Victoria BC’s Top 5 Auto Repair Shops! [REVIEWED]

Looking for the right auto repair shop for your vehicle is just like looking for any other business, in which its reputation is typically the first thing we check, and shops in the beautiful coastal city of Victoria BC are no different.

Since there are seemingly as many repair shops as there are an abundance of boats coming in and out of the city’s harbors, we’d like to rely on a set of criteria to really narrow down our search to only the most reputable places.

Hence, whether you’re a resident who’s unfamiliar with car repairs or just a visitor in need of a local mechanic, here are our reviews of the best auto repair services you can find in Victoria BC!

Midas (2700 Government St.) 

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Website	https://www.midas.com/store/bc/victoria/2700-government-street-v8t-4p9?shopnum=9991
Address	2700 Government St, Victoria, BC V8T 4P9, Canada
Contact Information	+1 250-386-8345
Operating Hours	Monday – Friday: 8 AM – 5:30 PMSaturday – Sunday: CLOSED
Services	New Tires/Tire Repair, Brakes/Brake Repair, Oil Change, Wheel Alignment, Exhaust System Services, EV Tires, Check Engine Light, Belts/Hoses, Air Conditioning/Heating, Steering/Suspension, Lights, Wipers, Accessories, Car Batteries, Starting/Charging, Radiator/Engine Cooling, Transmission Flush, Fleet Services, Midas Touch Maintenance Package, Midas Closer Look Vehicle Check

Our Overall Rating: 9.5/10

Criteria	Score
Professional Experience	10/10
Facilities and Equipment	10/10
Task Efficiency	9.5/10
Pricing and Quotations	9/10
Customer Service	9/10

If this is your first time hearing the brand “Midas”, then you’re in for a treat. As one of the biggest chains of automotive services in Canada and the US, it has also found its way to the heart of Victoria BC.

Now, no two Midas locations give the exact same quality of service, so heed our advice and go to the one on 2700 Government St that has demonstrated more consistency over time.

Your go-to person for this location would be Jason, one of the most helpful and professional shop owners we’ve come across. We just appreciate how attentive he is not only to any customer but also to every task at hand.

He and his team always make sure that no work is left half-finished or unpolished, and even in the rare chance that they do miss a spot somewhere, you can count on them to attend to it right away.

With this shop being a Midas branch, it’s also nice to see great maintenance packages, one of which it fittingly calls the “Midas’ Touch”, as well as a “Midas Credit Card” so you can enjoy all kinds of free perks.

Despite the good bargains it gives, this place hasn’t always been reasonably priced and on top of its game, as many customers in the past complained of costly charges, unsatisfactory work quality, and subpar customer service.

Customer Reviews

Very professional and very good communication

“I would recommend Jason and his team to any of my friends and family, I had my truck in his shop for service and he went above and beyond to make sure it was running perfect for me! Very professional and very good communication with what was wrong with my truck! I’ll be going to see him for all my vehicle needs! Thanks!” – Grant Thorburn

Nothing but good things to say about this place

“I generally do my own work but I ran into problems that were beyond my ability to deal with.  I called a couple shops that didn’t want to deal with a tough job but these guys said they’d do it. They were awesome.  They called me three times to keep me updated on changes or issues they were running into.  They did everything they could to keep the cost down.  And, it came out beautiful.  Humming.  Nothing but good things to say about this place.  Top notch!” – Adam Krupper

Simoes Automotive

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Website	https://simoesauto.ca/
Address	454 Beta St, Victoria, BC V8Z 1B1, Canada
Contact Information	+1 250-995-2434
Operating Hours	Monday – Friday: 8 AM – 5 PMSaturday – Sunday: CLOSED
Services	Engine Repair, Wheels/Tires, Transmission Repair/Replacement, Oil/Fluid Changes, Brakes, Mufflers, Full Tune Up Service, Electrical Diagnostics/Repair

Our Overall Rating: 9.3/10

Criteria	Score
Professional Experience	10/10
Facilities and Equipment	8/10
Task Efficiency	9.5/10
Pricing and Quotations	9/10
Customer Service	10/10

Simoes Automotive is a relatively small and simple shop that you initially wouldn’t expect is also a very praiseworthy shop among the local auto repair community.

Yes, the limited workspace and equipment it has is one of its main weaknesses and you’re more likely going to chill or leave your car here for a while longer if everyone in the neighborhood has the same idea.

At the same time, we do think it gives off this “friendly neighborhood mechanic” vibe in that it’s a lot more dependable than you’d think for a shop of its size. Plus they serve good coffee!

Simoes’ team is a crew of 7 super-friendly people with a lot of automotive knowledge under their belt, and we can see it from the types of cars they work with (from daily drivers to offroaders).

They say that they like doing things with an “Old School” attitude, but we see that they still keep up to date even with the most modern automotive tech nowadays, and you love to see it, especially in this type of industry.

