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Service Types 8

The Highest Rated Auto Repair in Des Moines

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

  1. 2020 Auto Glass★ 5.0230 reviews · Specialty
  2. Anywhere Auto Repair Des Moines Iowa★ 5.0185 reviews · Repair Shop
  3. J&J TRAILER & WELDING SERVICES DESMOINES L.L.C★ 5.0167 reviews · RV/Trailer
  4. McCannic's Garage★ 5.0112 reviews · Repair Shop
  5. O&G Tire Services LLC -Se Habla Español★ 5.040 reviews · Tire Shop

The best reviewed business in Des Moines right now is 2020 Auto Glass, at 5.0 stars across 230 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 43 businesses listed in Des Moines, there are 8 that will come to you, 21 with a workshop you drive to, 3 body and collision shops, 3 RV and trailer shops and 3 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 Des Moines

43 pinned locations · open the full MechanicRank map →

All Auto Repair and Mobile Mechanics in Des Moines

43 independent businesses in our directory.

Shops in Des Moines

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

Freedom Roadside & Mobile Repair in Des Moines
Freedom Roadside & Mobile Repair photo from freedomroadsideia.com
2020 Auto Glass in Des Moines
2020 Auto Glass photo from 2020autoglassdesmoines.com
McCannic's Garage in Des Moines
McCannic's Garage photo from mccannicsgarage.com
Juans AutoBody and Detailing in Des Moines
Juans AutoBody and Detailing photo from juansautobody.com
Mobility Auto Repair, LLC in Des Moines
Mobility Auto Repair, LLC photo from mobility-auto-repair.com
Ace Body & Motor in Des Moines
Ace Body & Motor photo from acebodyandmotor.com

Getting a Car Fixed in Des Moines

Independent shops in Iowa usually charge $85 to $120 an hour for labor, which is below the national average. A quote is the book time for the job times that rate, plus parts. At Iowa rates, an alternator replacement runs about $265 to $750 and a starter replacement runs about $235 to $700 for a midsize car.

Of the 42 Des Moines listings that post their hours, 18 open on Saturday and 14 on Sunday. 24 open before 8 AM on weekdays, which helps if you need to drop the car off before work.

36 businesses in Des Moines have at least 15 reviews, enough for a rating to mean something, and 31 of those hold 4.5 stars or better. Half of them have 123 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, Des Moines has 1 transmission shop, 3 body and collision shops, 3 tire shops, 3 RV and trailer shops and 6 heavy duty and fleet shops. Call ahead with the year, make and model so you do not waste a trip.

Iowa does not require periodic safety or emissions inspections for passenger cars. The Iowa DOT inspects vehicles only for titling cases, such as a car bought out of state with only a registration as proof of ownership. Details are on the Iowa Department of Transportation site. Iowa's Motor Vehicle Service Trade Practices Act gives customers the right to a written or oral estimate when repairs will cost more than $50. The bill cannot go over the estimate by more than 10 percent unless the customer approves a higher amount before repairs are finished. Read the rule.

Owning a Car in Des Moines

22Days a Year at 90°F or Hotter
128Nights a Year at or Below Freezing
36Inches of Rain a Year
36Inches of Snow a Year
20Minute Average Commute
1.71Cars per Household
9%Households With No Car
71%Drive to Work Alone

Summers here bring about 22 days at 90°F or hotter. That is enough to finish off a tired battery or a weak AC compressor, so get both checked in spring rather than on the first hot day.

Lows drop to freezing on about 128 nights a year. Cold is when a weak battery finally fails, because a cold engine takes more power to turn over. Des Moines averages 36 inches of snow, and road salt eats brake lines, exhaust and the underside of the car. Rinse the underbody through the winter and have the brake lines looked at whenever the car is up on a lift.

The average commute in Des Moines is 20 minutes each way, and 71% of workers drive there alone.

Sources, checked October 13, 2026

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

Pre-Purchase Inspections in Des Moines

Buying a used car in Des Moines? 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.

There are 163 car lots within 8 miles of Des Moines, and 142 of them sell used. PPI Auto grades 99 of them A to F from their reviews, and 18 get an F. See the Des Moines dealer grades before you go look at a car.

Iowa has no regular safety or emissions inspection, so unless the last owner paid for one, nobody has looked under that car.

Questions About Auto Repair in Des Moines

How many auto repair businesses are there in Des Moines?

We list 43 in Des Moines, IA. 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 Des Moines?

2020 Auto Glass currently holds the highest rating in Des Moines at 5.0 stars from 230 reviews. 2020 Auto Glass, Anywhere Auto Repair Des Moines Iowa, J&J TRAILER & WELDING SERVICES DESMOINES L.L.C 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 Des Moines?

Yes. 8 of the businesses we list in Des Moines 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 Des Moines?

Independent shops in Iowa usually bill $85 to $120 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 Iowa require a car inspection?

Iowa does not require periodic safety or emissions inspections for passenger cars. The Iowa DOT inspects vehicles only for titling cases, such as a car bought out of state with only a registration as proof of ownership.

Are any mechanics in Des Moines open on Sunday?

Yes. 14 of the businesses we list in Des Moines show Sunday hours, including Anywhere Auto Repair Des Moines Iowa, J&J TRAILER & WELDING SERVICES DESMOINES L.L.C and Freedom Roadside & Mobile Repair. Call first, because Sunday hours are often short and some only take emergencies.

How do I know a shop in Des Moines 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 43 listings in Des Moines has been claimed yet, so call to confirm hours and what the shop works on. Iowa's Motor Vehicle Service Trade Practices Act gives customers the right to a written or oral estimate when repairs will cost more than $50. The bill cannot go over the estimate by more than 10 percent unless the customer approves a higher amount before repairs are finished. Get the quote in writing before any work starts.

Does it cost more to use a mobile mechanic in Des Moines?

Usually not. 8 of the businesses in Des Moines 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 winter in Des Moines affect my car?

Des Moines gets about 128 nights a year at or below freezing and 36 inches of snow. Cold exposes a weak battery, and salted roads rust brake lines and exhaust parts. Test the battery in the fall and rinse the underbody in winter.

Can I get a pre-purchase inspection in Des Moines?

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

Ask the shop for any state or city license it holds and get the estimate in writing before work starts. None of the 43 listings in Des Moines has given us a license number yet. Rules differ by state, so check with Iowa's consumer protection office if a shop's answer sounds wrong.

Why do some Des Moines listings have photos and others do not?

18 of the 43 listings in Des Moines 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 Des Moines?

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 Des Moines?

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. 8 of the Des Moines listings come to you, 43 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 43 auto repair businesses in Des Moines, IA. We built it from business details and ratings from each Google Business Profile, owner claims and uploads, Iowa 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. 18 show a photo or logo, 0 show a license number and 0 have been confirmed by the owner.

Mechanics in Nearby Cities

No luck in Des Moines? A mobile mechanic from the next town over will often make the trip. See all 82 cities in Iowa.

What Car Repairs Cost in Des Moines, IA

Typical independent shop prices at Iowa 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 DES MOINES BUSINESSES

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