Highland Automotive

I took my volvos here for years so I was thrilled when they started working on other cars. Now my VW Jetta has a happy new mechanic! These guys are great– honest, timely and reasonably priced.

I love Highland Automotive! I will never take my vehicle any where else in Atlanta. All the guys that work here are great, knowledgable and trust worthy.

This place has never let me down. I drive quite possibly the oldest Volvo currently on the streets in Atlanta, and after countless struggles with dealerships and other automotive services that have tried to rip me off, I always come back here for excellent, quality service.
To be honest, I don’t know much about cars, and my used 1996 Volvo Station wagon is still very reliable but, obviously, old. Countless times, Mike has provided me with free consultations to let me know what I’m going to need to replace or take into consideration in the future when other places have told me I needed $ 1000+ worth of immediate repairs.
Most recently, I left my car with Highland Auto worried that it was at its tail end, and Mike and his crew did a thorough check, checked oil and rotation and filled up the tires. He let me know what systems would need monitoring in the near future and what would definitely have to be replaced in the coming months. And this was all for free.
If you have a Volvo, this is the place to go!

FYI… this 4-​star rating is the highest I have ever given to an automotive repair shop. As a female, who is not very car savvy, I am always slightly skeptical of mechanics, due to my own ignorance of not knowing.
I took my car here for about 5 yrs before moving out-​of-​state, and they were still helpful in answering questions I had after moving – even though they obviously weren’t going to get my business since I was 800 miles away. Prices seem fair, and they seem honest enough. My car had a couple things go wrong that they replaced for free (parts & labor) under 1yr warranty… the bill was a very pleasant surprise after I took my car in w/​the Check Engine light on, assuming in was going to cost $$$ to fix.
I wish I had found them sooner. I actually 1^st came to them when I was surprised that my previous local Volvo mechanic, who I had been going to loyally for over 10 years, quoted me over $ 300 to fix a part that cost less than $ 80. I decided it was time to shop around, and tried Highland Automotive since a friend of my dad’s recommended them. Their price for the same job (parts & labor) was about $ 200, so I figured saving $ 100 was worth a try, and I stuck with them. My boyfriend IS a car savvy guy, so when I’d describe a sound my car was making over the phone (since he was out-​of-​state), he’d try to diagnosis it. When I’d bring my car in and Highland Automotive’s diagnosis was the same, it gave me reassuring trust in them.
Are there cheaper places out there, quite possibly, but I think they earn/​deserve their prices, which is why I would have them go ahead and do an oil change when I was already bringing my car in; I’d rather give them my money than any-​old oil/​lube place.

While the diagnosis was correct, the guy here was completely unwilling to negotiate price. He said «you can always find someone willing to do it for less.» While that is certainly true, not only could I find SOMEONE willing to do it for less, but every single mechanic within 25 miles that I called was willing to do it for less. With a no negotiation policy, it simply isn’t worth it to spend $ 80 more.

I have a 2005 XC90 with 200,000 miles on it. The first time I had an issue with it I took it into Dyer & Dyer. They gave me a redicilous quote. So I took it into Highland. They were about a ¹⁄₃ of the price and was very honest with me. I have taken my car to them for all the basic services I have done. They have kept my car running in tip top shape. They only complaint I have is that they will have your car the entire day, so if you do not have another vehicle or the ability to stay at home for an entire day this may not be the place for you.

I love these guys. I moved to Atlanta few years ago and brought my 2001 Volvo S60 with me, and like finding a new hairdresser, was terrified to seek out a trustworthy local mechanic. Turns out it was easier than I thought — after one bad experience with a local Volvo dealership, I took my baby to Highland Automotive, and have gone back a number of times for various services — from an oil change to new brakes to an air conditioning system replacement — and have been happy with the results every time.
Mike knows his stuff, and he knows how to explain things to someone who’s not particularly car-​savvy. I’m a young woman — the kind who usually gets treated like a dunce at a place like this — but I love that he’ll spend ten minutes explaining what’s wrong, what they’ll do to fix it, and how I can help prevent something from occurring again in the future.
I highly, highly recommend Highland Automotive: their prices are competitive but it’s the service that puts them over the top for me.

I stopped at this shop today to inquire about origonal size tires for our 1967 Volvo P1800 (which takes 165sr15, a rare size these days). I spoke to the guy in the office to the right of the counter and when I told him what I needed he suggested a much different tire. When I pointed out that using that tire, which is larger than the origonal, would put the speedometer out of alignment.
His reply was «it’s a 40-​something year old car, who cares? Besides it’s not like you are going to drive it everyday!»
I said «actually we we do drive it almost everyday».
He threw his hands up in the air and said «well this causes all kinds of red flags». Puzzled, I looked at him for a second and then he repeated «all kinds of red flags». I wasn’t sure what was going on, but frankly he seemed a bit crazy so I just turned around and walked out of his office.
As I reached the door he yelled «ALL KINDS OF RED FLAGS». (I’m thinking WTF?)
Now, the sign clearly says «Tire Sales» and they are a Volvo service shop, so to have them tell me that origonal equipment and the correct operation of my car does not matter is horrifying.
The fact that he didn’t even ask me about the car (like what shape it was in that we CAN drive it everyday) and just jumped to the conclusion that I was stupid and knew nothing about the car makes it easy to cross Highland Auto off the long list of Volvo shops in Atlanta that are great and I would advise other Volvo owners to stay clear as well.
Also, you can order these tires online for $ 99 each, we just like to support our local shops, but I guess this guy is our reward? Online shopping it is!
P. S. the sign with «Tire Sales» listed as their main attribute:

I have a 15 year-​old Volvo. Great car but like any older car it needs maintenance and love on a consistent basis. Highland Automotive specializes in Volvo vehicles and I couldn’t be happier.
I don’t feel like I am being spoken down to — which is always the crux of being a 5’2″ woman in an auto shop… these guys have taught me so much about my old car (whom I named Esther as she is my very own old lady) and it has been without being made to feel «dumb»! Who knew this kind of shop existed?