9-24-2015 Once again, Jim came through and fixed my car at a very reasonable price. I absolutely recommend him. The few times (when he has been on vacation) I have used someone else, have always been more expensive and a super disappointment. Jim is a great guy. Very honest and straight forward. He has fixed my car for different things three times and his prices are very reasonable. Didn't charge me for replacing a light bulb. He is definitely my go-to-guy. Would highly recommend him. I am in the neighborhood and it is great to have someone close by who is so terrific and doesn't charge for things you don't need! Annie V read more

Jimmy is a very proud, blunt, straight to the point, and mostly honest guy who runs a good shop. I first got my oil changed here a few months back and the price on his site says one thing and he made me pay 10 dollars more - "that price is old". Fair enough as I don't mind supporting a local business in the middle of a pandemic and he did take me 15 minutes after I called and did a quick, efficient job. More recently, I brought my car in because the steering wheel would shake if I went over a certain MPH. Again, Jimmy said I could come in right away and it would only take a few hours to see what was wrong. Great to hear and that was accurate. He determined my tires were very worn and the steering needed to be realigned. Great, since Jimmy's shop is the first thing that comes up when you search "tires" in Andersonville I had no concern he was the man for the job. I asked him what the quote would be and he responded with a fair price but also said he doesn't like doing tires that much. Therefore, I asked if he wouldn't mind doing the repairs then I'd love to do business with him. He said ok. A little later over the phone when I was making sure the tires he ordered on my behalf were what I was looking for he seemed to get fed up and said that he is sick of doing tires and doesn't want to do mine and that I should come pick up my car. After a discussion, Jimmy lets me know that he doesn't specialize in tires and doesn't do that great of a job with them. I said I appreciate the honesty and recommended that he be more upfront with customers earlier in the buying process or on his website or Yelp page. He was about to not charge me the "diagnostic fee" but then changed his mind after a couple of minutes and made me pay $85 for figuring out what was wrong with the car but denying to do the work. Again for me, I don't mind paying for work done and supporting a local business but everyone's different. Jimmy seems like a great guy and if you can put up with the lack of customer service and inaccuracies on what he does/how much he charges for it then he's your guy. There is a good chance he'll see this and respond as it appears he is very active on his Yelp page, which is awesome, so I'll just Jimmy, I'm sorry we couldn't do business this time but I hope we can in the future. All the best man. read more

This man is very rare- (as in HONEST)- went in to have a tire patched up, and he informed me that nail (and resulting puncture) wasn't long/deep enough to warrant any repair- no charge. Most mechanics would have at least charged a $15-$50 fee, even for their brief time or make up a charge to suit their needs- NOT this guy- I will definitely be coming back here and recommending his services to friends and colleagues moving forward!! read more

Brought my own oil, filter, diff, and trans fluids to be changed. Stopped by Monday afternoon and they started working on my car right away. Left to read and get a cup of coffee, returned about an hour later to find everything done. They were especially careful not to get any greasy dirt or oil in the interior and returned all the supplies they didn't use. Total price $90 - an hour of labor and the minimum charge at most shops. read more

I came in with a busted brake light, Jimmy got me fixed up and on my way in 10 minutes! Fast, affordable, and Jimmy is an all-around great guy. I'll be coming back. read more

The owner answered my inquiry quickly and professionally and was able to change my serp belt on short notice at the agreed upon price quickly and with no fuss. Now my go to mechanic! read more

I was referred by a good friend about Alba Auto Service. My car was due for an oil change and other checkups so I reached out to Jimmy for a quote here on Yelp. Before I made an appointment, my Rav4 was experiencing another problem when the engine, traction and vsc lights suddenly all came on at once. I called Jimmy after business hours and thankfully he picked up informing me to come in early in the morning and he'd check it out. He was very friendly, straightforward, no BS and explained to me what needed to be fixed. I've never met an honest mechanic who takes his time to explain to you what error codes came up, etc and what was needed to be done. Jimmy told me it would take about 2 hours to fix all the problems including the oil/filter change. I received a call from him within 2 hours letting me know the repairs were done. I was very happy with his service. If you're looking for a great honest mechanic who knows what he's doing and will go above and beyond, go to Alba Auto Service. Jimmy, you have a customer for life. Thank you for everything and I'll see you soon for help with the fog lights installation! read more

Treated me as a human, asked me what I thought was wrong with my car. Such a refreshing treat, as a lady raised by a mechanic. Good prices. Will return! read more

