Cho’s Auto Service

Not the best looking waiting area but honest and superb service. I would recommend him to anyone that is looking to get their car fix

So far so good.
This is a no-​frills place that doesn’t wow you with nice waiting area, paved driveways, easy location to get to, clean garages, or a bunch of auto parts posters and advertisements. What it has is solid price for what you want to get done, and friendly hours (7:30am-6pm) to drop off or pick up your car.
I had recently asked them to do a courtesy check on a vehicle for my dad. I know the car’s service history very well so I knew there were only a few possibilities they could find. Fortunately they said to swap the driving belts and have the wheels re-​aligned (they don’t do the latter, but recommend I seek out a tire place). Easy, straight forward and my car drives great.
Once I have a chance to take it in for more complex issue, I’ll update this review.
I took 1 star away because I hate going through the traffic necessary to get here. Some of the worst traffic lights in Gaithersburg.

Reliable and trustworthy mechanic. I’ve taken several of my cars here over the years and always have had good experiences. The cost seems lower than other shops but you can’t put a price on honesty. When I go into Cho’s, I know I won’t get snookered into extra repairs and costs.

I do not post reviews, but Larry Cho deserves a post. He never seizes to amaze me with his integrity and good workmanship. I would give him 10 stars if that were an option. The location of his shop is very inconvenient, but I will never go elsewhere for anything besides an oil change. He has saved me money and headaches many, many times. The most recent visit was for my AC that was not working. I expected a sizable bill but no … it was a fuse and he said to pay $ 5. That’s right, FIVE DOLLARS. Really? Who else is so honest in the car repair industry? I cannot recommend him highly enough.

Keeping this review simple and to the point. I have been going to Larry Cho for years now and he is simply the best. He is an honest and competent business owner with integrity that performs the necessary service (s) on a vehicle and no more. He will never solicit an unnecessary repair and is more than fair on his pricing. I feel very fortunate to know him.

I have used Cho’s Auto several times, and have recommended them to many friends. Everyone who has ever has work done there has been very satisfied, unlike the feeling you usually get when you leave a shop after getting your car worked on. They will not perform unnecessary work just to up sell you and make more $$. Larry truly takes pride in the quality of the work performed there, and will do whatever it takes to make things right if you have any questions or if something isn’t right.
All of the positive reviews on here and Google are not by accident. Larry is definitely one of the most honest businessmen I have met, and certainly the most honest mechanic you are ever likely to encounter. I only wish more businesses would operate the same way and with the same integrity.

Cho’s is the most honest mechanic we have used over the years. They do great work at a reasonable price. No pressure to have work performed that is unnecessary. We have taken our Acuras here and have been pleased.

Went in for a 30,000 servicing based on Unilocal reviews. Great service and extremely reasonable price — SIGNIFICANTLY less than the dealer quote. Think I may have found the right shop for my Nissan Frontier.

I typically do my own car maintenance, but didn’t have time to do my own transmission and brake fluid change. I tried to take it to the dealer to get it all done with the 30k maintenance. They said the 30k maintenance was 500 and with the transmission, power steering, brake flush, motor oil and fluid change would be at least $ 1000. So I took a chance at Cho’s since he gave me a up in the air quote of $ 300. I was somewhat leery due to the price difference. When I returned to pick it up the bill was only about 200ish. I couldn’t believe it I had to make sure he did everything I asked. Car drove like brand new and I was very happy. I returned to have him change my passenger motor mount. They aren’t perfect but seriously I appreciate the honesty and how he can squeeze me in same day. They will be my mechanic for now on-​and I live an hour away.

How many times have you gone to a mechanic and thought that you could not trust a word they say to you? Never? A few? Every time? Well I’m the every time kind of guy. I have friends who are mechanics and they tell me that their job is half mechanic and half salesman. So of course my friends will help me but that kind of help usually takes a long time because they have to work on paying customers before helping me out. So what to do? what to do?
I happened upon Mr. Cho’s when I was looking for a shop that had a lathe machine that could turn my rotors as I knew I have needed brake pads for a little while now. I called every place with at least 3 stars in the Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Germantown areas. Mr Cho’s was one of the few that could perform the work. Albeit, the quote over the phone was more than 95% of the other shops for a break pad replacement. I attribute this to the work that his shop does with the lathe machine. They are not easy machines to use and do take a fair amount of concentration. Maybe not time, but definitely concentration as the slightest miscalculation can cost you big time. He quoted me $ 210 for front brake pads and turning of my rotors.
Like everybody on this site, I read the reviews of how honest and straight forward he is. But being someone who completely does not trust mechanics in their natural habitat, I was skeptical. I was just there for an inspection, which he did free of charge, and I was in an out in under and hour with no appointment. That’s amazing in and of itself. Upon inspection he confirmed what I already knew… and he didn’t try to up-​sell me on anything! After some haggling and whittling down what would actually be done, he replaced the pads and off I went!
TO ANYBODY WHO DOES NOT TRUST MECHANICS AND IS READING THIS… trust Mr. Cho. He’s an honest, good guy who will take care of you and your car and will not try to sell you. As long as my family is in Maryland, I will go to him for all major car needs. Maybe even minor ones.

Straightforward and honest mechanic I have come across so far, the work was done matching my expectations. I would definitely come back for future repairs of my Honda civic and would recommend this place my friends.

