Do not patronize these guys. I brought my car in for an inspection and brake check/repair. On day 1, no one could get the story straight -- 'you're up next,' 'your car up on the lift now,' 'why is your car here?' Toward the end of day 1, one guy promised to call me back in 5 min. I called back in 7 min. and, you guessed it, they had all gone home! On the 2d day, I was told: 'your car is up on the lift now,' and then 'there's nothing wrong with your car.' Even though I already knew that I needed new brakes. At 3pm on day 2, I went to collect my car. By then, I knew that no one had checked my brakes at all, although one guy again told me 'there's nothing wrong with your car.' At one point, a manager with whom I was speaking took a call. When he took off his mask to yell (louder) at the caller, I asked him to put his mask back on. His response: 'you can move six feet back from me.' Now I need to take my car to really get my brakes fixed. But hey, I got my inspection sticker. Nightmare!! read more

Please see my previous review on the Manhattan East Auto Repair which was renamed Active Auto Repair: https://www.yelp.com/biz/manhattan-east-auto-repair-service-inc-new-york?hrid=JB079TkxAweNpxr4k_rn6A&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) The person I dealt with was the same Josh from Mahattan East aka Active Auto --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Full disclosure, I do have a good understanding of vehicles; although it is not my profession, it is my hobby to work on cars. Act I: Foreplay My wife's car was stranded off the bridge on her way to work because the alternator died. She called me at 6AM frantic because the car suddenly just died flat out. She told me the battery light stayed lit but ignored it and kept driving. I told her she will need a tow because the alternator died, there is nothing I could do at the moment, even if I picked her up. So she finds a tow truck service on Google and a guy name Paul shows up. He wanted $90 to tow to this specific shop, or $243 to bring it to a local shop that I am familiar with. Already, its a red flag. She had to hurry to work, and made a quick decision to go with Paul and Active Auto. Boy did the fun begin here. Act II: Bend Over So after a couple of hours, wife calls me from work saying they're quoting $500 to change out an alternator. What in God's name?! A quick search of Autozone, says it cost $183 for the alternator, so its a $300/hr labor charge. I quickly called the manager, Josh, and asked for an explanation. He goes on telling me, "listen its a $500 part alternator is burned out, and the best I can do for you is $450 cash, its the best". I asked if I could pick up the car instead but Josh said theres a $125 diagnostics fee, and $75 storage. I said it was the same day, actually something that happened few hours ago what exactly is he storing. He said $200 take it or leave it; basically taking the car hostage. So I reluctantly agreed to the $450 charge, boy was that a mistake to haggle. Act III: Deeper Penetration About an hour or so later I get another call, he wants ANOTHER $250 for a 'broken pulley'. It's amazing how a burned out alternator also means pulley is 'completely broken'. I asked how did a broken alternator become $700 job, he responded with another rude tone "listen buddy, pulley is broken do you want to do the job or not". I offered to take a look first hand look, and he started yelling at me "there is nothing to look at, either you want me to fix the car or not, $650 is the best price cash for you". Okay.. he knew it doesn't make sense to pay for another towing fee to another shop because he can have me for the $200 for doing nothing since I diagnosed the car myself by just hearing about the symptoms. I agreed. Final Act: Money Shot An hour later Josh tells me the car is ready and I owe $650. Okay. I agreed that I would go to get the money because the ATM will probably not allow for a withdrawal that large. He said he will close up shop and have the original tow truck guy open the door for when I arrive (kinda working together now aren't they?) I arrive to the city, and proceed to call him but another partner picks up. He said that tow truck person will be there soon.... 15 minutes nothing. I said that I was waiting outside and cold, his partner proceeds to berates me with "listen, stop rushing me now, I told you the tow truck guy is coming so wait!". About an hour later Paul arrives to release the car. Basically after getting butt hurt, AND waiting to pay for it I still get berated by these guys. Guess I am doing THEM a favor by giving them business. TL;DR: Got highway robbed by Active Auto Repair, get AAA premier insurance if you have a crappy car. They will tow you 100 miles to any destination of your choosing. If you're ever stranded in the city and a guy named Paul with with a flatbed is going to tow your car to Active Auto Repair. Think about a dropped soap in prison, run don't walk away. read more

