ACAR

Auto Service, Auto Mufflers, Auto Inspections,

About us

At ACAR, we are a small friendly, family run business since 2001. My wife, Sue, and I live in the community and look forward to developing long term relationships with our customers. You are not and never will be treated as a number. ACAR is an AAA approved auto repair facility and our technicians are AAA and ASE Certified and have come from the ranks of the new car dealerships and are required to continue updating their skills. This is done through factory training, on the job training and trade publications. We accept all major forms of payment . We employ 9 people and hire ASE certified technicians to work on your vehicles. Whether it is Maine State Inspections, Factory routine maintenance, tires, alignments, computer diagnostics or any other repair need; you can trust that the friendly, knowledgeable staff at ACAR is going to do everything to exceed your expectations at a price that is fair. Additional emails - hondamd@acar.biz. service@acar.biz. sales@acar.biz. Additional DBA - Al's Certified Auto Repair.

Business highlights

24 years of trusted experience

Services we offer

Automotive Repair. Preventative Maintenance. Front End & Cooling System Services. Drive Trains. Computer Diagnostics. Brakes.

Amenities

Warranties
Yes


Accepted payment methods

American Express
Check
Discover
MasterCard
Visa

Photos of past projects

Reviews

4.413 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
85%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
15%


Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.5
value
3.9
professionalism
4.2
responsiveness
4.3
punctuality
4.6
Showing 1-13 of 13 reviews

Dan T.
02/2019
1.0
muffler repair, auto repair, car tires, radiator service, car inspections
  + 3 more
Called Al's Certified Auto repair..which advertised quality service at a fair price .. we needed a starter replacement..they were not willing to give any guesstimate over the phone but was willing to look at it the next day..so we had it towed in and dropped off...received a call the next day and was told it would cost 580.00 for the repair..shocked at the cost I asked why so high and was told the starter alone was over 312.00 but it had a lifetime parts warranty and diagnostics and labor came to a total of 580.00...believing them I agreed..shortly later I decided to call a few auto parts stores and found out there are only three different available type starters for my vehicle.. one for 152.00. One for 169.00 and a premium starter for 194.00 all came with a full lifetime warranty..having recently moved here I decided to call our previous mechanic and explained the situation..I was told it takes less than an hr to replace the starter because of its location and two bolt installation and diagnosing the problem was less than 15 mins time at the very most and unless the starter was gold plated they were excessively marking up the parts cost....well I called the repair shop and asked him where he was getting this starter and wouldn't you know..they got the starter from one of the places I called and he admitted to marking up the part but only after I caught him in this blatant lie... But even after this I asked why I was being charged so much for labor... again more lies..over 53.00 to diagnose it and then another 1 and half hrs to install it at a labor rate of 100hr... plus a shop fee of 28.57 again excessive for a shop fee...These guys were really milking me for whatever they thought they could get...live and learn I guess but I did write a local review...and shortly after this I received a call from the owner Al....I explained my concerns and he agreed to lower the cost but only if I agreed to remove a review that I had immediately posted after speaking with his desk clerk....the owner claimed that he charges more because he gives his customers a 3yr labor warranty and uses only the finest parts.. he lowered my repair bill by 250.00 and said he would leave the premium starter in and continued to try and justify the excessive costs with more smoke and mirrors....I agreed to remove the review which I did being a man of my word and paid the shop....in short and in all absolute honesty this shop has a predatory business model that cannot be denied ...and all the smoke and mirrors in the universe cannot disguise that... he gets his parts from the same place everyone else does..Auto parts stores and he gets a big discount..a small mark up is expected but not over double the cost... and if I wanted to purchase a labor warranty for an additional 250.00 on a starter that only cost 152.00 and already has a lifetime warranty I would of preferred to be asked......he also again lied because the lowest cost starter was installed not the premium starter..we checked it..it was indeed a remanufactured starter for 152.00 retail cost. We have since spoke with other neighbors and friends and found a reputable repair shop who actually offers quality service at a fair price and whenever we drive by Al's certified Auto repair and his always almost empty parking lot we thank god we found out early on about this dishonest, corrupt little shop of horrors. Stay far away...and warn others... afterwards we read some local reviews and this place has got quite a reputation for its customer satisfaction rating...never again !!!
Description of Work: Simple Starter replacement

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
2.0
value
1.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
3.0
punctuality
3.0


Larry S.
07/2016
5.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
Annual inspections, diagnostics and repairs.
Description of Work: .
Rating CategoryRating out of 5
Yes, I recommend this pro

Suzanne P.
08/2015
5.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
.
Description of Work: .
Rating CategoryRating out of 5
Yes, I recommend this pro
$700

Kate C.
06/2014
5.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
unknown

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$30

Response from ACAR
[member name removed] I greatly appreciate the kind words as it pertains to your most recent visit with Al's Certified Auto Repair. It is always our intent to meet or exceed our customers expectations. Thank you again for taking the time to fill out this review.

