Best Auto Repair & Tire Shop in Cincinnati
Monday - Friday: 7:00am to 5:30pm
Uptown
Trusted Auto Repair in Greater Cincinnati Since 1936
Ulmer’s Auto Care is a family-owned auto repair shop proudly serving Greater Cincinnati since 1936. We are honored to continue the legacy of excellence established by Star Motors, ensuring the same trusted service customers have relied on for years—now backed by the resources and experience of Ulmer’s Auto Care.
Convenient, Full-Service Auto Care
- Complimentary shuttle service and free valet pickup & delivery
- Free loaner cars and loaner bicycles
- Service for all makes and models, including domestic, European, and Asian vehicles
- Factory-level diagnostics and advanced computerized scan tools
Quality You Can Trust
- Over 350 years of combined technician experience
- Industry-leading 4-year / 50,000-mile parts and labor warranty
- Text and email service reminders for your convenience
With seven locations in Cincinnati and two in Northern Kentucky, Ulmer’s Auto Care makes expert auto repair easy, reliable, and close to home.
Set As My Store
Ulmer's Auto Care Center — Uptown
2924 Short Vine St.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45219
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Monday - Friday: 7:00am to 5:30pm
Matthew D.
15:12 18 Jan 26
Great fast servicethank you!
Brandy B.
14:26 16 Jan 26
Gabe and team literally saved my life! I was in Cincinnati for work when my car started making a terrible noise. I didn't feel safe driving it the two hours home. Ulmer's Uptown (formally Star Motors) was close by so I gave them a call. They got me in right away, diagnosed the problem, and did everything they could do to get me safely back on the road as quickly as possible. They even gave me a ride to my scheduled appointment all the way across town. The whole team went way above and beyond my expectations and I truly appreciate it. Thank you!!
John Jr C.
23:31 08 Jan 26
They were great to work with. Recommended to me by a trusted friend.
Nathan
21:44 13 Nov 25
Super quick and very friendly
Stephen J.
21:20 09 Oct 25
Star Motors is the only mechanic as far as I’m concerned. Don’t bother looking anywhere else if you’re in their area. Gabe rocks. Matt Rocks. All of them are goated. They’re your classic straight shooters. You (the reader) have the opportunity to make the right choice……don’t screw it up.
Aayush L.
01:46 04 Oct 25
Very kind and helpful people.
Jody G.
14:18 13 Sep 25
As a Mom of a college student who lives 4 hours away, I was so thankful to have found Short Vine Motors to work on my daughter's car! They thoroughly explained the issues (so that I could understand!) and the cost breakdowns; and they maintained excellent communication throughout the repair process. They showed great integrity with their quality of skilled work & the reasonable repair cost. And - they were so professional & friendly!!!
Ben T.
16:41 27 Aug 25
If you’re a UC parent and your kid needs auto care at school, give this place a call. Gabe is honest, knowledgeable and easy to work with. Will continue to use this shop as long as my son is in Cincy.
Charlene C.
13:43 28 Jul 25
These guys are GREAT!. HONEST, FRIENDLY, I THANK GOD FOR THEM!
Martize W.
16:45 23 Jul 25
Gabe and Matt were absolutely phenomenal. It was my first time here and they did an oil change on my Genesis. Matt also correctly diagnosed a needed repair that was misdiagnosed from another shop, with Gabe getting me on the schedule for the new repair quickly as well. Matt went to great lengths breaking down the issue for me, which is something I value.Relocating from Dayton to Cincinnati, I was on the hunt for a good, honest mechanic and so glad I found them. Absolutely kind and amazing people, which sometimes can be hard to come by in the auto industry. They have earned a repeat customer as long as they are around and I live in the Greater Cincinnati area!
H R.
23:25 17 Jul 25
Fantastic work. I really appreciate ShortVine Star for handling my car’s preventative maintenance and diagnosing/ repairing a recent issue quickly.
Kris S.
05:42 01 Jul 25
Recommended by my buddy to go there. Went and they were honest and straightforward
Judy L. B.
