About Pete's Automotive Service
Pete's Automotive Service is a family-owned auto repair shop at 32125 Arbol Real, Thousand Palms, CA 92276. Pete founded it in 1981 with Letty, and the two of them still run it: Pete at the counter, Letty at the front of the house.
Pete opened the shop in 1981 as a small family operation and built it into the full-service facility it is today. He still greets customers at the counter and stands behind every repair that leaves the bays.
Who works on your car
Two of the crew, Pete and Ricardo, are ASE Master Technicians. Here is everyone, with the credentials each of them has confirmed.
Pete
Owner & Founder
Founded the shop in 1981. Still runs the counter.
- Running the shop since 1981
- ASE Master Technician
- NAPA Technician of the Year, 1991
- AAA Approved & NAPA Certified facility owner
- Licensed STAR smog station operator
Letty
Co-Owner & Co-Founder
Co-founded the shop with Pete and runs the front of the house.
Chuy
Technician
General repair and maintenance.
- Graduate, WyoTech trade school
Keith
Technician
Lube, maintenance and classic car work.
Ricardo
Technician
Air conditioning, diesel, suspension and driveability diagnostics.
- ASE Master Technician
- 30+ years in the trade
Stefan
Technician
Smog testing, emissions failure repair and driveability diagnostics. 10+ years in the trade.
- ASE certified
- Smog technician
- 10+ years in the trade
Credentials you can check yourself
Every one of these opens the outside organization's own record for the shop, so you do not have to take our word for it.
- AAA Approved Auto RepairFacility listing on AAA, with the member discount terms
- NAPA AutoCare CenterFacility listing on NAPA AutoCare
- STAR Certified smog station, test and repairCalifornia Bureau of Automotive Repair station report, station 271551
- Licensed smog station and Automotive Repair DealerCalifornia Department of Consumer Affairs license lookup, license 271551
- Nextdoor Neighborhood FavoriteVoted by neighbors in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024
How a repair works here
- 1
Listen and Inspect
Tell us what you see, hear, or feel. We start with your description and a hands-on inspection, not a guess.
- 2
Diagnose Clearly
Our team finds the actual problem and explains it in plain language before any work starts.
- 3
Repair and Stand Behind It
We fix it right, and qualifying work carries a 12-month / 12,000-mile warranty.
Warranty
Qualifying work is backed by a 12-month / 12,000-mile warranty. Some parts are excluded — remanufactured electrical components, window motors, A/C compressors, and used parts — so ask us whether your repair qualifies when you call.
Payment and discounts
All major credit and debit cards are accepted. We do not offer financing. AAA members receive a discount — mention your membership when you call. We do not currently offer senior, veteran, or first responder discounts.
Se habla español
Sí, se habla español, por teléfono y en el mostrador. Le explicamos la reparación en español antes de empezar cualquier trabajo.
After-hours key drop
Yes. There is an after-hours key drop, so you can leave the vehicle outside business hours instead of taking time off work. Call first at (760) 343-3535 so we know the car is coming and what it needs, and we can start on it when we open.
What we do not do
We are a mechanical repair shop. We do not rebuild engines or transmissions, and we do not do body work or paint. When a job belongs somewhere else, we say so on the phone instead of taking the car in. Not sure whether yours is a job for us? Call and describe what the vehicle is doing.
What drivers say
4.7 out of 5 across 156+ Google reviews.
“Pete and his wife are the best in the valley. They provide fair prices, excellent car services, and most importantly they deliver honesty. I will never second guess taking my vehicles over to them for maintenance and regular checkups.”
“We took our RV to Pete’s and could not be happier with the service, the honesty and the thoroughness of the repair. On our trip back to the west coast of Canada, we encountered many hills and mountain passes and the RV performed beautifully.”
Visit or call
32125 Arbol Real, Thousand Palms, CA 92276
Email the shop
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
See our privacy policy for what this website collects, and the contact page for a map and directions.