Thoroughbred Auto Care in
Laurel Brook (MD)

Would not recommend. Took our car in for Maryland Safety Inspection and it failed because the parking brake did not hold the car. Was informed it needed new rear brake rotors for it to work, so we authorized $576 in work - $209 in parts for two new rotors and $354 in labor to replace rotors and adjust the parking brake cables. They informed us after that this did not fix the issue and that they adjusted the cables as much as they could. They said it would be an additional $876 to replace both cables - $176 for parts and $700 for labor. I asked what cables they are using and they confirmed they were the Febi Bilstein cables which you can buy a set of for $27.38 online. 530% parts markup. I asked them about this and they said they could drop the parts price to $140, which is still a 400% parts markup! The situation felt fishy so we did not authorize the work and picked up the car. I Googled how to adjust the parking brake on the car, clicked the first link, and followed the instructions. Cost me $0 in parts and was extremely easy and now the parking brake held. Took the car back to the shop for re-inspection and it passed. Either they are incompetent and do not know how to adjust a parking brake cable, even though I was able to do it myself quickly by following the first result on Google, or they are trying to make a quick buck, which seems very possible considering the 530% parts markup on the cable. At the end of the day they made $576 off of us (plus $110 for the inspection) replacing rear rotors that likely didn’t need to be replaced to fix the issue anyways. Very glad we didn't authorize $876 in a "fix" that was not needed. At least they were very friendly... can’t say I will be bringing any of our cars back here.

This shop came recommended to me by a colleague at work and I’m glad it is near my home in Laurel. So far, they have saved me thousands of dollars in (unnecessary) repair bills that I would have otherwise paid at dealerships had I not gotten a second opinion from Thoroughbred. I recommend this place for your out-of-manufacturer warranty car repair and service needs. The staff I’ve interacted with also seem quite knowledgeable about many car brands, knowing all their quirks and flaws. The shop’s shuttle service is also a welcome perk for those needing to get back home.

Thoroughbred did a great job identifying the problems with my 2014 Mazda 6. Services were reasonably priced, everything was thoroughly explained, and the free shuttle was very helpful. I will return to them for my future car care needs.

Thoroughbred truly left a lasting impression on my husband and I. From the time we called to schedule an appointment, to us picking it up. They communicated with us throughout the process and gave us a quick thorough review of our vehicles. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for auto care specialists. We will only be doing business with them for our automotive needs from now on!

I called to ask for a quote on a oil change and the gentlemen who picked up the phone lied to me and said I need to get fuel additives because newer Hondas require them. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard that and I’ve gotten plenty of oil changes for my car in the past. Not sure if he was new or something but doesn’t seem trustworthy.

Rip off place. Just tried to charge me over $600 for a job that requires removing 2 bolts and replacing the part (which I supplied). Thank you for your response; however, your claims do not hold up. My specific request was for an estimate for the removal and replacement of the rearward, left, front control arm for which I was supplying the OEM replacement part. ALL of your obfuscations do not change the fact that, with the specific work for which I requested an estimate, you provided an estimate in excess of $600. I had already done the control arm on the right, front BY MYSELF in my driveway, so I know EXACTLY how much time is required for this job. It took me just over 30 minutes. So, unless your hourly rate is $1200.00/hour, your estimate was absurdly out of line. Additionally, the week before you had charged my stepmother $70 to locate and repair a slow leak in the right, front tire of her M-B SUV. Any reputable shop would have charged approximately half that amount.

Great communication and straight forward. Definitely appreciate the honesty and willingness to be up front about my car versus just trying to make a buck. Awesome!!!!

Thoroughbred was an absolute pleasure to work with—patient, easygoing, and incredibly thorough. I came in with only a vague description of an issue with my emergency brake, and they didn’t just shrug it off. Instead, they performed a full inspection at a very fair price, identified and fixed the problem, and went above and beyond by providing a comprehensive overview of my car’s overall condition. The photos and videos they shared made it easy for me to understand what was happening now and what maintenance I should plan for in the future. All of this was done in just a few hours. I’ll 100% be bringing my car back here and fully trust them as my go-to partner for keeping my car in top shape.

Been using them for years. John is very helpful and the mechanics can handle most repairs with ease. If you live nearby and like a small hometown business, definitely look into them. I prefer them over a dealer.

So glad I found this shop! My included maintenance contract with the BMW dealership ran out and they wanted to charge a ridiculous amount for oil changes and filters so I looked around and found this shop figured I’d give it a try and I’m so glad that I did! The customer service is excellent and very thorough. Will be continuing to go here for maintenance. Update: have continued to use Thoroughbred for oil changes, brakes, tire repair, etc and every service experience has been excellent.

Made an appointment for drop off at 7:30am days in advance. By 4:30 they still hadn't looked at it, waited until the next morning at 10:00 to call, still not even looked at. I just went and picked up my vehicle. If you're backed up call and say something. I could've just waited to take my car in.

I would recommend this shop to anyone and everyone considering a new mechanic. They are honest, communicative, friendly, direct, and knowledgeable. Every time I call them or walk through the door they remember my name ever since my first month with them as a customer. My family has had a family mechanic we have been seeing for three generations, and I choose thoroughbred over them because they are just that good. Can't recommend highly enough!

