I live in the neighborhood and got my oil changed here for the first time a few months ago. Really liked Willie's vibe and adore the shop in its 1940s glory--reminds me of my smalltown service from back home in the Midwest. Simply put, a normal hardworking shop that does good work at a fair price! I'm sure if something goes array with my 2012 vehicle in the future, I'll take it here. Bonus points for Highland Park tamales nearby too. :) read more

Willie is the best! It was easy to set up a date to drop my car off and it was finished the same day. Loved hanging out in Highland Park off Figueroa while it was being worked on. Clear communication throughout the process and the price was very fair. Would definitely recommend coming to the shop to get your car work done. read more

Wow what a great experience! Needed an oil change and overall check before a last minute out of state trip and they were able to get me in same day! Fast, friendly and reliable! Thank you Guillermo and staff! read more

Never did I trust a mechanic guy until I met Willy! The quality of his work is amazing ! He is quick and very professional. The value of his upfront honestly is everything when it comes to looking for a trustworthy mechanic. Thanks Willy for always taking care of my last minute needs on my Isuzu Rodeo. I've recommended Willy to my friends and family! read more

American Motor Trends - Auto Repair Near Me - Los Angeles, California

here's a short highlight list of things Willie has done for me or people in my network after I suggested they go: 1) friends broke down in an older Volvo on a cross country road trip here in LA. They couldn't afford the repair, so he told them what parts they needed and taught them how to fix their car. Probably took more time than fixing it himself, and he didn't charge them for it. 2) a foreign friend who barely ever had a car bought a used Subaru outback when she was living here. something went wrong and she brought it to two shops that quoted her over 2 grand for replacing the head gasket. I suggested she ask Willie and when he saw it, defpiste knowing the other quotes, he pointed out that her repair was a very small thing and quoted her just over 200$. 3) I haven't needed to visit Willie so much since I bought a new car some years ago, but he's still someone I trust more than anyone else I have worked with in the industry. read more

***WARNING*** DO NOT USE THIS SHOP!!! I used this shop because Carmax Service (where I bought the car) was busy for 2 weeks or more for an appointment. So the warranty company (or Carmax - don't recall which one) recommended this shop as an authorized shop to do the warranty work. It was a little far from me but I didn't care if it was going to be faster service. Let me just stop you here. Save yourself and have your car fixed somewhere else. Willie (manager or owner, who knows) is the shadiest MotherF*cker. He wasted 4 weeks of my life, promising results, free (but horrible) fix options and returned phone calls, only to find out NOTHING had been done 4 WEEKS LATER...NOTHING, literally. He returned my phone call once and called the warranty company twice. That's honestly all he did. He refused to do the work the warrant company required to determine what was wrong with my car, and offered to fix it free stating "I've never seen the owner do this, but he will use block seal (or something like that) to fix the problem that likely would have voided the warranty. He's a lazy as* person who ONLY cares about making money. When I finally drew the line to have my car towed back to Carmax, I'm sure he was happy I finally cracked. What a piece of shit. I hope karma goes easy on him, as I had too much trama as a kid and don't wish harm to anyone. However, this may be an exception to the rule. I would really hope someone fucks him over like he did me, just so he can learn something about being human. I would give NO STARS, if I could. DO NOT USE THIS SHOP. read more

I had the oil pressure switch go out on my 2013 Silverado so the gauge was showing no oil pressure. A quick call to AMT Motors and I was able to get in that week and have it swapped out. As always Willie and the crew were on it and I was on my way home within the hour. read more

Willy is the man. After a negative and pricey experience at another mechanic in Eagle Rock, I luckily found this shop right up the street from me. I've brought my 94 Ford F250 in with some minor issues, and after looking at the truck and going for a ride, Willy told me his diagnosis right then and there, pointed out the parts I'd need to swap out and told me it shouldn't be too big a job to fix myself. How incredible is that? A mechanic who actually empowers their customer instead of charging them an arm and a leg for something they could learn to do themself. When my wife's Hyundai Accent's wheel bearing started to get to the point where it was so loud it was hard to have a conversation while driving on the highway, I brought it in to Willy, who gave us a fair price for the job and got it fixed later that same day. I really appreciate having this shop in our neighborhood with mechanics who are honest and do good work. Highly recommended! read more

Willie is great! I can always trust what he's saying is actually true. If you want a mechanic you can trust, he's your guy! read more

I've taken my car here for about 3 years now and always get great service and my cars and van are still running strong.

