Sterling is a great neighbor. Took a half hour out of his day to come over and refit my belt after a rat knocked it out. Hes helped me out a few different times. One hundred 💯 recommend. Probably why theyre backed up two weeks with work orders

Noticed my power steering fluid was a bit low but all the shops in town were booked out for weeks. Sterling had me stop by the same day for a quick look, didnt notice any leaks, topped it off and had me on my way. Ive brought my truck in before to Sterling and always have had a great experience. They never push things you dont need, are always honest, and explain everything in detail. Ill continue to bring my vehicle to these guys!

The very nice owner Sterling came to my residence (which is close to his shop) to diagnose my vehicle! We couldnt find the problem which drained my battery, but it was a relief to see my truck start and actively charge my battery. Such a courtesy doesnt seem to exist in this age! I cant recommend Sterling and his business enough, when I have another issue I know who Im going to, what a guy!

Sterling is an amazing small business owner. When you walk into his shop, you feel welcome and it becomes quickly clear that customer service is a real priority to him and his employees.Do you know that feeling of walking into an automotive place, and you know they are going to try and swindle you? I have NEVER had that experience at Sterling Automotive. They are reasonable, great at what they do, and dont try to pull the rug out from under you.Im a teacher too, and Sterling has always been gracious in offering me a discount. There was even a time when I was in there with my daughter, and he told her she could pick out one of the toy cars on the wall. Thats just what you get with Sterling. Hes even driven out to my house a couple of times when my car wouldnt start.Ive been meaning to write this review for a while, but just got the time to get to it. Dont waste your time going to the big box people - give your business to Sterling. He is the best in the business!-Andy Bishop

Sterling is 1 in a million, you just dont find good people like him any more! For any parents looking for a shop that they can trust to send their kids to, this is the guy! For that matter anyone looking for a shop they can trust this is the place. He helped our son get back on the road, was more than fair and went above and beyond! Highly recommend!

From now on we are never bringing our vehicles to anyone but Sterling! Several years ago, I totaled my vehicle and sterling went so truly above and beyond. My car was beyond repair, and so while I didnt end up having any work done on it, I never forgot how genuinely helpful Sterling was.Just recently, our Hyundai Sonatas clutch went out while we were driving it. It has less than 60k miles on it. We had it towed to the first autoshop we could get ahold of, but I got ahold of Sterling shortly after. I told him how little I knew about vehicles and since he had helped me so much in the past (without making any money whatsoever and giving me a bunch of his time), I told him I was uncertain here and so he gave me his advice. He spent time going over what the cause most likely was, even while knowing our car was sitting in someone elses auto shop and that he wouldnt be making any money. Armed with my new knowledge of clutches, we were able to determine that the other autoshop was trying to rip us off, making bad recommendations, and wanting to charge us $1400 MORE than they should, which is DOUBLE what sterlings quoted price. So straightaway we had it towed to Sterlings. At the end of the day, the cost was even less than what he quoted us. Sterlings automotive is incredibly reliable, professional, and most importantly they are TRUSTWORTHY. They went so far above and beyond. They make sure you understand what is going on in your vehicle and what exactly they are doing. They will do you right. They are true and honest mechanics. We are so thankful to have found them and are only ever going to take our vehicles there.God Bless you Sterling. We are truly thankful for you.

Good team of mechanics that has always gone above and beyond to help me. Never been condescending and I’ve always felt confident that they are doing a good job.I recommend them to everyone.

This place is fabulous. They will take great care of your car.

I was told by another shop in the area that I needed a slew of new parts and repairs, headed down to sterling for a second opinion and the lead man checked out my car, topped off the power steering fluid oil and the car stopped making noises (why couldnt the other shop do that??). He told me to take it home and check the fluid in another month to see how bad my leak was, anyway, very honest mechanic who you can tell takes pride in his work.Who knows how severe the issue with my car is, only time will tell, but the point is he didnt try to convince me that it needed immediate attention like the competitors because IT DIDNT, all this for a very reasonable price too and he let me keep the bottle of fluid.10/10 would recommend! Thanks Sterling!!

My Jeep died in the building parking lot just across the street. Sterling came over and checked it out within just a couple of minutes of me calling. He got it in and did the repairs the next day. Its good to have a trustworthy shop in the neighborhood!

