Forest Automotive

4.4(
9
)

Auto Service, Auto Inspections, Motorcycle Service,

... +5 more

About us

Forest Automotive is an independent auto service and repair facility, located in the heart of Forest, Virginia on Thomas Jefferson Road. A licensed Virginia State Inspection Station, we service and repair all makes and models of both domestic and import vehicles & light duty trucks. We also offer competitive pricing on tire and alignment services and provide full parts and labor warranties. We are a NAPA AutoCare center and employ ASE-certified technicians. Family owned and operated since 1997, our goal is to always provide friendly, top-quality service. We want our customers to be fully-satisfied so they are willing to recommend us to others. You may also know us as “Forest Auto Sleigh Repair.” Each year, Dave lights up our building and grounds with tens of thousands of Christmas lights. Beginning work each October, he tries to finish in time for Thanksgiving. What began as a friendly competition with the local fire department across the street a decade ago has turned into a yearly tradition for the community. We hope you enjoy our display each year, and we love the positive feedback and support you provide.

Business highlights

28 years of trusted experience

Services we offer

Products/Services: Oil & Filter Change Services, Virginia State Inspections, Computer Updates & Diagnostics, Brakes, Fluid Flushes, Air Conditioning, Timing Belts, Drive Belts, Water Pumps, Motor & Transmission Replacement, Chassis & Suspension, Exhaust, Tire Sales, Tire Service, Tire Repair Brands: NAPA, BG, Goodyear, Michelin

