Transparent auto repair · Madison, WI

See what we see.

Every car gets a digital inspection — a photo, a measurement and a price for each item — texted to your phone. You approve what gets done. Nothing else gets touched.

Book an inspection See a sample report

ASE-certified technicians
24-month / 24,000-mile warranty
4.9 from 640+ reviews

A technician beside a car in a bright, modern service bay

The text message a customer gets from us

9:215G

Honest Wrench

Text message · Today

Hi Dana, it’s Jess at Honest Wrench. Your CR-V’s inspection is done — twelve checks, with a photo of each.
Inspection report
2017 Honda CR-V EX AWD
8 good · 2 watch · 2 now
Open the report
Do the brakes and the belt today please. The tires can wait till fall.
You got it — $612.40 approved, nothing else gets touched. Ready by 4:30.

12checks photographed on every visit
$0charged for work you didn’t approve
$149an hour — our posted labor rate
4.9from 640+ reviews since 2015

The signature · A sample report

This is the text you get from us.

A real report for a fictional customer. Open any item for the photo and the technician’s note, approve or skip the red and amber ones, and watch the estimate follow along — exactly as it works on your phone.

Honest Wrench Auto

Repair order #24817 · Tuesday, 9:21 am

Sample

Vehicle: 2017 Honda CR-V EX AWD
Odometer: 88,412 mi
Prepared for: Dana K.
Inspected by: Marcus T. · ASE Master

8 good2 to watch2 need attention

All 12Attention 2Watch 2Good 8

Brakes

Front brake pads
3 mm left · new is 12 mm
Needs attentionPhoto and technician’s note

Front pads + resurface both rotors
$389.40
ApproveNot today

Technician’s note
Measured at the inner pad, the thinnest point. At 3 mm the wear tab is about to touch the rotor — you would hear a squeal within a few hundred miles. The rotors are still above their minimum thickness, so we can resurface them instead of replacing them.
Front pads + resurface both rotors
Brakes

Rear brake pads
7 mm left · new is 10 mm
GoodPhoto and technician’s note

No action needed — next check at your oil change
ApproveNot today

Technician’s note
Even wear on both sides and the slide pins move freely. At the way you drive, these should last another 25,000 miles or so.
No action needed — next check at your oil change
Brakes

Brake fluid
1% moisture · exchange at 3%
GoodPhoto and technician’s note

No action needed
ApproveNot today

Technician’s note
Tested with a moisture meter at the reservoir. Under 2% is healthy; we suggest an exchange at 3%, which for you is about two years away.
No action needed
Tires

Front tires
7/32" tread · 35 psi
GoodPhoto and technician’s note

No action needed
ApproveNot today

Technician’s note
Measured in three places across each tire; the wear is even, so the alignment looks right. Pressures set to the door-jamb sticker.
No action needed
Tires

Rear tires
4/32" tread · 35 psi
WatchPhoto and technician’s note

Two rear tires, mounted & balanced
$338.00
ApproveNot today

Technician’s note
Legal and safe today, but at 4/32" grip on wet and slushy roads drops off noticeably. Most drivers replace them before winter; doing it at 3/32" in spring is a fair choice too.
Two rear tires, mounted & balanced
Fluids

Engine oil
Changed today · 0W-20 synthetic
GoodPhoto and technician’s note

Done today — part of your visit
ApproveNot today

Technician’s note
Drained, new filter, 4.4 quarts of 0W-20 full synthetic. Oil-life monitor reset; your next change is due at 93,400 miles.
Done today — part of your visit
Fluids

Coolant
Protected to −34°F
GoodPhoto and technician’s note

No action needed
ApproveNot today

Technician’s note
Tested with a refractometer. Good to −34°F — plenty for a Wisconsin January. Level correct, and no seepage at the hoses or the water pump.
No action needed
Belts & hoses

Serpentine belt
Cracks across all 6 ribs
Needs attentionPhoto and technician’s note

Replace belt + check the tensioner
$223.00
ApproveNot today

Technician’s note
Several cracks deep enough to catch a fingernail. This belt drives the alternator and the water pump: when it lets go, the battery stops charging and the engine can overheat within minutes.
Replace belt + check the tensioner
Belts & hoses

Radiator hoses
Firm, no swelling
GoodPhoto and technician’s note

No action needed
ApproveNot today

Technician’s note
Squeezed both hoses warm and cold: firm, no soft spots, no cracking at the ends, clamps tight.
No action needed
Battery