Love these guys! Always professional, always helpful, always honest! Ive been taking my cars here for years. Highly recommend!

My wife and I own a 2007 Ford Econline conversion van and we will only let Sterling and his crew work on it. Why? They are simply the best in terms of quality of work, attention to detail and honest dealing. We have always been more than pleased with the work and price, plus theyve gotten everything right the first time. In my opinion, having lived in other states, the Sterling Automotive is the best auto repair shop anywhereBob Schober

After having a bad experience with another local shop, I was worried about finding a reliable and trustworthy shop.My girlfriend recommended this place because of the consistent quality. I explained to them the problems I was having with my truck. They gave me a cost estimate and a time-frame. They fixed exactly what I requested, among other things.I ended up getting my truck back before their estimated time (by two days!) and my old F-150 hasnt run this well in many years. The price was fair and the personable customer service was top notch.If youre new to the area and looking for an honest shop, head here first!

Excellent service! Great people! Highly recommended!!

They diagnosed my truck promptly when it was towed in. Unfortunately it wasn’t worth the repair but they gave me time to have it towed out and even gave me a huge discount on the diagnosis fee. Absolutely incredible and honest service and this is coming from someone who’s family has been in the auto/mechanic business for over 20 years. 100% recommend. I also appreciated that they took the time to pronounce my name correctly! I usually don’t care if people can’t get it right but it always nice when people make an effort :)

This place is awesome! Very helpful, honest and friendly.

They did a great job

Amazing trustworthy shop. Having a son away at college with a vintage car, Sterling gives us peace of mindto keep his car running. Honest fair pricing and outstanding above and beyond service.

Sterling is honest and they do good work

The best auto repair shop I have been to in Bellingham! Everyone was so professional and friendly. Im very glad to have found this shop.

At first I was a bit intimidated by the $100 inspection fee they charge up front but I can vouch that it is worth every penny. I knew that the wheel bearing was my issue, and the mechanic I worked with agreed after listening to me describe the symptoms. What I didnt know was that my car was rusted out and generally falling apart. It was going to cost thousands in maintenance to get it road safe for any length of time. The mechanic took a thorough look, gave me a discount since it didnt take them the full hour to diagnose the vehicle and were very honest and upfront that I should not put any money into my car. I appreciate the staff here and will definitely be bringing my new car in for any work that may need doing.

Honesty at its finest.I called and left a voicemail about scheduling a routine maintenance at 37k miles b/c of manufacturing suggestions... the owner of Sterling called me back and said, You know what, even if you brought it in at 50k miles youd probably not need to. Wait until 90k. And then he talked me through a question I have about an A/C sound/issue.I love an honest, customer-first mechanic. I know exactly where Ill be going if I do have a problem.

This was an AMAZING experience. My car hasn’t been blowing heat, which is dangerous in this weather. I called on Wednesday and the car was in at 9am on Thursday and I picked it up at 4:30 the same day. They called and explained everything for every step of the way. Everything was explained to me in human words too, not mechanic speak. They did an end inspection which found some other little things that need fixing, but I never felt like I was being “sold” on more services or harassed into spending more money here. I will however DEFINITELY be back to have them fix up the rest when I can. They did find my top brake light was out as well, which they fixed. Overall, I would recommend this place to anyone and everyone who needs a mechanic. They were kind, knowledgeable and efficient. Thank you Sterling Automotive!!!

Called them to see if they would install new parts (shock absorbers) I had sourced myself but I guess they like to make their money on a mark-up of parts as well as their labour rates. They wouldnt install the shocks! Caution if youre getting parts from this business. Ill probably just go to a few shops in Seattle that said they had no problem doing this.

EXCELLENT automotive mechanics. Sterling provides expert, quality work, quickly and with a smile. We will go to no other automotive shop in Bellingham. 5 stars for Sterling!

Honest staff. Great care of my vehicle!More than once Sterling told me he didnt perform some task I had requested because he said it didnt need to be done. I tell all my friends to go to Sterling.

This is the only place I will take any of my vehicles. They have proven their integrity and professionalism to me time and time again. Just had to take the time and give them a stellar review.

