About McCabe’s Automotive Specialists
A Woman-Owned, Family-Operated Auto Repair Shop Serving University Place and Tacoma Since 1972.
McCabe’s Automotive Specialists has been a trusted part of the South Sound community for more than fifty years. What began as a small, family-run operation is now led by second-generation owner Ashley McCabe, who continues to grow the business with the same integrity, care and community focus her father built it on. Today, McCabe’s remains a place where people know they’ll be treated with respect, given honest guidance and leave feeling confident about the work performed on their vehicle.
A Woman-Owned Shop Carrying a Legacy Forward
As the second-generation owner, Ashley represents the future of McCabe’s while honoring the values that shaped its past. The shop’s identity today reflects her leadership: transparent, community-centered and built around creating a place where customers feel respected and employees can thrive. With Ashley at the helm, McCabe’s continues to evolve without losing the personal, family-driven service that has defined it for more than five decades.
Ashley’s Story
Ashley didn’t set out to take over the shop. In 2015, after decades of running the business, Rick and his wife Rebecca began thinking about the next chapter. When a potential buyer approached Rick, he realized the shop’s legacy belonged in the family. Ashley stepped in, discovered she loved the work, and quickly became a natural fit for leadership.
Under her guidance, McCabe’s has continued its reputation for technical precision and customer-first service. Her leadership style focuses on transparency, education and building a workplace where employees feel valued and customers feel heard. Ashley’s work in the community and in the industry earned her a place on South Sound Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” list, recognizing dynamic leaders shaping the future of local business.
Rick’s Story (Legacy)
Rick McCabe’s journey began at just 14, when he took a job at a gas station next to his family’s grocery store. He learned quickly, fell in love with the work, and at 19 became the owner of his own Enco (Exxon) station. In 1979, he sold the station to open McCabe’s Foreign Car Repair, which evolved into McCabe’s Automotive Specialists. His commitment to honesty, craftsmanship and treating customers like family set the foundation the shop still stands on today.
Rooted in Community. Reaching Beyond It.
McCabe’s has always been about more than auto repair. As a small, family-owned business, every customer’s decision to work with us directly supports our staff, their families and the local community we call home.
That commitment now extends far beyond our region. McCabe’s Automotive is proud to partner with the Huntsman Hope Foundation, an organization dedicated to bringing hope and essential resources to underserved communities around the world. This includes life-changing projects such as providing access to clean drinking water for families who have none.
When you choose McCabe’s, you’re not only supporting a woman-owned local business. You’re contributing to meaningful work that reaches communities across the globe.
Our Commitment to You
We’ve serviced thousands of vehicles over the past five decades, from daily commuters to classic builds to modern foreign and domestic models. Whether you’re here for urgent diagnostics or routine maintenance, our priority is the same: do the job right the first time and make sure you understand the work we’re recommending.
Clear Communication
Honest Diagnostics
Transparent Pricing
ASE-Certified Technicians
Awards & Recognition
Before listing our credentials, we believe it matters to understand why these recognitions exist in the first place. Each award reflects decades of consistent service, a commitment to technical excellence and a focus on treating every customer with genuine care. These aren’t just badges on a wall; they represent the trust our community places in us year after year.
AAA Approved Shop
AAA Top Shop Award
40 Under 40 Spotlight
Proudly Serving the South Sound Since 1972
From our shop in University Place, we serve drivers across Tacoma, Fircrest, Lakewood, Steilacoom and the greater South Sound. After nearly half a century in business, the goal hasn’t changed: provide dependable repairs, treat people with respect and keep our community safely on the road.