They just fixed my Honda Accord. It was something with radiator. Price is good and they explained me everything. I will definitely come back again if I will have any issues with my car. Great service guys, thank you! read more

Active Auto Repair NYC - I'm waiting when they are fixing my car - Auto Repair Near Me - New York, New York

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I had a great experience here. I went in for an expired auto inspection and they were able to take me in without and appointment that morning. I waiting about an hour but they were able to get me in and out. On the way out my battery light was on and the mechanic mentioned that my alternator was on the outs. I made an appointment to address that and they took care of me. My 2008 Honda drives great again and I have a new neighborhood mechanic. No more driving to long island city pep boys. Support your local small businesses. read more

Great place 5 stars across the board good prices amazing service!!!! Highly recommend it I will always service my vehicle there! read more

Shocked to received my car back with my things stolen. All the docs in my glove compartment were on the floor and car was completely trashed inside. Hope karma serves them what they deserve read more

Brought my van with bad starter. Installed starter 5 hours, charged 600$ and in 7 days I got same problem. They use cheap aftermarket parts and part are not new, parts are rebuild. Beware car owner. Stay away read more

I brought my car for a quick check and I waited 20 min for the so called "boss" to help me. All the employees were chillin. Then, after he spoke to me , my car was in the shop for 25 min and they charged me 140$ and they didn't do sh!t. I still had to go to a serious repairing shop! DOT needs to run an investigation on these punks! read more

I recently took my Lexus here for inspection (it had expired) and was told that: 2 tires were worn out & needed to be replaced, The rear brakes and rotors needed repair, & the steering rack-and-pinion was leaking and would eventually lock up. I told them I wanted to think about it or just have repairs done at Lexus. Needless to say I did not pass the inspection- but if I gave them the money for parts that day, they would pass me & put a new sticker in the window. I took the car to Lexus, and guess what??? No problem- I passed inspection! They only said that down the line 1 or 2 tires would need to be replaced eventually. I wonder if I wasn't a woman with an expired registration, would they still have tried to cheat me. read more

Do not trust these people. First off, they charged me $130 for an oil change. What the....!! Second, they made a big point of showing me a new oil filter, which looked too small for my vehicle, and this weekend I took a look at the dip stick. Oil did not look clean at all. I wouldn't be surprised if all they did was just reset the indicator light and topped it off. read more

Had a panic attack when I say what I thought was the "check engine light" go off in our Jeep. Couldn't sleep thinking about how much this would cost. Mechanic? In Manhattan? I hesitantly took the car in, braced for impact and heard, "This the light you were talking about? Yeah, that just means you're tire pressures low. We tan all the diagnostic tests. Nothing!" A garage full of friendly, knowledgeable, honest mechanics in the city?! Heaven sent. Thanks guys! read more

I don't believe in posting reviews in yelp but I felt it necessary for me to do one at this time. Recently while I was taking my mother-in-law to the Sloan Kettering Hospital from Philadelphia Pennsylvania my car broke down in the Lincoln Tunnel. Luckily the car was in the go home mode meaning it can only drive 20 miles an hour. I finally got her to the hospital to have her procedure done however I was faced with the problem of getting back to Philadelphia with a car that would go only 20 mph. Luckily I found the garage on 95th St. and they fixed my car cleared the code and refused to take any money. I had to force them to take a tip. They could have charged me anything to repair a 1996 Mercedes and I wouldn't have known any different. It's nice to know there are still honest people in this world. Special thanks to Pedro and all of the other technicians that work there. Sincerely Tom S read more

I went in for an inspection. They charged me twice the standard inspection cost and then told me I need a new O2 sensor and said it was $400... I know because I've shopped for them that they cost $80 to $120 at most. These people are crooks. They also charged $135 just to look at my car for about 5 minutes and told me I couldn't have my car back if I didn't pay even though nothing was done. read more