I originally came to this shop years ago when I first moved to Bellingham and have always had a positive experience. Every time I take my car into Sterling I know Im going to get an in depth explanation of any problem. Whether the problem needs fixing immediately or might need to be checked again in the future they will let you know. They have never tried to pressure me into replacing anything that wasnt absolutely necessary. Their amazing customer service combined with fair pricing is what keeps me going back to Sterling year after year.

The guys at Sterling rock! They fixed my brake light and not only did they not charge me but they were super nice, friendly, and fast. When I need my car worked on again I will not hesitate to go back. I would reccomend them to anyone.

Sterling Automotive is the best repair shop that I have ever worked with. I have been using them for the past two years and I fully trust them with all three of my vehicles. They are always very honest about what needs to be done and they never overcharge or suggest work that doesnt need to be done. There prices are extremely reasonable and I have never been dissatisfied with the quality of their work. Sterling himself is a very friendly and humorous man and his staff are equally approachable. I would highly recommend Sterling Automotive to anyone.

Have been trying to fix my car myself for a month now, Finally gave up and gave them a call. Without charging me, they drove to my parking lot and looked at it. Excellent service

My teen daughter was told her timing belt snapped on her 1993 Subaru, and that since it had an interference engine, it would cost $2500-$3000 to fix. He did offer to give the diagnoses for free if it was towed off his lot immediately, which was helpful. Because she is young and trusted this mechanic, she almost had it towed to a wrecking yard. The wrecker was literally there to take the car when I told her it was NOT an interference engine. She was able to get it fixed at another mechanic for $980. Very dissappointed.

Sterling Automotive is the best! I feel so lucky to have found a local, trustworthy automotive shop that I consider my go-to for any of my cars repairs. They are consistently honest and helpful and take the time to explain the work that needs to be done with my car in a way I can understand. Their knowledge, kindness, and attentiveness is like no other!

Best auto shop I’ve been too, very helpful and honest in giving me all the different options available to me. They also got my car done In 2 days with no notice when my car broke down. Would highly recommend👍

Really good customer service! I highly recommend for students in the area because they are fair, honest and affordable!

Would highly recommend these guys to any/everyone. They’re always honest with me and I never feel like I’m being taken advantage of.I’m a young person who used to drive my parents’ old mini van with some 220,000 miles on it, and when I would bring it in to Sterling they would tell me all the things that were wrong with it, but also what “can be fixed when you have more money”, and that their focus for me is on “safety and reliability.” Now that’s speaking my language.Always feel I’m in good hands with these guys, love how thoroughly they always look at my car, and that they never talk down to me either. Highly highly recommend

This review is LONG overdue! I first moved to Bellingham 8 years ago. Not long after my engine started to smoke, I pulled into the nearest auto shop I could find and boy did I luck out. Sterling and his team kept my very troubled vehicle running for 8 years. If something could be done cheaper or easier at another shop they always let me know, if no work was immediately needed they always let me know, they always tried to save me money. And today, for the first time after replacing my old car I paid Sterling a visit with my new car. I thought it needed new brakes. Apparently my brakes just needed to be burnished. I was not familiar with this. Sterling took my car out himself, burnished the brakes and when I showed up to pay him, he wouldnt accept. This is one of many gratuitous instances Ive been blessed to have at Sterlings over the years. I knew nothing about cars (as you can imagine haha) when I first pulled into his shop, engine ablaze. I still dont know much haha but Ive learned some over the years, all from Sterlings. I feel much more empowered and knowledgeable than I did 8 years ago. Of course issues and questions will still arise but when they do I know I can trust Sterling and his crew to do whats best for my wallet and my vehicle and for that Id very humbly like to say THANK YOU!!!

I have contacted many of the other mechanics in Bellingham for the off chances Sterling is closed or busy and I can tell you Sterling will almost always provide more friendly service and more quality advice. Sterling provides great services and great prices, theyre just always busy which shows their level of service. If they cant help they will give some of the best advice for what to do and other places they recommend which is something i truly do appreciate, keep up the good work!

Hands down one of the BEST and most honest mechanics in town. Even if they arent able to help with your specific car issue theyll still recommend someone that can. Very fast and very polite. As a single gal who knows little when it comes to cars I felt very safe with them. No up selling, no bs. I will def be back and highly recommend them.

Really reasonably priced. Didnt try to sell us more than we needed. They seem to be used to working with college students who want the bare minimum done. Overall were very happy.

