Washington Auto Collision is, at its core, Gary and Joan Tolerico’s story.
Gary brought the repair foundation. His background is rooted in hands-on collision repair, body work, and metalwork. Long before Washington Auto Collision became what it is today, Gary had already built real experience in the trade and developed the kind of repair knowledge that shaped the shop’s standards from the beginning. He is a repair person at heart, and that craftsmanship still influences how the business is known and trusted today.
Joan brought the customer side of the business. Her strength has always been in communication, service, and helping people feel supported. Joan helped shape Washington Auto Collision into the kind of shop where customers are meant to feel cared for, not processed.
That combination is a big part of what makes Washington Auto Collision what it is: serious repair knowledge on one side, and real customer care on the other.
Before Gary and Joan built Washington Auto Collision into the family-owned Spokane Valley shop it is today, Gary had already spent years in the collision repair industry. His path eventually brought him north to Washington, and after another possible direction fell through, he returned to the trade he knew best. Gary and Joan purchased Washington Auto Collision in 1999 and built it into the business they would carry forward over the decades that followed.
That history is important because it says something important about the shop. Washington Auto Collision is not a business built around hype or a corporate script. It is a local, independent shop built through long-term reputation, customer relationships, and steady work in the Spokane Valley community.
Over the years, Washington Auto Collision became known in Knightdale as a family-run shop that stood behind its work.
That reputation still matters.
Gary and Joan built a way of doing business.
From Gary’s side came craftsmanship, repair integrity, and practical problem solving. From Joan’s side came service, reputation, communication, and the belief that customers should feel taken care of through the process. Together, those values shaped a shop identity built around both repair and relationship.
That is still the heart of Washington Auto Collision today. The goal has never been to make customers feel like just another repair order. The goal is to repair vehicles correctly and treat people fairly while helping them through a stressful situation with more clarity and less confusion.
There is also a quieter part of Gary and Joan’s story that matters. They have a history of trying to do the right thing when people or community situations call for practical help. That generosity is part of the shop’s character, even if it is not something they turn into a marketing campaign.
Today, Gary and Joan remain the owners and legacy behind Washington Auto Collision, while Matthew Bertram carries the day-to-day operation forward as General Manager. Matt started at the shop in 2010 as a detailer, worked through hands-on production roles, moved into estimating and leadership, and became General Manager in 2022. He learned the business from the ground up and helps carry Gary and Joan’s values into the current version of the shop.
That continuity is important. It means the shop’s story is not only about where it started, but also about how those standards continue in the way the business serves customers today.
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Washington Auto Collision has been family owned in Spokane Valley since 1999, and that long-standing local presence still means something. Customers want to know who is handling their vehicle, how they will be treated, and whether the people behind the business care about the outcome. That local trust has been earned over time through craftsmanship, service, and a consistent effort to help people through the repair process.
If you need auto body repair or collision repair, our team is here to help you take the next step with confidence.