17:33 20 Jun 25
My son recommended this Mechanic Shop. I have used them twice. I highly recommend this place. They are honest kind fast and smart. Chad the mechanic spent time he probably didn’t have, (they are busy)to educate and explain all to me. After doing a lot of work I still heard noises in engine and they offered me to bring the car back. Chad did a thorough inspection and figured out what the noises were, and told me it was not a “necessary” fix. They are trustworthy.I drive from the suburbs to go to them. Gabe is always professional and respectful
Kent F.
17:17 20 Jun 25
I just had my first Subaru servicing at Star Motors. After being told by my Subaru dealer service that it would cost $5,740 for repair, Star analyzed the problem and repaired it for $483. In addition, because they knew I needed the car the next day the mechanic stayed after hours to repair it so my car was ready. They also paid for my Uber ride home when I brought the car in. What great customer service.
Quoc H.
19:10 18 Jun 25
these people are absolutely 5 stars with an extra in their name. bring in my pretty old car for inspection and transmission fluid change. they even tweak my suspension so it won't be so rough on the road any more, so perfect. my shifting experience (manual car) is so great now especially in 1 and 3 to 4very transparent and communicative upon price. already recommended to my friends
Ellie
16:13 04 Jun 25
As a young woman with student money and out-of-state family, it can be really hard to find a mechanic that you trust. ShortVine Star Motors is amazing. They are reliable, dependable, and honest people who treat me with respect. They are always willing to explain everything to me and never try to scam me. As long as I live in Greater Cincinnati, they will have my business.
Taylor H.
19:45 18 Apr 25
It has been the best experience working with all of the staff at Star Motors for my vehicle issues. The owner and staff are not only knowledgeable, but actually helpful. That goes a long way. Thank you all so much!
Anielka A.
21:29 11 Apr 25
We have our son impatient at Cincinatti Children’s Hospital and staying at the Ronald McDonald House. We won a raffle to get free maintenance for our car. They went above and beyond to help us fix our car. The owners made this happen so we have one less thing to worry in this difficult times.We are forever grateful.God bless you
Chris B.
13:49 09 Apr 25
6 stars, I would give them 6 stars if I could. I can't say enough about this local, family owned repair shop. I live in Columbus but my daughter lives in Cincinnati and had brake issues with her car. The owner's wife Sidney gave me a referral to a tow truck, who was very friendly and affordable and towed it to their shop after hours. Her husband quickly took care of her brakes and their prices are very fair, especially for the great level us service that comes with it. Thank you Short Vine Star Motors team!
Ujjwal
13:50 08 Apr 25
Always a go-to shop. In a convenient location nearby UC and they give 10% off labor for employees at UC or Children’s. They show you pictures of bad parts and provide a quote. Easy to deal with
Do Little (.
20:34 26 Mar 25
Great, knowledgeable, and honest guys! Highly recommend to everyone!
Mrs Bell (Mrs. B.
23:19 05 Mar 25
I prefer their services over anyone else
aubree H.
15:35 11 Feb 25
With all the construction going on in Clifton, I found myself with a nail in my tire. Being a UC student and 2 hours away from home, I was unsure where I should go to get my tire plugged. I called Shortvine Star Motors and they were able to squeeze me in the next morning. They patched up my tire without trying to make me buy a whole new tire. They were quick and didn’t even charge me, even after filling up my other tires with air and topping off my fluids. Highly recommend this place whether you are a UC student or not!
Nathan
23:47 25 Jan 25
Quick, quality service at a fair price. Highly recommend
D Derkster (.
20:17 13 Jan 25
Fast and fixed everything that I needed
Lora A.
22:23 30 Dec 24
I called today because I thought I needed a tire plugged. It couldn’t be plugged and I needed a new tire. They took care of getting tire and putting it on super quick. The guys were really polite and I can’t thank them enough for such good and fast service!!! Will be back!
C S.