Services we don't offer

Auto Body Services

Amenities

Free Estimates
Yes

Accepted payment methods

American Express
Check
Discover
MasterCard
Visa

Reviews

4.49 Reviews
Write a review
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
67%
4
0%
3
0%
2
11%
1
22%
Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.1
value
4.3
professionalism
4.5
responsiveness
4.3
punctuality
4.5
Write a review
Showing 1-9 of 9 reviews
scott B.
01/2016
5.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
unknown
Description of Work: Good honest garage. Have used them many times over the years.
Rating CategoryRating out of 5
Yes, I recommend this pro
Response from Forest Automotive
Thanks for your review and for your patronage over the years!
Douglas V.
01/2016
5.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
unknown
Description of Work: .
Rating CategoryRating out of 5
Yes, I recommend this pro
Response from Forest Automotive
Thanks [Member Name Removed]! We appreciate the positive feedback.
Peggy C.
08/2014
5.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
unknown
Description of Work: We have been taking our vehicles there for 14 years. We find them honest and fair. We are very satisfied with their work and will co tinue to ho there. They have performed major work as well as routine maintenance - so cost varies but is always reasonable and fair.
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
jack R.
06/2014
2.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
unknown
Description of Work: Replaced rear end with brand new parts of 2004 vehicle with only 45000 miles. It failed after one week. They fixed it on the second attempt. They also said my two ball joints were bad. Hard to believe they would fail with only 45000 miles. I will not go back there for any service work again. I will not recommend them to anyone.
Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
2.0
value
2.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
3.0
punctuality
3.0
$2,500
Response from Forest Automotive
Two years ago, our records indicate that the total cost on this date of three separate jobs on this vehicle was $1,906.61, not $2,500,00. The vehicle was brought in for wheel bearing noise and a check engine light. This repair price included: JOB 1: a requested wheel bearing noise diagnosis resulting in the replacement of two carrier & pinion bearings, along with axles and pinion seals. One bearing assembly was bad and its disintegrated metal had contaminated/run through the remaining bearings which were also replaced at our recommendation in order to avoid future failures of these components. JOB 2: a requested diagnosis of the check engine light and the subsequent authorized replacement of a stuck bank 2 sensor which was not allowing proper fuel control. JOB 3: a requested oil change service & VA state inspection, the replacement of two ball joints and a vehicle alignment. (One ball joint failed inspection and the other ball joint had excessive play so replacement was recommended & authorized to save costs on future alignment issues.) All repairs were based on requested service and fully authorized by the member. As indicated, the car returned for a follow-up repair a week later, but it was not due to system failure. It returned for a rear differential leak from a faulty pinion seal, which we replaced under full warranty and at zero cost to the member. We greatly apologize for the inconvenience of this follow-up warranty, though considering the amount of work done on the members vehicle, a small issue such as a seal leak would not be entirely uncommon. We are very happy to have met our customer guarantee which always offers peace of mind for a full 12 months after repairs. As far as the questioned excessive wear on low-mileage ball joints, this would result from various conditions outside of the member's control--and certainly outside of our control. Rough road conditions, the heavy vehicle weight, driving habits, vehicle design, etc. all contribute to the longevity and wear characteristics of any ball joint. Virginia State Inspection guidelines do not allow for noticeable play in ball joints as this is a serious safety concern. We are always agreeable to showing all wear items to customers for physical inspection prior to replacement or to giving customers their used parts.
Dale V.
04/2014
5.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
.Forest Auto has always been very professional and courteous with me. They suggest repairs/service that should be done and, if they are expensive, how soon the problem needs action. This gives you time to budget repairs for my older cars. If the repair is not something they can handle, they are generous with providing suggestions of companies that can take care of the problem. Over the years I have experienced one problem when a new A/C failed shortly after installation. It was promptly replaced at no cost to me. I have complete confidence that Forest Auto will take care of my cars at a reasonable price, giving me honest answers to my questions and never gouging me with unneeded repairs.
Description of Work: Forest Auto has serviced all my vehicles for at least 6 years including state inspections, oil changes, new tires, etc.
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
Donna S.
07/2011
5.0
car inspections, auto repair
  + 0 more
Forest Automotive has been our go-to choice for EVERYTHING for our three vehicles (two of which are OLD!) for the past 8 years. They have found replacement parts for our ancient, high-mileage, beloved Subaru and our antique Toyota pickup. A couple of times when we have experienced bizarre electrical situations, they have referred to a competent specialist. Despite a parking lot that is usually overflowing, they always work us in--and right away if it's an urgent situation. Whether it's for a routine state inspection or a quirky problem--these are the folks we always trust to take care of our cars!
Description of Work: This price is for inspection and repair to two OLD vehicles, our 1994 Subaru Legacy with 310,000+ miles and our 1986 Toyota pickup. Needless to say, these aging vehicles continue to have increasing and unique needs for keeping them road-worthy, and Forest Automotive never fails to get the job done. This time, the truck, among other things, needed a replacement headlight housing, since the original was starting to deteriorate. Needless to say, finding such a part is no small task, but Forest Automotive always comes through!
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
$165
christy B.
04/2011
1.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
We left our suv with Forest Automotive to have a repair done and they had to order a part.They left it outside over the weekend with a ladder on top and called us Monday morning to let us know that someone had stolen the $500.00 brand new tires and the factory chrome wheels off of it. When the owner called he said well you didnt have nice wheels anyway and acted like it was no big deal. When we left the vehicle in their care we assumed that it would be kept inside the garage when the business was closed and never thought it wouldnt be safe. They told us they had no insurance for that sort of thing and there was nothing that they could do. What amazed me was the lack of compassion from the owner. He said well at least they left it on blocks for you like the theives did us a favor. I do not recommend using this business that does not care about their customers.
Description of Work: We left our suv with Forest Automotive to have a repair done and they had to order a part.They left it outside over the weekend with a ladder on top and called us Monday morning to let us know that someone had stolen the $500.00 brand new tires & the factory chrome wheels off of it. So we had to call a tow company to take it to a highly respected, bonded and insured automotive repair company.
Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
1.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0
Response from Forest Automotive
Vehicles are garaged overnight if requested, but this is not an automatic policy since many customers prefer to have access to their vehicles in case they want to use them over the weekend or access their property. This vehicle was locked and left in a parking lot with light motion detectors. The member was a new customer waiting for a part on a pricey repair, so unfortunately, we had not yet established a relationship of trust with the owner. The circumstances surrounding the alleged theft were highly suspicious since it would be unusual for thieves to carefully place a vehicle on blocks when stealing wheels or leave a valuable ladder & portable GPS sitting within view. It would also be unusual to steal standard/stock wheels & tires such as these or to leave all other nearby vehicles untouched. We cooperated with the police in helping the member file a report but could not cover the claim or offer a free repair to offset the loss due to the unusual circumstances. We apologize if we seemed to lack compassion as demands were made of us in this situation, but we honestly believed that we were being set up. The fact that new wheels & tires appeared within three hours of notifying the member that their vehicle was missing wheels supported this feeling. It was driven off the lot, not towed as the member indicates. We are indeed sorry for the entire incident.
karen A.
10/2010
5.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
Called and got appt. on the day I wanted to bring in the car. I was greeted by name, as I have been a customer for at least 5 years. I have always been treated professionally and courteously. The car was taken in at the appointed time, and about 30 minutes later it was ready. I have recommended Forest Automotive to many of my friends.
Description of Work: Lube, oil, & filter change. They also topped off the fluids, checked hoses & belts, rotated tires, checked tire pressure, checked for fluid leaks, checked brakes, bettery, terminals, axles & boots, steering components, exhaust system
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
Stan K.
10/2009
1.0
auto repair
  + -1 more
They told me that they thought it might be the spark plug wires, and recommended a full tune up, at a cost of over $800. They also told me that they weren't sure that was the actual problem, and that they might have to do additional work after that. I wasn't willing to pay that much, so I had the truck towed to another mechanic I had used in the past. He just replaced the battery at a cost of about $125, and the truck has run great since then. The other mechanic told me the battery just wasn't producing enough juice to power the computer that runs the entire electrical system, so it wouldn't even crank
Description of Work: The engine on my 1997 Chev S10 died about a mile from my house. I had it towed to Forest Automitive because it was the closest facility. The starter motor would crank, but the motor wouldn't turn over.
Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
1.0
value
1.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0
punctuality
1.0
Response from Forest Automotive
After being towed in, the member's vehicle cranked, started & ran roughly for us under numerous attempts to duplicate the customer's no-start condition. Because the vehicle cranked well for the technician, a battery was not recommended. A tune-up was suggested to fix the poor run condition due to the worn components of the primary & secondary ignition system of an older vehicle (tune-up parts), but not as a fix for a starting problem we could not duplicate. Our error seems to have been one of communication if the member thought we were suggesting a tune-up to fix a no crank/no start condition. A complete tune-up for this vehicle typically runs $300 to $400 and was suggested to repair the rough running symptoms. After extensive cranking by the customer & then our technician, it makes sense that the battery would be depleted & need replacement, but battery power was not an issue while the vehicle was in our possession since we were always able to get it running.

