The Thompson’s Story — 30 Years of Keeping Gilbert Moving
Thompson’s Auto Repair & Towing didn’t start in a boardroom or with a business plan. It started with a tow truck, a set of tools, and a straightforward idea: show up when people need help, fix what’s broken, and charge a fair price. That was the mid-1990s, and owner Bryan Vivian has been running things the same way ever since.
How It All Started
Bryan grew up around cars. By the time he was old enough to drive, he could already diagnose most problems by sound. He started in auto repair — the kind of mechanic who’d rather fix a part than replace it if that’s what made sense for the customer. But he kept getting calls from people who were stuck on the side of the road and didn’t know who to trust. So he added a tow truck to the operation.
That combination — towing and repair under one roof — turned out to be exactly what Gilbert needed. Instead of getting towed to some random lot and then having to figure out repairs separately, people could make one call to Thompson’s and have the whole problem handled. The car gets towed, the car gets fixed, the car goes home. Simple.
A Family Business in a Growing Town
When Thompson’s first opened its doors, Gilbert was still a small agricultural community surrounded by cotton fields and citrus groves. The town has changed a lot since then — Gilbert is now one of the largest municipalities in Arizona, with over 250,000 residents and miles of new roads, shopping centers, and neighborhoods. Thompson’s has grown right alongside it.
But some things haven’t changed. Bryan still runs the shop. He still takes calls from customers he’s known for years. The crew is tight — some of our drivers and mechanics have been with us for over a decade. That kind of stability matters, because it means the person working on your car actually cares about doing a good job. This isn’t a revolving door of contract workers; it’s a team that takes pride in their work.
Why Towing + Repair Matters
Here’s the thing most people don’t think about until they’re standing on the shoulder of the 202 at 6 PM: when a towing company drops your car off somewhere, that’s where their job ends. You still need to find a mechanic, get a quote, wait in line, and hope they know what they’re doing.
At Thompson’s, the tow truck driver brings your car to our shop. Our mechanics look at it, diagnose the problem, and give you a straight answer about what it’ll take to fix. No waiting for a second appointment. No playing phone tag between two different businesses. One number, one team, one bill.
It’s the kind of convenience that only works when the same people handle both sides of the business — and we’ve been doing exactly that for three decades.
What We Do for Our Community
Gilbert isn’t just where we work — it’s where we live, shop, eat, and raise our families. Our kids went to Gilbert schools. We drive the same roads you drive. When we talk about serving the community, we mean it in the most literal sense: these are our neighbors.
Over the years, we’ve helped stranded motorists on Christmas morning, towed cars out of flash flood zones during monsoon season, and kept first responders’ vehicles on the road. We’ve pulled cars out of the sandy washes near the San Tan Mountains and responded to multi-vehicle accidents on the I-10. Every call matters to us because every person behind the wheel is someone’s family.
Our Equipment and Capabilities
We run a mixed fleet of flatbed trucks, wheel-lift tow trucks, and heavy-duty wreckers. This means we can handle everything from a Honda Civic with a flat tire to a loaded box truck with a blown engine. Our repair shop is fully equipped for diagnostics, engine work, brake service, electrical systems, AC repair, and general maintenance.
We’ve invested in the right tools because cutting corners on equipment means cutting corners on service — and that’s something we won’t do.
What You Can Expect From Us
Honest pricing. No upsells you don’t need. Fast response times. Drivers and mechanics who know what they’re doing and treat your vehicle with respect. When you call Thompson’s, you get the kind of service that’s built a 30-year reputation in a town that doesn’t hand out loyalty for free.
We answer our own phones. We show up when we say we will. And if something isn’t right, we make it right. That’s how Bryan built this business, and that’s how we run it every single day.
Get In Touch
Need a tow? Need a repair? Just have a question? Call us at 480-418-9206 — any time, day or night. We’re Thompson’s Auto Repair & Towing, and we’re here for Gilbert.