The technician is a fraud. He lies to his clients by failing the car visually, but the car passes the smog test with no problem. Then he gives a high price that he can fix your car. Poor service! Don't trust him! read more

Do not go to this shop at all cost. I called this shop for a price over the phone and the owner gave me a good price to smog my van. However, on my arrival to his shop he changed his price to double the price he quoted me and I agree. I'm a busy person and had no time to take it anywhere else. Something told me to watch him do the smog. He did the inspection first, and smog test second. After the smog test he told me it failed because the catalytic converter was not California legal and he registered my van to the state as tampered. The owner told me he could install a new catalytic for over $2500 and when I told him no he got upset. I took my van to a state referee and it passed without a problem. To file a complaint against this evil shop, call (855)837-7985 and Bureau of Automotive Repair (800)952-5210. read more

I was just a walk-in because I had an appt. at 5th Avenue Auto for a smog check & after dealing with a bunch of malarky, when showed them my cert. they said needed to go to a star cert. smog check, so checked out this place & was very happy, No wait & they were done in about 15 minutes & I was on my way to get my Reg. When My Guy needs a smog check on his 2020 car, I will tell Him to go to A1Run Rite! Thank You Very Much! read more

This place is bad. The guy quoted me 100 to smog my Honda Accord. Once my car was in his shop for a while, he came out telling me that my car was a 97 instead of a 98, so he had to test it on the dyno, so it was $30 more. After another while, he said my car failed because it was not ready for smog. He told me to go drive it for 35 miles and bring it back, and he'll test it again, and it should pass. The second test would be only half the price. Sensing something was not right; I called my neighbor who used to work for CA B.A.R. to learn that this guy was a crook and that everyone should stay away from this shop. My neighbor told me both 97 and 98 would be tested the same, so $30 more to test 97 instead of 98 is just nonsense, and I should call B.A.R. to report this. Also, it's strange that if my car is a normal daily driving car, it's been driven for a long time ... it should not be "not ready for smog" out of nowhere (unless someone unplugs my battery or messes with it...). My neighbor (who used to work for the B.A.R.) told me he used to have to go this shop quite often due to many complaints. But the guy knows many tricks and knows what he's doing; so he kept screwing people without getting busted yet. So just stay away and don't ever go there again. read more

Another AWESOME service completed by Jeff at his A-1 Run Rite Auto Smog & Brake shop on my 2009 Honda Civic. My car is barely broken in with just over 176,000 miles. My wife and I have visited Jeff exclusively for maintenance on our vehicles for more than 5 years and happily continue!!! THANKS AS ALWAYS JEFF!!!!! Mark J. Grinnell read more

A1 Run Rite - Jeff's Business Card - Smog Check Stations Near Me - Escondido, California

SCAM ARTISTS!!! DO NOT RECOMMEND!! I look young but Im not a fool. Simply went in for an oil change and I receive the service, but they tried to sabotage my vehicles condition. They put 2 quarts more than it's suppose to have. Not only that but they left my vehicle in gear after parking when service was finished. So When I started the vehicle to leave it jumped forward and stalled out after hitting the curb. Also they must not have used a funnel because I look at the valve cover and it has oil all over it. Not a very good first impression. Will not EVER return. read more

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Failed simple smog test. Was charged 87.95 Had to pay to have the car retested $52.12. First I watched him loosen, but not fully disconnect one side of the junction for the equipment he was using to connect to the battery, like, he pulled it apart slightly at an angle, then noticed I was watching and moving the cables to the side of his work station. I watched him spray brake cleaner under my drivers side dash under the steering wheel by the wiring. I said "what are you spraying down there?" Unsettling experience. The mechanic said "it didn't go through, it's not my fault". This is when I told him "I am not paying again and again to retest it. If you can't test it, I'll take my car somewhere else. He told me "did I ask you to pay anything? Go sit in the waiting room" I told him "No, I'll stand right here until your done." Within 60 seconds, he walked to the computer, printed a paper and said I have already notified the DMV you passed. Strange how quick the test was passed when I told him I'm not paying anything else. Note: I should mention, while I was there, a gentleman came in and told the mechanic he had work done on his motorcycle and the vehicle had been dropped and they did not tell him. Obviously the guy felt like he couldn't prove that they did it, but he called the mechanic a "f'n A-hole" and said "I am going to leave you the greatest review on yelp." So look out for that review also I'm sure. Save yourself some sketchy experience and go elsewhere. I should have known it was going to be sketchy with how there are never any customers any of the times I have been by the location. I hope this review helps someone read more