Im glad to be able to got to the shop and really be told whats wrong so I understand it proper.

Hi, this shop is owned by a very caring and honest man. He was very professional, courteous and compassionate to let me keep my vehicle there a few days to make arrangements for the financing of the repair. He was up front about charges and very communicative. I will be glad to refer my friends to this shop. If you have your kids in college here, you would do well to deal with this shop because of his up front communication over the phone without hesitation. I own a biz too and operate the same way with my customers.

They were super awesome! The plastic covering under my car came loose because of the snow and was really damaged, but they fixed it up without needing to replace it, all for no charge! Definetly recommend!

Always great service! Knowledgeable staff. Explains everything clearly. Honest about the work that needs to be done.

What you have here is an excellent business ran by a good hearted, extremely knowledgeable, considerate businessman. These guys define true quality customer service and genuinely care about their clients. I highly recommend.

Fantastic experience. I had a car fail to start, and after doing some work of my own, decided it was out of my hands. Sterling Automotive was the first shop to answer the phone, and I got the owner, Sterling on the other end. We spent 11 minutes talking back and forth, Sterling was offering me advice and things to try before I brought it in - this tells me he values my money as its mine to spend and it isnt guaranteed to be his. But Sterling Automotive has great reviews, I enjoyed the phone call, so I had my car towed to the shop on a late Wednesday afternoon. I got my car back In 24 hours, with a comprehensive list of things they did, including testing so that I wasnt going to get the car home and have it fail again.Great group of guys, they really do value your time and money, and I did not feel any pressure or any sense of them trying to get any more money out of me than they needed. 5 star experience, if I have any other issues I cannot resolve, Sterling Automotive will be my first call.

I brought my Honda in there about a month ago to get fixed for a problem that caused my car to fail at 60 mph. Anyways they tested it and got it back to me in one day but the problem showed up again. So I call them the next day and they scheduled me with no hesitation to bring it in right away. Which was nice of them to put priority on my car and allowed me to drop it off asap. This time they fixed it and they didnt charge me for the labor costs but only the parts. I was surprised and honestly relived as a college student on a tight budget. Which made me glad to have got my car serviced there and not anywhere else because of the excellent customer service and quick repairs. Truly the best auto repair shop in Bellingham.

Wow, excellent employees who treats you like family. Will be coming back consistently for any of my vehicle needs.

Excellent service. Excellent owner. You cant ask for more. Gives discount on service, sometimes fixes your car without a charge, and you dont have to know him or be his friend for him to be so helpful.

Took awesome care of my car. The price was very affordable.

My boys are in school at Western WA University and we have been taking their cars to Sterlings for the last five years. Service here has been very good. They are trustworthy and dont try to sell you on work that doesnt need to be done. I would highly recommend this shop.

Great, affordable and fast service. My car broke down January 1st. Sterling was open January 2nd. My car was fixed by 12:30pm January 3rd. Again great service. I will highly recommend Sterling Automotive to friends.

This is a great locally-owned auto shop. The owner was so generous, and had my car fixed within a few hours. No matter how much I insisted, he didnt charge me a dime. I would definitely recommend this place!

I have gone to Sterlings for several years and have been blown away every time at the work done at the shop and Sterlings way of doing businesses. A great story was when I was in high school and tight on money right before prom Sterling fixed up my car by putting in a new alternator and not charging me a dollar because he knew of my situation. If youre looking for a no bs mechanic shop this is the place to go. They also offer a student discount! Highly recommend!

One of the best mechanics and repair shops in the area. The owner and company is very professional, knows what theyre doing, and are very friendly and kind. They have taken my Mazda in several time already and have always done a great job. Wonderful communication and very reliable.

I have never come across a more honest, fair, and knowledgeable repair shop. Sterling is the only mechanic I refer my friends/family to and wouldnt dare take my vehicle to anyone else. Thank you for consistently exceeding expectations!

Giant burritos and a great student discount 10%

I walked in today and asked My car is making a weird rattling sound and i am very concerned. The reason I came here was based on the great positive reviews. But The person infront Damon, Was very short with me. Not welcoming. Damon stated for MY Time this is how much it cost to even look at your car $111. I was caught off guard at his abrupt approach . I felt very uncomfortable to ask him anything else, That I decided to leave and go somewhere else where there was better customer service and someone who actually cared. The Reviews state their caring people unless I missed something This was my first experience and It made me want to walk out. ...

