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The Highest Rated Auto Repair in Modesto

Ranked by the rating and review count on each listing, not by who pays us. Nobody pays us.

  1. New City Auto Glass Mobile Services★ 5.0202 reviews · Specialty
  2. DKN America's Body Shop★ 5.0113 reviews · Body Shop
  3. Performance Automotive★ 5.036 reviews · Repair Shop
  4. J & T Automotive★ 5.035 reviews · Repair Shop
  5. VALLEY SMOG & TAGS★ 5.027 reviews · Smog Station

The best reviewed business in Modesto right now is New City Auto Glass Mobile Services, at 5.0 stars across 202 reviews. Every shop above clears 4.3 stars with at least 15 reviews behind it, which is the point where a rating starts meaning something. Plenty of shops hold five stars on four reviews. That is not the same thing.

Of the 122 businesses listed in Modesto, there are 21 that will come to you, 62 with a workshop you drive to, 11 body and collision shops and 13 tire shops. None has been claimed by its owner yet, so the hours and phone numbers come from public records. An unclaimed listing is not a worse business. It just means we built the record and nobody has corrected it yet.

Map of Mechanics in Modesto

121 pinned locations · open the full MechanicRank map →

All Auto Repair and Mobile Mechanics in Modesto

122 independent businesses in our directory.

Shops in Modesto

Each photograph comes from that business's own website, not a stock library.

New City Auto Glass Mobile Services in Modesto
New City Auto Glass Mobile Services photo from newcityautoglass.com
Shine Auto Glass – Mobile Windshield Repair Modesto in Modesto
Shine Auto Glass – Mobile Windshield Repair Modesto photo from lh3.googleusercontent.com
Mobile Truck Tire & Roadside Service in Modesto
Mobile Truck Tire & Roadside Service photo from lh3.googleusercontent.com
Campbell's Mobile RV & Service Repair in Modesto
Campbell's Mobile RV & Service Repair photo from campbellsrvservice.com
Modesto Mobile Auto Glass Specialist in Modesto
Modesto Mobile Auto Glass Specialist photo from indshieldrepairmodesto.com
DKN America's Body Shop in Modesto
DKN America's Body Shop photo from dknamericasbodyshop.com

Getting a Car Fixed in Modesto

Independent shops in California usually charge $120 to $175 an hour for labor, which is above the national average. A quote is the book time for the job times that rate, plus parts. At California rates, a brake pad replacement runs about $145 to $410 and a water pump replacement runs about $360 to $1,050 for a midsize car.

Of the 117 Modesto listings that post their hours, 61 open on Saturday and 21 on Sunday. 27 open before 8 AM on weekdays, which helps if you need to drop the car off before work.

100 businesses in Modesto have at least 15 reviews, enough for a rating to mean something, and 75 of those hold 4.5 stars or better. Half of them have 87 or more reviews. A shop with a long history and a 4.6 is a safer call than a perfect 5.0 from a handful of people.

For work a general shop may turn away, Modesto has 1 diesel specialist, 6 transmission shops, 11 body and collision shops, 13 tire shops, 11 smog and emissions stations, 2 RV and trailer shops and 2 heavy duty and fleet shops. Call ahead with the year, make and model so you do not waste a trip.

Gas, hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles from 1976 and newer, and diesel vehicles from 1998 and newer, need a smog check every two years when the DMV renewal notice asks for one. Gas and hybrid vehicles 8 model years old or newer pay a smog abatement fee instead, and electric vehicles are exempt. A smog check is also needed when most vehicles are sold and when a vehicle from another state is first registered in California. Details are on the California Bureau of Automotive Repair site. Auto shops must be registered with the Bureau of Automotive Repair, must give an estimate, and cannot start work until the customer approves it. Customers can get replaced parts back if they ask before approving the repairs, and the shop must give a final itemized invoice. Read the rule.

Owning a Car in Modesto

90Days a Year at 90°F or Hotter
12Nights a Year at or Below Freezing
12Inches of Rain a Year
30Minute Average Commute
1.96Cars per Household
6%Households With No Car
75%Drive to Work Alone

Modesto sees about 90 days a year at 90°F or hotter, and 18 of them reach 100°F. Heat wears a battery out faster than cold does, so a battery that seems fine in spring can quit in August. Get it tested once it is three years old. Heat also works the AC, the cooling fan and the coolant hard, and those jobs pile up in the first hot weeks of the year.

The average commute in Modesto is 30 minutes each way, and 75% of workers drive there alone. Long commutes add miles fast, so oil changes and brakes come due sooner than the calendar says.

Sources, checked October 13, 2026

  • Weather: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station Modesto City Co Airport
  • Households and commutes: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, Modesto city

Pre-Purchase Inspections in Modesto

Buying a used car in Modesto? PPI Auto, our sister company, sends an inspector to the car for $225 on most cars, pickups and SUVs. That is a 122 point check with a full scan and a road test, and the report comes back the same day. Dealer lot, private seller or auction, it works the same.

The nearest PPI Auto city is Stockton, about 27 miles away, and inspectors drive out to Modesto.

Parts of California require an emissions test. Ask the seller for the last test report, and if the check engine light is on, walk away until someone has read the code.

