Duane's Dealer Alternative in
Safety Harbor (FL)

A bad alternator and power steering pump slammed my vehicle at the worst time; Duane’s Dealer Alternative took me in even though they were obviously slammed with vehicles already. In one day, they were able to fit me into the busy schedule and next evening, my vehicle was completed and ready for pick up! The true colors came out when I popped in the next day with a concern about a small noise. My mechanic dropped his tools and immediately looked under the hood to inspect and assure me the sound was nothing harmful. Duane himself walked up to observe and agree and introduced himself kindly. This level of service and attention is impeccable and truly displays the stewardship to their customer. Trust me when I say, you get top quality service, great work and most important to me: the value. Thank you Duane’s staff, top shelf- KH

My 2016 Acura needed the valve covers replaced as they were leaking oil and originals had warped. Very fair estimate on parts and labor. They actually beat the estimate as gaskets on intake manifold (part of original estimate) did not need replacement. Very honest and communicative. Cheers.

Our 2014 Lincoln MKX A/C needed major repair. The A/C on occasion would blow hot air on one side and cooler air on the other. But eventually hot air was coming out on both sides. The car was looked at by Rick over the very next morning and there were several issues. I was so pleased with their communication and totally felt like I was being told my repair needs with total honesty! By that same afternoon they started the process of removing parts and setting several parts to the side so they could get to those parts that were being replaced. One of these replaced larger parts was a radiator looking piece that was placed between the engines firewall and the dashboard of the car. As you could imagine I was concerned with cost and was it worth repairing. After speaking to Rick the right decision was made and having them replace my A/C saved me a lot of money not to mention the cost of a new or used car with years of monthly payments. Thank you Rick and Duane’s Dealer Alternative for repairing my car with great efficiency.

I'm so glad I found out about this place! I had a problem with my Highlander and they took care of it and had me in and out in a very short time. Rick was extremely helpful and polite. I has a tire sensor that need to be replaced and they squeezed me in and got it changed in 30 minutes or less. The were very professional and I also noticed the shop was a clean shop and not parts stacked up in the corners. Some people might not understand why or what a clean shop has to do with anything, well that should tell you that they have pride in what they do along with quality of work they do.. Their pricing was very fair. I asked how much it was to do a couple of different things to the vehicle and Rick never got upset and was very patient. Plus they were a lot cheaper then the dealership. I could go on and on about this place and my experience but I'm trying to make it short. Another thing is the warranty there parts for 3 years or like 35,000 miles. I'm not accurate on the mileage,but that should tell you how good of a shop it is right there. Nobody wants to do a job and have to redo it because of not doing it correctly or rushing it or using cheap parts, just to send you down the road. I have owned my Owen company for over 33 years so I pay attention to the fine details of what's going on when I go to a business to get work done. I'll stop rambling on. The young lady that works in the office was very nice also. By the way I also noticed how organized they were on the way they prep a job. I would like to thank you guys for the honesty and the good work you did even though it was only a tire sensor.so with that I will be using you guys to do all my service work on my Toyota Highlander and my Toyota truck when I buy it in the next month or so. I still haven't found the one I want. Lol once again, thank you. So I wanted to give an update,I had my vehicle in for service and everything went well a 2nd time ,I highly recommend this service center to everyone. Again Rick was great to work with he also had me in and out in a timely manner I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SERVIC CENTER!!

Excellent service ...in many ways. From vacuuming out the front, the little gifts and card, but MOST importantly, It’s wonderful not having someone trying to sell you things you don’t need. I found Duane’s AFTER my Ford dealership informed me that my “repairman” (the guy/gal that checks you in) works on commission - something I did not know - but now it all makes sense why they constantly found things wrong with my truck when I only came in for my 3000 mile oil change.

I grew up in Detroit (the motor city) and this place is probably the worst automotive repair shop I have ever experienced. They diagnosed my daughter's car to have a broken motor mount, needed a brake flush and multiple other services that totaled $1700.00. We took the car and went to a respected certified mechanic. The bolts on the struts were loose. They fixed it and charged 1hr of service. On top of that their service manager was rude and had every excuse in the book that their shop was just doing their job. Well you just lost an honest customer! Buyer beware of this place!

I came in for a simple oil change and repair and was shocked at how overpriced the final bill was. I felt misled by the quote and the service team was not transparent about costs. I ended up going to a different shop and received the same services for significantly less—and with better communication. I can’t recommend this place based on my experience.

