DIA Automotive

Reviews

Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.

  Tammy Hopkins
3 days ago
I went in to have front/rear brake pads replaced. I was treated with the utmost respect and service was fast as well as reasonably priced. I will definitely return for any future work; I highly recommend this business. Thank you!!!

  ELTD Management
6 months ago
I have been taking my cars to DIA for over 10 years, a few times I have gone to other shops becasue they were closer or more convenient but I always regret it. Jarrett and his guys have always gone above and beyond for me and everyone I have ever referred to them. They have completed tons of small to medium jobs for me at fair prices, all the way up to basically a full drivetrain replacement on a warranty claim for me.Services: Transmission, Electrical repair, Tires, Steering & suspension repair, General repairs & maintenance, Steering & suspension replacement, Auto engine diagnostic, Engine repair, Vehicle Inspection, Wheel alignment, Brakes, A/C installation & repair, Air conditioning, Vehicle safety inspection, Brake service & repair, Auto maintenance, Oil change

  LANCE WRIGHT
3 years ago
I wanted to share my story as to why DIA earned every ounce of loyalty from me. I was on the hunt for a new mechanic shop after I got completely ripped off elsewhere where I lost a lot of money and was told I d have to drop thousands more for a fix I was convinced shouldn t be more than $800. I then stumbled upon DIA and I got my car fixed up perfectly and the price was under what I was expecting by a great deal. I am also slowly learning to play with my car more and I had been aspiring to put together a naturally aspirated build for my Saturn Sky. I then came back to DIA, trusting them with my car for my next mod project. I ve had 6 other shops try working on my car and EVERY single shop gave me my car back with something broken. Nobody knew how to take care of my car since it s not common and something always came back cracked, missing pieces, not put together right, and everything else under the sun.When I got my car back from DIA, not only was my car given back to me in the condition I left them with it, but I got the car back with an additional 25 whp and 8 more torque. Which was right smack in the middle of my estimated range of gained horsepower for a naturally aspirated build. I ve gone back to that shop I believe a few more times after that. This shop has the nicest family running the shop. The family inside are so nice, they genuinely take care of your car, and I m moving a bit further away soon, but you want to guess what shop I still plan to continue driving 40+ minutes away to go see every time? You guessed it, it s DIA. Seriously, they ve earned my trust.My friends have already noticed I am going to DIA for everything now. One buddy began taking his Toyota MR2 into that shop, my girlfriend will be dropping by early next year with a big list of mods she s bought for her 370z, and I d tell anyone else to go to DIA. Thank you so much for the help guys. I became paranoid giving my car to shops as I hated seeing metal bent, parts missing, cracked parts, and worse when dropping my car off with other shops. It s nice to know a local shop cares so much and does such high-quality work. I can t say thank you enough for making this man so stupidly proud of his old Saturn Sky.Services: Air & cabin filter replacement, Exhaust, Tires, Steering & suspension repair, Electrical, Body & Trim, Wheel alignment, Brakes, Brake service & repair

  Brandon Minter
7 months ago
I ve been here 3 times and it has been some problem every time. The first time I chose them because it was the closest to my house and the lady (Karen) that answered the phone was nice and seemed the most professional. Unfortunately, they did not have a certified mechanic to do a state inspection so I ended up having to get my truck inspected somewhere else anyways. No biggie. They were supposed to do an oil change, fix a horn issue, and the windshield wipers. Total ended up being $977.54 which was higher than anywhere else, but I needed to get it done. They got the job done, I got it home, and realized that the issue with the windshield wipers were not fixed. While the transmission was working again, the wipers were stopping halfway in my field of view. This would not pass inspection. I called them back and Jarrett answered the phone. He said I could bring it in again and they would fix it since it was their fault, but it ended up taking the entire day and I was without a vehicle again. They ended up fixing it.Round 2, I had an issue with my tire and decided to have my truck towed to DIA. One of the wheel studs had snapped while I was on the interstate. I brought it in and after 4 hours I got an estimate that it was going to be $550. Turns out they quoted me for nearly double the labor because they were going to take off other wheels that didn t need to be fixed. On top of that, their parts were DOUBLE what the auto parts store half a mile away had the in stock for. I called back to see if they would price match them or I would walk to to the store, buy them, and bring them myself. Instead of just simply saying they weren t willing to do that, Jarrett decided to treat me like a toddler, raise his tone, and give me a lecture on why that s not how business run. He told me that I wouldn t go to the grocery store and buy food for a chef to cook (As if that were a comparable example). I decided to call every shop on Lynnhaven and ask if their prices for lug nuts and studs were higher than advanced auto if I could just bring them. EVERY ONE said they would just price match if it wasn t cheaper. I get that DIA may not have that flexibility, but that doesn t give Jarrett the right to take out his anger on a customer, especially one that planned to be exclusive to DIA as long as I live here. When I explained I didn t appreciate being spoken to like that, instead of apologizing, I got hung up on. So I took bike up there and sat in the office until the repair was done. Still no apology, but he took 20% off the labor since they messed up last time with my wipers. Then he tried to continually explain his position instead of just apologizing while I sat there. He wanted to lecture me on how a business is run. When I told him I run a business myself, he told me then I should know better. Well I do know better. I treat my customers with respect and do my best to help them. Apparently the owners at DIA don t want Jarrett to do that.Service: Electrical repair