I am very pleased with the service at this shop. They are competent and efficient, and the prices are fair. Getting appointment is easy and everybody is polite and friendly. read more

Great place - Josh and John were both very professional and I will trust them with my regular services. Came here a week ago to look for my first oil change/check up to my car. I didn't realize that they only took appointments when I showed up, but Josh was very polite and asked for my patience and flexibility. John followed up that evening with some work he felt was necessary, even for an old car, and very quickly had the car ready for me the next morning. I had been looking for a repair shop that I can trust to maintain my car and not overcharge with unnecessary work -- I hope this is it going forward! read more

We come over here with all of our company cars , great service, good quality and fair prices

Don't expect any breaks from this place. Had maintenance done - $2500 worth - who knows if I really needed it. The inspection was expiring in September and the repair was done in August. They did not inspect the car - and I forgot to tell them to do it. Most places would just do the inspection given it was forthcoming. Unfortunately, I did not notice and ended up getting a ticket. When I called them and asked about it - the response was - the inspection wasn't due for another month. I brought the car back and they actually had the nerve to charge me $40 for the inspection. No class! read more

Great honest place to get your car serviced right here in the city. Been coming here for a few years now and John and Josh always offer quick reliable service at a fair price. I have even had to use there tow service one night and they arrived quickly. Weather it has been an emergency fix or routine maintanace they have always been very accommading. Highly recommend read more

Always leave flyers on my car that are horrible quality and melt into my windshield. They are also all over the ground littering the streets

Well let me start by saying these are the most respectable people I've ever come into contact in the automotive industry. I have a 2004 Navigator I came in with a low compression issue I totally thought my after market warranty would cover well they didn't something about valve detonation anyway Josh took care of me be gave me a great price and the service is impeccable I have my vehicle back and it's perfect these are truly great people and I will continue to bring my vehicle back. No lie. read more

John saved me from the dealership's extremely high pricing to fix my mini! He was very professional, communicative, and great to work with. You're in good hands with these guys, I highly recommend their service. read more

I feel that is extremely difficult to find a good car repair shop in Manhattan. Many are overpriced or bad quality or both... I am so glad I tried Active Auto Repair and can only recommend it. Brought my car in because the breaks were making a weird noise. The team at Active Auto repair was very professional, fast and transparent on cost. They have skilled workers and use high quality parts. I am extremely happy with the repair and feel that I paid a fair price! Will definitely make Active Auto my go to for future oil changes etc... read more

I do not write many yelp reviews but I felt it was necessary for this business. I have been bringing my Volkswagen here for years. My car isnt the newest but has a lost of sentimental value as it belonged to my late father. I am very particular about who services my vehicle. These guys are experts. True professionals Since day one, these guys have been so very helpful, honest, and generally treat you like a family member. Many times I have come to the shop for little things such as a turn signal bulb replacement and even a shit boot replacement-- both times they did the service free of charge (even though I refused to leave without tipping). Other times for more significant issues, they always worked me in despite seeing their shop full of vehicles. John was always honest with me about what my car needed and the cost of service. Prices are always fair and reasonable, and even times when the cost was high, they did everything in their ability to work within my budget. Service was always timely and efficient. I would not hesitate to recommend this shop to anyone, especially individuals owning a VW or an Audi. Kudos and thanks to this shop! read more

My first time at Active Auto Repair. Excellent service and nice people. Will definitely come back

Our 2008 BMW 535i wagon began to give us a very rough ride, and the BMW dealer diagnosed worn struts as the culprit. My (obviously) out of warranty car was repaired by Active Auto expertly, expeditiously, and less expensively--less than half --the dealer's quote. The car drives perfectly now. I found these guys through Yelp reviews, and I am relieved that I have someone in the City I can turn to to keep this terrific car on the road. read more

John and josh are very professional. They know every thing about cars. I have Had great car repair experience with them. As well I have purchased 2 cars from them never a problem. Great maintenance as well when I need it. I never before have ever recommend a car mechanics before this one I can read more

