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THE CAR DOCTOR

About us

The Car Doctor isn't your typical full-service repair shop. We've been part of the Northern Virginia community for over 30 years. For years, we have taken pride in giving you the best possible customer service in a modern, well-equipped shop. That same kind of service pride continues today. We specialize in both foreign and domestic cars. Our ASE Certified Technicians will work with you and assure unmatched customer satisfaction. Our waiting area is comfortable too. You can even sit outside and enjoy a fresh cup of coffee, and use our free Wi-Fi while you wait. There's no other doctor in town that can beat us when it comes to servicing your vehicle. When you visit us, you'll rest assured that your vehicle will be repaired right - the first time. Please contact us for more information about our service. We are located at 7714 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042. Please call us at 703-560-8870 to set up an appointment or click here. You can also get driving directions and hours of service from our user friendly website.

Business highlights

47 years of experience

Services we offer

000 miles, 000 miles; 15, 000 miles; 30, 000-7, 000; 60, Air Conditioning Service, Battery Checking, Belts, Brake Work, Complete Exhaust Systems, Computer diagnostics, Engine Diagnostics and Testing, Extended Warranty Services, Front End Alignments, Fuel System and Air Induction Service, Hoses and Related Fluids, Oil and Filter Changes, Routine Maintenance, Shocks and Struts, Suspension System, Transmission Service, WE BACK OUR WORK 100% GUARANTEE Scheduled Maintenance Service: 3

Accepted Payment Methods

  • CreditCard
Reviews
4.838 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
89%
4
3%
3
5%
2
3%
1
0%
Showing 1-25 of 38 reviews
KATHARINE K.
Jan 2020
3.0
$67
Warning - Under New Management! I have trusted Steve at Car Doctor for years to be honest about what repairs my car needed, and to quote a fair price for the work. I was disappointed not to find him at the service desk when I took my car in for scheduled maintenance. I was also surprised to be handed a list of repairs totalling $2,500 that were supposedly needed - after Steve had told me at the last oil change that the car looked good. I took the car to another shop, and was told most of the list was not needed yet, and was quoted lower prices for those that were needed. Won't be going back to Car Doctor any time soon!
Response from THE CAR DOCTOR
"[Member Name Removed], I understand your frustration with the experience that you had with us last time you were in. I apologize that you had a poor experience with us. We strive to provide the top level and quality of service and understand that we fell short in your expectation. However, as automotive service professionals it is our job to provide you with a complete overview of your vehicle including all services that may be recommended and may have not already been performed on your vehicle. We always let you know up front what is essential and what is recommended to be performed on your vehicle based on the time and mileage. We perform a digital vehicle health inspection so that you can see exactly what we see under the car, and also see a definitive reason why we may have made certain recommendations on your vehicle. I apologize that we did not do a sufficient job on thoroughly explaining the reasons behind why we recommended certain services on your vehicle. Ultimately you as the customer are the final say on what we will do to your vehicle. I personally would love the opportunity to earn your trust and business again, and if you have any more feedback I personally would like to take the time to hear it. Please give me a call to discuss at 703-560-8870. Best, Matt General Manager The Car Doctor"

Daniel R.
Jan 2017
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
unknown

Tracy B.
Mar 2016
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$500
Steve was awesome.  He was quick to respond to every inquiry.  He called me to explain everything and get my approval before doing anything outside of the original scope.  He did not try and sell up any unnecessary work and gave me a heads up on things that I would probably need to get done down the road.  I felt like I knew him for a long time and trusted him.  I would highly recommend this place!! :)

Paul C.
Feb 2016
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
unknown

Andrew C.
Dec 2015
5.0
unknown

Charlotte M.
Oct 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Their service is excellent and always great.

Dawn S.
Jul 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
unknown

Jacqueline L.
Mar 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$52
I use Car Doctor for both my cars since I found them on Angie's List. Steve is outstanding and the mechanics are second to none. I have taken my cars in there for the strangest things and they can always figure out what's wrong with them. This time I did a little research on my own and found out that the buzzing noise above my head was a faulty Ambient Air Temperature Sensor. I purchased one on line thinking I could put it in. The thing was driving me nuts. Anyway, when I received the part yesterday and saw how to put it in I chickened out. I was worried an airbag would blow up in my face. Knowing I had to drive the car for a roadtrip coming up, I went in and asked Steve for help. I usually wouldn't do that, I usually make an appointment, but I thought it was better asking for help than putting my fist through the roof and breaking my hand (yes it was that annoying). Steve helped me out. He asked his mechanic (I have forgotten his name, but he is also a really nice and smart guy) if he could see if he could figure out how to replace the part. AND HE DID!!! Thank you so much for getting rid of that annoying noise. It's nice to know I can ALWAYS count on you guys. Thank you Angie's List for helping me find service providers like Car Doctor in Falls Church!!!!

