4444 Reviews
Mon - Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Automotive Repair with Your Lifestyle in Mind
36M/36K-Mile Nationwide | Certified Mechanics
3333+ reviews on Google
Services
Our Services
Reliable Solutions for All Your Automotive Needs
Repairs
Ensure your vehicle operates at its best with expert repair services for engines, brakes, suspensions, and more. Prompt repairs prevent further damage, reduce costs, and keep you safe on the road. Trust our ASE-certified technicians for precise and reliable fixes.
Preventive Maintenance
Regular maintenance like oil changes, fluid checks, and tire rotations extends your vehicle's lifespan and prevents costly breakdowns. Stay ahead of issues and enjoy improved performance with our tailored maintenance plans. Keep your car road-ready with our professional care.
Pre-purchase Inspection
Make informed decisions when buying a used vehicle with our comprehensive pre-purchase inspections. We assess every critical system to uncover potential issues and provide detailed reports. Gain peace of mind and negotiate confidently with our expert evaluations.
Why Choose Us?
Amenities & Perks
Some of the reasons to trust your car with us in Fort Collins, CO
36M/36K-Mile Nationwide
Top-Tier Automotive Care
ASE-Certified Technicians
NAPA Auto Care Center
Get to Know Us
About Total Automotive
Honest Automotive Repair with a Professional Experience in Fort Collins
Escape the treacherous roads of automotive repair and embrace a straight-forward and honest journey at Total Automotive. Based in Fort Collins, we are the reliable destination for car owners seeking a sanctuary of expert care. With each drive entrusted to us, our knowledgeable technicians, certified to handle various makes and models, ensure a smooth ride to your automotive adventures. From everyday commutes to rugged terrain expeditions, our service is fueled by passion and built upon trust, making us your ideal choice for a lasting partnership in automotive wellness. Our 12 bay shop and comfortable showroom provides the high end automotive service experience sought out by the Fort Collins customer while maintaning a local feel.
A Legacy of Excellence and Growth Since 1985
Total Automotive was birthed out of Fort Collins 4x4, a locally owned and reliable shop serving the community since 1985. The company re-located to 6024 S College Ave and Skyway in January of 2024. The newly remodeled large shop & high-end showroom attracted top level technicians and service writers which gave the company the ability to expand service for all Fort Collins drivers through our new brand Total Automotive!
RiDe Share Inspections
If you need an Uber or Lyft inspection in Ft. Collins, CO, visit Total Automotive for a fast and reliable service today!
Our History
Total Automotive + Fort Collins 4×4
Fort Collins 4×4 has a rich history dating back to 1985 when Bob Schlepe, a passionate automotive enthusiast, established the business. Driven by his love for cars and a desire to provide exceptional service, Bob opened a repair shop off east Mulberry Ave. Bob moved the business to the long-time location at 1101 N. College Ave in the old Peterson Volvo building in 1992. Bob remained the owner until the early 2000s when he sold it to the owner of John’s 4×4 in Boulder. Fort Collins 4×4 changed it’s name to match the Boulder location and was John’s 4×4 in Fort Collins for quite some time. The shop changed hands for a very short time and fell into some hard times. The business was taken over my now owner, Ross Houk, in January 2014 and re-opened under the old name, Fort Collins 4×4. After 10 years under Houk’s ownership, the business has expanded and re-located to it’s new location at 6024 S. College Ave to accommodate growing demand and provide a comfortable and welcoming environment for customers.
In the early years, Fort Collins 4×4 focused primarily on servicing 4×4 vehicles, catering to the needs of off-road enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. The shop’s expertise in repairing and modifying these specialized vehicles quickly gained recognition, and the shop gained a loyal following among local residents. As the business grew, Fort Collins 4×4 expanded its services to encompass a wide range of automotive repair and maintenance, catering to all types of vehicles. In Northern Colorado we love our trucks, Jeeps, SUVs and Vans, so we adopted this tag line in our signage during the recent move. From ‘Mom-x-4’s’ (minivans) to rugged offroad vehicles, we value all of our customers. Our commitment to quality and dedication to providing personalized customer service remained at the forefront of our business’s philosophy. We have many long-time employees who value honesty.
In January of 2023, Fort Collins 4×4 relocated to it’s current home at 6024 S College Ave. Our beautiful facility was fully remodeled by our amazing friends and community members, providing an excellent experience for both customer and employees alike. We invested in the latest technology and training to ensure its team of technicians remains at the forefront of automotive repair expertise. Our new facility has 14 lifts which can accommodate large commercial trucks, duallies and high top vans. After being in the facility for a year, we decided to expand our services to also serve the car community by co-branding as Total Automotive + Fort Collins 4×4.