I knew going to a small shop I would be ripped off. Reason 1. I know nothing about cars and parts Reason 2. Female = $$$ in a repair shop I also expressed my concern to Mr. Jimmy the non take advantage type so he says. I was desperate to get a battery after our below 30 degree weather we had this past month in January. Yeah, it was ten minute job. As soon as I walked out the shop and drove two blocks my radio/cd player is asking for a code. I called him a day later and he said and can take it in but it would cost me two hours of labor. What? I specifically asked him if I would encounter any more cost with replacing a battery prior to doing so and he said no. So aggravating as I've been without music or radio for over a week. :-( Waiting for moola or drive to the burbs and have the dealer take out the radio and look for some code to enter. I hope for free. read more

I started bringing my car here about 6 months ago at the emphatic recommendation of a colleague, for a belt issue, broken AC, and later an oil change. Initially I felt welcomed and respected and that I was receiving honest and fair service. After 3 months the AC ceased working. I stopped by to speak to the owner, Jimmy, in person and see what solutions could be reached. He berated and belittled me about him not having any obligation to stand by his work, and that I should have known that the current temperature is too low to test the AC again, so there's nothing he can do. I've been to many mechanics, never have I been yelled at in a rude, defensive manner. Take your business elsewhere. read more

Met Jimmy and I just liked him, so I crossed my fingers waiting to hear his quote. Got quoted $900 by one mechanic down the street, but Jimmy was able to do it for $150! Now he's got my business and my recommendation. read more

Jimmy was great. He gave me an accurate quote and fixed my issue with the parts we provided.

Jimmy is a good mechanic and won't screw ya. Hard working and tells you what you need to know.

Wonderful, quick and friendly service. Very upfront on how much the repair was. He kept the shop open late to finish job the same day.

Went in to get the brakes checked on my Honda Civic. They ended up just needing brake pads and Jim did the work very quickly. The folks at Alba are super friendly, up front, and I found them to be genuinely honest. Would definitely return. read more

I took my car to Alba Auto to have the steering hose replaced. Initially, I had taken it to Toyota for the steering issue. They racked up close to $2000 worth of repairs they said I should do. My car only has 51,000 miles on it. I purchased a Toyota because of its reputation. I picked up my car, went directly to Wells Automotive where they fixed the issue caused by Jiffy Lube. (Jiffy Lube sent me to Wells Automotive) It sat there a week waiting for a part, When I picked it up, I was given an estimate for rack & pinion work. According to Wells Auto, it was leaking power steering fluid. I took it back to Alba Auto and he put it up on the rack and showed me there was no leak, and then opened the hood and showed me that the steering fluid was full. Previously, he told me I did not require all the work Toyota recommended. I went to Alba on a friend's recommendation and I am glad I did!!! WELLS AUTO = RIPOFF ALBA AUTO = HONESTY, GOOD SERVICE, READY WHEN THEY SAY IT WILL BE READY. read more

I HIGHLY recommend Alba Auto Service. The owner is friendly and HONEST, which are hard qualities to find.

Jimmy is, without a doubt, the most honest mechanic I've dealt with. He is brilliant at diagnosing even the weirdest problems. And he doesn't try to sell you on unnecessary work. More than once, he has completed repairs and charged LESS than he estimated because he didn't need to replace a part or two. Once, he solved a rumbling noise problem by re-welding a cracked weld on a muffler (that he had not installed). Then he said there was no charge because it really didn't take any effort to solve the problem. That kind of honesty is hard to find. I plan to use Alba Auto Service for all our car work. read more

The first time I took my car to Alba Auto Service, it was because it was making a terrible sound. I know NOTHING about cars, and if they'd told me I had to pay 500 bucks to get a lot of stuff fixed on my '92 Honda, I totally would have believed it. But instead, they told me that it was just a loose belt and tightened it for me, for FREE. That convinced me that I could trust them for life. Since then, I've had a few other things done to my car, and have always found the service to be reliable, fast, and friendly. read more

These guys are awesome! My car died in front of my house down the street, so I walked to Alba. The man who I assumed to be the owner lent me a battery charger to start my car to bring it in. As I tried to get into my car, my key broke in the door. The guy at Alba, gave me a number for a locksmith he uses. A couple hours later, I had a new key plus got my car in. Probably saved me hundreds by not having to go to the dealer. read more

Amazing service! Very friendly and affordable. I was in and out quickly and he even found a nail in my tire that I wasn't even aware of. Can't recommend this place enough! read more