Had a great experience at Thoroughbred Auto Care when my car’s cooling system broke down. The team was professional, explained everything clearly, and kept me updated throughout the repair. The pricing was transparent, and the service was excellent. I'm now enjoying a cool ride again. Definitely a five-star experience and I’ll be back for future needs

I've always had good experiences with Thoroughbred Auto and recently brought my vehicle in to diagnose an intermittent ABS light. They did a thorough job identifying the root cause, along with a few other problems, and did a great job explaining things to me. Their quote to fix things was very fair but, given the age of the vehicle, I decided not to proceed with the repair. I'm sure I'll be back again when my next vehicle needs maintenance.

Made an appointment online and called to verify it. Appointment was for 8am. At about 3pm, I hadn’t heard any thing so I called and was informed they weren’t going to work a on my car that day and “would probably” get to it before the end of the day just to tell me what was wrong with it. What was the point of making an appointment????? Based on other reviews, they likely do good work, just clarify your expectations and be weary of an “appointment”.

Had a great experience here. They are honest, thorough, and professional. They took the time to diagnose the issue and explain everything clearly, even providing test data as I came in with a battery/voltage issue. They included a detailed after-service summary that made me feel confident with where my car is at. I highly recommend this place and will think of them first when I need to take my car to have maintenance.

Since 1988 Thoroughbred has repaired and maintained all of my cars. I'm still driving a 2012 Chevy Cruze that is running great. I've never had to bring a car back for a revision repair—Thoroughbred's work is right the first time.

Thank you Thoroughbred Auto Care. The service I received for my car was outstanding. Ms. Joya Williams was great. A true professional. It was a pleasure doing business with her. She is a great Asset to Thoroughbred. Easy scheduling and stayed in touch during the maintenance work. I want to thank Dave Murrin for the maintenance report. The report covered all components of the car. Plus the photos were over the top. And thank you for the maintenance work you performed. Also I thank all those behind the scenes. I will continue to use Thoroughbred AutoCare. Job WELL DONE.

I had a great experience at Thoroughbred Auto Care. The staff was super friendly and took the time to explain everything clearly. They were honest about what needed fixing and didn’t try to upsell me on anything I didn’t need. Plus, their prices are really reasonable! Highly recommend for anyone looking for reliable and trustworthy auto repair.

I received a repair order for window tint on our 1 year old vehicle purchased new, from a MD master trooper who lacked proper training. The car is completely stock. Thoroughbred quickly inspected the car and determined it was in compliance and didn't charge me! They are an honest shop and I will consider bringing my car back there for service in the future. Highly recommended!

Had a pretty good experience getting my MD State Inspection here. Everyone I interacted with was really friendly and the communication was top notch. Inspection was very thorough and the price is reasonable. They even provided an Uber ride from the shop to my home and office after dropping my car off. Highly recommended.

These guys are terrific. Super accommodating, understanding, competent, communicative, and fair. I needed a state inspection for my car and they managed to squeeze me in on the same day (next day was supposed to rain so inspection wouldn't be possible), and when it didn't pass, they further squeezed in a fix right at the end of the day so that the car passed. Shuttle to my house both ways so I didn't have to wait around. They're a little far from me but the smooth experience from beginning to end make it a no-brainer for me. I'll be back!

I came here for a MD state inspection and the whole appointment was great. They were able to schedule my appointment within one day, provided a free ride service during my appointment, and got my car in and out within about 2 hours. Everyone there was super friendly and it was a nice, friendly environment. I did ask how much they charged for an oil change and she said about $120 for my car. This seems a little high so I likely wont be going back for that. Overall seems like a great local place to care for your car.

I had a great experience when I brought my 2022 Mazda CX 5 turbo to Thoroughbred for scheduled maintenance. The appointment was easy to make, parking was easy and everything went smoothly. I was impressed with Thoroughbred’s technology. I could see everything about my car online without having to play phone tag to approve which work I wanted done. All their findings were in sync with what my maintenance manual said would be needed except that the battery tested bad. John suggested that I check with the dealer since it was probably still under warranty, and do it soon because frigid weather was coming. I took it to the dealer the next day. The dealer confirmed that the battery was bad and replaced it under warranty. This more than paid for my Thoroughbred bill!

I came here for Maryland state inspections and I’m so impressed. Not only was it done in a timely manner but the workers are so nice. I was gifted this sweet treat when I picked up my car. Thanks so much!

A very professional, friendly and informative staff. The recent work to replace the carburetor on my El Camino was done correctly by knowledgeable mechanics and the customer service was excellent. They are always available when I have a question or need their assistance. I would not hesitate to recommend this company to others. A great team…

I have taken my 1967 Mustang to Thoroughbred a couple of times now for AC and brake work and could not be happier with the service that they provide. Stephen, Jon, and the entire Thoroughbred crew have been awesome to deal with. They know cars, they take pride in their work, and they are very courteous. It feels great to have a shop that I trust completely with my car right in my local area. I highly recommend this place.