Lackland AFB Auto Hobby Shop in
San Antonio (TX)

Excellent little shop! Mario, the gentleman who helps out there, provides outstanding customer service—friendly, knowledgeable, and always willing to lend a hand. The shop has plenty of tools and everything you need to get the job done. I’m very grateful for this place and the support it offers to those who like to work on their own vehicles. Highly recommend!

Amazing staff, incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and patient. They had all the tools I needed to change my alternator!

Website hasn’t worked for past couple of weeks so I had to get the hours and prices from another review. Drove here and the first thing the worker did was accuse me of moving the chains in front of a bay when asking for help. It was my first time there, so I moved my car where he asked me to and went to check in. He told me I wasn’t allowed to wear crocs - which I can understand but it would be nice to have a place to find the rules beforehand. When trying to understand what my options were going forward, he was hostile and unhelpful so I left and took my business elsewhere.

Person that works on the automotive side was very rude. We were at the framing shop. The framing shop person was professional. But guy from Automotive asked me to move my vehicle, I parked somewhat close as we were picking up a large framed photo and not in a parking spot, I said we would be out in like 5 minutes, he told me to move as there maybe people driving through, then he told me to backup to the framing shop.. whether I backed up or kept the vehicle in the same spot I'd still be blocking people entering or leaving vehicle stalls, so what was the difference? Difference was someone trying to act like the big man on campus.. I'd use the framing shop again, but not the automotive side. Prices seem high for a Base Hobby Shop..

Went there for two days in a row for a full suspension change on my stang. Clean shop, plenty of top notch tools, and great folks working there. Its nice to see one of these shops still open. Sad that so many on other bases have close.

I needed a repair on one of my front shocks of my Newmar Dutch Star. Bolt broke needed to drill it out and replace it. Broke off in between here and Denver. Desk clerk would not listen to my reason of being there, kept repeating no working outside. No parking room while there was no one around and plenty of room to park my 38ft Class A. So I ended up working on my rig in a parking lot outside one of the barracks. Take the sign down there is nothing hobby about it. Ft Bliss hobby shop is one the best for help don't waste your time if you need to work on your vehicles so they get there 12 an hour for a bay or 95 an hour for mechanic what a waste.

The facility is great! Customer service was very friendly. The mechanics made some helpful suggestions just in passing that really made things a lot easier for me. They have a very wide range of tools and 2 different types of lifts. Overall, my experience was awesome

Great bunch of guys overseeing the operation. Very clean and well maintained. Was able to get the work done I needed to perform in record time because car was in the air, versus me being flat on my back in the parking lot. Thanks guys!

Staff members are super friendly. The place is extremely clean and well organized, and they have every tool ever needed. Bays are just a bit tight, but there are plenty to use. The prices are a bit higher than they should be, but again, there is staff, so the place can't be free. Overall, this is a great place and needs to be used, or like other facilities, it will close.

Very grateful and fortunate to use the Auto Hobby Shop at Lackland. Needed to change the coolant on my daughter’s car and my tools were packed away due to us relocating to another state. The staff there was able to give some verbal instructions and guidance.

Outstanding Service, as usual!! I have been very happy visiting this Auto shop for last 10 years!! For the past many years, Great service being provided by Tony and Ralph!! Today (Dec. 6, 2023), Brad and Mario provided great service for my car, with outstanding support by Bret!! Thank you so very much!! I do highly recommend this Auto Shop to anyone!!

The Lackland AFB ( JBSA) auto shop impressed us with its 20 vehicle bays, including dedicated spaces for motorcycles. Equipped and ready, my18 yr old son and I tackled changing 4 brakes, oil, air filter, and rotating tires. Ralph and Mario played a key role, providing invaluable assistance. The shop's extensive tool availability made our job smoother, and at a reasonable $12 per hour, it was a cost-effective and successful experience. The use of the lift, the air gun, drip pan, tool kits that served different purposes, gloves, towels, bathroom, fire extinguishers, eye washing station. Lubricant and brake cleaner and a few other items for purchase. I don’t know their prices but there’s an Advance Auto right outside the gate of the base, which was perfect since we decided to do an oil change and I picked up the supplies needed from there. I highly recommend doing the work yourself at this auto shop instead of a parking lot or your house also perfect way to get to know your vehicle. You borrow the tools from them free of charge, clean them and return. Upon completion you mop up your bay and pay. Anything is easy if you have all the tools you require at your fingertips and this shop is it ! This was money and time well spent and wonderful bonding with my son over these maintenance tasks. He really enjoyed himself ! Because the shops wheel balancing machine was inoperable we went to discount tire on the way home and had them to balance the tires since we have warranty on all fours.

I tried calling 5-7 times a day all week but nobody ever picked up the phone. I went on a Saturday and about half the stalls were in use. There weren't instructions posted for drivers on where to park before entering the bay so I was quickly corrected by the sign-in guy when I pulled up to a stall instead of parking in the lot and checking in first. No worries, each installation hobby shop is different. I followed the instructions for signing in and I was told I had to pay $25 per tire just for me to unmount, mount, and balance the tires plus bay fees! It's cheaper to pay a servicer off base to get that done. I thought I'd be spending $12 for two hours of a stall and maybe a $3 charge for use of the mount equipment. The JBSA Auto Hobby Shop is unlike other installation hobby shops. This one is worth avoiding until they make it servicemember-friendly.

***UPDATE*** THEY HAVE DOUBLED THEIR PRICE WITH PLANS FOR ANOTHER INCREASE THIS YEAR AND WONDER WHY NO ONE IS USING THEIR FACILITIES*** Absolutely everything a do-it-yourselfer needs for your automotive project needs. Must be DOD employee/contractor, military active duty, retired or disabled veteran.

Great Customer service. Staff is readily available to assist. Tools check out is prompt and work areas always clean. The building is old reason for more care which can be seen everyday when doors open.

I had my first experience with this facility this morning, and it was great! I went in early to replace my brake pads and can't think of anything negative to report. I will be using it more.

Best kept open secret in the military. I had access to tools and gear that would have cost half a house at just $12 an hour. The team on shift came out to teach me how to use some of the gear I was unfamiliar with. Then afterwards there was no surprise charges or fees. Just show up and fix your car then go. The Firestone on base tried to charge me $1,000 for work that cost me $50 in parts and $18 in shop time.

I am so appreciative for this shop.I have been coming here over a year and it has allowed me to service my car and save thousands of dollars. I enjoy servicing my cars and They have almost everything you need such as: vehicle lifts, and tools. I use to use the shop on Fort Sam Houston now have to drive 30 miles from home to work on my car. I hope the current Command keeps supporting this valuable resource for troops and families this is the only one still operating in the San Antonio area.

The Hobby Shop, is only accessible, to people with Military Identification, as it is located inside of a Secure Military Base. The loan a tools, are pretty much excellent, as they have pretty much everything needed. The lifts have been upgraded, which is so much safer than the old ones used to be. There isn't a press, so I had to take mine to the Hobby Shop the last time I went to work on a vehicle. I also saw that they have a Motorcycle Lift now. The only bad thing I can say about the Hobby Shop, is that every time I have worked there on one of my vehicles, (for someone who has PTSD and associated anxieties), it is absolutely NOT helpful for our state of mind, to have someone exit their office, and shout at us at the top of their lungs, about the amount of time left. Maybe if there was a PA system, (like any normal Automotive Shop has), it would be better, and more professional, and if with a calm voice, the individual would get on the Public Address System, and would announce, that there are two hours left, there is one hour left, there are thirty minutes left, etc, it would be a less hostile environment. It would also be nice, if the Hobby Shop, would have access to an All Data program, to assist us with torque specifications and procedures.

I am so appreciative for this place. I have been coming here for 3+ years, and it has allowed me to save money and time with repairing my car. They have almost everything you need such as: vehicle lifts, basic and specialty tools, oil disposal, scrap metal bins, and much more. Special shout out to Ralph. Other members of the staff are great too, but Ralph just stands out to me with his customer service. When I first started coming, I asked him alot of questions and he has always been patient with me. For that, I thank you Ralph. The staff does not provide physical work for customer in the auto-hobby work area (AT ALL), but they have a wealth of knowledge that I tapped into when they are not serving customers. If you want to pay for repairs, they have a full-service auto shop onsite. Also, they are under new management. Not that the place was bad before, but new management has been great with tidying up some issues in the shop such as: cleanliness, new tools, and shop procedures. At the end of the day, it's basically an automachanic shop, and it has almost everything you need. Hope this review serve the shop and its customers well.

I’ve been there 3 times now, lots of tools available several lifts. See a lot of negative reviews but I’ve had nothing but good experiences so far. First time I’ve ever seen a DIY shop but I definitely recommend it if you’re looking to do your own work and avoid high shop prices.

One of the gents was rude and kept doubting I’d get me car done in time. (Literally annoying and the last thing you want when you’re working on the only thing to get you around town). There are plenty of tools there to “check-out” and use. Seems like some of the “boys” in the shop were getting deals when checking out… either- price wise and/or leaving their cars in the shop (which I was told has to be out by closing time). I asked my friends that were helping me if they saw the same- they all agreed. Of the 3 “auto skills centers” I’ve been to across different bases, this one was a shock. $12/hr for bay fees

I could not be more pleased with this place. Ralph is the man to see!!! I needed new brakes and rotors and it would have cost over $500 to take it somewhere just for the back. I bought my own and paid $215 plus the $7 bay fee!!! I am so glad I found the shop since I sure don't mind getting dirty and doing it myself!!!

The place is great for do-it-yourself mechanics as long as you don't have a regular job. For people that actually work for a living, like those defending our country, the operating hours are absolutely terrible. The place needs to be open til 8 or 9 at night and Saturday and Sunday so the people that actually need to use it have access to it

The facility is a little dated compared to other Military Auto Craft shops I’ve used . However, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable about automotive issues. They have lift bays, flat bays, transmission jacks and like I said, the staff is awesome. Everyone is awesome and eager to help you with questions , advice and even lending you a hand. The hourly fees are very reasonable too ! If the facility wasn’t dated, I’d give 5 stars

Great place to change your own oil or work on your car. My teenage boy's helped me change a tie rod end and we were able to save $400. They did most of the work, I just told them what to do.

This was one of the best auto hobby shops I have been to. Very nice and clean, big stalls, lots of tool selection and friendly service too ??