Home /
If you have a question about how we work, what we service, how to schedule, or what to expect when you bring your vehicle in, chances are it’s answered below. If not, call either location and we’ll give you a straight answer.
Since 1964. Charlie Bockman opened the original location in DeKalb County and ran it for decades. Jon bought the business from his father on July 1, 1999, and has been running it the same way ever since. That’s more than 60 years of the same family, the same name, and the same honest approach.
Jon Bockman owns and operates both locations. He’s Charlie’s son and the second generation of Bockmans running this shop. Jon is in the business regularly and is reachable directly if you ever have a concern.
Two, both in DeKalb County. Our Sycamore location at 2158 Oakland Dr handles personal vehicles and light trucks. Our DeKalb location at 112 Industrial Dr handles commercial and fleet vehicles, diesel engines, and is the only IDOT Safety Lane in DeKalb County. Personal vehicles are welcome at both locations.
Neither. Bockman’s is an independently owned family business. We’re a NAPA Auto Care center, which gives us access to NAPA’s parts network, training resources, and warranty program. But the shop is owned and operated by Jon Bockman, not by NAPA or anyone else.
Both locations are open Monday through Friday. Sycamore: 7:30am to 5:30pm. DeKalb: 8:00am to 5:00pm. We’re closed on weekends and major holidays.
Our team is experienced, trained, and backed by a shop that holds NAPA Auto Care, NAPA Gold Certified, and AAA Approved credentials. We stand behind the work.
For most services, yes. An appointment means we have the right time and technician available when you arrive. You can book online at Bockmans.com or call either location directly. We do our best to work in same-day or next-day requests when our schedule allows.
Call either location or book online at Bockmans.com. When you call, tell us what you’re driving, what you’re noticing, and when you’d like to come in. We’ll get you on the schedule and tell you what to expect.
It varies by time of year and what you need. Routine maintenance like oil changes can usually be scheduled within a day or two. Larger repairs may take a bit more lead time. Call and we’ll give you an honest answer on current availability.
Yes. If dropping off before we open works better for you, call ahead so we know the vehicle is coming. We’ll have it ready to go when our technicians get in.
Yes. Both locations offer a courtesy shuttle to drop you off locally while your vehicle is being serviced. Ask about availability when you schedule.
Yes. We have two loaner vehicles available at Sycamore and one at DeKalb. Loaners are subject to availability, so call ahead and let us know what you need. We’ll do our best to have one ready when you come in.
Both locations service most passenger cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans, domestic and import. Our DeKalb location also handles commercial vehicles up to Class 7, diesel engines, RVs, trailers, and medium-duty trucks. Not sure if we can help with your specific vehicle? Call and we’ll tell you straight.
Yes. Our DeKalb location services diesel pickup trucks and commercial diesel vehicles: Power Stroke, Duramax, Cummins, and commercial diesel engines. Call DeKalb at 815-754-4200 to discuss your vehicle and what you need.
Not currently. We service gas and diesel-powered vehicles at both locations. Watch our site for updates as our capabilities expand.
Yes. Call either location and we’ll get you scheduled.
We don’t do auto body or paint. Glass repair is available through Bockman’s as a sublet service. If you need body work, we’re happy to point you toward someone who handles it.
The IDOT Safety Lane is an Illinois Department of Transportation vehicle safety inspection required for certain commercial vehicles, school buses, and other regulated vehicles operating in Illinois. Our DeKalb location is the only IDOT-certified Safety Lane in DeKalb County. Not sure if your vehicle requires an inspection? Call DeKalb at 815-754-4200 and we’ll help you figure it out.
Yes. Our DeKalb location handles mechanical service on light-duty RVs, campers, and trailers, including brakes, wheel bearings, tires, suspension, and general mechanical work. Call DeKalb at 815-754-4200 to talk through what you need.
Yes. Our DeKalb location handles fleet and commercial accounts, including routine maintenance, repair, IDOT Safety Lane inspections, and Federal DOT inspections. We set up fleet accounts for businesses that need regular service on multiple vehicles. Call DeKalb at 815-754-4200 or visit our Fleet Services page for more information.
A Digital Vehicle Inspection is a thorough, photo-documented review of your vehicle’s key systems, including brakes, tires, fluids, belts, hoses, suspension, lights, and more. Our technicians go through the vehicle systematically and document what they find with photos. You receive the report before any work is authorized, so you can see exactly what we saw. No surprises, no guesswork.
Always. We never perform work on your vehicle without your say-so. After the inspection, we go through what we found, explain what we recommend, tell you what’s urgent and what can wait, and give you a clear estimate. You decide what gets done.
If we find something that wasn’t part of the original visit, we call you, explain what we found and why it matters, and give you an estimate. We don’t proceed without your approval. If it can wait, we’ll tell you that too.
It depends on the service. An oil change is typically 30 to 45 minutes. A brake job or tire installation might be two to three hours. More involved repairs, including suspension, engine work, and transmission work, may take a full day or longer if parts need to be ordered. We’ll give you a realistic timeframe when you drop off and call if anything changes.
Yes. We call when the inspection is complete, when the estimate is ready, and when your vehicle is done. If anything changes the timeline or the scope of work, we call before we proceed.
We charge for parts and labor. You receive a written estimate before any work is authorized. We don’t add charges after the fact without calling you first. If the actual cost differs from the estimate for any reason, we talk to you before moving forward.
We provide estimates once we’ve diagnosed the vehicle. For most repairs, diagnosis is part of the service, because we need to know what’s actually wrong before we can tell you what it will cost. We’ll tell you upfront if there’s a diagnostic charge and what it covers.
Qualifying repairs at Bockman’s are covered by the NAPA Peace of Mind Warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles, honored at over 18,000 NAPA Auto Care locations nationwide. If something we repaired fails while you’re traveling, you’re covered wherever you are. Ask us which repairs qualify.
We accept cash, check, and all major credit cards, including the NAPA Credit Card. We’ll be accepting the Goodyear Credit Card soon as well.
The NAPA Credit Card is a financing option for use at NAPA Auto Care centers including Bockman’s, and may offer promotional financing terms for qualifying repairs. Ask about it when you come in or visit NAPA’s website to apply online.
Bockman Bucks is our loyalty rewards program for personal vehicle customers. Every dollar you spend on qualifying service earns 3% back automatically, with no sign-up and no card to carry. When you’re ready to use your balance, just ask at the counter. One Bockman Buck equals one dollar off your bill, with no minimum. Your Bockman Bucks account also includes 24-hour nationwide roadside assistance. Personal vehicles only, not available on fleet or commercial accounts. Full details at bockmans.com/loyalty-rewards-program.
Yes. Veterans receive 10% off, up to $50, year-round with a valid military ID or DD-214. Every Veterans Day we also provide free oil changes for veterans as a straight thank-you. Neither discount can be combined with Bockman Bucks or any other offer.
Yes. First responders and seniors 65 and older each receive 10% off, up to $50, with valid ID. These discounts cannot be combined with Bockman Bucks or any other offer.
Bockman’s has been part of DeKalb County since 1964. Through the NAPA Auto Care Centers of DeKalb County group, a portion of every oil change goes to a different local charity each month. Every Veterans Day, we provide free oil changes for veterans. Our employees live here. Our customers are our neighbors. That’s not a tagline, it’s just how this has always worked.
Call either location and we’ll give you a straight answer.