    Contact information

    1033 Rustic Village Rd, Forest, VA 24551

    http://www.forestautomotive.net

    Service hours

    Monday:
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Tuesday:
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Wednesday:
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Thursday:
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Friday:
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Licensing

    Insured
    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 Inspections,
    Motorcycle Service,
    Computer Repair,
    Auto Radiators,
    Auto Transmission,
    Auto Tires,
    Auto Mufflers

    FAQ

    Forest Automotive is currently rated 4.4 overall out of 5.

    Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Forest Automotive accepts the following forms of payment: American Express,Check,Discover,MasterCard,Visa
    Yes, Forest Automotive offers free project estimates.
    No, Forest Automotive does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
    No, Forest Automotive does not offer a senior discount.
    No, Forest Automotive does not offer emergency services.
    No, Forest Automotive does not offer warranties.
    Forest Automotive offers the following services: Products/Services: Oil & Filter Change Services, Virginia State Inspections, Computer Updates & Diagnostics, Brakes, Fluid Flushes, Air Conditioning, Timing Belts, Drive Belts, Water Pumps, Motor & Transmission Replacement, Chassis & Suspension, Exhaust, Tire Sales, Tire Service, Tire Repair Brands: NAPA, BG, Goodyear, Michelin
    Auto Body Services

    Contact information

    1033 Rustic Village Rd, Forest, VA 24551

    http://www.forestautomotive.net

    Service hours

    Monday:
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Tuesday:
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Wednesday:
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Thursday:
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Friday:
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM