I was a professional mechanic (but not on cars) for 25 years. Maybe that doesnt make me uniquely qualified to recognize a great service shop, but I think in a lot of ways it does. There are a few things I think are necessary for great service:1. Communicating honestly and clearly, and letting a customer know whether a service is truly necessary or just a good idea.2. Getting work done on time and without unexpected charges.3. Caring about the work enough to do it right every time.For years, the folks at Dave Mays have been doing these things. Theyve taken great care of me and of the many friends Ive referred to them without a single issue. Trust them with your vehicle, and youll be glad you did.

The Team at Dave Mays has saved me twice lately. The first-my alternator went out on my old trusty 06 Element. I was stuck for a way to work. The courteous and highly skilled Team fixed me up at reasonable cost, in a timely manner. Next my AC died last week. The heat lately made driving a hard time. The Team fixed it in one day, and their bug check found two bad tie rod ends, a dangerous condition. This place is honest, courteous, fast, and always looking out for customer safety issues. They always tell you straight when something can wait or needs an immediate fix. What a relief when your ride has a problem.

I went to this shop that a friend referred to and I wasn’t disappointed.....I came across Robert. What can I say, he has a great sense of humor and spoke to me with respect. Something you won’t get other places .. He didn’t try to mansplain it to me. He wanted to make sure I understood what was going on from the beginning to the end.

These fabulous folks are just what you need in the midst of car trouble. The inviting lobby, pleasant demeanor, and free beverages make this place stand out from the rest. I appreciate the work they did on my foggy headlights.

Always given options and estimates. As a woman, I have relied on this business for safety checks that are included for years. Professional courteous mechanics. Highly recommend

I was recommended by my sister to Dave Mays Automotive. So I recommended my daughter to Dave Mays automotive. she took her car up there and on the first visit the car wasnt running very well when she got it she called me and asked me to talk to Dave. I called Dave day was very friendly polite and told me to bring the car back up there and will see whats going on. The second time they did a awesome job he had no problem making sure that my daughter car was running right Top Notch. He even told me that he will stand behind his work and the customer always comes first. I really appreciate a automotive shop that cares about the customer if things dont work out the first time hes willing to look at it a second, third or a fourth time until the work is completed and your car is running top notch. I know Dave himself has retired but the guys who work on cars at Dave Mays are outstanding and does an outstanding job. God bless you and Im praying that he does Great and Mighty things for you 2021 and beyond Go Dave Automotive.

Great people! Great service! They will work with you and not over charge on the work needed to be done on your vehicle.

They gave a quote and the job ended up being more complicated. They honored the quote though and their remodeled lobby is a great improvement.

Ive found my shop for life. I came in to have my rusty truck inspected and they provided a comprehensive review of critical safety issues that needed to be addressed. Professional, communicative, and transparent from the beginning. Robert guided me through the entire process and ensured that the engine and radiator work was carried out as if it was their own truck. This was a superb experience and I will certainly be back.

Excellent service! Very trustworthy . Robert was instrumental in making my experience such a favorable one. He took the extra time to explain what my options were, what was needed and what could wait; & he made me feel at home with his welcoming and uplifting demeanor. They were very flexible with scheduling and providing a courtesy car if needed. Highly recommend

I have confidence on this business service. They are honest and good people. It gives me peace of mind to knowing that they are taking care of my car. I am very happy with their service.

Great shop with loaner cars.

I am so happy that Dave Mays takes care of all of my automotive needs. 5 stars !!!!!

Experts. Found the root cause of issues that another shop was trying to treat the symptoms of... highly recommend!

Give them 5 stars staff was very helpful got me in/out in reasonable time.Price was good.

The people that work here are nice, attentive, and most importantly, theres laughter. Bob has been my mechanic for almost 2 years now and has helped me a lot! I trust his advice. Hes become a part of my family.

Have had multiple issues with my truck. They have taken care of all of them. In the shop now for what could be a mistake by the mechanic on an engine component installation known to be difficult. They have treated me fair always and I know, if they made a mistake on my diesel, they will make it right. Im sure no one likes a tow bill and a rental car, but this is life sometimes. Glad we have an honest auto repair shop to help us out.

Dave Mays was so great to work with! They are a great bunch of guys and even helped me check over my car before I got it scrapped to make sure everything was out of it. I am so thankful for their kindness and help! Would definitely come to them again for future work.

I really like dave Mays automotive for quality service and outstanding customer service. Everyone I met are nice and professional. Robert is particularly awesome

They were very through in diagnosing the problem with my car. They were very friendly and helpful.

I am so so happy with Dave Mays Automotive. Thank God for honest trust worthy people to work on my car. It is an old Gem that I treasure and although I should really get a new one they took care of it and that means a lot. My husband and I have such a busy schedules and it is nice to be able to leave my car with someone that is professional and trust worthy. Brian always explains what is going on and options.Brian and Jenneinia would always keep me updated on what was going on and time limits. I will not go anywhere else from now on this will be my cars Dr. until I can’t keep her going any more. Thanks so much to all of you at Dave Mays Automotive.

Nice and helpful very prompt

Definitely going to become a loyal customer. This was my first time going with Dave Mays. The service is amazing. Loaner car system is a huge selling point. Price is competitive and they actually fix your car!A sidebar story... When I went to pick up my car, there was an older gentleman that was dropping his car off. He told me that he has stuck with them for many of years because at one point in his life he had a car that a lot of mechanics were not able to fix. He brought it to Dave Mays and they were able to fix what a lot of shops said was an unfixable issue.Thank you all for fixing my car! 😁

They help me figure out what problem I had with my car. I needed a new key. They did not charge me for the assessment. All they asked was for me to come back the next time i need a repair.

Brian Decker has been taking care of my truck needs since he was at Town Tire! It was only right that I follow him with his move to Dave Mays Auto. The crew at Dave Mays are friendly and I trust their work! I recently took my Nissan Rogue in to have my oil cooler fixed and to get my oil changed and my truck drives better than ever! I highly recommend Dave Mayes Auto for your car care needs! Theyre friendly, affordable, trustworthy and the work is done right!!

I was told about Dave Mays by a friend, I went in talked Brian & Robert, I had questions and they had answers . They didn’t try to sell me anything my car didn’t need .Most amazing auto experience ever .Give them a try you won’t be sorry .

Took my car to Dave Mays the day after I had the oil changed from one of the chain oil change places. The engine light came on and the car was making a very loud noise. Brian, Jenneina and the staff were all so friendly. I was able to drop the car off at night and leave my key in a lock box (so convenient). Brian kept me updated on what could be wrong with the car, gave me estimates before doing anything. He even found me a great engine with very low miles. I highly recommend this place, you will not be disappointed.

Brian was awesome. Professional, courteous and polite and willing to at least look at what was wrong with my truck even though he was extremely backed up. He fixed something that a dealership tried to charge me a whole assembly for. This guy went the extra mile and made me feel good about the whole experience from start to finish and answered every question I had.Thanks Brian and thanks Dave Mayes for being there!

I am so happy to be back with Brian as the person to take care of my vehicle. He’s honest, smart, and reasonable with pricing. Thanks for a great service guys!

They do greatwork

Was stuck 2 hours away from home with an oil leak and a smoking car and refereed to them from another shop. They were the only shop that could squeeze me in under 3 hours to just look at it and diagnose the problem. Thankfully it was still drivable enough to get it back home with a top off of oil and a good write up of what they did and saw so I can bring it to my local mechanic. Would definitely use them if Im ever in Gainesville again and a car issue occurs again.

Left detailed message and requested a return phone call which I never recieved. Very poor custumer service!

Its always scary trying to find a mechanic in an unfamiliar town, but Dave Mays has taken such good care of me and my car that I would never go anywhere else. They were very thorough in examining my car, and I felt very comfortable that they were not trying to take advantage of me. Their staff is always cheerful and knowledgeable, which really put me at ease. I trust their recommendations completely, and I would recommend them to anyone who needs car repairs.

I have been taking my car toDave Maysfor yeaes, starting with an intermittent problem that two other mechanics couldnt solve, but Dave did. I recommmend them highly!

Dave Mays has taken care of my new 2001 Ford Escape as soon as the Ford warranty ran out. The Escape still runs like a dream; this is late in 2018. It has been in for seasonal oil changes always and of course there have been other mechanical issues, all of which Daves staff have taken care of so well, warning me of the problems and expenses before doing any of the work, and always checking back to make sure their work was successful. Dave Mays knows cars. Hell get the bugs out.

