About the Garage

Built by people who wrench.

DIY Automotive is a self-service repair facility in Gary, Indiana — six fully-equipped bays built for the kind of person who'd rather buy the tool than pay the labor.

Repair shouldn't be a black box.

The average American household spends thousands of dollars a year on car repair — and most of that bill is labor and shop overhead. If you've got the time, the will, and a lift, you can do most of it yourself for the cost of parts.

The problem isn't ability. It's access. Most people don't have a 10,000-pound lift in their driveway. They don't own a $400 torque wrench. They don't have a paint booth.

We do. Rent it by the hour. Bring your own car. Do the work right.

Three things we won't compromise on.

01

Honest pricing

Hourly rates posted. No "shop fees." No "diagnostic charges" before you've turned a wrench. You see what you owe before you book.

02

Real safety

Lifts inspected on schedule. PPE always available. We don't cut corners on the things that hold a car off the ground.

03

Real community

Car meets, builder showcases, classes taught by people who've actually done the work. Not just a rental space — a clubhouse.

1430 W Ridge Road. Gary, IN.

Northwest Indiana has the highest concentration of working drivers, gig workers, and used-car owners in the region. It also has some of the highest auto-repair markups. We chose it on purpose.

Easy access from I-65, I-80/94, and the Borman Expressway. Free, well-lit parking. Open seven days.

By the numbers

6
Bays total
5
Bay tiers
7
Days a week
10K
lb lift capacity

Armond Boulware

Born and raised in Northwest Indiana. Licensed Indiana & Illinois real estate broker, general contractor, and electrician. Founder of Steel City Builders, Steel City Realty, and InvestGaryIndiana. DIY Automotive is the latest in a series of businesses built around one belief: when you remove the middleman, regular people get further.

Reach out: via the contact page or @diyautomotivegarage.

Come see the place.

Walk-ins welcome. Bring a question. Bring a busted alternator. We'll show you around.