Dave’s Auto Center—Driving Smarter Decisions On and Off the Road | Guiding You Forward

What starts as an interview about cars and mechanics can quickly turn into something bigger—like how to be smarter with your money, whether it’s watching what you spend on your ride or making smart long-term financial decisions. In this conversation, Dave and Miles Bell, the father-son duo behind one of the most successful mechanic shops in the country, dive deep into auto maintenance and unexpected lessons that reach far beyond the shop floor.

This insightful discussion dives into:

• Where electric vehicles (EVs) fit into a world that needs power
• Why consistent auto maintenance beats major repairs
• How education drives better decisions

Driving cleaner while powering the future
As a lifetime mechanic and owner of Dave’s Auto Center, Dave works on just about anything with wheels and an engine. But the world is changing. EVs are a big part of the future and being kinder to the planet—which Dave and Miles fully support. As Dave puts it, “If you don’t think there’s a place for EVs, you’ve got your head in the sand.” At the same time, they’re quick to point out that vehicles with plenty of power are still needed to get the work done. Watch the video to get his full perspective.

Best advice—always keep up with your vehicle maintenance
When it comes to keeping the cost of ownership in check, Dave and Miles are big believers in following your manufacturer’s maintenance schedule—at a minimum. From oil analysis to routine fluid changes, their philosophy is rooted in prevention, not reaction. The goal isn’t just fewer breakdowns—it’s lower long-term costs and vehicles that go the distance. They advise their customers to put in a little extra care now to save a whole lot of expenses down the road.

Education is the real power tool
Educating the customer is something Dave and Miles take seriously. Whether it’s through social media where they regularly share tips and insights with their large following or in everyday conversations with in-shop customers, their objective is the same—to provide better information which leads to better decisions.

They share this view with Mountain America, where the priority is to transfer financial knowledge to credit union members in a way that is transparent, proactive and grounded in trust. Dave and Miles believe that by helping people understand the total cost of ownership, realistic budgeting and the responsibilities that come with purchasing a vehicle, they empower smarter decision-making. “Educating customers won’t put mechanics out of business—it builds better ones,” Dave says. This applies just as much to financing a vehicle as it does to maintaining one. Watch the video to get the full story.