Auto Service & Repair in Thomaston, ME — All Makes and Models
Shepard Select Service is a full-service auto repair shop at 165 New County Road in Thomaston, Maine. We’re open to the public and we service every make and model — not just the vehicles we sell. That covers oil and filter changes, brakes, tires, suspension and chassis work, engine and electrical diagnostics, cooling systems, transmission service, and factory-scheduled maintenance for cars, trucks, and SUVs across Knox County. You don’t need to have bought your vehicle from us. Every job starts with an estimate: we tell you what your vehicle needs now, what can wait, and what it’ll cost before we pick up a wrench. Whether it’s a routine oil change or a bigger repair, our technicians treat your car, truck, or SUV like their own. The Shepard family has sold and serviced vehicles in Midcoast Maine since 1955, and that same commitment to honest, reliable work is what you’ll find in our service bay today.
What Our Technicians Handle, and How Often You Need It
Most service work falls into a handful of categories. Here’s what we do, what’s actually involved, and roughly when a vehicle needs it. Your owner’s manual is the final word on intervals — manufacturers vary, and so does how you drive.
Services offered and typical maintenance intervals
Service
What’s involved
When most vehicles need it
Oil & filter change
Drain, new filter, refill to manufacturer spec, multi-point inspection
Conventional oil: roughly 3,000–5,000 miles. Full synthetic: roughly 5,000–10,000 miles, per your manual
Brakes
Pads, rotors, calipers, hardware, brake fluid service
Pads commonly last 25,000–70,000 miles; stop-and-go driving shortens that considerably
Rotate every 5,000–8,000 miles; replace when tread reaches the wear bars at 2/32 inch
Battery, starting & charging
Battery testing and replacement, alternator, starter, headlight service
Most batteries last 3–5 years — less in a Maine winter
Cooling system
Radiator, hoses, thermostat, water pump, coolant service
Per manufacturer schedule; worth an inspection before cold weather
Suspension & chassis
Struts, shocks, ball joints, bushings, alignment
Inspect annually, and after a rough mud season
Engine diagnostics
Scan-tool diagnosis of check-engine lights and drivability faults
Any time a warning light comes on and stays on
Transmission
Fluid and filter service, drivability diagnosis
Per manufacturer schedule
Scheduled maintenance
Factory-interval service, belts, hoses, filters, fluid checks and corrections
Commonly 30,000 / 60,000 / 90,000-mile intervals
Services That Keep Your Vehicle Running
From the maintenance that prevents problems to the repairs that fix them, here is what our technicians handle for cars, trucks, and SUVs across Midcoast Maine.
Battery & charging system repairs • Starter replacement • Headlight service
The Same People You Trust to Sell You a Car
A service department is only as good as the people behind the counter. Here is what you can count on when you bring your vehicle to us. Family-owned since 1955 — The Shepard family has been in the automotive business for more than seventy years on Maine roads. A reputation like that does not survive by cutting corners. Every make and model — Domestic or import, car, truck, or SUV — our technicians work on the vehicle you actually drive. You do not need to have purchased it from us. Straight answers, then the work — We tell you what your vehicle needs now, what can wait, and what it will cost before we start. No pressure, no surprises when you pick it up.
Your First Visit, Made Easy
New to Shepard Select Service? Ask about our welcome offer for first-time customers when you book — a simple way to see how we treat your vehicle. Mention this page at check-in.
Shepard Select is a licensed Maine inspection station, so you can get your sticker done here — whether or not you bought the vehicle from us. Maine law requires an annual safety inspection for every vehicle registered in the state. The emissions portion is different: the enhanced inspection, which adds an OBD test and a gas cap pressure test, applies only to vehicles registered in Cumberland County. If your vehicle is registered in Knox County, you need the safety inspection, not the emissions test. The safety inspection covers brakes, steering and suspension, tires, lights, glass, exhaust, body components, and window tint — Maine won’t pass front side windows below 35% light transmittance. If your sticker is close to expiring, call ahead and we’ll get you on the schedule. If something on the vehicle won’t pass, we’ll tell you what it is and what it costs to fix before we do anything.
What Midcoast Roads Do to a Vehicle
Cars in Knox County take a specific kind of beating, and it shows up in predictable places. Winter road treatment is the big one. Salt and brine work into the undercarriage, and on coastal Maine vehicles the first casualties are usually brake lines and exhaust components — parts that fail an inspection long before the body shows rust. We look at them on every visit. Cold does the rest. Tire pressure drops roughly 1 PSI for every 10°F the temperature falls, which is why half of Knox County lights up a TPMS warning the first hard night in November. Batteries lose cranking output in the cold too, so a battery that started fine in September can leave you in a parking lot in January. Both are five-minute checks.
The Honest Version of What We Can and Can’t Do
We service all makes and models, and we’d rather tell you plainly where that stops. If your vehicle is still under factory warranty, or if it has an open safety recall, that work has to go through a franchised dealer for your brand — and the manufacturer pays for it, not you. We’ll tell you that instead of writing you a ticket for something you shouldn’t be paying for. If it’s a Toyota, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, or Ram, our sister stores in Rockland handle their own brands and we can point you there. Outside of warranty and recall work, bring it to us. Domestic or import, bought here or bought anywhere.
What Happens When You Book
You call or submit the form. We confirm a time. When your vehicle comes in, a technician inspects what you brought it in for and does a multi-point check while it’s on the lift. Then you get a phone call, not a surprise at pickup. We tell you what needs doing now, what can safely wait until the next visit, and what each item costs. Nothing gets done without your say-so. That’s the whole policy, and it hasn’t changed in seventy years for a reason.
Financing a Larger Repair
Because Shepard Select is a full dealership rather than a standalone garage, we have lending relationships already in place — including options for a range of credit situations. If a repair estimate lands harder than expected, ask our service team about financing when you book. You can also get a sense of what you may qualify for before you come in.
Shepard Select Service is on New County Road in Thomaston, minutes from downtown and right off Route 1. We keep vehicles running for drivers across Knox County and the surrounding towns.
Thomaston · Rockland · Rockport · Camden · Warren · Waldoboro · Owls Head · Knox County
Find the Shop
165 New County Rd, Thomaston, ME 04861 207-593-8966
Mon–Thu 8–6 · Fri 8–5:30 · Sat 8–4
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to buy a vehicle from Shepard Select to get it serviced here?
No. Our service department is open to the public and works on all makes and models — domestic and import cars, trucks, and SUVs — whether or not you purchased the vehicle from us.
Will I get an estimate before any work starts?
Yes. We explain what your vehicle needs now, what can wait, and what it’ll cost before we begin. Nothing gets done without your approval, so there’s no surprise at pickup.
Can I finance a larger repair?
Often, yes. Shepard Select is a full dealership with lending relationships in place, including options for a range of credit situations. Ask our service team when you book and we’ll walk you through it.
Where is Shepard Select Service and what are the hours?
165 New County Road, Thomaston, ME 04861 — just off Route 1 in Midcoast Maine, about ten minutes from Rockland. Service hours are Monday through Thursday 8:00a–6:00p, Friday 8:00a–5:30p, and Saturday 8:00a–4:00p. Closed Sunday.
Request a Service Appointment
Tell us about your vehicle and what it needs. We’ll confirm a time that works and review the estimate before any work begins — no obligation.
Call the shop or request an appointment, and our team will take care of the rest. All makes and models, serviced by people your neighbors have trusted for decades.
