Customer Testimonials
Very friendly as you walk in the door. Very clean environment. Tim was very knowledgeable and helpful trying to pick which vehicle we wanted/like.
Tim listened to our "wish list" and provided us with a number of good options. He was knowledgeable, patient, and pleasant to work with. We have purchased from Barkau a number of times and have always had a good experience.
4th vehicle we have purchased Adam Nils and crew are always very nice and friendly great place to buy a car!!
Great experience! Quick and easy process. Joe answered all of my questions and was great to deal with.
Thanks for getting my car fixed so quickly. Brandon is great to work with and coordinated getting my car completed same day. I'm very thankful to the team. Thanks!!
Nils was helpful and informative. The dealership has a great variety of vehicles to choose from.
Nils was extremely helpful as was ever at Barkau! He showed me every quirk about the vehicle before I even purchased it. I am very impressed.
Quick and easy transaction, have gotten many vehicles here. Friendly looking forward to doing business again.
Tim was great at getting me the car I wanted showed me all the little things on the screen. Was in and out financing went great got the payment I wanted. Have always bought our cars here and never had an issue. Thank you Tim for all your help.
There was amazing customer service all throughout the time I was there. They were very helpful with finding a car that best matched my wants and needs. I am very happy with my purchase!
Outstanding Experience at JH Barkau & Sons Automobiles
We were searching for a safe, reliable car for our 16-year-old daughter when we spent five months looking for the right vehicle. Living in the Quad Cities, you'd think our chances were good, but most local dealerships were overpriced and unwilling to negotiate. We faced disappointments like undisclosed accidents and cars breaking down during test drives, leaving us wondering if there were any honest dealerships left.
Then we found JH Barkau & Sons. While browsing online, we discovered a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan in mint condition—truly a garage queen—and knew it ... Read More DealerRater - Apr 22, 2025
Joe was very kind and knowledgable . He worked with the finance manager to bring me the best deal possible. The process was made very easy and Joe kept me informed step by step. I couldn't have asked for a better car buying process as I received today Thank you so much ! I will definitely refer my friends to The Barkau Boys! Yvonne
I was very impressed with the dealership's commitment to customer satisfaction. Tim did a great job answering all my questions. He made the process go very smoothly. We were in and out in no time. If you’re looking to buy a car and want a hassle free experience then JH Barkau is the place for you. Ask for Tim. He’s your guy 😉
Tim was very helpful with the purchase of my new car! Great environment and people! Would definitely recommend to family and friends.
They were so friendly and helpful as my husband and I shopped for a truck. We found the perfect truck for us with Tim Border's help! Thank you all at Barkaus and Sons!
Usually trading vehicles is the most stressful and long process, but our experience today was the absolute best experience! Well worth the drive to Illinois. I would 100% recommend this dealership. Love my new to me Durango!!
Super happy with my new car!! Tim is awesome and super helpful!! Definitely recommend him if you’re in the market for a new vehicle!!
As always the Barkau dealership came through again for me.Whatever the situation I present to them when I arrive is met with common courtesy and respect.Thank you Tim Border and the rest of the staff for making the transaction as painless as possible.
Nils Sandstrom and the Barkau team were great to work with. Great selection of vehicles to pick from!
Tim had helped our family before and theres a reason why he was reccomended to me. In an energency situation where i needed a vehicle within a day or 2, he found me a great deal at a good rate even with my limited credit. Cannot thank him and the people over there enough.
LOVED this dealership as it was my first time buying a vehicle! Tim was so helpful. The place was so friendly and FAST.
Tim and Korey made buying my RAV4 such an easy process! All the gentleman there were so nice, I definitely will be recommending them to family and friends in the future. I will also return for future purchases!
My son had his eye on a truck on the lot. Nils was very respondent and Louis worked hard to get us the best financing rates! Offered a fair amount for trade as well We left with one happy son in a new (used) truck!
Fantastic service and very pleased with my 2012 Expedition! I can tell they went through the car thoroughly and replaced the parts that truly needed it before the sale. My sales rep Joe was excellent to deal with. He even helped me after hours responding to my texts, and after the sale was complete he has been helpful in resolving an admin issue. Chic-fil-a customer service! Keep up the good work, highly recommended!!
