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The Highest Rated Auto Repair in Tulare

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

  1. J&D diesel diagnostics★ 5.091 reviews · Heavy Duty
  2. AA Auto Repair llc★ 5.065 reviews · Repair Shop
  3. Tulare Smog★ 5.021 reviews · Smog Station
  4. Truck & R.V Repair-Road Service and Tire★ 4.967 reviews · Heavy Duty
  5. Quarter Mile Smog and Auto Repair★ 4.964 reviews · Smog Station

The best reviewed business in Tulare right now is J&D diesel diagnostics, at 5.0 stars across 91 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 60 businesses listed in Tulare, there are 7 that will come to you, 22 with a workshop you drive to 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 Tulare

60 pinned locations Β· open the full MechanicRank map β†’

All Auto Repair and Mobile Mechanics in Tulare

60 independent businesses in our directory.

Shops in Tulare

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

A&F Truck Repair in Tulare
A&F Truck Repair photo from aftruckrepairs.com
WILLIAMS STREET RODS in Tulare
WILLIAMS STREET RODS photo from lh3.googleusercontent.com
Castellon Tires in Tulare
Castellon Tires photo from lh3.googleusercontent.com
Dann's Discount Auto Sales & Service - Tulare in Tulare
Dann's Discount Auto Sales & Service - Tulare photo from dannsdiscountautosales.com
Tulare Automotive Repair in Tulare
Tulare Automotive Repair photo from tulareautomotive.com
Linderos Auto Repair in Tulare
Linderos Auto Repair photo from lh3.googleusercontent.com

Getting a Car Fixed in Tulare

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 transmission fluid change runs about $145 to $420 and an oil change runs about $70 to $180 for a midsize car.

Of the 57 Tulare listings that post their hours, 36 open on Saturday and 17 on Sunday. 20 open before 8 AM on weekdays, which helps if you need to drop the car off before work.

44 businesses in Tulare have at least 15 reviews, enough for a rating to mean something, and 33 of those hold 4.5 stars or better. Half of them have 85 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, Tulare has 2 diesel specialists, 2 body and collision shops, 13 tire shops, 6 smog and emissions stations, 2 RV and trailer shops and 10 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 Tulare

95Days a Year at 90Β°F or Hotter
10Inches of Rain a Year
23Minute Average Commute
2.12Cars per Household
4%Households With No Car
83%Drive to Work Alone

Tulare sees about 95 days a year at 90Β°F or hotter, and 11 of them reach 100Β°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.

Only about 10 inches of rain fall in a year, so it is sun, not water, that ages a car here. Rubber parts, wiper blades and dashboards crack sooner.

The average commute in Tulare is 23 minutes each way, and 83% of workers drive there alone.

Sources, checked October 13, 2026

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

Pre-Purchase Inspections in Tulare

Buying a used car in Tulare? 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 Fresno, about 45 miles away, and inspectors drive out to Tulare.

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 Tulare

How many auto repair businesses are there in Tulare?

We list 60 in Tulare, 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 Tulare?

J&D diesel diagnostics currently holds the highest rating in Tulare at 5.0 stars from 91 reviews. J&D diesel diagnostics, AA Auto Repair llc, Tulare Smog 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 Tulare?

Yes. 7 of the businesses we list in Tulare 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 Tulare?

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 Tulare open on Sunday?

Yes. 17 of the businesses we list in Tulare show Sunday hours, including Tulare Smog, A&F Truck Repair and Tulare Truck & Trailer Repair. Call first, because Sunday hours are often short and some only take emergencies.

How do I know a shop in Tulare 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 60 listings in Tulare 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 Tulare?

Usually not. 7 of the businesses in Tulare 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 Tulare affect my car?

Tulare averages about 95 days a year at 90Β°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 Tulare?

Yes. PPI Auto, our sister company, inspects used cars in Tulare 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 Tulare?

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. 30 of the 60 listings in Tulare 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 Tulare listings have photos and others do not?

28 of the 60 listings in Tulare 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 Tulare?

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 Tulare?

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. 7 of the Tulare listings come to you, 55 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 60 auto repair businesses in Tulare, 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. 28 show a photo or logo, 30 show a license number (30 checked against California's BAR) and 0 have been confirmed by the owner.

Mechanics in Nearby Cities

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

What Car Repairs Cost in Tulare, 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.

FOR TULARE BUSINESSES

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