I had been taking my 2003 toyota to a nearby Midas for about a year and I felt like every time I went in there they always found some "required repairs" that added up to a few hundred dollars a visit. After finally getting fed up I took the advice of my smart and humble girlfriend and brought my car to Jimmy at Alba Auto. Not only does Jimmy provides excellent quality work at half the price, but he is also an honest, hard working, and all around great guy. On multiple occasions he has stayed late or come in early to meet my schedule and even gave me a ride to the train one time because it was 7:30 pm and dark out. Just recently my front bumper was beat up and needed to be replaced and Jimmy literally charged me half of what the other guys quoted me. I highly recommend this place to all my family, friends, and yelpers. read more

Overall great place when I was in need as a chick. They got me towed a new tire and back on the road. The bathroom was awful just needed cleaned otherwise it's 5 stats read more

As everyone knows, an auto mechanic you can trust is a) KEY and b) not easy to find. I LOVE this place! I've been in twice - once for brakes, once for a dead battery, and both times the work was fast, I ended up paying what I expected (in one case, even a little less) and driving home that same day. It's family-owned and run, and friendly, efficient, honest, and solid quality. I'd recommend this place to anyone! So much so that I was inspired to write my very first yelp review after having a second great experience there read more

As with other reviews here, I have to agree that Jimmy is stupendous. I came in thinking my car needed all these things done and he calmly told me what I needed right now and what I could wait on. Also, he explained the parts I would need in the future and exactly what he had fixed (a blower motor for my heating system). Rather than assuming I could/did not want to understand my car, he was very informative and helpful. read more

I normally hate mechanics. I'm clearly not the kind of girl that knows a lot about cars, and I frequently get screwed as a result. These guys, however, are AMAZING. They take me seriously, they explain everything that's wrong (even show me the bad parts once they're removed).. and the best part?? They're fast and incredibly cheap! They always come in WAY under other estimates I've received, and they only fix what's wrong. They've even come in under their own estimates before. All my friends now go here, and I wouldn't consider going anywhere else. read more

The best car repair experience I have ever had. The owner is so cool. I had been taking my last car there for years. He's the only guy I trust in the city. I actually trust him so much, that I just purchased my new car from him. I know nothing about cars and he is always very educational. He is patient with my questions and listens to my concerns. He treats everyone with respect. In fact he even has a freedom flag hanging from his sign out front. It is wonderful to go to an auto-mechanic who is educated and non-discriminatory. It doesn't matter who you are, Jimmy will take care of you like you are part of his own family. read more

Since leaving Chicago, I have yet to find another mechanic who even comes close to providing the level of service offered by Jim Alba. In fact, most fall woefully short. Highly recommended! To the woman who feels she was "ripped off" I have to add that I am a woman and was treated with nothing less than the utmost respect during the years Jim serviced my car. I have been to A LOT of mechanics in my day, and I can assure you that Jim is as talented and honest as they get. read more

WHAT A FIND! I will be going to Jimmy forever. Found him by chance when our car died and he towed us back to his shop. We live like 1/2 a block away, so we just picked him based on what was close. We scored. He has always been friendly and helpful and honest. I've had to go back several times for small things, and he's always helpful and reasonable. You can trust Jimmy and the work he does. Thanks and (unfortunately) I'm sure I'll see him again soon! :D read more

If I could give more than 5 stars I would! Jimmy is the most honest, reliable mechanic I have ever worked with. He has been taking care of my old car (99 camry) and me for the past 4 years. He tells me what needs to be done immediately, things I can hold off on and all work is always done within a more than reasonable amount of time and a very fair price. My car used to belong to my grandfather so of course I have a sentimental attachment to it and when I bring it over to Jimmy I know my car is in good hands. He is a family man with good values, I know I will be safe in my car for as long as I have it while he is my mechanic. read more

Been going to Alba (Jim) since about 08' with my 99' purple Bonnie-ville (yea, I'm from the south side, so kinda makes sense), where he replaced countless parts, electronic components, sensors etc... when it came to replacing the Bonnie's AC system for $900, Jim told me: "man, I'll gladly replace the AC, but it might be time for you to get a new car, you're wearing a suite, driving to work in the suburbs sweating." ALWAYS, a positive, honest experience at a reasonable price, cheaper than the cons on Lawrence too. I moved to LakeView 2 yrs ago and my wife and I now have have Acura's (took out G37x and Jeep to Jim previously too) and after being deceived by Reliable in Lakeview, I found myself coming to Alba for the past year. Today, I brought my wife's TLX to get a slow tire leak fixed and it cost me $35.00, I basically spent more $ at Starbucks 4 blocks north on Clark. Jim's treated me so well over the years it dawned on me that I should give him props, especially since we've had newer cars that require much less maintenance and he still is reasonably priced and honest! Thanks Jim! read more

