I tried a new STAR Smog place and found A&E! I made an appointment over the phone. Happy with how quick it was (less than 30 mins) plus I got a gift card that I can use for future service! You can bring cash to get the 4% discount. read more

I've been going to A&E for about 4 years now and they've always made sure to be transparent about pricing and what needs to be done on my car. Dannon and Edgar are great in providing you the details you need to determine the best plan of action, whether it be maintenance or repairs. They care about your needs and I've never felt left in the dark about my car. Compared to the other shops in the area, they provide the best service for a reasonable price. read more

No one even acknowledged me when I entered. There were two receptionists and 4 mechanics within 8 feet of me. After five minutes I got an "we'll be right with you" after ten minutes "do you have an appointment ?" Was passed off to receptionist who then took a call, returned her attention to me and wanted to book me next week for a simple smog check. No thanks. read more

My son's car experienced a dangerous battery failure while he was traveling through Goleta. The nearest Volvo dealership was a 30 minute drive and it was getting late in the day. I called A&E and owner, Dannon, quickly verified that she had the appropriate battery in stock and told us to come straight over. Within an hour, they had pulled out the melting battery, replaced it, and checked to be sure the car was in a safe condition to drive...the battery had been close to exploding - we were very lucky. They were incredibly kind, competent and genuinely concerned about the acid vapors my son had inhaled. If we lived closer, they would definitely be our regular mechanic!! Thank you, Dannon and Edgar. I am very grateful! read more

I've been with A&E for a few years now and they have taken such good care of my vehicle! Dannon is always sweet and helpful with answering any questions I have. Edgar knows his stuff! Edgar as well as all the friendly mechanics are very thorough. They provide photos and detailed descriptions of immediate needs for your vehicle which has been very helpful for me to keep track of what needs fixing. I feel comfortable trusting all of their knowledge when it comes to my vehicle and highly recommend them. read more

I have nothing but great things to say about the team at A&E! I brought in my 4Runner for a smog inspection and it needed trouble shooting because the CAT sensor wasn't coming on. Dannon, the owner, was sympathetic and reassuring that they'd get it figured out and when Edgar did the inspection, they found the issue and fixed it for less than what was quoted. The car passed smog no problem. I've had a couple things come up with the car and they have been responsive, friendly, and and excellent in both communication and workmanship. I have nothing but faith and trust that they will take care of me and my car. Above all else - they are HONEST. They communicate the bottom line clearly and kindly and that's SO valuable to me. There is no bullshit talk-around here. They tell you what they know, what they're looking for, and what to do next. Then Dannon calls you to make sure everything was perfect, and it is. Thanks A&E - amazing work and business. read more

This was the second time I've used the services of A & E Automotive which is a small family owned business. I am impressed by the professionalism and time that was taken to explain everything that was proposed for the car. I've also been impressed that they use text and email in addition to the telephone to keep me informed of progress on our vehicles. They do a Courtesy Inspection detailing the condition of the car to determine if it is in good condition, needs future attention, or needs immediate attention. These include links to photos showing wear and tear, fluid levels, and condition of filters, They also explain why a vehicle might need servicing. As a woman I especially loved the fact that Dannon the owner is also a woman AND she has an apprentice Angela who has now worked on both our cars with excellent results. read more

I love this repair shop and everyone there at the A&E Automotive shop are very sweet and super professional in their work! I have gotten done many small and few big repairs on my 2001 Saturn Sl1 like having the engine rebuilt, or just simply bringing the car in for an inspection. I like the way of the warehouse design in the parking lot and that it's neighboring the main street with the shops and stores. Edgar is very funny and cool, and I've had many pleasant conversations with Dannon and Edgar! Now from 146K miles on the odometer when my dad gave me this car, to after everything done to it here at this wonderful repair shop, I've now reached nearly 180K miles and plan to reach the 200K stretch! Thank you and I plan to visit soon! read more

I was so grateful to find a place to trust with my automotive needs!, especially as a woman.. A trusted friend recommended A&E and I needed to have maintenance work done after putting 171,000 miles on my car. They performed a complimentary analysis of my car so I could get a clear picture of the condition of my vehicle. They prioritized what needed to be done and gave clear explanations . The management and staff went above and beyond to assist me. Thanks for being a business I can count on! read more

It is always nerve racking to find a new auto mechanic. I had recently been highly overcharged for horrible service from a place off Patterson Ave. This was 6 weeks ago. Since then I was so impressed with A&E that I brought my wife's Volvo. There are no hidden charges and they provide pictures and explain why any service is recommended or could wait. EVERYTHING is shown and explained. The price quoted is the price you pay. I found my new car place. read more

This place may look modest and old, but they are up to date on skills and equipment! They've given my Prius expert repairs, with much less hassle and at a lower cost than I've experienced with the dealer Apparently many people know this, so appointments often available only week or more in advance. Theit work is very neat and punctual, and comes with helpful with knowledgeable advice read more

Top notch service, family owned, and most importantly HONEST dependable and friendly.