I love their honesty and there quality of mechanics that they have on staff .... This is a shop.I would not hesitate to go to with any car.They seem to have knowledge on all vehicles including japanese imports..

This was my first visit and prior to this RepairPal recommendation, I'd never heard of Duane. It's certainly not going to be my last visit. From the professionalism, to going above and beyond with cleaning my car, following up with me a few days later to ensure that I was still satisfied and the clarity (no mechanic jargon to upsell me BS), I am genuinely pleased with Duane's Dealer Alternative and as I shared with Rick, I'll be bringing another vehicle to them for service going forward. My car runs well and all services provided were completed to expectations. I recommend Duane's. Cheers, DG

The owner was introduced to me since I am a new customer, he just seemed like he was in a bad mood and did not care that I was there. The saving grace of the experience was the advisor up front. I however believe that good customer service starts at the top.

Duane’s Dealer Alternative Auto Repair is top-notch! Their service is always friendly, professional, and efficient. The workmanship is outstanding—I trust them with all of my Toyota vehicles. They go above and beyond every time. Highly recommended!

I absolutely love Dwayne’s Auto. ? This is truly the most honest and reliable auto shop I’ve ever been to. Rick and the team always take the time to explain what’s actually going on with your vehicle no pressure, no upselling, just the truth. Their prices are very fair, and the quality of their work is consistently great. Everyone here is friendly, straightforward, and genuinely cares about their customers. It’s such a relief to have a place I can trust with my car every time. I really appreciate the honesty and integrity here, it means more than you know.?? I’m truly grateful for people like this. Thank you, Rick, for always taking such good care of me! If you need a great and honest mechanic, this is the place. ???

Excellent Service and Warranty Support A few months ago we had a fantastic experience with Duanes Dealer Alternative. In April Duanes completed some work on our Toyota Prius , several months later an issue popped up that was covered under their warranty. The vehicle was towed to their shop and they handled everything quickly and professionally. What impressed me most was how they stood by their warranty—there were no arguments or pushback. They simply diagnosed the problem , realized it was the warrantied part that had failed then replaced the parts without any hassle or extra charges. The staff was courteous, honest, and made the entire process stress-free. It's rare these days to find a business that truly honors their word, but this company absolutely does. I highly recommend them for anyone looking for reliable auto repairs and exceptional customer service. I’ll definitely return for future maintenance and repairs! Thank you again Susan and the rest of the staff.

Top tier service! Great local family business that one can trust with their automotive needs. Rick was personable and understanding of our vehicle repair needs. Thanks for getting our vehicle all squared away.

Very efficient and communication was great! Really impressed by the manager. She was excellent! The surprise in our car after servicing was special.

If you want quality work at a great price look no further than Duane’s Dealer Alternative. I’ve had my Tacoma for 17 years and it’s running like it’s brand new thanks to Jim! This is literally the first time I’ve ever had a master technician request to ride with the owner to try and replicate the problem I had been experiencing. The team’s quality craftsmanship and attention to detail was outstanding. I can’t say enough great things about Rick, Jim and the rest of the team at Duane’s Dealer Alternative. I’ll be taking my Tacoma Duane’s form no on!

Duane’s is top notch. They recently helped me with two of our Toyotas and went above and beyond in all they did. Susan, Rick, Duane & Ryan all were very friendly, professional and a pleasure to do business with. They’re not the cheapest guy in town, but they don’t claim to be. Definitely less pricey than the dealers & Duane’s earns every penny they do charge for their expertise and delivering what they promise. Thanx folks - I will return.

A Lifesaver for a Snowbird! As a snowbird who just drove all the way down to Florida, the last thing I needed was for my car's AC to quit on me the day I arrived. With the heat and humidity here, a working AC isn't a luxury—it's a necessity. I found Duane's Dealer Alternative and I'm so glad I did. They were incredibly friendly and understood my situation right away. They got my car in, diagnosed the problem, and had the AC fixed and working perfectly in just two days! Their service was top-notch, and they got me back on the road and out of the heat faster than I could have imagined. I was worried I'd be stuck without my car for a week or more, but Duane's team took great care of me. I highly recommend them to anyone, especially fellow snowbirds who need a reliable and honest mechanic in a pinch!