They were willing to give me a quote over the phone which was nice... The price was reasonable(timing belt/water pump replacement on a Civic) definitely cheaper than the dealer. Had the car a little longer than first mentioned (an extra day basically) but was warned that this was a possibility so it wasnt a huge surprise. The work was done well... I did have to take it back to get the drive belts re-tightened as they started to squeal about a week after. They took care of it in a half a day at no charge. I would definitely go back to have more service performed here.

I brought in a used car for them to check it out, and they went above and beyond! They scheduled me in the day before the appointment, they gave me a no B.S. assessment of the true value of the car, and they broke it down so my non-mechanically inclined brain could understand what they were saying. I will definitely be back for any kind of automotive issue, but hopefully not too soon!

What can I say -- we literally slept overnight in Mr. Sterlings parking lot (Battery light was on, lost auxiliary power the night before). His technician was there before the shop opened. Dropped everything to give us a hand diagnosing the issue. Mr. Sterling was on site 15 minutes later, and while he couldnt service the jeep at his shop (diesel model) he called everywhere to find us help and tried to squeeze us an appointment at the dealership on the same day. Being that it was (is) the 3rd of July, the odds were set against us, but he gave us addresses, numbers, and drew maps for everywhere he suggested (were Canadians in unfamiliar terrain). After weighing our options, we decided for the dealership and he recharged our battery on his own time before we left. I tried to pay him twice and he wouldnt take it.If we could offer you more stars than 5 we would. If I lived in Bellingham Sterling Auto would be my first choice mechanic every time. If youre ever in need go to this shop you wont be disappointed.

Absolutely top notch guys. Fixed all (some being extremely obscure) of the issues Ive had quickly, inexpensively, and with exceptional customer service. Id recommend them to anyone.

I was recently in Bellingham and had a check engine light come on. After reviewing the codes and deciding not to chance it and limp it home, I checked Google reviews and this shop came up. It was a stones throw from my hotel, so I decided to give this shop a try.I phoned and even though they were full for the day, they said to bring it in. I did and they took a look at it, and phoned me with an estimate.What can I say except that their estimate was a lot lower than I anticipated and they asked me more questions to clarify my trucks history. I really appreciated that they spoke to me in a tone that was respectful, especially to someone who knows a little about vehicles. I totally appreciate that as many technicians seem to want to belittle people. That doesnt happen here.Well, they did the work, phoned me, and I walked over to pick it up. That was when I met Sterling. Wow, what a gentleman! Very easy to talk to, and very appreciative for your business.If youre in Bellingham and need your vehicle fixed, choose Sterling Automotive.You simply cannot do any better!

Absolutely top-notch. Fixed the problem quickly, then fixed a couple other issues for free - the car has never run this well in the decade weve owned it. On top of that customer service was personable and flexible to our needs, and the price was very reasonable. Would recommend to anyone in Bellingham having car trouble, and I intend to.

Unexpected expense, but its nice when the truck has all 6 cylinders firing, and hopefully no more oil leak!The guys were quick, and kept me informed of potential problems that might occur, as well as what was a priority in fixing. Thanks Sterling!

These guys are the best in Bellingham. Extremely honest and timely service. No where else Ill take my car around here.

Heros! Car broke over the weekend before I was headed out of town for vacation. They squeezed us in and fixed it! Also, theyve done other great work - I go there every time. Clean, friendly, thorough. Go there!

Best shop in town. I took my CRV to Northwest Honda for many years and always left feeling less than satisfied, on top of being met with a snarky attitude. Ill admit that I dont know much about cars, but that doesnt warrant being talked down to by staff. One day I called Sterling instead, and instantly felt at ease, even on the phone. They are honest, friendly, and I often find myself pleasantly surprised by the number on the bill. The staff at Sterling are incredible and their service is just as good. They treat you like a person, not just someone to make money off of. I will never take my car anywhere else!!

Good quality work at an honest price. Sterling is an honest shop.

Best place in town. Great customer service, wont just rack up charges on you because they can, really quality place. Got my business as long as Im in Bellingham.