LOVED my experience buying a nice car for my family! Tim was SO helpful with everything. I love the kitty cats too! Such a friendly environment, very fast too. Will be coming back in the future 😁
This is probably the best dealership I've been to. We were greeted right away and asked what we need/want. We weren't pressured into getting anything we didn't want or pressured into something out of our budget. Joe Baker was very friendly and very helpful. If we ever need another car we will be back and will be recommending everyone here.
This is probably the best dealership I've been to. We were greeted right away and asked what we need/want. We weren't pressured into getting anything we didn't want or pressured into something out of our budget. Joe Baker was very friendly and very helpful. If we ever need another car we will be back and will be recommending everyone here.
Great selection! Everyone here is so helpful and friendly. Nils took a lot of time to make sure I found the right car for me.
Excellent small town atmosphere, listened to my requests, made the deal the same day as my test drive, and Chief was beyond marvelous! This was our second car from Barkau!
This is the second car we've bought from Barkau. We came back because we were so pleased with the process and the product the first time. Tim and Korey completed the whole purchase with us in just 48 hours!
I was amazed at how Tim and all the others were working with me to find a car that was right for me!! I am very happy with the results!!
Very pleased with those who we dealt with. Nils was very pleasant. Nice selection of vehicles.
Tim was a pleasure to work with he worked really hard on getting my needs met with a car i am very happy with my vehicle thank you so much
Nil was extremely helpful in helping me find the car that best fit my family!
Nils and all the staff at Barlow could not have been better to deal with. Would recommend them Hyle.
Tim was very professional and helped us get the right car for us and keep are payment low. He will go above and beyond to help you find the right vehicle.
This experience this time around was just as great as the last three vehicles we purchased from barkua. Excellent experience, excellent people, just an excellent all around experience. Thank you Nils
We had such a good experience with the purchase of our truck! Joe was super helpful and worked to make the process quick and easy. Thanks to all involved, we love the truck!
Very good experience with the dealership. Joe Baker was great to work with and found a van that fit our needs for the payment we were looking for. If you live in the Rockford area, this is a great place to look for your next vehicle. Highly reccomended.
There was great customer service, I felt I was treated well and respected, found a price and car that I was looking for, I was promised a car that day and left with it, great service!
This makes the 3rd car ihave botten from Barkau. I love my new Jeep. Nils was great to work with and the other guys i dealt with. Ty very much!
Great team work in helping me find and purchase my vehicle. I Would recommend highly.
I felt well taken care of and the service was very personable, thank you for such an excellent experience
My car buying experience was fantastic! Couldn’t have been more seamless. Joe and Adam were great to deal with, and everyone there was super friendly. They provided me with multiple options and got me the best deal possible. I would definitely recommend checking this place out if you’re in the market for a new or used vehicle.
Joe was very helpful throughout the process! He kept me informed and was very responsive!
Thanks to Nils and The Barkau team for all their help with my purchase. They certainly deserve the best of region award every year.
Awesome great teamwork and very satisfying! You guys made our day quite interesting.God bless
Without any regrets, I purchased a lovely pre-owned 2016 Toyota Highlander (with just one owner) within 2 days from Tim Border at JHBarkau in Cedarville.
I found out why their excellent customer service & reputation has earned them the awards of the 2023 & 2024 Illinois used car dealer of the year.
On a Tuesday in January, I learned that my ‘08 Toyota 4Runner with over 465k miles needed 4 catalytic converters (probably due to the required CA higher air quality emissions).
Early early Wednesday morning, I found a pre-owned 2016 Highlander very well-documented on JHBarkau website.
I texted my interest & received a reassuring confirmation text ... Read More DealerRater - Feb 1, 2025
Joe was very helpful and nice to work with very knowledgeable enjoyed working with Joe thank you
Great experience at JH Barkau. Never felt pressured, very straightforward. Made the car buying process easy! And great follow up service too!
This is our second purchase from barkau, and we highly recommend! Willing to work with you & your budget when requested. We are happy to support a good local business.
Thank you Tim for all of your help and making it a quick and easy process!
This is my 3rd car purchase from J H Barkau, 2nd dealing with Tim Border and I couldn't be happier! Tim has made the process so unbelievably easy! Great guy!!! I will most definitely purchase from him and J H Barkau again!
They are great to work with. Nils has sold us 2 trucks in the last six months. Nils and Rick work hard to make a sale that you are looking for. To say the least, they listen, are courteous and make you feel WELCOMED and they are there to service you.