Today, Total Automotive + Fort Collins 4×4 stands as a testament to the combined passion, expertise, and dedication of Ross Houk & the long standing staff members. The business continues to thrive, serving the Fort Collins community with a comprehensive range of automotive repair services, upholding its reputation for quality, integrity, and exceptional customer service.
A special thank you to all of the customers, construction workers and loyal friends who helped us get into the new facility. It was not without nail biting, sleepless nights and lots of dirt, but we all did it together. We feel so fortunate to have such an amazing community that desires to see local businesses succeed. Thank you!
Meet The Owners
LOCALLY OWNED FAMILY BUSINESS
Ross Houk
CEO & Team Leader
Ross started tinkering around with cars very young and by high school was convincing all of his buddies to own junker off-road vehicles. That combo made for some amazing stories to say the least. He had a successful landscape business in Littleton right out of high school, which he sold to head for the mountains. He spent the majority of his professional mechanic years building, tuning, maintaining and repairing snowmobiles and motorcycles at The Clinic in Minturn. From there, he worked in construction, served as the maintenance and facilities director of a large youth camp & managed a large transportation fleet. Throughout his working career, you could always find Ross in his garage re-building a 4×4 or out wheeling. He has gotten the chance to work with Baja Pits & drive a chase vehicle for the Baja 1000 dirt bike race. Ross truly is an off-road enthusiast. His vehicle of choice is anything International Harvester. You might spot him cruising around town in his 1966 green c-1200 International Harvester Travelette crew cab long bed truck. He has a 1971 International Harvester Scout 800B which is being equipped primarily as an offroad/rock crawler with a Hemi engine swap, Magnum – NP205 transfer case set up. He was a ‘Dirty Dozen Finalist’ for Motor Trend Fourwheeler’s Ultimate Adventure in both 2021 and 2022. He’s been leading his own Colorado Adventure with a group of wheelers every fall. He is currently building a IHC Travelall. Re-locating the shop to a new facility has not been without obstacles, but is a dream come true. It has been an honor and great responsibility to employ great people and serve this great community.
Vanessa Houk
Marketing and Creative Director
Vanessa had absolutely no clue about cars or what 4 wheeling was until she met Ross. On their first date, he picked her up in a rusty old Toyota 4 Runner and she thought he needed a new car! Little did she know he had been working on it for quite some time. Vanessa graduated from Texas A&M and moved to the mountains where she meet Ross. She is the Marketing and Creative Director for Total Automotive + Fort Collins 4x4. She designed our new building, designs all print & digital content and manages our online presence. Vanessa has a local photography business and owns Fort Collins Headshot Studio located next to Fort Collins 4×4. Her dream vehicle is a restored Grand Wagoneer “Woody”.
Our Team Members
Meet the Total Automotive Team
We love the group of people working for us! Each member of our team is honest & caring. We employ experienced individuals and empower them to get the job done. You can rest assured that your vehicle is in safe hands and you will enjoy the personal interactions you have with them.
AUSTIN - Lead Technician
Austin is a Colorado Native, born and raised in Boulder. Prior to coming to work for us, he worked at Tires Plus. Austin been in the industry for over 10 years and has trained at AIMS and Boulder Tech. Austin’s free time activities include: four wheeling, river or stream fishing and shooting. Austin’s dream car is a 1968 gun metal grey Chevelle with black racing stripes and a 454 engine.
BEN - ASE Master Technician
Originally from Minnesota, Ben had been an expert & designer in the bike industry for 23 years when he decided to go back to school and pursue a career in the automotive industry. He achieved an Associates in Applied Science in Automotive Technologies from Front Range Community College.
He has been wrenching for over 8 years and has a mechanical mind to provide expert diagnosis and problem solving. His hobbies include camping, travel, exploring and photography. His most recent epic adventure was an 8.500 mile road trip to the Maritime Provinces & New England. He has visited 49 states and is awaiting a trip to Alaska to finish out all 50 states. His Tacoma is his dream vehicle as he has built it to do everything wants for amazing trips.
JESSE - Service Writer
Jesse is originally from Bellvue ( Top of Rist Canyon). He loves being in the mountains and his favorite hobbies include fly fishing, bow hunting and fourwheeling. He has been in the automotive industry for over 6 years. His dream vehicle would be 1992 4Runner built up like the first one he had.
NICK - European Technician
Nick came to us straight from Virginia Beach. He has an associates in Automotive Tech and has previously worked with European cars & aftermarket accessories. He started working on vehicles with his dad when he was little. Their favorite projects together included a ’95 Bronco and an ’84 Jeep CJ. In his free time, he can be found hitting the Colorado slopes on his snowboard or hanging out with his girlfriend and golden doodle pup. His dream vehicle is a 1969 Chevelle SS 454.