⭐ Five Stars for Duane's Dealer Alternative! ⭐ I can't say enough good things about the team at Duane's Dealer Alternative. They recently handled some repairs for my elderly mother's 2015 Lexus, and the experience was fantastic from start to finish. The professionalism and quality of work were truly impressive. The staff was incredibly patient and respectful, explaining everything clearly so my mom and I understood exactly what was needed. The repairs were done perfectly, and the car runs like new. It's a huge relief to know she's in a safe and reliable vehicle. This is a place you can trust. They're honest, skilled, and they genuinely care about their customers. Highly recommend!

They were very professional, kind and courteous. Took the time to explain what was wrong with my car and they fixed it.they did a great job , I'd recommend them to anyone.they are very trustworthy . It was also very nice that they didn't try to upsell a bunch of stuff that I did not need. It was a nice surprise to find a thank you card on my dash when I picked up my car as well as a little bag in my cup holder with a pen, notebook and a little piece of candy. Thank you.

Trustworthy, is the one word I would use to describe Duane’s. After receiving a coupon in the mail, I took a deep dive into the reviews and saw they had an amazing track record. It also helped that they had experience with Lexus vehicles. I was able to schedule an oil change with ease and was pleasantly surprised that they offered shuttle services within the area. The communication, was better than expected. I received very professional text messages and phone calls that set clear expectations about the next steps and service recommendations. When I shared I was on a budget, they didn’t pressure me, but made recommendations based on the high and low priority items. As a woman, my experience with Duane’s has been so easy and straightforward that even after moving, I have intentionally scheduled maintenance to aligned with my plans when I come back in town. That is how safe and comfortable this establishment has made me feel. I will be back! Ps: They are even classy enough to give you a thank you card and special gift for your first service.

We have had the best experience at Duane's. Susan and Rick always make us feel appreciated and Ryan is an absolute star when it comes to taking care of our Minis, especially working with us to keep our 1999 classic running. Thank you Susan, Rick, Ryan and the whole Duane's team!

I brought my 2012 Camaro. DUANES were able to fix the issues that I had complained about, including one that had been brought to several shops, and nobody realized it was the ball bearing. Now my car rides beautifully, thank you!! Very happy customer. Update: I purchased a 2021 Jaguar F-Fype V8! Of course, I brought my new baby to Duanes for a pre-purchase inspection and it's in excellent condition! The only issue was an alignment and one of the remotes needed a battery, which Rick kindly replaced, thanks Rick! I will not bring my car anywhere else! Thank you! Racine ?

I had an exceptional experience with Rick, Susan and Keith at Duane’s Dealer Alternative, and I couldn’t be more impressed with their customer service. From the moment I walked in, the staff made me feel like a priority. The team is not only friendly but incredibly knowledgeable, taking the time to explain everything in detail and ensuring I understood the options available for my vehicle. They were transparent about costs, and there were no surprise charges – just honest and reliable service. The work on my car was done quickly and with attention to detail, and they even followed up to make sure everything was running smoothly. It’s clear that Duane’s Dealer Alternative values its customers and strives to provide top-notch service. If you’re looking for a trustworthy, efficient, and customer-focused auto shop, look no further! I highly recommend them and will definitely be returning for all my future car needs.

Outstanding, first time experience; professional, thorough, timely, great communication. My 2012 Volvo XC70 has over 206,000 miles so far, and I believe Duane’s Dealer Alternative will continue to provide the automotive support necessary to achieve many, many more miles!

The best service I've recieved at a mechanic shop. First, customer service is great, they spoke very clearly and they know what they're talking about. Prices are fair and worth it for the quality of work and cleanliness of the shop. Rick helped me on the phone and in the office and got me an appointment the same day, service was done within 1.5hrs from me dropping the car off (alignment, brake and powersteering service). Susan was able to go over any details I had questions for about the services and I'll be more than happy to come back for maintenance again. Thank you!

Recently I had the motor and transmission mounts replaced Duane’s Dealer Alternative and was extremely happy that I chose his shop. The first impression was that the shop was clean, bright, organized and looked very professional. Usually if a shop looks professional it like is professional. The first impression was right — I was greeted by the owner, he was very friendly and fully knowledgeable of the chronic problem areas of a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The issues were quickly verified and surprisingly the estimate was 1/2 the price of the local Jeep dealer. Unlike the Jeep dealer, the repairs were also completed the same day, and other common Jeep Grand Cherokee mechanical issues were discussed. Fortunately none of them were required at that time, but when that time does come I have found the perfect repair shop to handle them.