Now as much as we’d like to say that the size is the only limiting factor of this shop, we still need to point out that labor fees can be borderline expensive or at least “average” at times. But all things considered, they do give their best to keep it low.

Customer Reviews

I appreciated their superb communication skills!

“Simoes replaced my clutch and even saved the old parts to show me and explain in detail what was done. One old  part was missing in their trash bin   They rummaged for over 10 minutes to find it.  I appreciated their superb communication skills! They are always accommodating and very Friendly. The same work was quoted as lower than what the dealer would have charged.” – Lindy M

Very pleasant people to deal with

“If you are looking for honest people to look after your car repairs, this is the place.  They repaired my Ford Escape and saved me

from some bad advice I was given elsewhere..   Also, they charged me less than they quoted for the repair.  Very pleasant people to deal with.  I highly recommend these folks.!” – Dale Hamlin

Victoria Transmissions & Auto Care

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Website	https://victrans.com/
Address	1885 Government St, Victoria, BC V8T 4W6, Canada
Contact Information	+1 250-382-2833
Operating Hours	Monday – Friday: 7:30 AM – 5 PMSaturday – Sunday: CLOSED
Services	Transmission Service/Repair, Oil Changes, Clutch Service/Repair, Brake Repair, Steering/Suspension Repair, Engine Repair, Electrical System Repair, Battery, Charging/Starting Systems, Cooling System Repair, Emission System Service, Exhaust System Repair, Fuel System Repair, Lighting/Wipers, Filters/Fluids, Belts/Hoses, Tires/Wheels

Our Overall Rating: 9.3/10

Criteria	Score
Professional Experience	10/10
Facilities and Equipment	10/10
Task Efficiency	9/10
Pricing and Quotations	9/10
Customer Service	8.5/10

Among dozens of repair shops in Victoria, only a few have gotten close to the professional expertise demonstrated by Victoria Transmission & Auto Care.

As you can see, there are two main things attached to its name, “Transmission” and “Auto Care”, both of which it consistently excels at time and time again.

Truck and van owners are quite fond of this place and so are we, but the shop’s team can obviously work on more than just that, as we’ve seen a huge variety of vehicle models inside its roomy service area.

We think another highlight of this place is how comprehensive its inspections are, which is not only an important skill in dealing with the complexities of a transmission system but also ensures that you’re leaving with neither a noise nor a drop of oil.

This is also a great shop if you need emergency repairs since VicTrans’ crew performs quite efficiently even under time pressure, which anybody (mechanic or not) knows isn’t an easy thing to do at all.

If it sounds a bit like we’re putting it on a pedestal, then recognize that this shop still has its bad days like any other, which can be in the form of rude service over the phone, recurring problems, and inaccurate diagnoses.  

Customer Reviews

Nothing but praise for a shop that helps when they can

“In an emergency on my part due to a moved ahead start date for work. A call was made to this shop. After a conversation I was told to show up Monday morning and they would have a look. No guarantees because the were booking two weeks ahead. Total professionalism. The issue was diagnosed. And was remedied. Nothing but praise for a shop that helps when they can. But also does top quality work. Trust in Victoria transmission if your are in need of automotive work done on your vehicle. 100%” – Bruno Bonazzo

Victoria transmission came highly recommended and they did not disappoint

“I went to Victoria Transmission & Auto Care for a second opinion as another shop said I needed an expensive repair. Victoria Transmission came highly recommended and they did not disappoint. Booking the appointment was smooth, service was excellent, and they confirmed that the costly service was not needed while also picking up and fixing two minor issues that the other shop missed. I am impressed that they did not push me to get a repair that wasn’t needed. I will definitely be back for future service.” – Victoria Roth

Progressive Auto Repair and Maintenance

Website	https://progressivemotorsports.com/
Address	422 Burnside Rd E, Victoria, BC V8T 2X1, Canada
Contact Information	+1 250-477-2711 / [email protected]
Operating Hours	Monday – Thursday: 7:30 AM – 6 PMFriday – Sunday: CLOSED
Services	A/C System Repairs, Brake Repairs, Steering/Suspension Services, Check Engine Light Diagnosis, Vehicle Inspections, Engine Repairs, Factory Maintenance, Fluid Checks/Replacements, High Mileage Maintenance, Oil/Fluid Changes, Transmission Services, Driveline Repairs, Mercedes Locksmith Service, Performance Upgrades, Audi DRC Suspension

Our Overall Rating: 9.4/10

Criteria	Score
Professional Experience	10/10
Facilities and Equipment	9.5/10
Task Efficiency	9/10
Pricing and Quotations	9/10
Customer Service	9.5/10

Progressive Auto has a great reputation for providing superior auto repair and maintenance services that are performed with the utmost customer satisfaction in mind.

This shop is well-known for its specialty in working with German vehicle models, and we’ve seen just how meticulous they can be based on the nicely maintained BMWs and Audis that frequent here.

However, just because it specializes in one particular country’s engineering marvels doesn’t mean you can’t count on it to work on domestic and even Japanese imports, as plenty of non-German car owners also give props to Progressive Auto.

