For Don Creason, owner of Auto Diagnostic and Repair Center, working with cars is more than a career. You could say it is in his blood.

A lifelong Crestwood resident, Don has spent nearly 47 years in the area and grew up surrounded by the automotive business. Today, he brings decades of experience, a commitment to honesty, and a people-first

philosophy to a local, family-owned shop where customers can still walk through the door and talk directly with the owner.

Don's connection to the automotive world started with his father, a now-retired dealership service manager. As a child, Don would tell people that when he grew up, he wanted to work with his dad. He often tagged

along to work with him on Saturdays and sometimes even after a doctor's or dentist's appointment during the week. With a mother who worked as a nurse, often on the night shift, and a busy household that

included four boys and two girls, those days at the dealership became an important part of Don's childhood.

As a teenager, he officially began working for his father, especially during the summers. He did a little bit of everything, from filing and cleaning to washing cars and occasionally lending a hand in the shop. Although Don explored a few different careers as a young adult, he always found his way back to auto repair.

"It was just in my blood to repair things and take care of customers," he says.

Over the years, Don has worked in nearly every department of an auto dealership as well as for multiple independent shops, handling everything from repairs to management. That wide range of experience

eventually prepared him for the opportunity to become a business owner himself.

About 10 years ago, Don received two phone calls that changed everything. One came from a friend of a former shop owner Don had worked for. The other came from the former shop

owner himself.

The message behind both calls was pretty simple. The owner wanted to sell the business, and someone who had already seen Don's work firsthand believed he should take the leap and buy it. Don took the chance. "And here we are 10 years later," he says.

Today, Auto Diagnostic and Repair Center combines Don's extensive background with a business philosophy centered on treating customers the way he believes they deserve to be treated.

One of the biggest things Don wants customers to know is that Auto Diagnostic and Repair Center does things differently.

There are no gimmicks, bait-and-switch tactics, or unnecessary overselling. Instead, customers receive an honest diagnosis of their vehicle along with information about other repairs or maintenance they may need now or in the future.

Most importantly, those conversations happen in a friendly, low-pressure environment. The shop is ASE certified, and Don and the shop's ASE Master Technician bring more than 60 years of combined automotive repair and diagnostic experience to their customers. That experience matters, especially when a vehicle has a problem that is difficult to diagnose.

"You won't get guesses or ideas," Don says. "You'll get answers and results from us."

Auto Diagnostic and Repair Center is also designed to be a one-stop shop for mechanical, electrical, and maintenance needs. The team can handle everything from routine scheduled maintenance and

straightforward repairs to complicated diagnostic problems.

The shop is also one of the few independent repair facilities in the Louisville area that specializes in hybrid vehicle repair.

Don says there is one common misconception he would especially like to clear up for local residents. Buying a new vehicle does not automatically mean you have to return to the dealership for every service in order to keep your warranty.

As Don explains, consumers have the right to choose who services their vehicles. Having services performed by a qualified, ASE-certified shop and keeping proper records can allow owners to maintain their new-car warranty without relying exclusively on the dealership.

Beyond choosing the right repair shop, Don says one of the smartest things any vehicle owner can do is stay on top of scheduled maintenance and regular inspections. Routine maintenance can help a vehicle last longer, while thorough inspections may identify developing

problems before they leave someone stranded on the side of the road.

In other words, taking care of the little things today can often help prevent much bigger headaches

tomorrow.

For Don, the values behind Auto Diagnostic and Repair Center are every bit as important as the technical expertise inside the shop.

Walk through the door and there is a good chance you will find Don at the front desk or working on a customer's vehicle. Either way, he makes himself available to speak directly with customers.

That face-to-face access to the owner is something Don believes has become increasingly rare, not just in automotive repair but across many industries. Even more important is the philosophy behind those conversations. 

Don believes in putting people ahead of profits. That means recommending proper repairs, being straightforward with customers, and doing what is right even when a different recommendation might be

more profitable for the business. It is an approach that has helped Auto Diagnostic and Repair Center become a respected name in the area,

with a shop history stretching back more than 20 years.

Cars may be what brought Don into the business, but taking care of people is what has kept him there. At Auto Diagnostic and Repair Center, the goal is not simply to repair a vehicle. It is to give customers

honest answers, quality workmanship, and the confidence of knowing they have a local shop they can trust.