Have you ever wished you could fix your own car without paying a mechanic or squeezing underneath it in your driveway? In Oakland, GaragePass is changing the DIY auto repair game with hourly garage rentals, professional tools, car lifts, and hands-on mechanics classes. But GaragePass is more than a place that helps you save money on car repairs; it's a place where people can learn new skills, get their hands dirty, and help each other along the way.
(Use code “BROKEASS” $50 off your first month of membership)
Like many great ideas, GaragePass started with one person trying to solve a problem. A few years ago, Founder Abraham Barkhordar needed to repair his car but didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg at a dealership. He started looking for a place outside his home where he could work on his car, ideally with a lift, and make repairs himself to save money. Abe took that initial idea and ran with it, finding a space and teaming up with others who also needed an affordable place to work on their cars, too. And just like that, GaragePass was born.
Now, just three months after opening to the public, GaragePass has grown to more than 80 members, bringing together a community of DIY mechanics who share a common goal… keep their cars running without breaking the bank. What started as a solution to one person's problem is quickly becoming a place where folks can get their hands dirty, learn new skills, and take car maintenance into their own hands.
People learning how to work on their cars.
A Car Community Driven by Curiosity
So, what exactly is GaragePass? Simply put, GaragePass is a shared garage you can rent by the hour or the day, complete with tools and lifts that allow you to repair your own car. It’s also a space for auto mechanics classes that teach you how to empower yourself to tackle your own car repairs while highlighting the cost savings of doing the work yourself.
Together, these services give members a place to learn new skills, share their knowledge, and connect with others who enjoy working on their own vehicles. I asked the founder, Abraham Barkhordar, what else they hope members will gain from being part of GaragePass and he shared that people often find much more than just a place to work on their cars.
“This is the kind of shop where the person two bays over will walk you through a job they did last month. We've got 90 members from as far as Washington State, a member Discord where people post their build logs, free monthly meetups, and hands-on classes. People come for the lift and stay for the people. We’ve had a lot of wholesome and fun moments from people all lending a hand on a tough job to good laughs around the BBQ.”
Empowering Oakland Drivers Through DIY Car Repair Education
Standing in the middle of the shop, Abraham lit up as he talked about how much GaragePass has already grown within its first three months. I asked him what surprised him most, and his answer came down to one thing: people are eager to learn.
“People are hungry to learn. We started out thinking of ourselves as lift rental. Then we ran our first hands-on class and over a 100 people showed up, and now classes are one of the best things we do, including “Ladies Under the Hood”, a series taught by one of our female members for women who want to understand their cars. Turns out a lot of people want to fix their own car; they just never had someone to show them or a safe place to try. In the future we’ll be offering more 1-on-1 coaching opportunities, more classes, and hiring more friendly and helpful staff.“
How DIY Auto Repair Classes Empower Oakland Drivers
There are several classes hosted at GaragePass in Oakland where you can learn to fix your own car, understand how your vehicle works, and master basic car maintenance skills to keep it running smoothly. My favorite class currently on the calendar is “Ladies Under the Hood”, a class taught by its own members that helps women feel more confident working on their cars.
The “Ladies Under the Hood” class
It takes me back to 1998, when I was a broke college kid learning just how much I could figure out by reading my car’s manual because I couldn’t afford to pay a mechanic to change my oil, fix a flat, or top off my coolant. There’s something incredibly empowering about understanding how your car works and that, sometimes, all you need is a little knowledge, the right tools, and enough space to get your hands dirty.
That feeling of empowerment is what makes classes like “Ladies Under the Hood” so valuable. Beyond learning how to maintain a car, there's the confidence that comes from figuring something out for yourself. Plus, you get to meet others interested in the same thing you’re into. Abraham believes that by the end of this month they will have grown to over 100 people within their GaragePass community. With 4 lifts within the garage now, they are already looking into expanding into a space next door and also considering a second location in the San Jose area. As Abraham says:
“A bunch of our Oakland members already make the drive up from the South Bay, and ~50 people have signed up for our South Bay interest list without us really pushing it. We're scouting sites now and aiming to open later this year with more lifts, more space and more members! Folks can lock in a founding membership now right on our website.”
Some upcoming classes at GaragePass:
Intro to Welding (Sat, Oct 17, 5pm): Professional welder Aidan Coady will break down the differences between MIG, TIG, and stick welding, how to set up a welder, and the safety gear you’ll need. He’ll also show you how welding comes in handy for real-world car projects, like exhaust repairs and patching rust spots. $30.
Ladies Under the Hood, Part 3: Brakes (Sun, Oct 25, 10am): GaragePass instructor Anna Phan will explain what squeaking, grinding, or a shaky wheel can mean and how your brakes and rotors work. $20.
How Much Does GaragePass Cost?
Some important logistics to note. There is an employee available for basic help on projects. New members complete a free lift safety orientation before using the equipment, and the business offers optional coaching, educational classes, member events, and an online community.
Plans range from $60 for a couple hours to day passes to more complex plans for those who need the garage space for larger projects. The full list of rates is on their website, GaragePass.co
Most plans are membership based but if you just need to use the garage for the day you can rent it for $50 an hour.
What's included:
Access to car lifts and a wide selection of tools.
Used oil and coolant disposal.
Free lift safety training.
Access to the members' community and monthly events.
Memberships can be canceled anytime, and unused lift hours roll over.
Broke-Ass Stuart Promo Code:
Use code “BROKEASS” for $50 off your first month of membership
