Fantastic 3rd generation family owned shop. Cant speak enough praise on Paulo, Tony, Alex and their staff.
This is the second time Ive trusted Auto Centro with one of my cars (Ive brought both a 2015 A3 and 2011 GTI) and this is the second time theyve done an amazing job in identifying the issues w my car and properly diagnosing them. Craig is an awesome tech and pays very close attention to detail - he also does a great job of keeping you up to date on the status of your vehicle. Ill definitely continue to trust the center w my vehicles in the future, highly recommend this business.
So; I have a favor to ask; which, when you think about it, is a pretty light ask by todays standards. I dont want to sell you anything, con you into subscribing to a never ending newsletter, or trick you into buying some online training course, so frankly, its a win - win.I want to build attention & drive awareness towards generating growth centered around every answer you will ever need for your high end vehicle. Whether you own a Porsche, a Ferrari, a Lamborghini; or any other classic or exotic vehicle of that caliber; eventually it will need maintenance or service completed in order to keep it on the road.Auto Centro Imports is the only establishment that has truly earned the right, and built the pedigree to justify touching your vehicle. This review is written for the purpose of garnering attention focused on a target market that collects high end exotics, classics, & vintage cars; and ensuring that the right people are working on your precious collection that you worked so incredibly hard to build.I have entrusted multiple high end vehicles with Paulo but not just for storage and his concierge services. The mechanical operation at Auto Centro Imports, is an impeccably ran shop where only true practitioners will ever touch your vehicle. They take a great deal of pride and respect in you allowing them to service your vehicle; and it truly shows in their level of craftsmanship and attention to detail.Whatever the level of intricacy your specific vehicle requires, his shop can not only facilitate it, but exceed very expectation. From routine maintenance, to minor modifications, to complete overhaul of your vehicle; regardless of how obscure the vehicle may be, it will always come back to you better than you left it.So again, all I ask is that if youre in the market for an upgrade or need a place that truly understands the passion it takes to appropriately service your vehicle; that you give Paulo a call and set up a time for a chat. His shop, the foundation of his competitive advantage - Auto Centro Imports in Rockville - will definitely be able to handle it.In addition, if you know of anyone that loves collecting cars, that you share this with them and invite them to head up there and take a look for themselves; it is the epitome of full service concierge for your meticulously cared for piece of precision machinery. Paulo would be more than happy to show them around the Drivers Vault as well. If theyre a car collector & live in the DMV area, then The Drivers Vault is 100%, right up their alley; and the shop at Auto Centro Imports, will ensure that your vehicle will make it there.Thank you for your time, and have a great day!
Absolutely professional team. They know exactly what’s wrong with your car. I took my car to three different mechanic shops none of them could diagnose the problem. After a few hours leave my car there they addressed the issue and fixed it.Thanks to Danny Craig and Paulo. Amazing!!!
The best !! very professional and excellent customer service
After several Japanese Domestic Market automotive centers in Alexandria, Virginia refused to even look under the hood of my 1991 Nissan Figaro, I asked a former colleague, who is a car enthusiast, for a recommendation. That is how I found Auto Centro - by word of mouth.If have a unique car (or any car) that needs to be repaired, look no further. Excellent diagnostics that solve mechanical problems, knowledgeable staff that actually help you understand the repair options, and they have great mechanics to do the work.My situation. I had to replace the engine. No one else would even touch my car. So, when I called Auto Centro, they Googled my car and simply said “yes, we can do this.” No drama.I shipped the engine from The Figaro Shop in England directly to AutoCentro. So, they received a big box of parts. They worked with The Figaro Shop to solve the unexpected challenges.My experience is limited to one quirky car. But, Auto Centro’s work and attention to detail exceeded my expectations.
Craig and Paolo, wow! I took my Audi S4 over there and was blown away with the knowledge these guys had. I WILL be back again. Thank you so much guys!
Auto Centro is a rare find.... I had the pleasure of working with Paulo.He is a man of great integrity and truly understands how to deliver excellent customer service. And, I was struck by his integrity. I purchased a used car from him. My overall experience was very pleasant and smooth. I would recommend Auto Centro to all my friends and family. Thank you! Gail
I have had the pleasure of bringing my personal vehicles (and also referring my clients vehicles) to Auto Centro for a few simple, important reasons.1. Family run business with decades of experience.2. One of the few BOSCH authorized specialists in this area - meaning that they are exceedingly capable with any high-end European make; Mercedes, BMW, Audi/VW, Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, etc.. They are well versed in them all, young or old. Nothing seems to be too great a challenge.3. Honest and run with the utmost integrity - this is not your typical service center simply looking to charge you for anything they can. The owner Paulo, Service Manager Cragg and Front man Danny are all straight shooters, and 99/100 times, I would bet, one would save a significant amount over the stealership.Cliffs Notes: You cant go wrong here, Great team, Honest, Fair Pricing, and Tons of Experience.