  carlos-funda fernandez-Erparlak
5 years ago
Best performance mechanics in town. I recently got my timing belt change on my Subaru. I am very happy with the job they left my car like brand new. Thank you Francisco and Phil.

  B Witcraft
a year ago
I have been going to DIA for 8 years now. I wouldn t take my vehicle to any other shop in Virginia Beach due to DIAs reliability and knowledge. I had to have my engine replaced and they did a fantastic job. I ve had my power steering go out and they had me back on the road within 72 hours which was immaculate due to the amount of work that had to be done. Every aspect about this place is amazing. From the professionalism, to the work, to the knowledge is absolutely outstanding. Jarret is a real life saver when it comes to information. It s hard to find a place nowadays that you can rely on without getting ripped off or having to return with the same issue. This place has my business till the day I move from here. As for the bad reviews on here, I can tell who is at fault and it isn t the business. Keep up the amazing work DIA. See you again soon.Services: Electrical repair, Air & cabin filter replacement, Tires, Steering & suspension repair, Auto engine tuning, Auto brake repair, Tire rotations, Engine repair, Wheel alignment, Brakes, Auto tire replacement, A/C installation & repair, Air conditioning, Brake service & repair, Auto maintenance, Auto brake replacement, Oil change

  rosemary curtis
8 months ago
Worst customer service ever. Condescending front desk man. They had my car 3 weeks and all I was left with is a bill, vague diagnosis and a greasy paper mat. Should have trusted my gut with initial phone call. Never again. Update: took car to an electrical car repair and they are fixing the problem. Diagnosis from DIA was totally bogus.

  M A
7 months ago
Outstanding and professional customer service with quality service and affordable prices. Don't hesitate to patronize this shop. You will be well taken care of.

  Clarke Miller
a year ago
Jarrett and his team are the best in the business. Very good service, and even better communication. Can t say enough good about DIA. They will always have my businessServices: Vehicle Inspection, Wheel alignment, Oil changeServices: Vehicle Inspection, Wheel alignment, Oil change

  Thomas Phelps
2 years ago
Brought my hinky dinky wired 85 E30 in because I could not figure out why it was not charging and half my cluster lights weren t coming up including my battery light. They managed to fix it and get it working how it should even with the mess of wiring the previous owners did. Very nice guys and will definitely be bringing my car here for future inspections and other fixes. Very reasonable pricing and it only took them 1hr to find the issue.Services: Electrical repair, Battery

  Melissa Namowitz
2 years ago
Top notch service and very fair pricing. I called around to have my breaks serviced and not only did DIA offer competitive pricing in VA Beach but they completed the job fast and were super friendly. Definitely will be coming back for my future automotive needs! Thanks y all!

  Mark Bennett
2 years ago
I have had a difficult time finding a place that is able to inspect my vehicle. After calling a local service center for the vehicle manufacturer, they referred me to DIA. I dropped the car off at 8:00AM and the inspection was complete at 9:19AM. Cool people, easy process. I'll be back for my inspections from here forward.

  Stephanie Gobbi
5 years ago
So thankful that my boyfriend and I found this place to take our cars to after moving here from Texas. I'm always skeptical of auto shops because I fear being taken advantage of. I have never once felt like that about this place. They always do a fantastic job while getting you the best price possible and really take care of their customers. Thanks DIA!

