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Honest Joe's AutoText (512) 980-4368
Honest Joe's Auto

Bastrop County & rural Central Texas

Your mechanic
comes to you

No tow truck. No dropping the car off and waiting three days for a phone call. I show up where the vehicle already is — your driveway, your yard, the shoulder of FM 969 — and I fix it there.

Texting is best — I'm usually mid-job and can't pick up. Stranded or an emergency? Call (512) 980-4368.

$150 flat to diagnose · Mon–Fri 9am – 6pm

I also offer after-hours service

Book a diagnostic

Tell me what it's doing and I'll get back to you. Flat $150 to find the fault — and if I can't find it, you don't pay it.

I'll text or call — whichever you prefer.

Stranded or an emergency? Don't use this form — call (512) 980-4368

You shouldn't have to trust a stranger

That's the whole problem with calling a mechanic you've never met. You don't know what it'll cost, you don't know if the answer is honest, and you don't know what happens if it goes wrong next week. So here's what I put in writing on every job.

1

No fix, no fee

If I can't find what's wrong with it, you don't pay the diagnostic. If the fault won't show itself while I'm there, the fee still applies.

2

The price I quote is the price you pay

No surprises once the hood's up. If a job runs longer than I said, that's on me — not you.

3

12 months, 12,000 miles

Parts and labor. If the repair doesn't hold, I come back and put it right. No charge.

Read the full warranty terms

What I work on

Cars and trucks mostly — but out here that also means tractors, mowers and the generator you need working before the next ice storm.

All services

Diagnostics

Warning light on, odd noise, or something that just feels wrong. I find out what it is before anyone spends money on parts.

Roadside & No-Start

Won't crank, won't start, or quit on you at the side of the road. I come to where it stopped, and often get it running the same visit.

Brakes

Squealing, grinding, soft pedal, or a car that pulls when you stop. Pads, rotors and lines, done in your driveway.

Battery & Charging

Dead every morning, dies again after a jump, or a battery light that won't go out. Usually the battery, sometimes the alternator.

Engine Repair

Knocking, misfiring, losing power, or leaking oil. Most of it I can do on site — and I'll tell you straight if it needs a shop.

Cooling System

Overheating, steam, or coolant on the driveway. Worth catching early — this is the one that turns into a big bill.

Electrical

Lights out, fuses blowing, windows or accessories dead. Tracking down a short is what I do instead of guessing.

Steering & Suspension

Clunking over bumps, pulling to one side, vibration at speed, or steering that feels vague.

Transmission

Slipping, hard shifts, or a clutch that isn't biting where it used to. Diagnosis first, always. No full rebuilds, and fluid service is a drain and fill, not a flush.

Diesel Repair

Diesel pickups and work trucks that are hard to start, running rough, smoking, or down on power. I track it down and fix it where the truck sits. No engine or transmission rebuilds.

Windows & Doors

Windows stuck down, doors that won't lock or latch, handles that come away in your hand. Motors, regulators, locks and latches — not body work.

A/C Repair

In a Texas summer this isn't a luxury. Recharge, leak-finding, compressor and blower work.

Exhaust

Loud, rattling, or blowing where it shouldn't. Mounts, pipes and muffler work.

Farm Equipment

Tractors, UTVs and ATVs. If it runs on your land and won't start, it's worth a call.

Small Engines

Mowers, chainsaws, generators and pressure washers. Especially generators before storm season.

How it works

  1. 01

    You text or call

    Tell me what it's doing. If it's something simple I'll often tell you over the phone for free.

  2. 02

    I come out

    Flat $150 to diagnose it properly, wherever the vehicle is sitting.

  3. 03

    You get a price

    Before anything gets taken apart. You decide — no pressure, no upsell.

  4. 04

    I fix it there

    Most jobs are done the same visit. Covered 12 months / 12,000 miles.

What people say afterwards

5.0 stars from 30 reviews on Google. Read them all on Google (opens in a new tab)

  • I was driving my pickup from Houston to my home near Austin… and the engine lost most of its power. I was able to get Honest Joe's name and number from an auto parts store and within an hour, he was under the hood and fixing the problem! I was back on the road in a couple of hours and didn't have to find a hotel room.
    Dan B.·Lost power on the highway·2025
  • He's worked on both my diesel truck and my van — these are large vehicles — and handled a wide range of repairs and maintenance… Everything was done quickly and efficiently. He showed up on time, communicated clearly throughout the process, and got a lot of work done in a short amount of time. It saved us a ton of hassle not having to take our vehicles into a shop.
    Randall F.·Diesel truck and van, Smithville·April 2026
  • He came out after working his regular job and stayed until around 10 p.m. to make sure everything was taken care of… He kept us updated and explained what he was finding along the way instead of just replacing parts and leaving us guessing.
    Alessandra K.·Battery and alternator·September 2026
  • It was our first time using a mobile mechanic, and Joe… made us feel immediately comfortable. He was straightforward about what he would do for us, how much he would charge, and even very transparent about himself. He engendered trust… While he had to go get parts, he came back and stayed until the job was done. Very impressive, including his charges.
    Ellen P.·Engine, A/C and blower·2025
  • I had my air suspension go out on my Mercedes. Joe came to my house, got me a quote, got the parts, and had it fixed the same day. Very professional. Could not be happier with the service.
    Robert N.·Air suspension, Mercedes·2025
  • Thank you, Joe, for coming through, diagnosing the issue and even being able to fix it on the spot. I wouldn't have been able to drive it to a repair shop, so the home service was a lifesaver.
    Zach S.·Fixed on the spot·January 2026

Where I go

Based in Bastrop, out across the county most days. Travel is free within 30 miles of Bastrop — that's every town below.

  • Bastrop
  • Camp Swift
  • Cedar Creek
  • Smithville
  • Paige
  • McDade
  • Red Rock
  • Elgin
  • Rosanky
  • West Point
  • Winchester
  • Giddings
  • Serbin
  • East Austin
  • Manor

Further out

I'll still come. There's a flat travel fee for the drive, on top of the job — it's my time on the road, and you'll know it before you call.

  • La Grange$50
  • Lockhart$55
  • Ledbetter$60
  • Warda$60
  • Taylor$60
  • Lexington$60
  • Luling$65
  • Flatonia$65
  • San Marcos$75
  • Schulenburg$80
  • Round Top$80
  • Caldwell$85
  • Brenham$100

Not on either list? Text and ask — I'll work it out the same way and tell you before I set out, never after.

Let's find out what's wrong

I've been doing this a long time, and I'd rather lose an afternoon than lose my name.

Stranded or an emergency? Call (512) 980-4368 — for anything else, a text gets to me faster.