Took my 2001 corolla S in to diagnose an oil leak. Worked with me on my limited schedule, owner introduced himself and shook my hand while I was waiting, mechanic spoke to me afterwords explaining the problem in detail and what he did to fix it. Also answered all my questions patiently. I live an hour away from Bellingham and would consider the drive to have my car in these hands

AVOID AT ALL COSTS- this mechanic told me I needed an entire engine rebuild. I have waited over six months to post this because I wanted to ensure fairness to this mechanic. He quoted me $2300.00 dollars to fix my truck. I decided to get a second opinion - and the second mechanic told me all I needed has a new coolant hose and he fixed it for $119.00 bucks. My truck has been continuing to run fine for over six months - so the truth is this guy is a piece of crap. Never trust this mechanic take your vehicle elsewhere. SAD . . .

They were completely booked with appointments, but where still able to resolve an issue with my vehicle (without paying anything).

Theyre hands-down the best. Great customer service, knowledgeable and down-to-earth staff - if they cant fix it in their shop they have recommendations and theyre not going to juice your pocket books.

Good mechanics and good people highly recommended them!

We are so pleased with the service from Sterling. We went in extremely worried because our cars wheel was making terrible grinding noises and we had no idea what it was and were afraid to drive the car home. They were friendly and made us feel comfortable while we waited to be attended. Sterling showed us what the issue was, which we greatly appreciated. It was an obvious physical issue that occurred because whoever worked on our car before didnt screw in a bolt all the way. The cost was higher than we hoped for, but that was due to the nature of the problem and the parts needed, not the service. Im sure it could have been much higher and I know they were totally honest with us when it would have been easy to take advantage because we couldnt drive the car anywhere else. They fixed our car quickly and we had it back the very next day and now all is good again. As disappointing as our problem was, they really did help turn it around for us. Thank you, Sterling!

The guys at Sterling handled my Jeeps issue quicker than I could have expected, and were more than reasonable with the price. Highly recommend, especially to Western students because their shop is right off Samish Way.

Not all heroes wear capes! During a recent snowstorm my rear driver-side window got stuck halfway up. I called them about it. These folks are great! For background, Im just a dude in college with a 1997 CRV with no mechanical knowledge, so if they treat ME this well its pretty indicative of their customer service I think.-After discussing the issue on the phone they preemptively ordered an expensive part that would likely fix the problem w/out charging me for it just so I wouldnt have to potentially wait another day or two for the fix while the snow melted for me to get my car in-When I couldnt make it there before they closed for the weekend, the owner, Sterling, waited a full 20 minutes after they closed just so he could park my car in their garage where it was safer (and struck up a friendly conversation all the while)-Ultimately, the issue didnt require the parts they ordered and was a simple adhesive issue. They then recommended me to THEIR COMPETITOR at Louis Autoglass even though they could have fixed it themselves. Sterling turned me over to them because they had the adhesive on hand and charged less per hour when it comes to glass (as that was their specialty).-In the end, they didnt charge me a dime! These folks are saints!

Quick. Fair price, upfront

I was in Bellingham to bring my son to college orientation and my car would not turn on at the drive-in after lunch. I was in a mini panic. I called several places that werent able to help me. A guy from Sterlings walked to my car, jumped it, then had me come to his garage so he could check that my alternator was charging. He directed me on what to do so I could get back to Seattle safely. I was so grateful. The service was amazing especially when he didnt have to do it. THANK YOU!

Super dependable and helpful. They walk you through the reasons needed for your repair, and are always honest about what is needed.

Ive been going to Sterlings shop for years – his staff is great, turnaround is exceptional and he explains everything that hes found going wrong with your car and why its important to get it fixed or if its okay to wait.

They ripped off my daughter, taking advantage of a female college student. They fixed nothing, not even diagnosing the problem, plus overfilled her oil reserve, then charged her for their ineptness. When I complained, they failed to respond. Beware!

An honest auto shop! First one I found in town and Ive stuck with them ever since.

Sterling worked hard to find the issue with my car and gave me superior customer service. Hopefully I wont need to, but Ill bring my car back again if I need any repairs.

Great energy and customer service!

Very good service

Shop was very helpful with our problem. Would very highly recommend for all your car needs.

Sterling is the most straight up shop in Bellingham...hands down. STAY AWAY from Bellingham Dealers. They are all crooks.

Friendly and honest