Cmas Colonial Auto Center

“⸻ I initially emailed a Nissan representative at CMA of Charlottesville requesting the out-the-door price on a vehicle I was interested in purchasing. I received pricing in writing, but shortly afterward a manager called me stating they could not honor that price because the vehicle allegedly had additional add-ons that were not reflected in what I was originally sent. Because of that, I chose a different truck that better suited me. I received a quote and promptly went to the dealership to move forward with the purchase. I was told the vehicle was there and that I could test drive it. However, the manager later said the truck was still incoming — despite the salesperson texting me that it was on-site and available. After receiving the out-the-door cost, I decided to trade in my current vehicle to lower the payments. I was then offered $2,500 for my trade-in, while Carfax had valued it around $8,000. The offer was shockingly low and felt insulting, especially as someone genuinely trying to purchase a vehicle. Overall, the inconsistent communication and pricing made this a very frustrating experience”

“I have bought 3 vehicles now from CMA's Colonial Nissan, and they NEVER disappoint! My experience buying my used Chevy Colorado was no different. This is the first vehicle I have been able to buy without financing, so when I asked my salesman Travis for a bow for a picture, he delivered! (Even though I was half kidding 😀). Thank you to everyone at Colonial Nissan for working with me on this purchase, but especially Travis & Scott! Y'all made the process smooth & easy!”

“We recently purchased a new vehicle from Colonial Auto in Charlottesville as Contractor's Maid LLC Cleaning Services continues to grow and outgrow our previous vehicle. From start to finish, the entire experience was smooth, professional, and completely stress-free. Our salesman, Travis Collier, was outstanding — extremely knowledgeable about the vehicles and products, and most importantly, he truly listened to our concerns and future needs as a small business. He helped guide us into the right vehicle that will support our expanding cleaning operations for years to come. Gavin Waite, the manager, made sure everything flowed seamlessly with no pressure or hassle — something we really appreciated as business owners with busy schedules. And I can’t say enough about Mike Phillips in finance. He couldn’t be in a better position — he made what is usually the most stressful part of buying a vehicle feel relaxed and enjoyable. You almost forget you’re there making a major purchase because of how easy he makes the process. Colonial Auto truly understands customer service, especially for growing local businesses like Contractor's Maid LLC Cleaning Services. If you’re looking for a reliable dealership in Charlottesville that listens, respects your time, and makes the process enjoyable, I highly recommend them.”

“Experience following an auto accident leaves me with questions about CMA policies and management. A CMA executive driving a dealership vehicle hit our car, was found to be at fault, changed his story, and stood by, allowing questionable actions to delay resolution of our claim. Why am I wary? (Based on reports from my husband, Virginia state police, insurance company representatives, and personal observations): 1 -- Our vehicle was hit from behind on I-64 east. The CMA executive was cited by police for following too close. No one else was ticketed. After saying he couldn't stop, the CMA executive changed his story and blamed a lane change by my husband for causing the accident. Completely untrue. 2 -- The CMA executive had no insurance or registration info with him at the scene, and later provided a contact who failed to respond to multiple messages. After about a week of silence, we contacted the dealership and were told not to call again, but to wait to hear from the contact provided. More time passed, and still no response. Eventually, research revealed the "contact" was a former employee at CMA's insurance sales brokerage, neither an agent nor active employee of an insurance carrier able to process our claim for damages. 3 -- More research led us to an actual insurance carrier for the dealership and vehicle which hit our car. CMA documents showed the vehicle was not listed in the dealership inventory where the at-fault driver had an office, but was assigned to inventory for a dealership in Colonial Heights. Colonial Heights said they were not involved, another contradiction of documents CMA had provided. We filed a claim with a different insurer CMA had listed, then learned that carrier had been instructed to drop it so CMA could use their third party administrator to "process" our claim. For over a month, messages were ignored, and there was no reimbursement of towing expenses, no authorization for repairs, and no replacement vehicle to drive -- completely unlike the experience of the CMA executive who was driving another dealer-owned vehicle in no time. The CMA executive then advised us to file a claim with our own carrier, meaning we would be covering the deductible and also running the risk of a premium increase due to the claim, even though we were not at fault. CMA's third party admininstrator stalled inquiries by our insurance carrier as well, failing to return phone calls and using various tactics which resulted in delays resolving the claim. It was during this time that the CMA executive changed his story and alleged my husband caused the accident by changing lanes even though both vehicles had been traveling in the left lane for some time prior to the collision. 5 -- CMA's third party administrator filed a request for mediation, seeking to prove their client was NOT at fault despite the police citation and testimony from my husband. This further delayed settling the claim. Ultimately, mediation ruled that the CMA executive was at fault. 6 -- The BMW my husband and I had bought a few months before the accident was totaled, and we were unable to replace it with a comparable make, model year, and mileage vehicle despite searches in VA, NC, and MD. Our insurance carrier can legally negotiate to recover company losses, but we're on our own trying to recover from CMA's third party administrator who's already proven difficult and uncooperative. So much time, money, and aggravation for an innocent party because CMA refused to do the right thing. We wrote to the CMA President and CEO and heard nothing back from her either. Not a great first impression of CMA, particularly when, as a new manager, the CMA executive emphasized values such as "fairness", "accountability", and "eliminating excuses" in an interview, and the CEO was quoted as saying, "Spread love wherever you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier," when interviewed after receiving an automotive dealership reward.”

“I had an outstanding experience at Colonial Auto Center, thanks to Nick Walton, who went above and beyond to set up special customer care for service on two of my vehicles. From start to finish, the response time was fantastic—everything was handled quickly and efficiently. What really stood out was the state-of-the-art communication. I received a detailed video walkthrough showing exactly what the technicians were working on and what services were completed. It was transparent, professional, and incredibly reassuring to see the process firsthand. Nick and the entire team delivered first-class service and made the whole experience seamless. I highly recommend Colonial Auto Center for anyone looking for quality care, clear communication, and a team that truly values its customers.”