Ron K.
12/2013
5.0
basement waterproofing
  + -1 more
The crew showed up on time, completed all work on time. They were very courteous, knowledgeable and professional. When work was complete they walked me through and made sure the work and clean up were done to my satisfaction.
Description of Work: Installed water guard and enclosed sump pit to divert water to sump pit from leaky wall.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
3.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
3.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$3,951.05

Jocelyn D.
11/2013
5.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
It went very well. I made an appointment over the phone, quick and easy. I brought my car in, was greeted courteously. The technician explained what they were going to do and how much it would cost. They brought my car right in. Service took about 45 minutes, but the waiting area was clean and comfortable and they had a Keurig machine if I wanted fresh tea or coffee. The technician went over the service checklist at the end and told me how everything looked. He said they do the checklist no matter what kind of service a person comes in for - checking fluids, tires, brakes. They put on my new Maine plates as well. It was a good auto shop experience with professional service and I will definitely use ACAR again.
Description of Work: Performed a state car inspection.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$12

Lisa M.
09/2013
5.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
ACAR has been great to deal with, always cheerful on the phone when you call, helpful in explaining needed service, and the work is always well done. Al often goes above and beyond providing excellent service to his customers.
Description of Work: Brake work

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$140

Response from ACAR
[member name removed] it is always a pleasure to assist our customers with their automotive repair needs. I am very pleased that over the years Sue and I have been able to watch your family grow. Thanks for the very kind words and we are pleased to have you, not only as a customer, but as a member of the ACAR family. Thanks Al Sutherland

David D.
05/2013
5.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
They always do a terrific job and call me to keep me informed of status and any issues. They always seek my approval on costlier repairs. The car runs great now (no overheating) and the new tires have a nice quiet ride.
Description of Work: My vehicle needed the tire changeover from winter to summer tires and it was also overheating during highway driving situations. Driving around town seemed to be fine. The staff and technicians at ACAR ran an assortment of tests on the car to pinpoint the problem to a faulty thermostat. They changed my tires and installed a new thermostat, gasket and coolant. As a preventative measure they ran a cleaning solution through the cooling system to remove any buildup/sedimentation.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$450

Response from ACAR
We are very pleased that you have taken the time to write a wonderful review for us; as you know, it is always our intention to meet or exceed your expectations. You are correct we don't do any repairs without your approval. I am glad to hear that the vehicle is running well. Thanks Al Sutherland

Jacques M.
01/2013
5.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
I called in the morning and then brought my vehicle over that afternoon for an alignment. They did it while I waited and apologized for how long it took even though I showed up earlier than I said and didn't mind waiting. They had a comfortable waiting room, with a coffee maker and a TV. I found them friendly and professional. No complaints.
Description of Work: Wheel alignment on a 2007 Toyota 4runner.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$80

Response from ACAR
Thanks you for the kind words. I am glad that we were able to accommodate your schedule. The waiting room and the customer write up area's are currently under going a renovation; so, I hope that you will find it even more comfortable. This is all because we want to exceed your expectations whenever possible. Thanks again Al Sutherland

James V.
11/2012
1.0
auto repair, muffler repair
  + 0 more
The details were given to the owner, Al Southerland in writing. His response follows: 1. The service manager took me out to show me the muffler. He said he would try to fix it by welding in another piece rather than replacing it. He said he had all the tools and supplies to make such a repair. (This was after he inspected the vehicle.) We then went back into the office. 2. The service manager first attempted to tell me that I had to replace the entire exhaust, including the catalytic converter ?because it was all one piece?. I objected. He then made a big issue about how he was going to ?shop around? to see if he couldn?t get the individual pieces and ?save me some money?. I must ask what happened to the ?pieces? his original research on the phone provided (the ones he used for the estimate that did not involve replacing the catalytic converter, and which was in line with other estimates)? 3. I told him I thought that price was outrageous for a muffler on a tiny vehicle. He suggested I didn?t want the cheapest muffler because it wouldn?t last, but he didn?t give me any other options as far as cost was concerned. Assuming he had told me the truth, I scheduled the work. He said he would have everything there and scheduled me in for 8AM on Wednesday, the 10th. 4. When I arrived at 755AM on the 10th he picked up the phone and called his parts dealer telling him to send the parts over. Obviously, he did not have the parts and was not ready to start the work at 8AM as he promised days earlier. 5. I had two days to research and get other estimates and took that time to do exactly that. More importantly, after the repair I had the actual part numbers he sold me. Here is what I found: a. The total price you charged was $120.00 higher than the next highest estimate, $159.00 of that increase was due to price gouging as you will see below. b. The total price you charged was $220.00 higher than the second highest estimate. 6. I started looking for parts cost on the Internet. a. After checking thirty or forty places I was unable to find anyone who sold the entire exhaust system, converter and all, in one piece as your service manager claimed. b. You charged me $283.00 for Walker M-64328 muffler. The prices for the muffler I found ran from a low of $70.00 to $178.00. The $178.00 muffler was the very Walker you sold me for 283.00, or $105.00 above the highest retail price for that muffler! That is an increase of more than 60% over the highest retail price! The same muffler was also sold for as low as $120.00 c. That was not the only gouging by your service manager. You sold me a Walker M-54657 resonator and charged me $81.59. The highest retail price I could find for that very part number was #34.00, which is 246% higher than retail! d. Clearly, there was no need for me to replace the catalytic converter. e. Clearly, the service manager was more concerned with increasing profit than providing replacement parts at a legitimate, reasonable retail cost. The fact that your service manager would brag and assure me he would find the best price for me was nothing more than dishonest theatrics, as he was clearly intending to gouge me from the time I walked into your shop. Approximately ten days after sending the above to Mr. Sutherland I received a post card from him that said: "Just a note to personally thank you for bringing in your 2003 Echo for service. We know you have a choice when servicing your vehicle and we sincerely appreciate you placing your trust i us! If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call. We look forward to seeing you again.
Description of Work: Replacing a muffler on a 2003 Toyota Echo.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
1.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0
punctuality
3.0