Customer for 40 years. Paolo, who now runs the business for his father Albino, was a young teenager back then. I am grateful for their advice and very satisfied with their work.
Paulo and his team (Craig, Danny & Others) are extremely amazing to work with. We have been seeing them for years and they do an amazing job each and every time. They are knowledgeable, straightforward and honest about every aspect of the car buying and/or service experience. You’ve got to go see them!
It was like in and out. Great service. Extreme professionalism.
Paulo and Craig took such good care of me. I have a 2014 Mercedes E350 with about 100K miles. I dropped my car off thinking I was going to need a lot of work. I figured after I got the quote I would probably decide to sell it instead of investing more in it. Craig walked me through the repairs and brought me back to reality. Most of my repairs were standard maintenance items. After giving me an awesome price for the work done, I couldnt have been happier. I told Craig...I think Im going to keep the car just so I can keep dealing with him and Paolo! Theyre the best!!!
The best service and care like family
My family and I have gone to Auto Centro for over 20 years. Paulo and his staff do an amazing job both in maintenance and car sales. If you need a car, they can find you one at a great price.
Great shop for all your needs
Wow!!This place is just amazing!The customer service is top notch!They are always there for you!and this is the only repair shop that I can trust.They treat and care about your car like its their own, they are honest!No other Car repair shop can provide what Auto Cento Inc. does!I highly recommend this place to anyone and everyone!Obrigado!!!!
Auto Centro has no peer. My 2001 Audi is in great shape thanks to their wonderful care. In all my years with Paolo and Craig I have never known them to recommend anything unnecessary. They operate with complete integrity. Heres to many more years together.
Bought a van from them, wonderful experience!
Awesome repair shop. Thorough, fair, easy to work with, and competent. Everything you want in a mechanic. Its a busy place and once you go there, youll understand why.
Great shop. I have had lots of work done over the years and they provide extremely reliable service at a reasonable price.
Have used Autocentro for nearly 20 years for all my German cars. High degree of integrity, honesty and experience. Always trying to find ways to help and at a fair price. Ive had work done on my AUDI, Porsche, BMW and VW cars without any issues. Highly recommend this business to all seeking high quality work and honesty which is nearly impossible to find in car shops. Would give 6 stars if I could.
These guys are awesome! First they did a PPI for me then I brought the car in after purchasing and they did some of the recommended work. Excellent experience all the way around. Craig was particularly helpful throughout the process.
AutoCentro is fantastic. Ive brought many cars to them and they always provide great service at fair prices. However, they go behind just doing that. Ive gone to them with challenging issues with my cars and they always nail it. They recently fixed a motor in the seat that had been broken for years (the previous owner just lived with it). The dealer said it needed a new frame. AutoCentro fixed it with a $40 part that I supplied. Awesome! I am grateful to them!
I recently had my Boxster in storage for a year (at The Drivers Vault) and when preparing to take it out wanted to have the car serviced to ensure it was ready for daily use. Paulo and the team at Auto Centro were outstanding! They confirmed what I wanted serviced and also provided very helpful recommendations. All of my prior services had been done at Porsche dealerships, and Auto Centro clearly checked aspects of the car (e.g., interior air filters) that the prior services had neglected. I will take all of my future service needs to Auto Centro!
I have been an Auto Centro customer since 1985. Auto Centro has always had a reputation for integrity and transparency in serving their customers. Their repairs are of high quality and yet affordable. If you want a personalized automotive service experience, this is the shop for you.
Auto centro is a fantastic shop. I have been there quite a few times over the past 10 years and they are always fair and reasonable.
Ive been a customer for about 15 years. Quality auto care ! The way auto service should be. I highly recommend.
The experienced people at Auto Centro have serviced my high performance Audi S4 for over 10 years and performed two major upgrades/rebuilds (engine and suspension). They are knowledgeable, trustworthy and fair.
I have been having my car serviced at Auto Centro for the past 20 years. The work that Auto Centro has done for me has been done on my 1969 Volkswagen beetle and on my 2004 Ford Expedition. The service has always been exceptional!!! Auto Centro has always fixed my cars right the first time!!
My car had some major mechanical issues after an incident and I was referred to Auto Centro by one of my friends who has been the customer for many many years. I was very worried about this since these were mechanical issues and I care about my car so much that I would not accept anything other than perfect. So, I trusted my friend and I took it to Auto Centro.Paolo was my POC. Im telling you this guy treated me like a family member right from the beginning until the end of repair period, which was about a month. He called me periodically to give me status on parts and repair.He went over working hours and stayed with his mechanics after business hours to give the car back to me before the long weekend holiday so I can enjoy the car.He went above and beyond just a regular mechanic. This guy is real expert and my car was absolutely perfect and I was so happy to get it back after a month. The way he treated me when I visited him was amazing....he sat with me and went over everything just like a family member. Very honest and hardworking man. He also works with a team of dedicated mechanics that are expert as well and a family.I will certainly bring my car back here if I have any mechanical issues....no doubt.And, thanks, Paulo!!!! Keep up the great and honest work.