Came here for the first time after getting rear ended. Had the pleasure of working through John, who made the process extremely seamless. The team at Active Auto Repair is reliable and proactive through the process. Will definitely be bringing my car to the team on 95th, for an honest estimate on damage diagnosis, and repair. Would recommend to all. read more

I have to add my voice to the chorus. It's such a pleasure to deal with a bunch of knowledgeable and honest mechanics. I thought that honest independent mechanics were an extinct breed in nyc but I'm happy to be proven wrong. Personable too, which is the icing on the cake. If your Audi is out of warranty, I highly recommend these guys. No need to pay 3x the cost for the "safety blanket" of the dealer. read more

These guys are very, very good. Brought in my E90 BMW with suspected control arm issue from potholes and I ended up needing front rims straightened as well as stabilizer bars additionally. Work was completed in a timely fashion and for a very fair price. I was treated like more than just a first-time walk-in customer and that goes a long way. Will use Active Auto for future needs for as long as I am living in the city. Thanks! read more

The clutch on my dream machine started slipping upstate following an early morning Fall scamper at Harriman State Park. I nursed my car as far as it would take me back towards the metropolis. I was hoping to make it to my regular buy in Brooklyn but downtown on the FDR, the clutch finally gave up the ghost. I pushed her ladyship down the off ramp and did a Yelp search for towing. I got a tow from a good guy, a great conversationalist from Israel, who brought me to Active Auto Repair. I spoke to Josh, who was another straight shooter. He told me to leave it with him over the weekend (they were just about to close). Josh called me Monday morning with an estimate and they turned the car around in a day. Quick service, not time wasting or delays ... I was on my way. Having your car repaired (unless you are a car geek and know your car inside out) is based on trust. Clutches are not cheap but my intuition tells me that these people are telling me like it is, I can deal with that. read more

The owners of the Active Auto Repair shop are very honest and really nice guys, which is hard to come by these days. I had a check engine light which was read at two different mechanic shops with 2 totally different diagnosis. Both wanted over 500 dollars for repairs. Then I found Active Auto and they diagnosed it and repaired it for less than half. I couldn't be more pleased. read more

My experience with Active Auto Repair was excellent. My car broke down in the city, and I was very nervous, thinking it would cost me a lot more than it should. Towing with Paul was reasonably priced, and he arrived within 15 minutes. It was a Saturday morning, and Paul was concerned about getting my car fixed before the shop closed at 1pm that day, which I really appreciated. When we arrived at Active, we met Jon. He was very honest and trustworthy. He ordered the part I needed, and it arrived within 20 minutes. Everything was fixed and ready for me in under an hour, and I didn't have to spend a fortune. I will absolutely be returning to this shop! Thank you, Active! read more

As a former business owner, I appreciate sites like Yelp that are available to voice our reviews. Active Auto Repair here in NYC is by far a positive experience when dealing with all my car repairs and routine service. A few years ago I had a very serious engine problem with my Volvo. Low mileage but I feared the worst . John & Josh were very upfront explaining the damage . These two highly skilled mechanics won my trust .....Fast forward & five yrs later, the car is in excellent condition ! I can not emphasize enough how strongly I recommend this business . Again, they are polite ,friendly, straight talking and their skilled expertise truly outweighs everything else. read more

Biggest rip off in my life. Towing from 17th and 9 and 2 tires cost me almost $600. If I needed to leave the car with them they would have charged me $125 a night to store it. Don''t waste your money. read more

This is the BEST car repair shop!! Active Auto Repair takes great care of our Audi. Our car broke down a few weeks ago and Active Auto arranged for a pickup in a matter of minutes and then fixed the car very professionally and promptly. Everyone who works at Active Auto is incredibly nice and very, very helpful and you know you can put your faith in them. We've tried a lot of repair shops over the years, but now I wouldn't go anywhere else. read more

Excellent place--totally worth it. My 2006 VW Jetta (at 100,000 miles) was too much for a general mechanic to handle. Active Auto was so precise and effective in their diagnosis and treatment. Car is running like it did when i first got it. I definitely won't go anywhere else after this superb and reasonable work. And the owner/manager is the best. read more