Brent is the nicest mechanic we have come across. He will actually take time to explain what was wrong in a very understandable way. Multiple times he has fixed little things at no charge and is very transparent about what is being done and what he charges for it. He even writes little notes with the bill about what was done and what was wrong etc. We have been using his service since the last 3-4 years. I think this is my 2nd positive review.( 2 years ago I didnt use google +).

Truly the best mechanic I have ever worked with. Honest, skilled, and just a great guy.

I went to this shop due to a large number of positive reviews. My van had an electrical drain problem, which I knew was a hard fix. So I wanted someone knowledgeable in this area. Brent spent more than one full working day on this problem, going circuit by circuit and finally narrowing the problem down to a defective instrument cluster. He gave me a large discount on labor to help me out. But the story does not end here.After getting the instrument cluster, which by the way is a very expensive part, he found that the Body Control Module was the root cause which relayed the issue to the instrument cluster. So I was in a pickle. I was already in $1500 (half of which I had already paid him in advance) in a car which is worth about $2000 at most, and I needed a new BCM to save it? No doubt Brent went over and beyond his job expectations to get us this far, but I was not happy at the moment. Then he offered generously that, if I did not want to proceed, we can stop here and I would not owe him any more. All these hours he put in my vehicle and he was willing to take the fall. Well, I thought long and hard and decided to proceed with repairs.He spent another full day placing numerous phone calls to track down a compatible working used BCM for merely $250! He received it, and put it in and did not charge me any additional labor. Gave me another $100 discount at the end.Yes, in the end, I spent a lot of money. But I have my car back and working wonderfully. I just finished a long road trip with it over 1000 miles and still working great! Brent is a mechanic who takes pride in his work, not just to make money but because he prides in his workmanship. I dont see a lot of these kinds nowadays. I highly recommend this guy.

It’s hard to find a good, honest mechanic. And when you’re on a long road trip and stopped in a town where you know no one, except your college student daughter, it’s even harder. On August 18th I arrived in Columbia to visit my daughter, a Mizzou student, after a long drive that started in Florida and went up to Michigan and then to Missouri. My mother and I were making the drive together and we began having car trouble on the drive from Michigan to Missouri. I didn’t want to get back on the road without having the problem fixed, but I was very concerned about finding a mechanic who wouldn’t take advantage of two women and who would actually repair the vehicle at a fair price. I went online and did some research and prayed. I was led to The Automotive Garage of Columbia and saw that it had few good reviews. I went there the first thing the next morning, and the owner, Brent, wasn’t in. I considered leaving to go to the next place on my list, but the business next door told me he was out buying parts and assured me that it would be worth the wait to stay.All I can say is I’m so glad I stayed! We had spoken with my uncle, a retired mechanic, on the phone prior to the visit to get his opinion on the potential problems based on our description of the issues. My uncle named two possibilities: wheel bearing or drive shaft. Brent drove our vehicle to hear the noise, and then proceeded check the vehicle and diagnosed that the universal joints on the drive shaft required replacing. He then spent a great deal of time searching suppliers in the area for the parts in an effort to help us get back on the road. He ended up having to order the parts and have them sent overnight. Brent not only repaired our vehicle at a fair price, but he went above and beyond by thoroughly reviewing our entire vehicle, adding fluids where needed and checking every potential issue. He did all the extras at no additional charge except for the cans of oil he added. He even cleaned all the bugs off of the windshield!I’m so thankful to have found Brent. I even told my daughter to take her car to him for service from now on. I wish I could find someone in Florida like him. These days, it’s really hard to find anyone who does a good job at a fair price, and does anything extra because it’s the right thing to do. He wanted us to be safe on the long drive back to Florida. He even called to make sure we made it home safely! People of Columbia, you have a gem there in your town!

Excellent. Very careful and thorough with reasonable prices. Highly recommended.

It is no doubt that Mr.Brent is a great mechanic .There were some problems with my Volkswagen Tourage. I have been to some repair shops,include the 4S shop,they fixed so many times but cannot solve these problems and cost too much money.The story begins at one day evening,when I was driving on the road, the warning light was on,I was unhappy because I had my car repaired last week,it was the same problem of my car, and I let the repair shop fixed about 5 or 6 times.I was a little disappointed with the repair shop in Columbia.But I still wanna have a try.So I used google maps and then found this shop.Although its a little far , I still come there.I feel I was so lucky to make this decision.And then I met Mr Brent.He was very nice and respectful,you know its my first time to come America,I think I have seen the American soul from Mr Brent,he is very kind to me and fixed my cars problems.He checked my car very carefully,and fixed all the potential problems of my car.I am very touched that I can meet such a good person in a foreign country.As for the price,to be honest,its fair,Mr Brent gave me discount.I wanna say if I came there earlier, I could save 1000 dollars maybe.Mr Brent fixed my car and did winter service. With his and his staffs good working,my car become very good again.All I wanna say is thanks.By the way,thanks Dreama for your kindness.谢谢！