As a customer at Dave Mays, I find great comfort in knowing that my vehicles are in great hands. The technicians go over the vehicles with a fine tooth comb, and any problems they come across, they are sure to explain why it is a problem, and what needs to be done to correct it. They are honest,and that is very satisfying to me. I highly recommend them to anyone who needs automotive service. Rob Johnson.

Dave Mays is the only place I take my car, for 2 reasons: 1) they do it right with qualified techs, and 2) they stand behind their work. The one time something went wrong with a repair (1 time out of almost 15 years of dealing with them), they fixed it immediately, without even mentioning price, since everything was free. While their prices are reasonable to begin with, they do what they can to help you out when they can. In short, there are no gimmicks with Dave Mays, just good people doing a good job and not making a fuss about it. They are a great bunch of people that I feel privileged to know.

Dave Mays Automotive has been my familys mechanic for over 18 years. They are always fair, honest, and give great advice to those looking to keep their car in great shape and running as long as possible. I recommend them to everyone I know, and am happy to recommend them online to those I dont know. I have lived in other states for a period of time and know how stressful it can be to have to look for a good mechanic when you dont know anyone. Trust me when I say this is the place you are looking for.

Van was having problems w/ service engine light coming on, and turned out that it had a problem relating to a gauge that regulated fuel. Received a loaner later than expected, due to a customer not bringing it back long after his vehicle was fixed, but that wasnt fault of Dave Mays. Vehicle was fixed quickly and van is running well. Have used Dave Mays for over 30 years, and he is always knowledgeable & new front desk manager is polite, thorough, & knows what is going on in the shop at all times. Thanks & Merry Christmas!

Dont know, Ive never been there because they told me it would be $350.00 up front to work on my vehicle.

Best auto shop in Gainesville! Not only because my car is working perfectly after the repair, but their genuineness is amazing. They were kind enough to give me a free oil change when I explained the financial difficulties I had for repairs of $1,800. Although the repair prices were high, relatively it was the lowest repair price in Gainesville. Will be coming back for all my car fixing needs! :)

Great! Thanks Brian, and team!

Went to this shop over a year ago and was just going to through my receipts for vehicle. Should have posted this long ago. Had an older classic truck and was having problems idling and running well. Told Dave what kind of carburetor it had and he said he has been taking those apart since he was a kid and could do it with his eyes closed. Not sure why then I was charged about $300 to clean, set new choke and put in new accelerator pump and choke link. He also relocated fuel line. Also got new starter. All for the low price of $650 and it still didnt run any different. Went back so he could try to get it running smoother and then fix gas leak. Charged me $200 to fix something and I made it less than a mile to gas station and found out it still leaked the same. He attempted to fix once more but still leaking some. So $850 later, nothing changed except new starter. When I told a friend where my truck was for gas leak he said ouch. I asked what he meant and he said his prices are high since he moved to new building. I found out that is correct. Probably a decent mechanic for newer cars but price is still going to be higher than normal.

Tim has gotten our 3 old Mercedes in excellent running order. Best Mercedes mechanic we have ever dealt with. PBerne

I had my Cadillac in for repair of the rack & pinion due to a seal leak and they talked me into taking care of a less profitable rear bearing and brake job. I always feel that my best interest are their primary concern. Dave and the crew are great about explaining what sometimes are complex systems and that always helps to make the decisions more comfortable. I never feel like Im being hustled, and thats why Dave Mays is the place I recommend to all my friends.

I sent my husband in for the free bug check. Where they check everything . The ad is misleading. I told him about the noise in car. He told my husband he told me it would be $60 dollars. That is untrue. If I had known that I would have my husband wait. They said nothing to my husband about cost until time to checkout. I was going to have work done on both of our cars but after reading review I feel like reviews were written by family band friends. I feel deceived. I have screen shot the ad.

I have been bringing my vehicles to Dave Mays for over 3 years now and have to say that this is the best run automotive repair business that I have ever encountered. They are incredibly honest, fair, polite, knowledgeable, hospitable.....nice upbeat vibe to the whole place. I live in Vermont and wait until my winters in Florida to get my vehicle serviced. I trust him 100%.

Reasonable price. Great service

Overall 10/3We have been taking our vehicles to Dave for years. The staff is friendly and technically on top of things. We have never been steered wrong as far as what the problems were or werent. Repairs when needed have been great. They always go the extra mile for customer service and will do anything they can to make the experience of repairing your vehicle convenient.I would suggest the Bug Check next time your car is ready for a tune up, oil change, or other routine maintenance. That will give you a chance to experience the quality.