I just bought a 2005 Scion Tc with 43k miles on it from Alba Auto Service. It is a great car, at a great price. It was a pleasure to do business with these guys. Very professional, honest, and accommodative. I couldnt be happier with the car, and would definitely do business there again read more

I bought the $25 oil change package off the website, then called to schedule and Jimmy told me to come right in. I was in and out in under 20 minutes, and Jimmy took the time (while the oil was draining) to inspect under my car and take care of a few minor problems without any extra charge. The service here can't be beat and the prices are better than many of the big chain places! read more

I called Jimmy in a panic and he listened to my description of what was going on and gave his assessment. I brought it in first thing the next morning, he did the work promptly and even gave me a ride to the train. Beyond that, he pointed me out to a serious problem with my car that the mechanic who had done a tune-up just a month before neglected to tell me about. It was not a situation of him trying to drum up more business--my engine could have fallen out (something corroborated by other mechanics)! Definitely a serious problem. read more

this is the place to go either for a tune up,oil change, or buying a car. alba auto's is as good as it get when it comes down to the facts on cars!!! ive been dealing with jimmy and his wife lindsay for over 8 years now and have bought 2 trucks from them. one was a 2000 lincoln navigator ( i have 3 kids) and recently just bought a 1998 gmc yukon , as a treat for a second vehicle. there prices are phenominal and also have payment plans. its the best!!! stop all the searching and hostle enviorments come here for the best prices great costumer service wether its an oilchange or investment in a new vehical, you will not be disapointed!! im not nor is any of my friends or family!!! hands down thumbs up alba autos is the place to go, jimmy is great at what he does!! read more

It is great to have a mechanic you can trust. Jim has been great for me over the years.

I found Alba Auto on Yelp, and am so thankful for all the excellent reviews. Jimmy proved to be just as honest as everyone indicated. Being new to Chicago/Midwest, I made the mistake of letting my car sit on the street too long over the winter months. When I went to go move it, one of the rear wheels was completely locked up due to the vehicle sitting in snow/rain puddles for too long. I had it towed to Alba Auto thinking the situation was going to cost me an absolute fortune. Jimmy encouraged me not to think the worst, stating his first step would be to clean up the rear wheels/brake system for a cost of about $120. When I went to go pick up the car the next day, he mentioned there would be a little residual noise when I applied the brakes. I asked him if he thought I would have to replace the brake system. He, again, said he didn't feel that it was necessary to replace any parts. Rather, I should just take it out on a long drive, as the noise issue upon applying the brakes would likely work itself out. He was absolutely right. A couple of drives out of the city sorted everything out. Really appreciated the honesty. As far as car repairs go, this was uncharted territory for me. I've never lived in cold weather environments or had my wheels lock up like this due to a combination of salt and moisture. Honestly, he could have lied to me and told me the entire brake system was ruined, but he didn't. He suggested minimal repairs upfront. As a woman, I have to say that it was completely refreshing to deal with a mechanic that wasn't interested in making me pay for unnecessary services/parts. Definitely my go to place from here on out! read more

Jimmy was fast, helpful, and reasonably priced. I work around the corner, brought my car in on my lunch, and it was raining so he offered to drive me back to my office and pick me up when it was done. Even made recommendations on what I should have taken care of next to avoid more problems. I mentioned my dad was handy and he said to have him take care of it to save me some $$. Car drives like a dream now! read more

Hands down the best experience I have ever had with car repairs. I put off bringing my car in for literally a year. I only drive once a week so I was being cheap and lazy as well plus I hate spending money on car repairs. Finally I researched the best in the area. I bought it in and Jimmy took my car and let me know he will look at it and let me know what the issue is. I was prepared to spend over a grand...it happens all the time. Later that day I got a call letting me know what the issue was and it was half of what I thought and that some parts didn't even need to be replaced just cleaned. Most places would have tried to sell you on getting new parts that were not needed. Not Jimmy...straight shooter and honest. A true gem. It was done a day later and the car is back to new. I just needed front brakes and he also looked at my AC which now runs perfect again. I highly suggest taking all your car repairs here. I am so glad I now have a place to get my car looked at and trust. read more

Came in with two slow leaking tires. They took me right away even though there were some longer projects they were working on. Fixed tires in 20 minutes, cost me $33. Seemed like an honest shop. read more