Chaya Milchtein is an automotive educator, writer, and advocate dedicated to empowering everyday drivers—especially women and queer people—with the confidence to navigate car ownership. A former foster youth who aged out of the system, Chaya began her career at 18 with a job at a Sears Auto Center in Wisconsin, a turning point that led to seven years in repair shops, dealerships, and collision centers across three states. There, she found a passion for making automotive knowledge accessible and free of judgment or jargon. Founded in 2017, Mechanic Shop Femme quickly grew from a blog to a business focused on inclusive, practical car education.

Today, Chaya is a trusted voice in consumer car education. Through her widely attended car ownership classes, published writing, and popular TikTok and Instagram videos—which have earned her a following of over 1 million across platforms—she has empowered countless people to become more informed and confident car owners. Her first book, Mechanic Shop Femme’s Guide to Car Ownership, is a no-nonsense, anti-patronizing guide for regular people who rely on their cars every day.

Chaya is not a mechanic—she’s a mechanic translator. With deep industry experience and a knack for clear, engaging communication, she bridges the gap between the automotive world and those of us just trying to get safely from point A to B. Having spoken at The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, BMO Bank, Subaru, and many other organizations, she is a highly sought-after speaker for both virtual and in-person events at libraries, universities, non-profits, and businesses nationwide. She offers eight original educational workshops focused on cars.

Since founding Mechanic Shop Femme in 2017, Chaya has blended automotive know-how with her passions for plus-size fashion, body acceptance, and queer life—offering an educational and inclusive space where all feel seen and respected.