Mr. Cho is the epitome of what one hopes to find in a mechanic or any other business man. He is honest. He is fair. He is friendly. He is helpful. I have dealt with Larry through various cars for more than 20 years. I have recommended him to many people. All have praised his service. I have asked him to perform work and he has turned away the business, telling me to return the next season as there was still sufficient wear remaining on the part. He has helped me get a car on the road as inexpensively as possible, even to the point of suggesting I purchase parts elsewhere, where I could get them cheaper than his supplier. He, somehow, always makes room in his schedule, for the unexpected And his prices are more than fair. Granted he prefers to work on «Asian» vehicles and has expertise in that area, but he will work on domestic cars when asked. Though he told me that it is harder for him to perform that work at what he considers a «fair price.’ I respect that kind of answer. The last thing I will say is that I bought an «asian» vehicle the last time around, so that I would be able to have it maintained by Mr. Cho.

Took a used car we were thinking of buying to Cho’s for a once-​over, based on a quick Unilocal search for a local mechanic who worked on Japanese cars. As others have described, «no nonsense» is pretty spot on for his demeanor. But he squeezed us in with no appointment, reviewed the car and gave us a list of his concerns and rough estimates to fix. And he didn’t even charge us! Over the phone, he’d said it would be about $ 40 to look the car over (a bargain, and I would have happily paid), but he waved us off with his advice and said «don’t worry about it.»
An honest, helpful mechanic is a great find!

Life is full of «firsts» and my initial visit to Cho’s Auto Service chalked up a memorable one.
After making an appointment a few days ahead of time, I dropped off my vehicle in the morning for some routine maintenance including a oil change, but more importantly a brake check, just to be safe. By mid-​afternoon, it was ready to go and I walked into the shop expecting to put a typical dent in my credit card, as per every other mechanic visit I’ve had over the years when additional «concerns» and «recommended services» magically pop up out of nowhere.
As I braced myself, waiting for the inevitable bad news, Mr. Cho explained they completed the oil change/​fluid checks, but that my vehicle needed no other services, including no new brake pads/​rotors.
What?! No additional services needed?! And my bill was less than $ 30 total? I almost had to grasp the counter with both hands to avoid passing out from complete shock.
First visit, yes, but certainly not the last. I’ll be back! 4.5 Stars.

This place is awesome. The owner (I’m assuming is Larry) is a no nonsense guy, who is more than honest. Previously went to Goodyear in Rockville for a simple oil change and wouldn’t you know it, I left with a «you have to fix this and this and this or else the car is going to fall apart» sales pitch. Total of the pitch was just shy of $ 1000. I then decided to take the car (and list of ‘required’ services) to Cho’s at the recommendation of a colleague. Larry took a look at the list and immediately brought my car into the shop and up the lift for a check. After having his guy check out the car for about 30 minutes (watched him checked it all), he told me that not all the items needed to be done nor was there a need to have specific replacements. All told, the overall cost for the truly necessary work came to be $ 650. Anyway, I was highly satisfied with their service and appreciate their honesty. I will definitely be back whenever I need more services for my two cars.

Mr. Cho is the best, and I’ve been taking my Nissan here for years. He’s extremely honest and charges very fairly, sometimes astonishingly so. Highly, highly recommended.

Simply amazing! Larry Cho is the best in the business and as honest as they come!
After years of hearing friends with Odysseys rave about him, we finally had a need for his service — our 2010 Odyssey had a problem with it’s back hatch latch mechanism after rear glass was replaced by a hack glass shop (see my other review so you can be sure to avoid Auto Glass Experts — a serious misnomer!) and shards were left in the door. After a couple days, a shard or two jammed in the latch and they could not be removed by my unskilled hands… in comes Larry Cho.
We dropped off the car at 10 am, he took a quick look, told us he could work on it around noon, then called us that it was fixed by 1 pm. In the meantime, I called Criswell Honda’s Service Department and they quoted labor for the job at about $ 350 + $ 125 for a new actuator (very high price if you search the web!).
Larry’s price — $ 29.50!!! Less than $ 30 bucks! Wow! A savings over the dealer of over $ 440! I will recommend Cho’s to everyone I know with a Honda, Toyota or similar make of vehicle. I am sure he could do wonders on your American models as well.

I knocked my sideview mirror off and was holding it on by duct tape. After doing a general Unilocal overview I picked a few places to go to for estimates. I visited 5 different repair shops in and around Gaithersburg and Cho’s won.
They estimated just the price of the sideview mirror. They did a great job and I will be going there any time my Honda needs Maryland service… too bad I’m in LA now… oh well
Still worth a visit! He did the work quickly, at the price he quoted me, and gave me a great deal!

I’ve been going to Cho’s for the past 5 years for work on my Honda Odyssey and Toyota Highlander. They are very good at diagnosing problems and fixing what is wrong, and do not fix things that are not wrong. Many times Larry will tell me that the brakes are wearing, and will need to think about fixing them the next oil change or so.
Definitely the place to go for maintenance on your Japanese or Korean cars (Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, Hyundai, Kia).
Trustworthy and not exorbitant — exactly the opposite of what you get at the dealership (or «STEAL”-ership!).
5 stars!

After seeing the great reviews here, I sent my husband to Mr. Cho for an estimate to repair what we suspected was a damaged CV joint on his 2003 Chrysler. After checking the car (?), Cho told us that it was a selinoid valve, and that we should take it to the dealer for repair as he couldn’t do it. He didn’t charge for the estimate, which we though was nice. However, he made a pretty major misdiagnosis — the front right tie rod was broken, which had nothing to do with the selinoid or even the transmission, for that matter! I’m disappointed as I thought we had found a new local mechanic — I guess he should stick to foreign cars.