This place looks like a disaster, but the work is top notch. Whether you want new tires, or body work, these guys know their stuff...and they're honest about pricing and when they can complete the job. A great neighborhood benefit for all of us. read more

I brought my car ('99 Civic, standard transmission) in for maintenance, since it was nearing 150k miles, and asked that they change the oil and check the other regular service items. Willie got back to me in a few hours to say that his suggestions would be to replace the timing belt and water pump, and I checked my service records and saw that this was reasonable. He also suggested fuel injector service ($60) and removing carbon from the intake (also $60). A little pricey, but I'd never had this done and like to treat my car well ... so I scheduled these items for a day that I could leave the car at the shop. On the drive home, I noticed that the clutch felt a little different, but I chalked that up to the fact that the seat was in a slightly different location... The next day, I started the car and tried to put it into reverse. No luck, just gears grinding. And now the clutch felt *really* weird, like the pedal wasn't doing anything. My husband had a look under the hood, and found that the clutch reservoir was extremely low and bubbles had gotten into the line. We bled the system and replaced the fluid, and everything got back to normal. We've been tracking it for a couple days now, and there aren't any signs of leaks or the clutch fluid level decreasing. When I spoke with Willie on the phone, he was certain that the *must* have been a major leak somewhere between when the car was in the shop and when it got home, but I just don't see how this could have happened. Ultimately, I don't believe that they did a thorough job checking the car over, despite the fact that Willie rattled off a long list of things that had been checked, including all fluid levels. I just don't see how else something like this happens. Too bad, since I was really hoping that I'd found a long-term shop in my new area. Alas, I don't think I'll be back, and I'm nervous that other things weren't properly checked either. read more

Quite simply the best. Fast efficient, reasonable and so friendly. And the kitty that hangs around is one of the nicest cats in town.

I have had some great mechanics help me during my life, but AMT is the best I've used, ever. Willy will never upsell you to something you don't need. He's straight and will keep your automobile that way. You would never expect such knowledge and experience from a shop that's so off the beaten path, but Willie can do anything from an antique to a modern electric. He has experience working with the Tesla manufacturer and knows all the behind-the-scenes technology and how it has developed. Whatever you drive, go to AMT. read more

Big thanks to Willie and his staff for doing an exceptional job on my Honda Accord! Hands down the best experience one can ask for! They are professionals! Very knowledgeable and their customer service was amazing, giving how busy they can be at times. I will definitely be coming here for all my car needs. read more

Willie and his crew are fantastic. Super helpful, honest, and reasonable. I 100% trust his assessment and the service. A total lifesaver. Grateful to have found them in my neighborhood. read more

Still the one and only shop for my automotive needs. Looks are deceiving, and new customers might pull up and be tempted to keep going...But what you find inside is a gem of a place. This is a throwback to the day when people knew their local mechanic and he would treat you right because loyal customers are the best customers. Willie is a second generation mechanic who came home to take over the family business, but his certification, training and experience are impeccable. He's worked and trained as a major dealer mechanic though his modesty prevents him from announcing it. This is no shade tree mechanic. If you ask the right questions, he might even share his expertise in electric, hybrid, and alternative fuel vehicles. Jobs big or small, cars old or new (I trust him with my 74 Ford, 08 diesel beast of a $50K truck, wife's Volvo S60 and my favorite 99 jeep wrangler. ) He has access to all the computer codes and service updates the dealer has, and I have never walked away feeling like he performed or recommend a service I didn't need or upsold me on anything. Just a good, honest mechanic...If this aren't words you'd normally expect to see strung together I understand. But Willie gets it done. read more

American motor trends is the place to go. they are the hardest and fairest people i have met in the automobile business. Tip: don't be scared of Fred, very warm and kind man...also a great mechanic. They were able to fix my jeep with out any problems. read more

Willy and the guys are the best around. Honest evaluations. A wealth of knowledge too. Put your trust in AMT. I always do.