Service is always fast, with a smile, and competitive prices. I have been going to them for over 20 years with all my automotive needs.

When moving to a new town, one of the important things required is to find an honest reliable shop for car repair. When I moves here, I went through three bad choices before finding A&E. One was way overpriced, another did lousy work, and another tried to sell me a service I did not need. Fortunately, I know enough about cars that I recognized immediately, that I definitely did NOT need to have all my brake drums replaced! When I found A&E, I knew in the first service job that my car had found it's "service home." I have never been disappointed. I have lived here for 22 years now, and have been going to A&E for auto service all but the first several years. They have never disappointed me. I am always pleased with their work. Their mechanics are well trained, industrious, and professional. Dannon, a woman, is more knowledgeable about cars than any other auto shop manager Ive ever known, male or female! I always recommend A&E to my friends, confident that they will get great service at a fair price. I take particular satisfaction in referring my single-woman friends, since women are often considered easy scam targets for unscrupulous auto shops. Whatever your car needs, A&E will explain the solution so that you understand it and understand the charges, perform the work very well, stand by their work, and charge a fair price. I am glad to be able to say... I can guarantee it! read more

A&E has great service! I immediately felt very welcome and they informed me on every detail for how they fixed my car! :)

I took my car to this place because of the good ratings on Yelp. However, i had a pretty bad experience. I was told several times i'd be called back with info on the status of my car, and waited so long that i ended up having to call them several times. Also, after i paid for over $600 worth of work and picked up my car, BOTH OF MY FRONT HUBCAPS FELL OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING home, because they didn't put them on properly. Which doesn't exactly make me feel safe or confident about the work they did on my breaks. Hopefully those don't fall apart too! I will not take my car back to this place, I'll be looking for another spot. I felt a real lack of care or consideration from this company. read more

Love the service at A&E! This is my second time bringing my Toyota Prius to them and they always provide exceptionally great service. They put in a new better and fixed my A/C. They're knowledgeable and trustworthy people. I always feel that my car is in good hands whenever I need to leave it there to get worked on. True professionals. My go-to auto shop in SB/Goleta. read more

An honest, reliable shop! Dannon is super friendly and considerate. She explains everything the mechanics find during an inspection in great detail. The shop has a down to earth feel and the shuttle service is super helpful. Even though the cost might be a bit higher than some other places, it's worth it to me because I never doubt the quality of their work. They actually caught a mistake that Perry Ford made replacing my partner's rotors and breaks, and told him to get Ford to fix it for free instead of charging him for the fix themselves. One thing that could use a bit of improvement is the update process - they're so busy that I've never gotten a call or email from them when my car is ready. This isn't a huge problem because I can just call them before they close. However, they always finish the work in time, so I don't worry about it. read more

Took my car in for its 60K maintenance check. They flushed and changed my transmission fluid and replaced belt. My car is running very good. You can trust A&E Automotive. Thanks. read more

I love the PDF they gave me. It's like a car report card! It's color coded and Dannon (sp?) goes over it in detail. There are pics of systems and recommendations. Far above the quality of ANY mechanic I've ever gone to. read more

They were very professional and complete. I've never been to a place that does a better inspection. They find everything that you might want to consider and help make sure you understand how important it is to address each item. I found them honest and helpful. I really appreciated their work. read more

I CANNOT believe the 2 bad reviews from 2021 were from the same place! A&E has been my go-to mechanics for many years now and I have never had such issues. In fact, they have now expanded the reception area for their customers' comfort, and I was greeted and able to be attended to very quickly by Edgar a senior mechanic who has been with A&E for 17 years! And he is very proficient with the computer program in English and Spanish! (Edgar) habla espanol y todos estan muy amables! No roban de gente (como yo) que no entienden como sea los mecanicos de autos. No cobran mucho para los servicios tambien. read more

They are very nice and understanding! After every service, they show you pictures of your car and exactly what needs to get done for your next service and why they describe things in good detail. I've been going to them for two years, but because I'm moving, I will no longer be going to them. I would definitely continue going to them if I were living in Santa Barbara I would 100% recommend them, typically your car will be done being serviced within a few hours, depending on what you need done. read more

Kind service, fast turnaround. Biggest problem (and the reason for one star only) is that NO EMPLOYEES WERE WEARING MASKS. I saw two mechanics working on vehicles, two mechanics in the back, and two people sitting at the help desk. No masks in sight, and no signs requiring masks. Three customers (including me) were there, and just two of us were wearing masks. Pretty unacceptable, especially with SBC moving back to the Purple Tier. Step it up, A&E Automotive, for the safety of our community. read more

Service from the front to the back is all around great. Will always give you the best options in terms of cost and quality and are very understanding to customer preferences! Thanks guys! read more