Other than the usual maintenance tasks, the shop also offers performance upgrades courtesy of brands like APR and Renntech, so this isn’t just your ordinary mechanic that relies solely on OEM parts.

Going by this, we think it does a great job appealing to both enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts, especially with its high standards of customer care embodied by all the staff members.

We can say there is consistently great service to be had here, though the part where it only opens 4 days a week may also have something to do with that. Hence, we recommend planning further ahead when coming for a visit.

Also, from what we have noticed, Progressive Auto tends to have pricier quotes for certain diagnostics, but this can also depend on the particular vehicle model and problem you have.

Customer Reviews

Their customer service is amazing!

“We have had this company help us with 3 cars now. Their customer service is amazing! They text you promptly with what they find and write out a detailed list of things they find that need attention. Great mechanical work! They even gave my son a hotwheels car after which he was over the moon about. 11/10 will recommend this place to everyone.” – Kendall Elliott

Listens to you and respects your input

“We have had an intermittent problem with my wife Belles Audi TT for awhile, it was suggested we try Progressive as they specialize in these types of cars. So glad we did the service was amazing and the repair worked out perfectly. It was so nice to work with a company that’s listens to you and respects your input. We will definitely be a long term customer and highly recommend Progressive to all of our friends and family. Thanks to the entire crew!!” – Paul Pellow

Budget Brake & Muffler Auto Centres

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Website	https://budgetbrake.com/locations/vancouver-island/victoria/
Address	2445 Douglas St, Victoria, BC V8T 4L8, Canada
Contact Information	+1 250-386-2212
Operating Hours	Monday – Friday: 8 AM – 5 PMSaturday – Sunday: CLOSED
Services	ABS (Antilock Braking System), Air Conditioning, Charging System, Cooling System, Electrical Systems, Engine Light, Steering/Suspension, Belts/Hoses, Brake Service, Engine/Cabin Air Filters, Fluid Flushes, Fuel Injection Service, Lights, Mufflers/Exhaust Systems, Oil/Filter Change, Timing Belts, Transmission Service, Wipers, Alignments, Designated Government Inspection Facility, RV Service, Shocks/Struts, Tires/Wheels, Commercial/Fleet Vehicles

Our Overall Rating: 9.4/10

Criteria	Score
Professional Experience	10/10
Facilities and Equipment	9.5/10
Task Efficiency	8/10
Pricing and Quotations	10/10
Customer Service	9.5/10

Trustworthiness is a big factor when looking for a repair shop, and Budget Brake & Muffler Auto Centres just so happens to possess this at a completely different level.

Budget Brake’s Victoria location is spearheaded by none other than Ryan Burghardt, and quite frankly, we wouldn’t want anyone else after witnessing just how hardworking and accommodating an owner he is.

Thanks to Ryan and his team, this shop goes from your standard repair services offered at cheaper costs to an absolute bargain of an opportunity to have you and your car receive the royal treatment.

Their professional expertise goes way beyond whatever certificates or awards you can see on the wall because it’s already pretty evident in the thousands of satisfied customers who flock to the shop.

But alas, this perfectly transitions to Budget Brake Victoria’s main drawback, which is that it tends to overbook its schedule. While being accommodating is a good trait to have, learning to say “no” is as well.

Whether this is just an overzealous act of generosity or some form of business strategy, there’s no denying that the shop’s efficiency is highly dependent on how far you are from the front of the line.

Still, if you manage to book at this location way ahead of your actual visit, then you can expect everything else to be generally smooth sailing from there on out.

Customer Reviews

Their employees are very professional and informative

“Got my brakes, muffler and replaced my struts. Their employees are very professional and informative. Rick was very detailed and punctual. They go above and beyond especially Matt and Ryan to make sure my concerns are answered. They are also more than happy to accommodate you again if there’s anything unusual after the service and have it fixed right away. Would 100% recommend to anyone who needs their auto repaired at a reasonable rate. Keep it up guys! 🤙” – Mark Jendrix Roque

Very good pricing and customer service

“Very courteous staff. They are booking a bit out, which is the case with most shops but they are worth the wait. Very good pricing and customer service. I actually had brakes and a muffler done which was just like in their title and they are pros!” – Evan Souliotis

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Gone are the days when you’d have to rely on pure word-of-mouth just to find the best examples of a particular business, but with countless search results appearing on Google, we found the need to make guides like this more than ever.

Through this guide, we have learned how even auto repair services in a particular city like Victoria BC can be properly sifted through by critiquing them based on things like professional expertise and pricing.

The cool thing about having a simple yet systematic approach like this is that you can also use it to look for shops in other places like Vancouver (Best Auto Repair Services in Vancouver) or Winnipeg (Best Auto Repair Services in Winnipeg), so if you’re ever driving from one city to another, be sure to check out our main directory (AutoAlmanac Auto Repair Services Main Location Directory Page)!

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