15:35 13 Dec 24
This place is awesome the staff are knowledgable and friendly! I have used their services on more than one occasion. I myself am not the most knowledgable about cars and they were able to explain everything in detail and answer all my questions in standard language. Also, ithey have given me stellar reccomendation on were to go for work they do not specialize in or do/
Mike O.
16:35 03 Dec 24
Dropped my car off on short notice due to oil leak and smoke emanating from engine bay. They diagnosed the problem in less than an hour from the time I pulled up to the shop. Luckily, problem was covered under manufacturer recall. They didn’t charge me a single cent because no work was done since the fix would be through the manufacturer. I really appreciate their support, integrity, and the overall customer experience. Next time my car has a problem I will definitely be taking it to ShortVine Star Motors.
Tim W.
00:49 23 Nov 24
Matt and his crew are top notch. We have used them many times to keep several of our older vehicles on the road. They are very honest and reasonably priced. I don't hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for a good mechanic. A good, honest mechanic is GOLDEN.
Christine R.
12:13 01 Nov 24
They were helpful by being knowledgeable and honest when I brought my car in. Having car issues is stressful, they put me at ease. I will be back for future services, as well.
Sophia H.
20:21 10 Oct 24
They were great! Very quickly patched a hole in one of my tires and super responsive. Definitely will go back if I have car troubles in the future
Molly M.
18:10 30 Sep 24
They are very honest and trustworthy and were about half the cost of what I was quoted from another shop. Would definitely recommend them to anyone.
Annie S.
17:39 29 Jul 24
Quickly helped me patch a hole in my tire that I got from a nail on the highway! They were super kind and fast, and even checked my other tires’ air as well. Could’ve easily scammed me as it was obvious that I didn’t know much about my tires lol. Definitely will come back again if I need help!
Oscar H
19:51 12 Jul 24
My Subaru go to place. Great trusted service. Great staff and OTR finest.
Nathan L.
16:58 11 Jul 24
They were very helpful and quick
Austin L.
19:23 21 Jun 24
Gabe was amazing. Was driving to Houston and the plastic underneath my car dropped down and was scraping on the highway so I pulled off and stopped by. After explaining the situation he helped me fix the plastic underneath and then also checked all of my air, oil and fluids and even refilled my Power steering! Best experience I’ve had at a repair shop. Thanks again. 10/10
Olivia T.
23:59 20 Jun 24
They keep me informed with my car issues by sending photos and videos and they’ve always been so kind and helpful. Been going to them for about 2 years now and I never want to go to any other mechanic shop. 10/10 they slay
Monty
15:53 20 Jun 24
The bee's knees of mechanics, and not only in Clifton, but in Cincinnati!
ETSU03
17:10 16 May 24
Whether your local or have a kid from out of state I highly recommend taking your vehicle(s) here. I get it, we're all worried about being taken to the cleaners, are they gonna take advantage of my son/daughter and are the prices fair. This group is friendly, consultative, honest, presents options, pricing is very competitive, bend over backwards to fit you in, and they stand by their work.
Malini B.
00:53 24 Apr 24
These guys are wonderful. I came here twice before in the past few years for services they can't do. But, they gave me advice and where to go (and honestly told me to go to Toyota for certain things). I came back again for a headlight problem that I tried to fix for over 2 years. It was such an easy fix in their eyes that they did not charge me for it. Taking it to a dealership would have cost me $100+ just to get looked at. And I needed a tire rotation which they did for $23.99, way less than Valvoline.
Tom V.
13:33 22 Apr 24
Great place, Great people. Matt really help me out. My son is a UC student and had a nail in his tire. Matt even though he was real busy was able to fix the tire between my son's classes. This was such a relief because I couldn't do anything and my son needed to drive to a school function which was about 30 minute away that same day.
Megan T.
15:55 17 Apr 24
We are from out of town visiting our UC student and ran into an unexpected issue with our car. ShortVine Star Motors came highly recommended and they lived up to the recommendations! We were very pleased with our service (they explained everything- including sending us photos) before doing any of the work. We were limited on time and they worked hard to get it back us quickly. They earned our business and will use them again if the need arises. Thank you!