Took my car for an estimate on some fender damage, and after 3 weeks of my insurance agent consistently calling AMT to get the estimate and photos we gave up. My insurance agent said he's never experienced anything like this- most of the time when he would call they'd place him on hold for 10 minutes and never come back. When he was able to get through they claimed they were having problems with their email, then they claimed to have sent it "multiple times." Agent never received so he gave them his personal email- still nothing. My agent said in situations like this he gives shops the benefit of the doubt- could be a busy week. But a busy three weeks? Unbelievable waste of time. When I initially took my car in, Willie mentioned smaller insurance companies tend to make them jump through hoops and to make sure my company would be able to work with AMT. My insurance confirmed it would be fine and require nothing special, and I returned for the estimate. I don't even know why Willie took photos- he was never going to send them anywhere. If you have out-of-state insurance or anybody but Geico, Allstate, State Farm, etc- BEWARE. read more

Have never had a better experience with a workshop. Willie is honest, hard working, and respectful. All around just absolutely stellar. As a woman, I have never felt uncomfortable working with him; he is always willing to explain and show me things. I really value that more than anything. read more

Willie and Carlos are the nicest, hardest-working, most decent people. Their garage looks like a junk yard, but these guys do FANTASTIC work and are exceptionally honest. Willie will talk with you at length about your repair options; examining pricing, how long it will take, what the life of the part is, etc. American Motor Trends is located in a pretty sketch part of town, but don't let that stop you from calling these guys up. They've been my mechanics for years. read more

Once again Willie at AMT took care of my Scion XB quickly and efficiently. I have a car with high mileage that requires a lot of care and Willie has never let me down. He was able to diagnose the problem immediately and got and installed the part I needed with no hassle. Willie takes a sincere personal interest and treats his customers like family. I can't say enough good things about him. Having a mechanic you trust 100% in Los Angeles is invaluable. read more

Willie is great! Referred to by a friend. My siblings and parents now go to him also. He's knowledgeable, kind, and fair. We were so happy to find a mechanic like him:) read more

It's such a nice feeling to be able to find a reliable and fair mechanic. Willie and his mechanic are truly the best. I take both my personal and work vehicles to him. It's a pleasure to be able to refer all my family and friends to AMT. read more

My family has been getting their cars serviced here for the past 20 years. Willie, the owner, is kind, caring, and very honest. I know that I can trust him. Even if I just suspect something wrong,he will check it out at no cost. The prices are fair, but really it is because I can trust him that I've been going for so long. You can't beat the service. I will continue to go to him for the next 20 years! read more

I dont know why I waited so long to write a review for this place. Our family has been taking our cars here for years. Willie and crew are the best. Very nice, knowledgeable and honest. This place has been around forever for a reason. They do great work for reasonable prices. read more

American Motor Trends in an auto repair shop peopled by HONEST, KIND, DECENT guys. I live in Monticeto Heights. I can walk to this place. Every experience I have had with them, both as mechanics and as neighbors has been top of the line. They don't overcharge, and there have been times I feel like I was actually getting a good deal!! Competent, gentle, and real. Also, as a woman who isn't highly knowledgeable about auto mechanics I have never felt the dread a lot of us feel when having to make a trip to the mechanic without someone who knows about cars. AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING I cannot stress enough that this is the best consistent experience i have ever had with an auto mechanic. read more

Willie and his crew are simply masters and will be upfront and honest about your vehicle. They're really nice guys. If it's a car; AMT will be able to take care of it. Highly recommend. read more

The best auto repair shop! Totally trustworthy, efficient, knowledgeable, and friendly. I live in the valley, but drive all the way to this mechanic because their services and prices are unbeatable. read more

In my first experience with AMT, Willie was just great! He was patient and took considerable time to diagnose my car, before advising not to put more money into it! That level of honesty and integrity is enough to want to give him my business. It also didn't hurt that he also came recommended by other friends and online sources in Northeast L.A. A keeper! read more

This place is the best. Family owned, very up front and straightforward, give you all the info you need. They're my go to auto shop and I'm glad to give them my money. read more