Jason M.
Dec 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
As I mentioned above, the Car Doctor gave me an estimate, over the phone, to complete the repairs on my car, identified by Ourisman Fairfax Toyota, for significantly less than Toyota. Needless to say, I made an appointment with The Car Doctor to complete the work. Saving $603 dollars was motivation enough not to have the work done at Ourisman Fairfax Toyota. I took my car to The Car Doctor and dropped it off. About four hours later, The Car Doctor (Steve) called me to say they looked at everything I mentioned over the phone and my car didn't need ANY REPAIRS AT ALL! Steve looked at everything himself. He said he saw a drop of oil coming from my oil pan but it would be a stretch to call it a leak and that I could probably go another 20k-30k miles before it would need to be addressed. He had no idea why the dealership said I needed all of those repairs. Even more, he didn't charge me a thing for the second opinion. I was totally prepared to pay $925 to get everything fixed. I'm sure Ourisman Fairfax Toyota could claim they are the experts and why should I trust The Car Doctor? To that, I could easily ask them what motivation The Car Doctor would have to tell me there is nothing wrong with my car? The Car Doctor could easily have taken advantage of me and collected their $925. Being reviewed on Angie's List, they have all the incentive in the world to give me a correct diagnosis of what is and what is NOT wrong with my car. Their A rating, by multiple reviewers, also gives me confidence in their analysis. I'm just so dumbfounded by this experience and will never take my car to Ourisman Fairfax Toyota for anything ever again. I may not ever purchase a Toyota again because of this. I will also take my car to The Car Doctor for all necessary services from this point forward. Thank you Car Doctor for proving there are some honest mechanics left in the world. 

Yannick S.
Nov 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$660
I had an unusual issue with a rear alignment completely off chart
leading to premature wear of a tire. The stealership failed to spot it
at the regular maintenance (hence a tire trashed..) and then recommended
to change the most expansive suspension part for double the price of
Steve's screw. Steve's mechanics spotted that there was a different part
that was bent which was partly the reason for this issue. At the end,
we had to change three parts of the rear suspension but it cost roughly
the same as the stealership for one single part. The Car Doctor guys
really had the approach of a medic doing a step by step and detailed
diagnostic.
I also had the 60.000 service done there on this Acura 2011 MDX and
prices were at least 30% less than the stealership

Richard W.
Oct 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,900
Got an estimate from Car Doctor about 1/2 of what dealership wanted to charge. Working with Steve on getting an estimate and the work done was a pleasure. The work was done within the estimated time and price. I will definitely bring my car back to Car Doctor.

Vickie R.
Jul 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$485
unknown

Lisa G.
Jul 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$178
The latest replacement of the O2 sensor was quick and painless as have been most every repair I've had done at the Car Doctor.  I have been using Car Doctor for many years for the care of my first Honda, a 1994 Prelude as well as the 2001 Prelude that I currently own.  Needless to say, 2001 Prelude is an old car and they have been honest and forthcoming on the possible areas of failure that I should except with this Honda. Never have I been pushed to get service that I did not need, and for a single woman that is appreciated. To be clear, the work is well done, and the mechanics are very knowledgable--as are many in this area.  I find the deciding factor that makes me return time and again is being treated fairly and with honesty. 
Steve, the front man, is an asset to this shop and inspires confidence in his recommendations and clearly acts in the best interest of his customers. The Car Doctor is a family owned business and I am glad they have thrived all these years.
Response from THE CAR DOCTOR
"Thank you so much for your kind words. We really appreciate them. We know your time is important so we are always extremely grateful when someone takes there own time to give us feed back. Thanks again, The Car Doctor Team"

Soumitra D.
Jul 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
I left the vehicle for the entire day . I visited 2 days prior to july 4th , as a result they were under pressure. But the turn around was good . Assured me every thing is allright and I was good to go.

