Exhibit 5




                                 March 2, 1998



Miles & Stockbridge P.C.
10 Light Street
Baltimore, Maryland  21202

                           Re:      Precision Auto Care Employee Stock
                                    Option Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         On behalf of our client, Precision Auto Care, Inc., we submit this
opinion to you in connection with the filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement") on the date hereof. The Registration Statement registers 400,000
shares of the Common Stock of Precision Auto Care, Inc. (the "Corporation") for
use in connection with the Precision Auto Care Employee Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan"). The Plan contemplates that the shares of Common Stock subject to the
Plan shall be reserved as authorized but unissued shares. Capitalized terms used
but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the
Registration Statement.

         As counsel to the Corporation, we have examined such corporate records,
certificates and other documents and have reviewed such questions of law as we
deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of this opinion. Based upon that
examination and review, we advise you that in our opinion:

         (i)      the Corporation has been duly incorporated, is validly
existing and is in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth
of Virginia; and

         (ii) to the extent that the operation of the Plan results in the
issuance of the shares of Common Stock of the Corporation, such shares of Common
Stock have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued in accordance with
the terms set forth in the Registration Statement, will be legally issued, fully
paid and nonassessable.





Precision Auto Care, Inc.
March 2, 1998
Page 2





         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our opinion in the Registration
Statement. In giving our consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of
persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933
nor the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         Miles & Stockbridge P.C.


                                         By: /s/ John B. Frisch
                                             ___________________________
                                             Principal