  Aron Wilms
5 years ago
First time Service was one of the most unprofessional encounters I have ever dealt with. I chose DIA because of location close to where I worked. I took my son's truck in for a State Inspection on Thursday morning 15 minutes prior to store opening at 8am. Store was late opening and the manager apologized for being open late. I asked him when the truck would be complete. He told me it would be in line with the other cars. I just called him the day prior and he quoted me that appointments are not made for Car Inspection and they are first come first serve, hence why I was there promptly the next day. So I get a call on Thursday at 530pm that my car need a bulb but would be ready for pick up. I informed him I would pick up at 8am Friday and that I had to be dropped off to get it from work. I also informed him that his was during my working hours. When I get there, the car was not ready. Did not have the sticker on it. The manager then gave me his sob story of 60 hours a week and he was having a bad day. I then informed that I would not use their services in the future and he went off on me! I calmly showed him his "Tech Net Professional auto Service Mission Statement" and he asked me to leave. I told him I would write multiple reviews and he said so what it would not matter. Reading other comments it seems auto service are legitate, maybe it just the Desk Manager is the issue, obviously he does not care about constructive feedback and has poor communication skills! Buyer beware!

  Mr C (Mr. C)
4 years ago
I was away on vacation for the week that my wife had planned for my birthday. During our stay in the area I had my engine light come on. After getting it checked at Autozone and getting the part we looked for a mechanic to do the work. I called ahead and made arrangements to bring my car in on my birthday and they would do their best to have it done by lunch time. I got there early and they had me out the door after 1 hr. And I have not had any issues since. They understood that I was not local and they did everything they could to make me feel comfortable and valued so that I can enjoy the rest of the day that my wife has planned for me. Thank you guys for getting me done so quickly.

  Paul Rosensteel
6 years ago
I took my car here based on the recommendation of a coworker who races cars. I thought it would be expensive and overly complicated for what I needed. I was wrong.DIA is a great shop. They took care of the problem and explained the entire troubleshooting and repair process with what to expect in terms of repair costs.I took my car here last summer because the AC was not working. They were able to fix it, of course, at a fair and very reasonable cost.I plan to take all my vehicles here in the future.

  Nick Raimondi (Primary Business)
10 years ago
DIA does amazing work. I take all my cars that need anything done to their shop in Virginia beach. I live about 45 minutes away but the service and honesty this shop provides is top notch. I had to get a timing belt and water pump service done to my Lexus and they got it done in a timely manner at a reasonable price. Thanks DIA!

  Dan C
8 years ago
Phil and his team at DIA are the most trustworthy and honest group of mechanics I've ever dealt with. They have the resources and equipment to completely repair about any/all make and model of vehicle out there. I highly recommend the shop to anyone and will always bring my business to them before anyone else.

  Hipolito Camacho Jr
4 years ago
Recently bought a new 2020 Dodge RAM 1500 Rebel, but it did not come with an assist bed step that most of the new 5th Generation RAMS come with. So I purchased the part online and the installation instructions where fairly straight forward for the exception that it requires the use of torque wrenches and power tools...neither one that I have, nor wanted to purchase for this job. So I called around, asking various local service shops what the cost would be to get this part installed on my new truck, and DIA Automotive responded quickly. With that said, they were not the only ones to respond to my query, but they were the ones with the best/greater reviews on Yelp/Google Reviews, so I decided to go with them for the install based on prior customer reviews/remarks. To make a long story short, I had the part installed today, and they were very professional...I arrived on time and within 30 minutes they were done with the install and before checking out, demonstrated the full functionality of the part and install to my complete satisfaction. Additionally, the cost for the install was very reasonable compared to what the other shops were quoting me and I think that I will bring in my truck for future service at DIA Auotmotive. I highly recommend giving DIA Auotmotive a call for all of your vehicle service needs because you will not be disappointed.

  marshal riggs
8 years ago
My go-to shop for my '86 535i.Trustworthy, friendly, and informative.Phil maintains a very friendly environment to work with and are no B-S professionals. They'll get you in and out with everything taken care of the RIGHT way, no matter the make/model.You won't want to work with anybody else after these guys. Highly recommend.

  Karla Rodgers
2 years ago
I called on Monday to ask if they could do an inspection on my company (extended) van. Because that van is used 5 days a week, I had to make special accommodations to have it available for an inspection. The woman I talked to said to drop it off on Friday and they would get it taken care of. We brought it on Friday morning and the man behind the desk just kept repeating the same line that "every company is required to do inspections first come first served" and that it was entirely possible they wouldn't even get to it today because a someone ahead of me in line might need further work in order to pass the inspection. First of all, I don't believe he can speak to the business practices of every business who does inspections. Secondly, either he needs to be retrained or the woman I spoke to on Monday needs to be retrained. Thirdly, if a car needs further work, they should deal with that separately not require everyone else in line to wait while the work is completed. Surely, that is a separate crew. If I had been told any/all of this on Monday, I would not have wasted my time rescheduling my crew to accommodate such stupidity. That guy needs some serious customer service training!