Bought a Porsche 911 from them, they were professional, knew the car, took it to the Porsche dealer for the PPI and delivered it to my house 20 miles away. I would recommend AC to anyone.
A customer for about 30+ years, I have come to rely on them for work find right and in the rare case where theres a lingering problem they make it right standing behind their work. Theyre also a good source of used cars.
Weve been visiting Auto Centro for almost ten years. Weve had positive experience every single time. Paulo and his dad truly do believe in making their customers feel welcome and part of the car care solution. Theyve always been trustworthy and honest, which is easy to say since weve compared their work with multiple dealers estimates, and super friendly. Visiting Auto Centro is like visiting a cousin. Theyre always happy to see us and we them. We will always demand Auto Centro as our mechanic. Thank you.
I have been a customer of Auto Centro for over 15 years and have never looked back. They have serviced my VW, Acura, and Audi cars and I honestly couldnt recommend a more reputable and trustworthy business. Paulo du Couto, and his service and mechanical staff are simply amazing people and wonderful. They are strong advocates for their customers and always do what is in the best interest of the customer and they tell you what is necessary to do and what can wait. I unhesitatingly recommend them. Plus you can see some really cool cars in the showroom while you wait. No free car wash, but instead you get high quality and professional service instead at reasonable prices. Ill take the latter any day! David B. Silver Spring
We live in Ellicott City (an hour away) and have been bringing our cars to Auto Centro for years. Tried going to Pep Boys in Ellicott City for something we hoped was simple, and instead received a highly inflated quote. My husband then proceeded to tell me I told you so and then reached out to Auto Centro. They were very busy, as usual, but still took my car in. They proceeded to not only tell me what my car really needed, but also showed and explained the why in a clear manner. Bottom line, they ended doing more work to my car than Pep Boys quoted for less. Their top-notch knowledge and professionalism makes the long drive worthwhile.
I am a critical consumer and, as is typical in human nature, I do not usually write favorable reviews. I have to make an exception here, because it is so rare to find truly honest people in the automotive business.I normally will tackle most difficult auto repairs myself – at least once – for the experience, and the working automotive knowledge that it brings. I consider myself “well above average” in ability to diagnose and correctly repair any problem, so long as I have the tools and the time.I first found out about Auto Centro through Washington Consumer Checkbook ratings several years ago. Sight-unseen, I called to make an appointment for timing belt replacement on my Toyota Highlander. I also called several other places, including dealers, to compare estimates. My first skepticism was that, although they were not the least expensive estimate, they were less than HALF that of the dealers. My service manager at that time was Keith Johnson, and he concisely explained how they would proceed with the service. I asked for a few other services (belts, plugs, transmission oil/filter, coolant replacement, transaxle oil change) that I was due to perform myself anyway. I dropped my car off, and took advantage of a special rate they had negotiated with a local rental car company that dropped off and picked up the rental at Auto Centro! Keith called me later that day, and gave me a detailed analysis of each component involved in the service. He stated that it appeared that the water pump, although old, was ok and probably would last until the next timing belt replacement was needed (most of the labor involved with water pump replacement is incurred while replacing the timing belt). I asked how much a replacement would be, and told them to just replace it as a proactive measure (~$120). The repair was completed and when I went to pick up the car, Keith had a large box full of the parts that had been replaced. One by one, he pulled out each, and explained the wear and reasoning behind the replacement. The entire bill was less than the estimate. In 30+ years, this has never, ever happened to me.I have since had major service and repairs performed by Auto Centro on both my Highlander, and my wife’s BMW. I trust Paulo (owner) and Christian (service manager) 100%.My latest encounter is sort of the icing on the cake. I accidentally hit my radiator with a drill causing a leak that did not start until I was later driving. It was a Saturday and by the time I made it home, the engine had overheated to the point where it would not even turn over. I desperately emailed the owner, Paulo, and asked for advice. He was on vacation, but responded and said, bring it in, talk to Christian, and they would take care of me. With no appointment, I dropped it off with a note on Sunday night. Christian called me Monday morning, gave me an estimate, and said that they were booked but would do the best they could. He also said that he wanted to keep it and drive it some because I had over-heated the engine. I told him that I understood, and wanted it done right. He called me late Monday and said that everything was fine. I picked it up and the cost was very close to the estimate.I have recommended Auto Centro to several friends who have had service and repairs, and they have been extremely happy and thankful. Auto Centro is reasonably priced, and will continue to have my support for as long as they are in business.
Very helpful.
Great service and work