Official tests cost what they cost so I dont care there. $67 bucks for official light check. Thats about what I had. CHECK. NOW for the part that sucked So back for a 2nd official light check. I had fixed all broken lights, and I told him I had adjusted my head lights on a level surface to a level wall with details how (because he asked me how I did it). I did it correctly. And he says that he will see how accurate I was. 1 and a half hours later I come back and he tells me that they are off. He says the driver side is "alittle low" and the passenger is "alittle to the right" So now all of a sudden. My car is pretty much held at ransom because I cant afford 110 dollars for him to spin a dial a few turns to adjust my head lights "alittle" to get my cert and I needed the car asap, so I had to call for help so I could pay it and just get this over with. I will be finding another place if I ever need Offical checks done again in the future. Thanks, but never again. read more

Pretty much a rip off. Took my truck for ac repair, it's advertised outside of the business $19.99 for service but, once inside turns out is $99.99. I told the guy since the begging that something was wrong with the compressor regardless he said that it needed to start by doing the service ( remove refrigerant and added again) Just to leave it the same and after an hour he comes back an tell me that Yes in fact is the compressor and that will be $500 more on top of the $99. read more

I went here for a walk in oil change for my Mazda. I got 4 quotes from 3 other shops and this was the best quote I received. Other competitors were charging $90 for a basic synthetic oil change . I appreciate the technicians not trying to upsale me things I may not need. I will be coming back for my next service. read more

This shop is great! Your car is in the right hands with Ali and Hossein. Whether you need a quick oil change, or repairs done, you can trust that these guys will get it done with perfection. read more

Great place. Went there for smog check and service was fast. This place just got new ownership.The new owner Ali is very good person and knows a lot about cars. I highly recommend to use this place if you near Escondido. Thanks Ali and A-1 Run Rite Auto team. read more

These guys are the worst kind of dishonest mechanics. Charged almost $1500 for air conditioning work on my truck that I found out later they never performed. Said they replaced everything while all they did was a short-lived recharge. I highly recommend going somewhere else! read more

First time at this shop and basically came because I had a coupon for a $30 smog. Greeted as soon as I came in and had a great, positive encounter with the guy working. They got to my car easily within 5 min of being here! (Which I didn't expect at 5pm on a Friday) This was the Perfect place to get my smog done for a 2007 VW Passat 2.0 for only $30!!! Bit of advice, do yourself a favor and make sure you fully read the coupon as it's not for every single car. It's not the shops fault people don't read the types of cars that the coupon is valid for. I can easily see someone trying to bring their truck in thinking they're gonna get a smog for that price, sorry not gonna happen... anywhere lol. read more

Very pleased with how they treated me and dont over charge like most smog shops . They're honest and a family owned business. Definitely recommend them read more

I pulled up to the handicap Placard spot because I have a placecsrd and checked on prices and it was super super expensive and I have recyclables I had to exchange right next to the place over into the back of Albertsons and he prefers I moved to conduct my business on the other side on the 5 ft divider. I am thinking I could sew for discrimination. read more

The owner was absolutely rude. Told me he could t run American Express then magically when I told him I had no other card he could. Never trust a lying mechanic. Also their smog costs double of anywhere else! I would NEVER go there not even for the simplest of repair. read more

True honest car guys. They were very truthful and helped me out with my mothers car. They'll forever have my business.

Best price I could find in all of North County for getting my 2010 Toyota Prius smogged! A1 Run Rite's quoted price was HALF of what I was quoted by smog stations in Carlsbad, so it was well worth the extra time for me to drive out to Escondido. The guy helping me, Ali, was fantastic, polite, and made my appointment convenient for me. They took care of my car right away. Best of all? Everyone was wearing masks and sanitizing (important for us older folks), plus A1 Run Rite did a thorough check all over/in my car and showed me that a filter needed replacing and some fluids were low. The mechanic also pointed out a slow oil leak in the engine, but I wanted to double-check that with Carlsbad Toyota service because that would be a very expensive repair. Toyota confirmed the oil leak! So A1 Run Rite isn't a scammer place -- you can trust them! This place welcomes military (I'm a 100% disabled veteran) and the elderly. Their waiting room is air conditioned and they keep things COVID safe. I highly recommend this honest, well-run smog & repair shop. I should have come here last time I had my car smogged. read more

$126 dollars for smog check. WTF !!! Year 2004. Everybody else is around 50 dollars. Took my truck to this place and the owner was rude and said that was "his price". Aren't we supposed to get a written estimate before they do the work.?????? Never mind his coupons and ads. Bad bad bad. Stay away. read more

Great Shop! This place was recommended to me by a friend two years ago. I have taken 3 cars in for Smog, Great Place! Fast, Efficient, and Honest. Service done right! First time every time. read more