TLC AUTO REPAIR, INC.

What TLC AUTO REPAIR, INC. does

TLC Auto Repair, Inc. is an independent automotive service facility located at 7845 Raytheon Rd in San Diego's Kearny Mesa neighborhood, operating continuously since 1997. The company specializes exclusively in Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicles — three brands owned by a single OEM — and positions itself as San Diego's only independent shop with this narrow vertical focus. The service portfolio spans the full lifecycle of vehicle upkeep: routine maintenance (oil changes, factory-scheduled service), diagnostics, brakes, suspension, cooling systems, transmission service, engine and transmission rebuilding, and HVAC.

Service quality is built on three structural choices: (1) technicians who were trained and previously employed at Toyota or Lexus dealerships, (2) the same factory-grade diagnostic tools and Toyota's Technical Information System (TIS) subscription used by dealer service departments, and (3) a non-commission staff compensation model that removes upselling incentives. TLC uses original OEM Toyota and Lexus parts and follows manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedules, which preserves customer new-car warranty coverage.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer model with a single physical location and revenue generated per service ticket. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly posted but is repeatedly cited by customers as roughly 50% below dealership rates. Customer acquisition is primarily organic — word-of-mouth, Yelp, Google Business profile, and Facebook — with online appointment scheduling. The company has cultivated a long-tenured consumer base, with multiple customers publicly reporting 20-25 year relationships with the shop and loyalty explicitly tied to its perceived honesty and dealer-grade competence.

Name

TLC AUTO REPAIR, INC.

Legal name

TLC Auto Repair Inc.

Website

https://tlcautorepair.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TLC Auto Repair, Inc. is a San Diego-based independent auto repair shop founded in 1997 that specializes exclusively in Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicles, using dealer-trained technicians, factory-grade diagnostics, and OEM parts to serve consumer vehicle owners in the greater San Diego area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Repair Services

NAICS

General Automotive Repair (811111), Automotive Mechanical and Electrical Repair and Maintenance (81111), Automotive Repair and Maintenance (8111)

SIC

Services-Automotive Repair, Services & Parking (7500)

akta.pro primary industry

General Automotive Repair & Maintenance (TLAKAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Preventive Maintenance & Inspections (Oil, Fluids, Tune-Ups) (TLAKAAAB), Engine & Powertrain Repair (Transmission/Drivetrain) (TLAKAAAE)

Keywords

• Automotive repair services
• Toyota specialist repair
• Lexus service center
• Factory scheduled maintenance
• Independent auto mechanic shop

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Auto Repair and Maintenance Services: Transaction-based automotive repair and maintenance services for Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicles. Services include oil changes, scheduled maintenance, timing belts/chains, fuel system repairs, electrical diagnosis, exhaust systems, brakes, suspension, cooling systems, transmission service, engine/transmission rebuilding, and HVAC. Revenue is generated per service/job performed.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TLC Auto Repair operates an independent auto repair shop in San Diego, California, providing maintenance and repair services exclusively for Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicles. Services range from oil changes and factory-recommended scheduled maintenance to major work such as engine and transmission rebuilding, with all jobs performed using OEM Toyota/Lexus parts, factory-grade diagnostic tools, and Toyota's Technical Information System (TIS) subscription. The shop employs non-commission technicians trained at Toyota or Lexus dealerships and prices its work below dealership rates.

Product overview

TLC Auto Repair Inc. is an independent automotive repair facility offering specialized service exclusively for Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicles. Founded in 1997 and located in San Diego's Kearny Mesa area, the company provides a unified suite of repair and maintenance services across three vehicle brand categories. Their service portfolio includes routine maintenance (oil changes, factory scheduled service), diagnostic services using factory Toyota diagnostic tools, and major repairs (engine rebuilding, transmission work, electrical repairs). The company differentiates itself by using original Toyota and Lexus parts, employing non-commission staff trained at Toyota or Lexus dealerships, and subscribing to Toyota's Technical Information System (TIS) for comprehensive vehicle service information.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lexus Service and Repair

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• AutoNation Toyota Service Centers: Large dealership group operating factory Toyota and Lexus service departments - the primary competitor TLC explicitly targets. Their existence and pricing defines the value proposition TLC competes against.
• Midas: National franchised auto service brand covering brakes, exhaust, and general repair. Comparable broad-line independent alternative; operates at much larger scale but without TLC's Toyota/Lexus specialization.
• Jiffy Lube: Largest U.S. quick-service automotive maintenance chain focused on oil changes and preventive services. Comparable on the preventive-maintenance portion of TLC's menu; lacks TLC's expertise on major mechanical and drivetrain repairs.
• Firestone Complete Auto Care: Bridgestone-owned national service network offering maintenance and repair across all vehicle makes. Comparable as a scaled competitor in the general automotive repair market where TLC operates.
• Meineke Car Care Center: National franchised auto repair chain offering brakes, exhaust, oil changes and general maintenance. Comparable as a multi-brand alternative to dealerships with a similar service menu, though lacking TLC's OEM-brand depth.
• Pep Boys: Legacy national auto service chain providing tires, maintenance, and repair across all makes. Comparable as a broad-line independent alternative to dealer service; differs from TLC in its multi-brand, non-specialized approach.
• Christian Brothers Automotive: Larger multi-brand independent auto repair franchise with similar customer-promise model (honesty, fair pricing, no upselling). Comparable to TLC's independent-shop positioning versus dealerships, but lacks TLC's brand-specific Toyota/Lexus specialization.
• AAMCO Transmissions & Total Car Care: National chain best known for transmission service, now offering broader mechanical repair. Comparable on the transmission and drivetrain repair subset of TLC's service menu.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/jim.tlc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tlc-auto-repair-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TLC AUTO REPAIR, INC.