It took me a few tries and a couple of years to find a shop where I trust the service, the work is excellent, the estimates are accurate, they give me a ride to pick up my car if needed, they are courteous and my car is ready when promised. I couldn't ask for more - but there's more anyway - They provide pictures of all the work done and of areas where possible future work may need to be done. read more

I found these guys online and they had good reviews to I decided to give it a try. It turns out it's owned by a local family and they are really friendly. I got my car smog checked in less than 30 minutes. It was nice meeting Dannon the owner, great customer service. read more

A & E Automotive - Smog Check Stations Near Me - Goleta, California

I am very happy with A&E . Here in Santa Barbara there are only a few mechanics you can trust and A&E is at the top of the list. They won't sell you services you don't need and are always looking to save you money and headaches. Look no further for honest and friendly services. A&E is the best read more

I used A&E Automotive for oil change and door lock fix. I have been using their services for years and I trust them. read more

I was in a bit of a jam, needing a trailer hitch installed on my car for a move I'm doing in the less than a week. I'd brought it to another shop where I'd already paid for both parts and installation. The other shop had told me that they couldn't finish the install because one of the bolts had been bent and also damaged the threads in the screw hole going into the frame. I was informed I needed to get the hole re-tapped. Which is very hard to find a shop that will do that kind of work. After a wasted morning all over the Ventura I called A&E. They listened to my issue, asked me to describe the bolt and told me to bring the car in. They treated me like a friend of the shop and were able to squeeze me in right there on the spot. Unheard of in this day and age. They checked to make sure all the screw threads in all the holes worked correctly and told me if the other shop wasn't able to finish the install bring the parts back to A&E. I am truly grateful to run across an independent auto shop with a focus on quality with a sense of community. Thank you guys! Andrew read more

I lent my old 4Runner to a neighbor to make a run up the coast from LA. I thought it was in good enough shape to make the trip, but alas, the alternator broke free on her drive back, cracking the engine block. I drove up from LA to pick up my neighbor and had the truck towed to A&E (based on yelp reviews). They gave me a complete breakdown of what was wrong with the car and questioned whether it was worth fixing. I couldn't afford it at the time, so they pushed it into a legal parking spot for me. I came up and got my personal stuff and stereo out of there one night while I thought about what to do with it (I'd just put in over $3k fixing it up). Dannon kept in touch by text and told me that it had been tagged to be towed and that I should come get it. She and the guys in the shop pushed it one last time, and scraped the sticker off the window. In the end, I just had it towed out of there and cut my losses...but I really would have loved to have kept it. And Dannon and the rest of her shop gave me that opportunity, by showing kindness to a stranger...something you don't see much of these days. Many thanks! read more

Excellent service, very thorough in explanations of what needs to be done and honestly didn't take too long, stand-up business model and definitely a welcoming environment. Would 100% recommend for students looking to fix up their cars at college. read more

I can always count on A & E Automotive for my car repairs. They are real professionals! They have worked on all my family cars. They have fixed different issues and we are very happy with the results. read more

Wonderful and friendly staff. Very efficient and helpful. Came in for an oil change and they caught some things that needed to be fixed, which I was able to get done just a couple days later. Thank you! read more

Great service, thoroughly impressed with the way they make me feel like family and still manage to get the job done quickly, efficiently and with a smile. Dannon is friendly, good at explaining things, and considerate. This place is a little bit hidden, but it's worth tracking down these folks to do smog checks and work on your car. read more

this shop is below average, spent a lot of money here on 2 auto"s 1992 chevy pu and a vw jetta.did poor work and were condescending. no guarantee. read more

My car broke down on a Friday morning. I thought being close to the weekend, it would be hard to find a repair shop but I was recommended this place and immediately called them before bringing my car in. The owner answered all my questions and put my mind at ease. A & E Automotive is VERY reliable. I really appreciated how they gave me the full rundown of my car once I brought it in and how patient they were with me through the phone. I will definitely be recommending everyone I know to A & E Automotive for their car troubles. read more

I was so happy to have found this business!! It is a family-run business with a long history in Goleta, so they have loyal and long-time employees. As a result, I feel very confident that the service I had was fair-priced and well-done. The owner of the business was right there in the shop and her very experienced and conscientious right-hand man supervised everything. (The owners are a husband and wife team who are very dedicated to their business.) PLEASE SUPPORT LOCAL, SMALL BUSINESSES!! read more

I have been coming to A&E for a bit over a year now and I am so happy with their services! They saved my used Prius when I bought it and some issues came up, and have been great ever since. I was nervous as a first time car owner to go to a autoshop, especially as a female college student who only owned a car for a couple months. A&E has always given me great services which I feel are at a reasonable price, and has been super informative and thorough without being pushy. Dannon is super great and made dealing with car issues go from stressful to as pleasant as it could be! I highly recommend, and trust them with my hybrid. read more

Very helpful staff, wanted to get me back on the road quickly and safely. Took great care of my jeep and in much less time than I expected. Great people, great service read more