Ricky W.
00:18 05 Apr 24
Had great instant service. Would totally come back to this place every time!
Michael V.
21:35 04 Apr 24
Best service around Clifton! Matt was very helpful.
Aubrey R.
21:17 29 Mar 24
Needed a patch in my tire and they fixed it up so quick - 5 minutes before they closed on a FRIDAY! So kind and helpful. Highly recommend; they are amazing!
lg K.
17:06 13 Mar 24
Super awesome experience here. They texted prices before they made any repairs, and didn’t over-charge. Very friendly and convenient for college students!
Bret B.
12:24 08 Mar 24
They are excellent! Great,dependable service and very friendly.
You-hai X.
00:00 14 Feb 24
They are people!This afternoon, I was hurry to go my hospital appointment at UC medical center. Suddenly, the rear right tire was showing not enough pressure and could not pump the air in. I stopped at Star Mortors and ask help. The young gentleman at office desk immediately came out and help me check and pump the air. By the end, he did not accept my small gift for hot coffee or beer.I arrived doctor’ office on the time. Otherwise, I am not sure how I could get to see doctor.I would appreciate his help again hereby!Xu
Tony M.
22:15 05 Feb 24
Our son is going to UC and it is so awesome to know that we have an amazing, reliable and dependent auto mechanic that we can trust for repairs and maintenance
Danielle S.
14:38 03 Feb 24
Bringing your car here is a really personal and human experience. Gabe, who works front desk, is detailed, communicative, and genuine. The mechanics do thorough work and they won't push you to do anything you aren't ready for. I won't be bringing my truck anywhere else but here.
Nina H.
17:53 31 Jan 24
I am a female college student at UC who has been coming to Shortvine Star Motors for the past 6 months. I drive an older car, a 2006 to be specific, that has been having issues. It isn’t the most reliable and with living in Clifton I have had to get additional repairs such as my Catalytic Converter replaced. Gabe and the shortvine motors team have truly done an incredible job. I feel like as a young woman, I feel vulnerable walking into a repair shop because I am unsure of what everything means all the time, and get nervous that i’ll end up paying more for a repair than I should. That has never been the case at this repair shop. Gabe always helps to explain things to me, and works with me and my dad to help come up with the best solution for the car repair.
Cecilia L.
17:14 10 Jan 24
I had a nail in my tire. They fixed my tire in like 10 seconds and they were super friendly! Definitely go here to get your car fixed!!!!
Jessica B.
16:35 06 Jan 24
I had a great 1st experience with Star motors. I got a screw in my tire while at work. I called them they got me in and out back on the road working fast. They we friendly and professional. He answered all my questions about how they would repair my tire, and they topped off my fluids and check my other tires. The most important part was they could drive my car (its standard not an automatic.) . That is worth more to me than anything because that means less stress on me.
Dan L
16:23 07 Dec 23
Gabe and team are legit! I went to this shop 5 years ago when I was in college for all my car troubles and the service has not changed this whole time. Also having them communicate via text is a god send in terms of convenience. I live across town in kentucky and still make my way up here for this reason!
Chloe S.
14:27 24 Oct 23
I have nothing but great things to say about this place and the people. They are extremely helpful, kind, and knowledgeable. Highly recommend their services. You won’t be disappointed
Brandon J.
17:37 06 Oct 23
Literally my favorite garage in the area. The staff is friendly and honest. They always fix the issue and are open to explaining things I don't understand.
Angel C.
02:27 28 Sep 23
Honest, trustworthy and good at what they do. Their prices are always fair and I never feel talked down to or taken advantage of. And my car runs so well.
Ashish S.
19:02 09 Sep 23
They did a great job with my car breaks and control arms.
Gabriel M.
18:21 25 Aug 23
Very kind, helpful, and charismatic young man! Thank you for the help today!
Shawn A.
22:58 23 Aug 23
Great service. Honest, friendly, and efficient. They do a great job of explaining everything and keep in contact with you throughout the process. You won’t find a kinder staff from the front desk to the mechanics to the owner. Highly recommend!