I have been with Dave Mays Automotive since 1986 through many automobiles. Recently he has had to replace two (2) starters under warranty and did so cheerfully without any complaint on his part. Dave is the guy people take their auto to when all else fails. I have all of my work done there as they do such good work. Sometimes they tell you dont need work done. I believe the fact that I have been with Dave and his group since 1986 says it all.

One of the best mechanics in town. Ive taken my Toyota Prius to them for a few years and they always seem competent and thorough. Further, I recently had a major issue arise with my car and they performed a free inspection to help me decide whether or not I should keep the car. They spent a long time on the vehicle and were very thorough. They provided me with a lot of useful information and helped me figure out what to do with no strings attached. They even gave me a ride home. Very pleased with their customer service. I felt they were very honest and trustworthy and very knowledgable.

These folks are honest and professional. I have taken several vehicles to them and they were very thorough in their inspection of my vehicles but also willing to accommodate my immediate needs and budget.

My car, which has more than 180,000 miles on it and is more than 30 years old, has two carburetors. Most mechanics now only know how to fix fuel injected cars. When the car refused to start when the engine was warm because of a carburetor problem, Dave Mays did extensive research and fixed it. Since then his garage has been my exclusive car repair shop.Think of Dave as a car scientist rather than simply a car technician and you will have a better understanding of what he and his people can do. The people at Dave Mays Automotive are pleasant, their prices are fair, and they stand behind their work. Although the location is a bit out of the way, they will either give you a ride home or lend you a car until yours is ready. I give them my 100 percent recommendation.

I was a poor, working single mother of 3 boys living in Gainesville 1976 - 1978. I had barely managed to buy a used Plymouth Duster, I think it was a ’73, after my 1967 Plymouth Sports Fury died an honorable death. As sole provider, my transportation to and from work at Shand’s Hospital was critical.By some great stroke of luck and grace, I found my way to Dave Mays’ auto shop when the car needed service. Dave was so great! He always knew what the problem was and how to fix it. And, most of all, he was always honest and never, ever overcharged for his work. Believe me, as a woman alone with only rudimentary knowledge of cars, engines and how it all worked I had been taken advantage of by unscrupulous mechanics multiple times in the past.The day Dave brought out a stethoscope to listen to the engine on my car, I knew I had met a master!My note today was prompted when, driving through Gainesville recently, an ad for Mays Automotive came on the NPR station to which we were listening. I was so excited! My husband had heard stories of how much I had revered Dave when the boys and I were in Gainesville, so he understood my delight to learn you were still in business.I write today to offer a very belated but so heart felt thank you to Dave. You were really a life saver when I needed help. You were a reason for me to continue to believe in the goodness of human beings and to believe integrity and honesty and craftsmanship were alive and well.I hope your life in the intervening years has been blessed with good health, prosperity, peace and happiness.Thank you!Jane Robinson

Professional, trustworthy service. Super nice.

Jon an Tim are the greatest mechanics in Gainesville and they happen to work at Dave May’s automotive. They have been servicing my vehicles for over 10 years and I’ve never been disappointed.

Great service at a good price

My friend took his 2014 Toyota Matrix to this place... Had a problem with no heat only cold air coming out of the vents. They told him he needed a blower motor and a resistor pack... The cost for repairs over $300.00. He wanted me to take a look... I found that the blower motor worked fine,,, Looked under the dash on passenger side and found a cable disconnected... Hook the cable up, my friend moved the lever on the dash and got heat... Everything is now working fine... Either they have incompetent mechanics or they are just ripping people off...!!!

I have used Dave Mays Automotive for the past five years, they have always fixed my problems - often coming under the initial estimate as they discovered some things did not need replacing once into the job. They could have easily replaced them anyway and or charged me for the work, but they chose the honest path.Many times I will come in with a minor complaint or need and they have taken care of the issue without charge, even if unrelated to their previous work - this is only one among the many values of patronizing a local company.They stand behind their work and almost always complete the work in the time they estimated.

Dave was extremely helpful and friendly while providing premiere service when repairing a small issue to my car. I would recommend his shop to anyone in Gainesville!