CODY - Diagnostic Technician
Born in Michigan and transplanted to Colorado at a young age, Cody enjoys the outdoors and his hobbies include hunting, fishing, four wheeling and cars. He always strives to have the most positive attitude that he can and is not intimidated to try any big task. Cody’s dream vehicle is a 1973 C10, classic Chevy truck, lowered on airbags with a small block Chevy motor in it.
JASON - Service Advisor
Jason is a Colorado native who has been a professional in this industry for over 25 years. He enjoys waterskiing, wakeboarding and snowboarding. His preferred place to snowboard is still Vail! He started with us in 2024, but he and Ross go all the way back to high school as best friends. Both Ross and Jason are International Scout enthusiasts. At 18 years old, Jason rolled one of his 3 Scouts on Dakin Rd near Sedalia and called Ross for recovery. You will enjoy working with him.
GARRETT - Service Writer & Accessories Specialist
Our shop Texan, Garrett, is passionate about people, hiking, Toyotas and all things outdoor and overlanding gear! You can find him hiking, camping and overlanding on the weekends.
His dream cars include: 1985 Toyota pickup, the all new 2025 Toyota 4Runner or a1987 Porsche 911 turbo. Come talk to Gear Guy Garrett! Aftermarket accessories are his jam.
What Matters to Us
Our Philosophy
Integrity
Total Automotive is built on a foundation of honesty and trust, ensuring every customer receives transparent and reliable service.
Quality
We deliver exceptional care using advanced tools and expertise, ensuring your vehicle performs at its best.
Community
Proudly serving Fort Collins, we value building strong relationships and supporting the community we call home.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What services do you offer?
We offer a wide range of services, including oil changes, tire rotations, brake repairs, engine diagnostics, and more.
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Do you offer emergency roadside assistance?
While we don't offer direct roadside assistance, we can help you coordinate with a towing service or ecommend local providers.
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What are your hours of operation?
We are open Monday-Friday 8am to 5pm
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Do you have an after hours key drop box?
Yes, please park your vehicle in a lit parking spot and drop your keys in our secure dropbox on the front of the building.
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Do you accept appointments?
Yes, we accept appointments. You can schedule an appointment online or by calling our shop.
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How often should I get an oil change?
It's best to consult your vehicle's owner's manual for specific recommendations. However, a general rule of thumb is to change your oil every 3,000-5,000 miles.
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What are the signs of bad brakes?
Signs of bad brakes include squealing or grinding noises, a spongy brake pedal, and a vehicle that pulls to one side when braking.
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How often should I rotate my tires?
It's recommended to rotate your tires every 6,000-8,000 miles to ensure even wear.
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How long does a typical repair take?
The time it takes to complete a repair varies depending on the specific issue. We will provide an estimated time frame when you bring your vehicle in.
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What kind of warranty do you offer on repairs?
We offer a 3 year 36,000 mile warranty on parts and labor for most repairs.
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Can you diagnose a specific issue over the phone?
While we can provide general advice, accurate diagnosis often requires a physical inspection of your vehicle.
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Do you offer financing options?
Unfortunately, we do not offer financing at this time.
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Do you have a waiting area for customers?
Yes, we have a newly remodeled, spacious and comfortable waiting area with Wi-Fi and refreshments.
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Can I provide my own parts?
While we recommend using our high-quality parts, you may provide your own parts, but please note that we cannot guarantee the quality or warranty of those parts.
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Are you part of Fort Collins 4x4?
Yes, Fort Collins 4x4 is our specialty legacy brand. Bring us your trucks and Jeeps for specialty work and accessories.
Our Gallery
Our Location
Auto Repair Mechanic Near Me
Providing Exceptional Car Repair and Maintenance to the Residents of Larimer, Weld
Located in the scenic city of Fort Collins, CO, Total Automotive is your go-to destination for comprehensive automotive repair and maintenance services. Whether you drive a car, SUV, truck, or minivan, our team of ASE-certified technicians is equipped to handle all your needs with precision and care. Backed by certifications like ASA, NAPA AutoCare Center, and TechNet, we provide high-quality services that are second to none.
Conveniently situated in Northern Colorado, our shop serves not only Fort Collins but also numerous neighboring communities. Our location ensures easy access for residents of the region who seek reliable auto care. Below is a list of nearby cities and towns we proudly serve:
Cities and Towns We Serve
- Loveland, CO
- Johnstown, CO
- Wellington, CO
- Mead, CO
- Ault, CO
- Lyons, CO
- Windsor, CO
- Severance, CO
- Eaton, CO
- Platteville, CO
- Nunn, CO
- Longmont, CO
- Greeley, CO
- Berthoud, CO
- Milliken, CO
- Estes Park, CO
- Longmont, CO
- Firestone, CO
- Cheyenne, WY
- Laramie, WY
- Timnath, CO
- Laporte, CO
- Evans, CO
Total Automotive
Mon - Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Professional Auto Services
cost-effectively provided.
Services
List of Services
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