Nils was great. Tried one vehicle wasn't sure. He found out what was important to us and directed us to the van. Love it.
Joe went above and beyond to assist me in finding a pickup truck and the ambulance that J H Barkau had in inventory. From the moment I stepped into J H BARKAU Car Dealership, I knew I was in for a special experience. The entire process, from browsing to purchasing my specialty vehicles, was seamless and enjoyable, thanks to their outstanding team and customer-focused approach.
Welcoming Atmosphere:
As soon as I walked through the doors, I was greeted with warm smiles and a friendly atmosphere. The showroom was impeccably organized, showcasing a wide variety of vehicles that catered to every ... Read More DealerRater - Jan 21, 2025
Nils was amazing and very knowledgeable! Very polite and helpful! He is the very best!
We have purchased the last few vehicles at Barkau and been very happy each time. This time we met Mr Borders at the Cedarville store. All of our salespeople have been great but Mr Tim is a step above. Very knowledgeable, zero pressure or feeling rushed and makes you very comfortable through the whole process. A couple days after purchasing the vehicle, I had let Tim know of a few concerns I had noticed with the vehicle. The response was almost immediate, and the issues were resolved in a day. The level of Customer Service provided by Tim and throughout ... Read More DealerRater - Jan 17, 2025
They went above and beyond for a second time for me!! This is the 2nd car I bought and they were all great. If you’re looking for a good place with respectful ppl this is where to go!! Thank Barkau and sons for all you do!!
Tim made my first car buying experience amazing. He was patient with me and help me through the process. I’m very happy with my purchase.
Great priced truck in really good condition. Exactly what I was looking for. Sales and finance team moved quickly.
Tim was very helpful. I avoid shopping for cars because in the past salespeople have been pushy and condescending. Tim took the time to listen to what I needed and allowed me the time to feel comfortable with my decision. Once I had made my choice Tim and Korey were efficient and very helpful. I highly recommend Tim and his co-workers. They made my buying experience easy and stress free.
Tim and his associates were very nice to work with and the vehicle we went to see was exactly as stated online. It was a quick process from the test drive to the paperwork. Will definitely be back!
The transaction was smooth and seamless. No pressure I would definitely check with them first when I’m looking for a vehicle
Joe and the team were amazing to work with. They were very knowledgeable and were willing to answer any questions that we had. I would highly recommend them.
Tim was excellent to work with. Good and fast communication, everything was as expected and on time.
I was just here back in June when i got my car. I ended up totaling that one and I came back in and worked with Tim. Best car salesman there is out there! Super understanding, willing to work with you on any type of situation.
Joe was professional, kind and knowledgeable. I would choose Barkau again, and I would recommend to my friends.
The buy went smooth. Tim is such a nice guy and was there to help with whatever questions I needed. He went out of his way to make sure the blue tooth worked which it may not have for this make and model. All went good. Very nice people to deal with in Freeport and Cedarville office. Love the car!
It was a great experience buying our truck the other day. Very friendly, informative, not pushy and professional. Love the truck! Thanks!!!
I’ve been buying vehicles from Barkau’s for nearly 25 years, and they’re the only dealership that I’ll go to. They are fair, honest, and always treat me and my family well. I’ve never felt pressured. I tell Rick what I’m looking for, he knows exactly what they have in inventory that meets my needs, and points me in the right direction. I’ve only regretted one purchase, but that was simply me being in a hurry and not thinking things through. I took that car back and traded it in on my new Terrain. As ... Read More DealerRater - Dec 25, 2024
We recently purchased a 2018 ford escape through Nils. He made the process very easy, with no pressure to look at or buy higher priced vehicles. We test drove another vehicle that he thought we may like but we ultimately went with the escape. The day we purchased it we noticed something that would need repairing, we called nils and he had us call the service center to make an appointment. We dropped it off the Monday after we purchased it, they supplied us with a free loaner vehicle. Turns out the transmission was faulty and by Friday we got the ... Read More DealerRater - Dec 22, 2024
Friendly service & accommodating to our needs. We never felt pressured at all & walked away feeling good about our purchase. The entire staff we dealt with were very warm & friendly. We also loved that they shared their pet family with us. Thank you for the wonderful service. We love our new vehicle!
He was really nice and helped me find the car I wanted...5 star review from me
We deal with the dealership, personally and professionally. The customer service is excellent. We appreciate dealing with another third-generation family-owned business. Rick, Nils, Jose and Pete were very supportive. Thank you Barkau & Sons for your years of giving back to our community.
