Wilhelm Automotive traces its history as far back as the 1880s in Phoenix. It wasn’t until 1928 that the founding father, Joe Wilhelm, opened the shop under his name. 

With over a hundred years in the making, the eponymous auto repair service has solidified its presence in the local industry, to say the least.  

For one, they have expanded to 11 convenient locations across the valley. There are talks of opening up more shops in the future, so accessibility isn’t a problem.

According to our survey, the Cave Creek and Peoria shops are the most recommended. Both have been in business for at least 10 years, which is great regarding consistency in their services.

Another thing that puts them on this list is the comprehensive auto services and parts they have in store. They also offer great deals on a large inventory of tires, depending on the vehicle, size, and season among others.

However, we noticed that they don’t have a system for scheduling appointments and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. From the looks of it, you can expect long wait times if you don’t come earlier in the day.

If you’re pressed for time or would rather have a fixed schedule, this might not be the best place for that.

On the other hand, all work and labor are backed with warranties of varying degrees. Just keep in mind that they have a company policy that won’t allow for customer-provided parts, which could mean unwanted extra charges on your behalf.

Family-owned business 25th Street Automotive has been operating since the early 60s. They’re known within the community for their excellent work-ethic and personable crew of ASE-certified automotive technicians.

Compared to most candidates on this list, they have only one location down at 25th Street where the name takes after. While this limits their domain to the Biltmore area, they might be worth the drive for some.

We hear a considerable number of customers praise them for honest work at a reasonable price, which is something we don’t hear often. It’s safe to say that they help make informed decisions about your car as far as we’ve seen.

We only wish the same could be said about their phone rep, whom we heard is unhelpful and short with replies.

On the other hand, they’re at the top of their game when it comes to customer services, collecting awards in the past like the Business Ethics Award from the BBB. 

They’re also routinely recognized by the American Automobile Association (AAA), which is impressive for a company their size.

Their warranty terms also caught our attention, with a period of 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. What’s more, they have a generous offering of service coupons that could save you a whopping $80 on factory-required inspections.

Overall, it seems to us that they’re your best bet in saving money on car trouble. 

Half Price Auto Repair & Performance was founded in 1990 and was formerly known as Glendale Auto Repair back when it only had one branch. Since then, it has grown to five other locations across Metro Phoenix.

While the name could easily attract customers, we think it might be misleading considering the fees typically associated with auto repairs. It’s best to take it with a grain of salt.

However, some patrons have attested to their reasonable and transparent pricing, though nothing half of what repair work is worth. 

Another thing we like is that they only work on repairs with the owner’s go-ahead. In case they find other problems, they’ll apparently let you know first before proceeding with anything.

On the flip side, there were complaints of inaccurate diagnoses which led to more issues. We know how frustrating this could be for customers who are looking to save on expenses but end up spending more.

Still, we appreciate the staff for being straightforward under any circumstances. They’re also more than inclined to make up for any mistake or apply repairs under warranty, which is great.

It’s worth mentioning that they also offer Uber and Lyft services, as well as car rentals. They can also dispose of no-reuse oil for you at their waste-oil disposal.

On the contrary, we’ve heard a few reports of theft on their property, particularly auto parts from vehicles parked outside. This could prompt customers to hit the brakes on their business, so we hope they could drastically improve on security.

Founded by Mark Carr in 1982, Christian Brothers Automotive started as a friendly neighborhood auto shop in Texas. Fourteen years later, it has expanded to over 250 franchises nationwide, making them a leader in the industry.

With these – along with an employment pool of master-level mechanics – the company has become one of the most trusted professionals in the valley and beyond. Forbes also recognizes them as one of the best franchises as of 2019, among other accolades.

It’s also for these reasons that they have a pretty solid warranty of 36 months (or 36,000 miles) on top of a full-service auto shop. For instance, if it doesn’t take until 4 years later to get to 36,000 miles, the warranty still stands.

From our search, we could tell that they’re pretty consistent across all 14 locations in Phoenix. Their shops over at Peoria and Gilbert come highly recommended, though.

Unlike anything we’ve visited, they have a dedicated waiting area that’s comfortable to lounge in for customers. Did we mention the complimentary food and drinks?

We’re huge fans of their customer-oriented services and are happy to report that the same goes for car and maintenance repair. Their staff also takes time to go over the steps in person and through text so you’ll be on top of things the whole time.

All that being said, the costs could be more than expected. There were also some instances of misdiagnosing car issues, adding more to the bill.

Still, they’re some of the best to come around and are definitely one to beat for us.

Jake’s Auto Repair is a bumper-to-bumper auto shop located in central Phoenix, the only one of its kind. Strength comes in numbers, but for this company, it’s the quality workmanship, comprehensive warranty, and reasonable prices.

With over four decades in business and a trusted team of ASE-certified technicians, they’ve made a name for themselves in the local industry. 

First, they’re backed up by a loyal clientele and repeat customers who stand by their services, which increases our confidence. We admire the dedication to keeping their customers’ business through establishing professional relationships with them.

Moreover, they seem to know their way around foreign models just as much as domestic ones. If you have a Japanese or Korean brand in your hands, we think they’re the ones for the job.

Word of warning, it could get pretty busy down at the shop, so make sure to call and set up an appointment first. They also offer free shuttle services for those who have to make a trip out of their visit.

However, this option isn’t always reliable from what we’ve heard, so prepare to find another way back home. 

They also close as early as 4 pm compared to the average auto repair shop. Suffice it to say that there’s a lot to consider in terms of logistics, especially for those coming off from work.

All things considered, we think they’re worth the drive for everything they have to offer.