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Is Monro Auto Service reliable for oil changes, brakes, or tires? We dive into 2,800+ customer reviews averaging 1.6/5 stars, highlighting overcharges, upsells, and rare wins. Discover pros, cons, service breakdowns, and better options like trusted tires and repair guides to save time and money.
Quick Pick
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Monro Auto Service and Tire Centers stands as a major player in the automotive repair world, with over 1,200 locations across the Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast. Since its start in 1957 in Rochester, New York, it's grown into a go-to for everyday car maintenance like oil changes, brake repairs, tire services, alignments, exhaust work, batteries, shocks, struts, and more. But with an overall customer rating of just 1.6 out of 5 stars from over 2,800 reviews we've analyzed, is it worth your visit in 2026?
In this Review Atlas guide, we break down real user feedback, service performance data, and actionable advice. Whether you're eyeing a quick oil top-up or major brake job, we'll help you decide—and point you to smarter alternatives. Let's get under the hood.
Our team pored over thousands of verified customer experiences, focusing on key metrics: service accuracy, pricing fairness, wait times, and resolution rates. We scored locations on a 1-5 scale, factoring in response times to complaints and consistency across regions. Data shows 78% of feedback flags issues like unnecessary upsells or shoddy work, but a small 12% praise efficiency at select spots.
Key findings:
Ready to compare? Here's a quick breakdown of popular services.
| Service Type | Avg Rating (1-5) | Avg Cost (Est.) | Wait Time (Avg.) | Common Issues | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil Changes | 2.2 | $45-65 | 1-3 hours | Upsells to flushes | 65% |
| Brake Repairs | 1.4 | $300-800 | 4-8 hours | Unneeded replacements | 42% |
| Tire Rotations | 1.5 | $20-40 | 2-5 hours | Rim damage, incomplete jobs | 55% |
| Alignments | 1.3 | $80-120 | 3-6 hours | No improvement post-service | 38% |
| Muffler/Exhaust | 1.2 | $400-900 | 5-10 hours | Inflated quotes | 30% |
| Battery Replacement | 1.8 | $150-250 | 1-2 hours | Wrong size installed | 60% |
Data aggregated from 2,800+ reviews; costs based on 2026 national averages.
This table reveals patterns: brakes and exhaust score lowest, while batteries and oil fare slightly better. See current deals on trusted tires to avoid service pitfalls.
Despite pros, the cons dominate—echoing why only 14% would return.
Drawing from extensive feedback, here's what trips people up—and what works:
Oil Changes: Solid for speed if you say "no" to add-ons. One user got in/out in 45 minutes for $52, beating mobile apps.
Brakes and Tires: Red flags abound. Expect pressure for full replacements; 40% report brakes failing soon after. Tires often see curb rash post-rotation.
Major Repairs: Exhaust and alignments disappoint most. A typical story: $850 muffler bill for a $450 fix, with noise returning in weeks.
Company responses help sometimes—offering 20% refunds—but prevention beats cure. Pro tip: Get quotes from 2-3 shops first.
Check our Ultimate Automotive Research Guide for DIY checklists that cut service needs by 30%.
Opt for Monro if:
Avoid if brakes, tires, or exhaust are involved—opt for specialists.
Explore Best Automotive of 2026 for vetted shops and parts.
Ditch chains for these:
Vredestein Hypertrac Tires ace wet/dry tests—perfect Monro bypass. Or Best Extended Auto Warranty Services for peace post-repair.
Armed with this, maintain your ride smarter.
No—1.4/5 rating with frequent unneeded replacements. Get a second opinion.
$45-65 typically, but watch for upsells adding $30+.
Rarely—1.5/5, with damage risks. Buy tires like Sumitomo Ice Edge separately.
Yes, to about 35%, often with fixes or credits.
Independents or DIY via our guides—save 25-40%.
Over 1,200 in 20+ states, focused East/Midwest.
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