$490

Response from ACAR
I am terribly sorry that you felt your experience with our service department was not up to your standards. We make every effort to meet or exceed our customers expectations and we obviously failed on this visit. The service manager you speak of is no longer with our company and I would welcome the opportunity to work with you again in the future. I again apologize for , what you characterized, as a very bad experience. Al Sutherland

Tracey G.
06/2012
5.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
I have been going to ACAR since they opened. They are WONDERFUL. I can count on them for quality service and a fair price. As a woman I do not feel like “the little lady” when I am trying to tell them my car issues. ACAR kept my Saab on the road to over 225,000 miles. I bought my current vehicle from ACAR and they do all its service.
Description of Work: Vehicle service and purchase .

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$8,000

Response from ACAR
WOW! I really appreciate it when a customer takes the time to write a review of their service experience with us. It is our intent for our customers to feel like part of the family and you truly are. I am glad that we have been able to meet or exceed your expectations over the last 14 years. Thanks a lot Al

John P.
07/2011
5.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
A-Car seems very professional and personable at the same time. I will be back, as needed.
Description of Work: I had owned the car for a week and paid $550 for it. It was running great and then it wasn't. I do most of my own work but needed diagnostic help. I went to the right place. They wanted to replace the problem part at $300+ but ended up just cleaning it for $83. It now runs great! The fix might not last, as they honestly told me, but I can accept that.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$83

Response from ACAR
Thank you for the kind words in your review of this service visit. I am pleased to find out that our professional staff was able to meet or exceed your expectations. We look forward to your next visit and will make every effort to continue to earn your confidence. Al Sutherland Jr

LESILE C.
11/2009
5.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
Excellent.
Description of Work: Left rear brake was making a creaking noise when I slowed down and the wheel was warm to the touch after a few miles. They pulled the brake drum and found the pin that holds the spring that holds the leading shoe in place had rusted off . They pulled the right side drum and found the trailing shoe pin had also rusted off. They replaced all four pin, spring, spring retainer assemblies. I had had four new tires put on the day before by Expert Tire in Augusta the day before and the lug nuts were torqued wrong and the tires were inflated seven PSI too much, so they retorqued all four wheels and put in the correct tire pressure.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$100

Response from ACAR
Thanks for taking the time to fill out a survey for us, about your service experience.

    Contact information

    316 State St, Augusta, ME 04330

    http://www.acar.biz

    Service hours

    Monday:
    7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
    Tuesday:
    7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
    Wednesday:
    7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
    Thursday:
    7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
    Friday:
    7:30 AM - 5:30 PM

    Licensing

    Bonded

    Insured

    No License Required for Trade

    Eco-friendly Accreditations

    LEED Accredited Professional
    No
    Energy Star Partner
    No
    EPA Lead-Safe Certified
    No
    Use Green Products or Work Practices
    Yes
    State Contractor License Requirements

    All statements concerning insurance, licenses, and bonds are informational only, and are self-reported. Since insurance, licenses and bonds can expire and can be cancelled, homeowners should always check such information for themselves. To find more licensing information for your state, visit our State Contractor License Requirements page.

    *Contact business to see additional licenses.


    Service Categories

    Auto Service,
    Auto Mufflers,
    Auto Inspections,
    Auto Radiators,
    Basement Waterproofing,
    Auto Tires

    FAQ

    ACAR is currently rated 4.4 overall out of 5.

    Monday: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM

    Tuesday: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM

    Wednesday: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM

    Thursday: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM

    Friday: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM

    ACAR accepts the following forms of payment: American Express,Check,Discover,MasterCard,Visa
    No, ACAR does not offer free project estimates.
    Yes, ACAR offers eco-friendly accreditations.
    No, ACAR does not offer a senior discount.
    No, ACAR does not offer emergency services.
    Yes, ACAR offers warranties.
    ACAR offers the following services: Automotive Repair. Preventative Maintenance. Front End & Cooling System Services. Drive Trains. Computer Diagnostics. Brakes.

    Contact information

    316 State St, Augusta, ME 04330

    http://www.acar.biz

    Service hours

    Monday:
    7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
    Tuesday:
    7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
    Wednesday:
    7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
    Thursday:
    7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
    Friday:
    7:30 AM - 5:30 PM