12-volt battery
61% health · 366 of 600 CCA
WatchPhoto and technician’s note

Replace the battery before winter
$219.00
ApproveNot today

Technician’s note
Starts the car fine today, but cold cuts cranking power by about a third. At 61% it may struggle on the first zero-degree morning. We cleaned the terminals at no charge.
Replace the battery before winter
Suspension & steering

Struts, joints & links
Dry, no play
GoodPhoto and technician’s note

No action needed
ApproveNot today

Technician’s note
Bounce test, a look for leaks at every strut, and a pry-bar check at every ball joint and tie-rod end. Nothing loose, nothing leaking.
No action needed
Lights

Lights & signals
All working · 1 bulb fixed
GoodPhoto and technician’s note

Fixed today, no charge
ApproveNot today

Technician’s note
The licence-plate bulb was out. We replaced it while the car was in the bay — no charge, it took two minutes.
Fixed today, no charge

You approved 2 of 4

$612.40

Parts, labor and shop supplies included. Tax at pickup. Covered by our 24-month warranty.

Book your inspection

Services

Everything a car needs, priced before we start.

Most makes and models, from a 2004 Corolla to last year’s F-150. Each price is a real starting point for most cars — your report shows the exact figure before any work.

Diagnosis & check-engine lights
Codes read, then the circuit tested until the cause is proven. You get the cause, a photo and the price before any repair.
From $149 · About 1 hour
Brakes
Pads, rotors, calipers and fluid — measured first, with the numbers written on your report.
From $189 · About 1.5 hours
Oil & fluid service
Synthetic oil changes, and coolant, brake and transmission fluid on your manufacturer’s schedule — never ours.
From $79.95 · About 40 min
Tires & alignment
Mount, balance, rotate and align, lug nuts torqued by hand, tread depths recorded at every visit.
From $59.60 · About 45 min
Batteries & electrical
A free load test with any visit; batteries, alternators and starters fitted the same day.
From $219 · About 30 min
Suspension & steering
Struts, shocks, ball joints and tie rods — with a short video of the play we found.
From $249 · About 2 hours
Belts, hoses & cooling
Serpentine and timing belts, water pumps, radiators and every hose in between.
From $223 · About 1.5 hours
Heating & A/C
Leak tests, recharges and blower repairs, so the heat works before the first frost.
From $129 · About 1 hour

How a visit works

Tracked like a delivery, start to finish.

2017 Honda CR-V EX AWDReady for pickup

8:02 am
You book
Online or by phone. Tell us what the car is doing and we hold a bay and a time for you.
9:15 am
We inspect
Twelve checks on the lift, each one measured and photographed — the parts that are fine too.
9:21 am
You decide
The report arrives by text with a price on every item. Approve what you want, skip what you don’t.
4:30 pm
You pick up
Old parts bagged on the passenger seat, and an invoice that matches the estimate to the cent.

Why Honest Wrench

Five rules we don’t bend.

24 months or 24,000 miles

On parts and labor, in writing on every invoice — and honoured at partner shops nationwide if you’re on a road trip.

01
Photo, or it didn’t happen.
If we recommend it, you see it: a photo or a short video of the actual part on your actual car.
02
Nothing without your yes.
We never start work you haven’t approved — by text, by email or on the phone, and it is written on the order.
03
Your old parts come back.
Worn pads, cracked belts, dirty filters — bagged and left on your passenger seat. Keep them, or we recycle them.
04
The labor rate is posted.
$149 an hour and a flat 30% parts markup, on the wall and on every estimate. No shop fees buried at the bottom.
05
“Not today” is a fine answer.
Amber items come with an honest timeframe. We remind you once when it’s time — not every week.

Prices

Itemised. Parts and labor, line by line.

$149/h

Our labor rate, posted

Parts at a flat 30% over our cost

The jobParts LaborTotal

Full synthetic oil change
Parts $35.25 · Labor $44.70
$79.95
Front brake pads + resurfaced rotors
Parts $151.00 · Labor $238.40
$389.40
Serpentine belt
Parts $88.90 · Labor $134.10
$223.00
Battery, installed and tested
Parts $174.30 · Labor $44.70
$219.00
Coolant exchange
Parts $42.80 · Labor $74.50
$117.30
Engine + cabin air filters
Parts $46.40 · Labor $29.80
$76.20
Tire rotation & balance
Parts $0.00 · Labor $59.60
$59.60
Four-wheel alignment
Parts $0.00 · Labor $119.20
$119.20
Check-engine diagnosis
Parts $0.00 · Labor $149.00
$149.00

Typical prices for most cars and small SUVs, before tax. Bigger engines and some European cars take more oil or longer labor — your estimate shows it before you approve, and the invoice never goes above it.