Questions About Auto Repair in Modesto

How many auto repair businesses are there in Modesto?

We list 122 in Modesto, CA. That covers mobile mechanics, workshops, diesel and heavy duty specialists, body shops and tire shops. Every one has its own page with the phone number, what they work on and the reviews we have found.

Who is the best rated mechanic in Modesto?

New City Auto Glass Mobile Services currently holds the highest rating in Modesto at 5.0 stars from 202 reviews. New City Auto Glass Mobile Services, DKN America's Body Shop, Performance Automotive are the top three by rating among businesses with a real review history behind them. We rank on the ratings themselves and nobody can pay to appear there.

Are there mobile mechanics in Modesto?

Yes. 21 of the businesses we list in Modesto will travel to you rather than making you bring the car in. That covers most servicing, brakes, batteries, diagnostics and plenty of repairs that do not need a lift.

How much do mechanics charge per hour in Modesto?

Independent shops in California usually bill $120 to $175 an hour for labor. The national range is $95 to $140. Dealers charge more. Most quotes are the book time for the job times that rate, plus parts, so ask the shop how many hours it is billing you for.

Does California require a car inspection?

Gas, hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles from 1976 and newer, and diesel vehicles from 1998 and newer, need a smog check every two years when the DMV renewal notice asks for one. Gas and hybrid vehicles 8 model years old or newer pay a smog abatement fee instead, and electric vehicles are exempt. A smog check is also needed when most vehicles are sold and when a vehicle from another state is first registered in California.

Are any mechanics in Modesto open on Sunday?

Yes. 21 of the businesses we list in Modesto show Sunday hours, including VALLEY SMOG & TAGS, Mobile Truck Tire & Roadside Service and Automotive Service Specialists. Call first, because Sunday hours are often short and some only take emergencies.

How do I know a shop in Modesto is trustworthy?

Look at the review count as well as the stars, because five stars from four people tells you very little. None of the 122 listings in Modesto has been claimed yet, so call to confirm hours and what the shop works on. Auto shops must be registered with the Bureau of Automotive Repair, must give an estimate, and cannot start work until the customer approves it. Customers can get replaced parts back if they ask before approving the repairs, and the shop must give a final itemized invoice. Get the quote in writing before any work starts.

Does it cost more to use a mobile mechanic in Modesto?

Usually not. 21 of the businesses in Modesto come to you, and with no building to pay for, they often charge a bit less than a shop. What they cannot do in a driveway is work that needs a lift or a press, so heavy jobs still go to a shop.

How does the heat in Modesto affect my car?

Modesto averages about 90 days a year at 90°F or hotter. Heat wears out batteries faster than cold does, and it is hard on the AC, the cooling system and tires. Test the battery every year once it is three years old and have the AC checked before summer.

Can I get a pre-purchase inspection in Modesto?

Yes. PPI Auto, our sister company, inspects used cars in Modesto for $225 on most cars, pickups and SUVs. The inspector comes to the car, runs a 122 point check and sends the report the same day. Call 951-267-8500 to book.

How do I check a mechanic's license in Modesto?

In California anyone paid to diagnose or repair cars must be registered with the Bureau of Automotive Repair as an Automotive Repair Dealer, and the number starts with ARD. You can look any shop up by name or number on the state's license search at search.dca.ca.gov. 66 of the 122 listings in Modesto show a BAR number on their MechanicRank page, linked to that lookup. If a shop will not give you its ARD number, take the car somewhere that will.

Why do some Modesto listings have photos and others do not?

100 of the 122 listings in Modesto show a photo or logo. They come from the owner, from the business's own website, or from our own jobs for Supercanic locations. We never put a stock or AI photo on someone else's business. Owners can claim their listing free and add their own.

How does MechanicRank check the mechanics in Modesto?

We call, text and email the businesses we list to confirm their details, and listings whose numbers turn out to be dead come off the directory. Nobody can pay to rank higher.

Why use MechanicRank to find a mechanic in Modesto?

Because we work with these mechanics, not just list them. Besides checking listings, we run free study guides and certification exams for mechanics, publish repair cost guides by state, and give shops software to send written quotes and invoices. 21 of the Modesto listings come to you, 121 carry a rating with the review count beside it, and the order on this page follows the published rules on our How We Rank page.

How this page was made

This page lists 122 auto repair businesses in Modesto, CA. We built it from business details and ratings from each Google Business Profile, owner claims and uploads, license numbers from owners and the state license board, California repair and inspection rules from the state agency and Census and NOAA figures for the local car ownership section. We call, text and email the businesses to keep it right, and take listings down when a number goes dead.

Why trust it: no business pays to be listed or to rank, the order follows our published rules, and every count on this page is counted from the listings below. 100 show a photo or logo, 66 show a license number (66 checked against California's BAR) and 0 have been confirmed by the owner.

Mechanics in Nearby Cities

No luck in Modesto? A mobile mechanic from the next town over will often make the trip. See all 705 cities in California.

What Car Repairs Cost in Modesto, CA

Typical independent shop prices at California labor rates, parts and labor, for a midsize car. Each guide shows the price for your vehicle and what to ask before you pay. See all 91 repair cost guides.

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