Very friendly and professional. Got us exactly what we needed and didn't try to talk us into anything unnecessary.
Tim was great. He was knowledgeable about the vehicle and provided all of the info I requested with straightforward answers and clear documentation. He went out of his way to take care of me. This is my 2nd vehicle from Barkau, as my 1st vehicle has served well for years.
We’ve worked with Nils in the past, and that is why we returned to Barkau & Sons for our next vehicle. Nils is great to work with and everyone who assisted us with the purchase was very professional, courteous and friendly.
We just purchased our third vehicle from Tim Border at Barkau in Cedarville. It's a beautiful Chevy Equinox, 2019, but it's almost like brand new! Tim is always very helpful, friendly and accommodating. Barkau does a nice job, and nobody is pushy. Friendly place with a great selection of vehicles!
Tim Border at Barkau was able to get me in and taken care of right away! He makes the car buying process easy and is very helpful!
Tim was wonderful to work with! He added little extra touches to make our car experience smooth and successful!
We found the Jeep and dealership online, and could not be happier with the 3 hour drive to test drive and pick it up. Tim Border was professional, fun, LISTENED to us, and easily closed the sale. Total confidence in purchasing here as this transaction was heads above the rest! Thanks, Tim!!!
Joe was excellent to work with and made the car buying experience great! I would definitely recommend Joe and the Barkau Team to anyone!
Tim was very helpful and n helping me find a vehicle and no pressure! Finance dept also did a great job!
I have purchased many cars from Barkau, service is excellent and a great local business! Sales people are helpful and very professional.
This is the 6th vehicle we have purchased from jh barkau. We have been very satisfied with each and every one. Good people to do business with.
All the employees I encountered were friendly and pleasurable. The owner is positive and willing to take part in thansaction. Sales rep. Joe Baker was by far the most prepared and knowledgeable agent the dealership I've ever dealt wit.
i Was lookimg for a hybrid car and Nils Sandstrom new just what i wanted. I love the car. It has just enought technology to make me smile. This a great dealership and i have bought several cars. from them over the years.
They were great And worked with me for a great deal and trade for my Nissian
Took care of everything. Made it seamless. Answered all my questions. He’s a nice young man.
Joe Baker made looking at my Volkswagen Beetle easy… not difficult at all!! Purchasing and picking up my beautiful new car was fast and easy!! Thank you!! I am very pleased with my new Beetle Bug!!😎
I have purchased my 4th vehicle from Barkau's and have nothing but great experiences with all the staff. I recommend them all the time when I am asked who I go to for vehicles
They are very friendly and willing to help you with anything you need. They are also affordable.
It was easy fast and convenient. Joe was great at keeping in touch and even brought the chosen vehicle to me to test drive. I made the appointment for the paperwork and it was ready when I got there and I was in and out in around 20 mins. All in all a great experience.
First and foremost I would like to thank Dylan & staff for such an outstanding experience
Tim was very helpful in our decision to buy the Honda ridgeline. Everything went very smoothly. I will highly recommend the dealership to my friends.
For over 70 years, J.H. Barkau & Sons has provided exceptional used car sales and trustworthy auto service to the communities of Northern IL and beyond. We’re a pair of family-owned used car dealerships in Illinois that are proud to be part of Barkau Automotive Group. Everything we do demonstrates our commitment to delivering quality, integrity and customer satisfaction — that’s why we have so many good car dealership reviews!
Check out our dealerships’ testimonials from satisfied customers, highlighting why we’re the go-to destination for pre-owned vehicles in Cedarville, Freeport and beyond. We can’t wait to see you at one of our lots!
Why Choose J.H. Barkau & Sons?
• Decades of Experience: For over 70 years and four generations, the Barkau family has delivered a first-class car-buying experience. There’s always a Barkau family member on the lot!
• Outstanding Community Support: We’re a leading sponsor of local events like the “Cruise Night” car show and make significant contributions to our community.
• Expert Team: We employ Master Technicians and seasoned sales personnel to ensure you receive top-notch service every time.
• Value and Assurance: Select used cars include a 3-month/3,000-mile powertrain warranty for peace of mind.
• Transparent Transactions: We provide an easy and honest car-buying experience for everyone who visits. Those looking to buy a car out of state will be pleased to know that we offer comprehensive guidance on tax details.