  John Moore
4 years ago
Hands Down! This was the best automotive repair experience I have ever had. There really is no other way to put it... Cheaper, faster... better! Jim and his team at DIA Automotive went far above & beyond what I have ever experienced from Tread Quarters, Pep Boys, Meineke or Big Al's. They changed my oil & replaced the tires, brakes & rotors on my 2014 Altima and my car handles better now than when I drove it off the lot. They were all very knowledgeable and were able to answer all my questions and best of all they didn't up-charge and give me a list of unnecessary repairs! A+++

  Frank Gallion
6 years ago
DIA is the best garage I have had the pleasure of dealing with. I try to save money by driving older cars and keeping them really clean and in great mechanical shape. I used to do a lot of work myself, but now have 2 kids and a demanding job, so I don't have time to do many repairs myself. DIA has worked on my 1992 Camry with over 300k miles, my 2002 Honda Odyssey with 180k miles, and my "new" car, a 2005 Toyota Highlander with only 26k miles. DIA gets the problem diagnosis and repair plan right, then they do the repair on-time with zero mess on the inside. We have tried several other mechanics in VA Beach over the last 7 years, but nobody beats DIA!

  Chris B
4 years ago
Took my son's car in to get checked as there was a lot of vibration coming from the engine. I instructed the service desk manager in writing and verbally to not do any work after their diagnosis until you consult with me. I received a call late afternoon the next day and was told they replaced the main engine belt, the car still had the vibration and I owed them $400.00. After much conversation and me not willing to pay for unauthorized work I told them to put the car back together the way I left it in. The mechanic, which I believe was the owner called and said it would be to much to go back to ground zero, pick the car up, no charge for their mistake. Here's the point....IF the belt they put on, without my permission, resolved the problem I would have been placed in a position to pay them $400.00 although I never agreed to the work they did. Totally unacceptable!!!

  MJ Love
4 years ago
DIA Automotive is a life saver. My car was in horrible shape when it went in and Phil and the team there went above and beyond to make sure my car was leaving in the best shape possible. They worked tirelessly to fix my catalytic converters because a previous mechanic messed it up. I will forever be a loyal customer to DIA and DIA only.

  Greg M
4 years ago
Awesome! These guys are the best! Just starting to leave Virginia Beach from a family vacation with my young daughter and wife when our transmission blew a massive hole. It was Friday evening. We called shop after shop...no one was working or open for the weekend. These guys had sympathy for our situation and took care of us after hours. I will always be indebted to them!

  Phung Huynh
5 years ago
Absolutely trust this place with all my vehicles. They are always honest with their prices and repairs. Every time I call and ask questions, Jared is always kind, patient, and helpful. I'm sure I sound like an idiot, but he simplifies everything for me to understand so I don't feel like an idiot. LoLMy husband knows a bit about vehicles and even takes his car here (with the stuff he can't repair himself due to lifts and tools), which is how I found this place. The prices are lower and very competitive with other places. They don't cost you to sell an organ to just get your car fixed. 100% recommend this place, especially to my family and friends.

  Daniel Regan
8 years ago
I brought my car to DIA on a friday right before they closed after i had taken it to another place first. The first shop i brought my car too told me the engine was shot and i'd need to rebuild the entire engine. I called DIA and asked if they could take a look at it before they closed which they gladly did. Within about 30 minutes of dropping the car off they called me and told me it was an electrical issue that they could take care of first thing monday morning. I asked them to look in to a few other minor problems i was having on monday which they gladly took care of for me. The only part they had to order for my car they ordered from another place rather than the dealership to SAVE ME MONEY!! My car is running great now. I'll be taking my car here again any time it needs work done and i would highly recommend them to anyone.

  Eric D.
7 years ago
A true gem in the car repair industry. Honest approachable staff that know what they are talking about and back it up with fantastic work. They called me to make sure I was up to date about the repair needed and gave me insight to help prevent any further repair. I highly recommend giving DIA auto a chance.

  Chow Zhou
6 years ago
This is a long overdue review, simply put, these guys are absolutely incredible at what they do. They flawlessly installed a carbon driveshaft for me, repaired an emergent coolant leak, installed new tires, did a couple of oil changes. Every single time they paid attention to the details and got the job done swiftly and completely!