I have used Dave Mays Automotive for the past six years to take care of my 2007 Ford 500. Most of my interactions have been with the service manager Dan Scheu and with Dave Mays. They have been been competent, honest, helpful and friendly in all their dealings with me. Quite simply, they have earned my trust and respect. I recognize most of the technicians as having worked there during this time, and all work has been competently done and reasonably priced. We are a one-car family, and they will give me a ride home if needed. Most important to me is that I have not had a breakdown on the road since I have been using Dave Mays Automotive.

Lost my appointment but that’s not a big deal compared to the fact they wanted to charge me $120 just to look at my car with no repairs being done.

Great place nice people good prices.

I just cant believe these positive reviews on here are for real. The majority of them smell pretty fake.Dave Mays... from this smooth talker you can expect dealership prices. I was considering buying a 1993 van from a nice older couple but when I test drove it, it had some issues. So I told the couple Id like to take it to a mechanic. They chose their long time friend, Dave Mays. They gave him a call and luckily he had time right then to see the van.The first thing he did was a stand in front of me going through his records of past work on it. Then said he wouldnt have time to look at it that day and that it would be a $200 dollar fee.I felt bad that I had caused the couple to have to drive there and leave the van so I decided to get his opinion on how much Id be spending. So he took a quick look and said about $1500 but no more than $2000.So I agreed to pay $2,700 for the van (that supposedly had only 80k on the motor but who knows because the ford econoline for that year doesnt display the 100,000 spot.) I gave the seller the money and left the van with Dave Mays.A week later he calls me and says its almost done, he just has to replace the real fuel filter which could be another $500. At that point, my bill was already up to $2,300... shooting right past that $2000 that he said it wouldnt go over, and its not even done... another $500 had to be attached just for the part.But he made it sound like he was getting me all fixed up. In his appraisal and all the work he did, and the huge amount he charged me, he gave me back the van but neglected to tell me that the shocks in the front are bad and that the steering wheel box is going out.TaDAAAA! Final bill... $3,234. He took off $100 discount. Im assuming that was to help offset the $115 charge for using a diagnostic tool?(In my head, I always imagine him and the seller giving each other a high five. They worked nicely together.)$115 dollars for diagnostics aught to tell you something right there.I had a mechanic friend read it over and he said the jargon on the invoice was intended to make things look a lot more weighty than they actually were.When he checked the brakes he SAID one or 2 of the bolts was stuck sideways and they had to drill it out... The charge? $230.54 labor, $8.50 for one wheel lug nut, and $12.93 for another wheel lug nut.Things have changed but where I come from, when unexpected things like bent lug nuts pop up, you call the customer to let them know but more importantly, to give them the option to COME SEE FOR THEMSELVES! Because $230 bucks is a lot for something that may not even be true. When you dont know the mechanic, the mechanic should give you the chance to see they arent trying to scam you.But the very last straw is this... One of the things that didnt work right was that the air blew through the defrost vent only. When I picked up the vehicle, the air was on, and the front vent was working.When I turned the vent off then turned it back on, it wouldnt work. I called him and he said I just had to toggle it between max vent and regular vent and itd come back on.It didnt. So I called him and ask if thered be more of a charge for that issue since it wasnt fixed and since he already charged me a total of $485.79 ($139.98 for Vacuum Reservoir and $345.81 for labor). His answer was that he wouldnt know until he looked at it.Im halfway thinking now that they knew it didnt work, they set the little lever under the port in the dash so that it was in front vent position when I turned the vehicle on so that it looked like they fixed it.I didnt take it back and I will never take him another vehicle nor will I refrain from giving him a bad review whenever I talk to someone who mentioned they need their vehicle repaired.Ive talked to at least 3 mechanics that told me that I was taken for a ride. I had already figured that but theres nothing I can do at this point. Except let as many people as possible know that he will bleed you dry if he can.

Professional service, trustworthy, reasonable pricing, everything you need in a mechanic!

Always a great experience!

Good people who know their stuff.

Dishonest people!!They’ll find a way to charge you more!!STAY AWAY!!!

They are very expensive to my level of life but I am very satisfied with the work I have a car thats important to me I want take no where else because they treat it like its the owners car I guess I need to make more money cause they are costly but Ill make the sacrifice

A local automotive repair business. Friendly, clean and professional.

Good staff

Too expensive

Awesome