Wow what a great place to do business!!!!. I brought a group of high school students to Columbia to attend a state competition. My car malfunctioned and I need immediate help. I called First Baptist Church to ask where I could get a reputable mechanic who would not take advantage of me and yet be honest and do a fair job. The Automotive Garage of Columia was recommeded to me. Brent Dodson is the mechanic and he is great, honest, and over the top!!! Due to time constraints on my part (not his) he did not end up fixing my car, but instead spent 4 hours researching, scanning, making phone calls, and trying to pinpoint the problem. He did not put on parts or do unnecessary things to run up my bill. At the point where he could have continued to just do things for the sake of doing them, he called to tell me the status. He assured me it was safe to drive my car home and charged a VERY, VERY, VERY fair price for his time and efforts. His honesty and integrity are top notch!!!!! I would recommed him to everyone!!!!!!!! Thank you, Brent.

Ive dealt with a lot of different mechanics, and I can honestly say that not only is Brent the best mechanic Ive ever met, hes also the most trustworthy and will never try and scam you, nor try and falsely charge you.

First of all the owner Brent was very nice and respectful when I initially spoke with him about my car. With that being said I brought my car in because I had narrowed my car trouble down to a faulty alternator, bad battery, or a fusible link. He convinced me to bring it in to him instead of Autozone to get my battery and alternator checked (which is a free service Autozone provides). He told me the diagnostic test would cost me $42 but he would for sure find the problem, so I brought the car to him. The next day when I called back he said he ran the diagnostic test and no problems came up. So he continued to run tests on it until he said that the alternator would intermittently cut out. He the told me that the diagnostic test would now cost me $84 because he ran it multiple times and that my alternator needs to be replaced. Ive personally replaced an alternator by myself in one of my previous cars, so Im familiar with the work that goes into it. When I asked how much it would cost I almost laughed. He quoted a new alternator, serpentine belt, and labor at $660!!!! I told him that was too much and he tried to justify himself saying that it wasnt an easy replacement because you had to disconnect the coolant hose and drain the coolant...Ive been to a few different mechanics over the years but NEVER have I felt like I was being taken advantage of so much. After I picked up my car I drove home furious, bought a battery charger (just in case), and havent had any trouble since....I couldve taken it to Autozone for a FREE battery and alternator test, but I went out on a limb to be safe. Long story short I paid $84 to fully charge a dead battery, and would have been taken for another $660 had I not had minor mechanical experience in the past that told me to get a second opinion. I just wanted to share my experience so someone else that maybe has zero mechanical knowledge doesnt get taken advantage of. I understand human error, but there was no reason to charge $660 for an alternator replacement on a Grand Am. Other reviews have said plenty of good things, so I hope this is not how he normally does business.

Tl:dr: never calls me back or explained what specific tests meant. sketchy. Very impolite to meHe threatened legal action and to come after me if i wrote a review, which worries me but maybe he was having a bad day.Please Please go to ANY other repair shop, as it seems Brent (the owner) cant take any type of criticism.Had my car towed to the shop as it wouldnt start, Brent told me hed run some specific tests (on the fuel systems).I have to call every day to hear that theyre still running tests (what specific test, they wouldnt say), test driving it- still needing more time.After three days of finding alternate rides around i go in to pay, and pick up the car. Naturally i ask what he was doing that took so long and he explained the things he did;ive not very car-educated and asked what specific things meant, as not to be taken advantage of.He began to get defensive telling me: i just explained it, you just cant understand it (nearly word-for-word).I asked what i do from here repair-wise and he told me they couldnt find any problems with the car and that it started fine when they received it.I wanted further explanation because there were clearly problems when i brought it in, he took this as me implying he cant do his job.At this point i wanted to get my keys and leave because he was staring at me with his arms crossed in front of the door.The lady who sits at the front was actually very nice and tried to ease the tension saying Brent was trying to help. Never even allowed me to pay because he kicked me off his property before i could disrupt other customers who were there.Id swear an oath that nothing in this review is false or exaggerated.If youre already having him service your car, best wishes- be sure not to criticize his job in any fashion or hell raise hell.

I had such a great experience here, pappy truly cares about you & the situation your in. I had to get a new transmission after buying my car 2 months earlier, it was a very stressful situation that he made so much easier on me.thank you

10/10 would reccomend. Came in 20 minutes till close and they stayed almost two hours passed close for me.

Straight-up, best mechanic around.

This place saved my hide on a cross-country trip. I limped in from the highway and they dropped everything to redo my brakes same day and get me back on the road.

Cant even give an over the phone estimate. Sorry but us working folks dont have time to drop our cars off. Give a rough estimate and save your customers some time.

Brent gets the job done right and doesnt pressure you into something you dont need