Maddy P.
21:06 11 Aug 23
Took my car in to get AC fixed, staff, especially Gabe, was very nice and helpful, felt like they were actually trying to help me and not trying to scam me. Very experienced and do their job well and efficiently, will definitely be taking my car back with any issues
Zak Z.
20:20 07 Aug 23
OMG! I went to fix my tire and I met Matt, he did within 15min. Without charging any money. He is an excellent guy and good person. I recommend this auto shop to everyone.
Kelly T.
01:40 13 Jul 23
These guys are the best-always very professional and helpful. They are committed to outstanding, quality work. While we waited on a part for my car, I used their loaner vehicle free of charge, and they even reimbursed me for gas. Highly recommend.
Evan Z.
18:34 01 Jun 23
Honest shop with fair pricing and nice helpful staff.
Jessica U.
20:43 19 May 23
Great experience. I’ve been looking for a good repair shop in Cincy and believe I’ve found it. They did a great job replacing my rotors and they were very communicative.
Chris H.
22:09 21 Apr 23
Matt and the guys really do a great job. Totally trust them to do honest, good quality work.
Patrizia T.
02:09 14 Apr 23
I went for an oil change and I asked to check a few other things on the car and Gabe kept me posted on costs and what the car needed. The experience was overall great and for once I had the feeling of dealing with honest people! Plus, I received a 10% discount as advertaised on the website!
Colby M.
15:29 12 Apr 23
I have been taking my cars here for years since I was a college student when my car broke down. They are straightforward, honest, and explain what is going on without talking down to me. Gabe and Matt both go above and beyond to get you back on the road. They also offer labor discounts to UC students and local hospital workers.Additionally, my wife has also had a great experience with them, which should be said considering the way many mechanics talk to women.
Pradeep
11:36 07 Apr 23
Provided breakdown repair on time.Not a low cost option but the service was good.
Chloe H.
15:56 03 Apr 23
I had a great experience. They are honest workers and very flexible. I will be using them again.
Paul T.
20:20 11 Mar 23
Very friendly and helpful.
Ben F.
17:10 07 Mar 23
Scheduling a time for drop-off was super easy. Received a confirmation from one of the workers of my appointment time within an hour of requesting. On day of appointment, drop-off was smooth and quick with Gabe coming into the office as soon as I stepped in. Received a text when they got my car in with recommendations and supporting and clear information to approve or deny additional work and a text when it was completed. Came back to pick-up my car where Gabe was explaining very clearly and respectfully to another customer before me about their vehicle. Paid and got my key very quickly afterward.TLDR: Service was excellent, fantastic location for Short Vine workers and UC Students, and Gabe's a rockstar.
Jackie D.
22:11 10 Feb 23
Very satisfied with this team. As a mechanical engineer and a person who normally worked on his car, there will always be a job that is too big for you. I came to this business based off the reviews on Google and they did not disappoint. Definitely a five star service. They were very clear on the description and telling me what’s wrong. They are very quick and efficient. Super close to Uc. Don’t hesitate to stop by if you are a UC student.
ammar A.
19:50 20 Jan 23
Excellent work with Honest and reliable people. I had a minor issue with my trunk with some bolts missing. They resolved the issue in a few minutes and did not charge. I would recommend this place to everyone I know.
Alanna Maloney A.
01:56 09 Jan 23
They never disappoint. Period.
Chelcie G.
16:51 29 Dec 22
This place is awesome! Gabe did a great job and fixed my car quickly and efficiently. They saved our trip! We’re driving through to Nashville and had car problems. Thanks!!!
becca P.
16:42 29 Dec 22
Great group of hardworking people! They always take great care of me!
Alex
02:46 01 Oct 22
I took my car here and they did a fantastic job fixing it. They clearly informed me on what was wrong and what needed fixing. Any time they called they were professional and polite. If you are a student this is best repair shop to go to. Plus they were pretty quick on getting my car back on the road for a decent size job. I liked how they informed me how to best keep my car from needing to be fixed again. They definitely prevented a more serious situation from happening. Thank you guys!