Reviews

What people say after the bill.

4.9

★★★★★

from 642 Google reviews

5 ★91%
4 ★6%
3 ★1%
2 ★1%
1 ★1%

We reply to every review — the six one-stars included.

★★★★★
They sent a photo of my brake pads next to a new one. I didn’t need to know anything about cars to see the problem.
Dana K.2017 Honda CR-V · front brakes
★★★★★
I said no to two of the four things on the report and nobody made me feel bad about it. Came back in March for the tires.
Tom R.2014 Ford Escape · inspection
★★★★★
The invoice matched the estimate to the cent. First time that has ever happened to me at a shop.
Priya S.2019 Toyota RAV4 · timing & coolant
★★★★★
Check-engine light that two other places couldn’t pin down. Marcus found a cracked vacuum hose and showed me the video.
Luis M.2012 Chevrolet Equinox · diagnosis
★★★★★
My old belt was sitting on the passenger seat in a bag with a note. Small thing, but it says everything.
Hannah B.2016 Subaru Forester · serpentine belt

The people

The names on your report.

Three of the seven people at Honest Wrench. Every report is signed by the technician who did the checks, and read by Renata before it reaches you.

Renata Okafor

Owner · ASE Master Technician

Spent twelve years at shops where the estimate grew while the car was on the lift. Opened Honest Wrench in 2015 to run it the other way round, and still reads every report before it goes out.

Marcus Tran

Lead technician · ASE Master, L1

Our diagnostician and the one taking most of the photos. If a light is on, Marcus finds out why — and writes the note on your report in words you don’t need to look up.

Jess Lindqvist

Service advisor

The voice on the phone and the person who texts you the report. Jess will happily tell you what can wait, and books the reminder so you don’t have to remember.

Visit

Two blocks up from the lake.

1846 Larkspur Avenue, Madison, WI 53704

Mon–Fri 7:30–6 · Thu till 7 · Sat 8–1

Monday7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday7:30 am – 7:00 pm
Friday7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday8:00 am – 1:00 pm
SundayClosed

Book a time (608) 555-0110

Parking
Six customer spaces out front marked “Drop-off”. More on Ridley Street after 9 am.
Early or late
A key drop slot by the front door, with envelopes and a pen. We text you when we have the car.
Getting home
Free rides within four miles, or a loaner car for jobs over four hours — ask when you book.

Questions

Straight answers.

Anything else, text us at the number below — a person answers, usually within ten minutes during opening hours.

Is the inspection really included with every visit?

Yes. Any paid visit — even an oil change — includes the twelve-point digital inspection with photos. Booked on its own, an inspection is $49, credited toward any work you approve within 30 days.

What happens if you find something after I approve the estimate?

We stop and text you. A new photo, a new price, and nothing done until you answer. The approved total is a ceiling, never a starting point.

Can I bring my own parts?

For most jobs, yes. We charge labor only and can’t warranty the part itself, but our workmanship is still covered for 24 months.

Will servicing here affect my factory warranty?

No. You can have your car maintained at any qualified shop. We use parts that meet your manufacturer’s specifications and record every service with the date and mileage.

How long will my car be here?

Oil changes and inspections take about an hour; most brake jobs are same-day. Your report says when we expect it to be ready, and we text you if that changes.

Do you charge to diagnose a warning light?

The first hour of diagnosis is $149, and it is credited toward the repair if you go ahead. Most lights are found inside that hour; if one needs longer we ask before continuing.

What does “amber” really mean — should I worry?

Amber means fine today, with a rough timeframe. We would let our own family drive on it. When the time comes we send one reminder, not a sales campaign.

Book

Book a visit. See everything.

Tell us about the car and what it is doing. Jess will call or text to confirm a time — and you will see the report before anyone picks up a wrench.

A photographed inspection with every visit
A price for every item before work starts
Nothing done without your yes

Rather talk? (608) 555-0110