Nora W.
Jun 2014
3.0
$140
Since moving to Falls Church from Arlington last year, we've been searching for a reliable local car repair shop. We used the Car Doctor a few months ago for our annual inspection and were OK with the service, though not overly impressed - they fixed several "little" things but had to send the car out to another shop for the actual inspection sticker, plus forgot to install the new wiper blades we were supposed to get. I was told I could bring the car back to have those installed, but didn't have time for another visit. Since my husband and I don't know much at all about cars, we couldn't be sure whether the things they'd done were needed, but since they have good reviews and are local we gave them the benefit of the doubt and decided to use them again and hope to build a relationship.A couple of weeks ago our car wouldn't start twice in two days. The second time we had AAA tow it to the Car Doctor. The Car Doctor folks didn't call us with the status of the check or work - we had to repeatedly call them. When we did speak, the employee (Steve?) was vague about what was going on with our car and seemed not to know what the problem was or how to fix it. They said it was driveable but had slow pick up, asked if we'd been noticing that problem - we hadn't! Then they recommended that we take it to a dealer (it's not under warranty) and have the computer checked for some dashboard messages that were coming on, saying it needed to be reset and only the dealer had the software. Meanwhile, a couple of days later I went to use the car again and again it was dead, so we'd spent about $500 at the Car Doctor and still had a non-working car and were no closer to knowing the reason.This week we took the car back to our old shop in Arlington even though it's quite a trek now, and within two hours they were on the phone with us explaining 5 issues in detail, giving us price estimates and recommendations. The car is running great. The Car Doctor was unable to diagnose or fix our problem and sent us off with a car that wouldn't work. A-One Auto was able to get it running in a day. Hence my low review for the Car Doctor!  Despite their proximity to our house, we won't be using them again and certainly won't recommend them.NOTE: Steve did call me after seeing this review and apologized for any miscommunication and issues in fixing our car. I appreciate his professionalism and the Car Doctor's other, much better reviews here on Angie's List (which led me to them in the first place) probably indicate that our experience was the exception rather than the rule. Hopefully others will have a better experience!

Jacqueline L.
Jan 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,500

This was really the best experience I have ever had with anyone concerning a car. Steve was upfront and honest. He never tried to scare me into getting things done that didn't need to be done. He explained EVERYTHING to me and the costs for replacement parts and labor. The whole experience was so positive it was really amazing. I am so happy with the service I received I have recommended him to several friends. This place is a jewel, and so is Steve. As long as Steve is there, I will remain a customer!!!



Michael W.
Oct 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$150
Came here on recommendation from a friend.  Have had them replace the muffler and exhaust manifold on my 1996 honda civic.  Both times I provided the part which they had no issue with.  The price was fair, they were fast (I waited for the car both times and they got the car in immediately, with appointment), professional and looks like they did a good job.  I looked over the work and they installed everything, replaced stripped hardware, torqued the bolts reasonably and did not damage my car.  Given what I've seen and experienced at other shops, I don't take that for granted!  Best repair shop experience I've had in the northern virginia area. 

Jennifer W.
Oct 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$175
I had been chasing an oil leak in my mother's Volvo for months with no luck. Car Doctor was able to not only find it, but repair it without adding in other items that may or may not have needed to be done. Honesty is a great thing to find these days!

Brett G.
Sep 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$200
This shop specializes in Hondas and they do great work.  I used this shop for almost 10 years when I had a civic and they were always honest and up front about the work.  I'm not sure how they do with other cars but if you have a Honda this is the place to go.

Patricia K.
Sep 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$150
I had previously used the Car Doctor for work on my '01 4Runner (regularly scheduled maintenance and oil changes), but when I was traveling out of the area I went to another drive through spot for an overdue oil change.  Big mistake.  They put the car on the lift wrong, warping the running boards, and over-torqued the lugnuts resulting in a broken wheel stud.  
I called Car Doctor to see if they could solve the problem and they fit me in the same day.  They replaced the broken stud, and fixed the running boards as best as they could.  They also examined the car for any additional structural damage, which gave me piece of mind once the work was completed.  I'd definitely return.

Navin P.
Sep 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$875
Car Doctor did great job! Customer service great and fast service. Maybe a little pricey, but job done well.

Shou W.
Aug 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$400
The Car Doctor did the work fast and almost 50% less than the quote from a dealer service department. 

Ann P.
Aug 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$45
The work was done quickly, efficiently, and at a reasonable price.  We've been going to Car Doctor for the past 15 years and I tell my wife that we will only buy cars that Car Doctor services because I finally found a repair place that I can completely trust.

Richard K.
Aug 2013
4.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$425
-The bottom line is that The Car Doctor fixed the problem.   They were responsive and professional.  They even found a used part that saved me money over a new one.   The only issue is that the cost of $425 seemed excessive, but I really don't know what a reasonable price would be.   I also found it interesting and unusual that they found 3 separate problems (a clock spring and multiple bulb replacements).   Did each cause my air bag light to flash (they didn't know for sure);  and if so, what are the odds that 3 separate problems occurred at the same time?  Regardless, I would go back to them again.

SERENA S.
Jul 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$200
great service.  honest people
Showing 1-25 of 38

Licensing

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FAQ

THE CAR DOCTOR is currently rated 4.8 overall out of 5.

THE CAR DOCTOR accepts the following forms of payment: CreditCard

No, THE CAR DOCTOR does not offer free project estimates.

No, THE CAR DOCTOR does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.

No, THE CAR DOCTOR does not offer a senior discount.

No, THE CAR DOCTOR does not offer emergency services.

No, THE CAR DOCTOR does not offer warranties.