D M.
17:54 30 Sep 22
My Lulu (car) shut off on me this morning in Clifton, then miraculously came back to life after about 7 minutes. Of course no one stopped to offer assistance bc it’s Clifton. Left work, car wouldn’t start, popped hood, discovered loose battery connection. Drive to this shop and with out hesitation, Ethan and another mechanic got Lulu all fixed up! So nice to know there’s still good people working at great family businesses.Definitely 5 start service!
Jenna V.
15:42 01 Sep 22
Star motors was awesome! My car would stall while I was driving so I found this as the most convenient place. I scheduled an appointment online, but I received an email asking to change my appointment. When I arrived I learned my appointment was not entered into the system, but Gabe was very kind and offered to check on my car during spare time that day and I still got my car back in a timely fashion. Gabe texted me updates frequently, and was honest as he lowered a part price for me when he learned it was actually cheaper than originally listed. He additionally gave me a UC student discount. My car is running fabulously now and I can’t thank Gabe and Star motors enough!
Robert M.
21:35 30 Aug 22
Performed a thorough inspection of the car, texted full description and pictures. Service was completed promptly and with great customer service. As a remote parent of a UC student, it was extremely comforting knowing my sons car was in good hands and he was being dealt with fairly. Amazing!
Scott H.
16:37 12 Jul 22
I came to this business based off the reviews on Google and they did not disappoint. They are professional, courteous, and accommodating. They explained what they fixed and why, not that I know much about cars, but I appreciated the explanation all the same. The fixes come with a warranty included and the prices are very reasonable. I appreciated the communication and the timelines they gave were always either on time or hours before their estimated time of completion. As long as I live close by, this is the auto repair shop I'm going to. I can't recommend them enough.
Envy
12:18 24 Jun 22
This shop did great work on my Town and country this past two days when I brought it in for repairs. It was in need of some tuning and they laid it all out for me clearly and fairly priced, provided advice on what repairs would be recommended and which repairs should be prioritized when I was trying to figure out what I could fit into my car budget. This was my first experience with the group but I fully intend to make them my home shop for vehicle maintenance for as long as I’m in Cincinnati. Can’t recommend this group enough.
Jack S.
19:41 23 Jun 22
Can't say enough about these guys. Had a daughter at UC for last three years and these guys took amazing care of her care. Super honest, great service.
Joseph F.
Vehicles We Service
Full Service Auto Repair ShopTrust Us For All Your Repair Needs Including:
Maintenance Services
- Oil Change and Quick Lube
- 30/60/90 Manufacturer
- Scheduled Maintenance
- Wheel Alignment
- Check Engine Light Diagnostics
- Transfer Case Service
- Fleet Maintenance Services Repair
- Fuel System & Diagnostics
Repair Services
- Axle Repair
- Brake Check & Repair
- Electrical Systems
- Exhaust Systems
- Heating & A/C Repair Service
- Hybrid Vehicle Maintenance & Repair
- Muffler Service
- Transmission Repair
Why Ulmer's Auto Care?
We guarantee our auto repairs with a hassle-free warranty!
At Ulmer’s Auto Care, we understand that needing your car repaired can be stressful enough. That’s why our repairs are guaranteed by a hassle-free 4 year, 50,000 mile warranty! We are happy to provide you with one of the longest auto repair warranties in the Anderson and Cincinnati area, because that’s what you deserve. We work on all models from Toyotas, to Hondas, to BMW, to much more!
Free vehicle pickup and delivery service for your convenience.
Keeping up with your car’s maintenance schedule can be tricky, but it’s vital to keeping your vehicle from breaking down on the side of the road. Our free vehicle pickup and delivery service makes it easy to have your vehicle serviced! We also provide a free local shuttle service where we will drive you home or to work so you don’t have to miss a beat. It’s all a part of how we are truly working to serve our customers with the best auto repair experience in Anderson and Cincinnati.
How Can We Help You?
Fleet ServicesWhy Choose Ulmer's?
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