I read your response, and I'd like to clear up a few things--because your version of events leaves out some key details and adds a few creative flourishes of its own. First, calling the issue a "phantom noise" is a bit ironic considering I provided not one, but two video recordings directly to Leo. Hard to call something imaginary when it's literally on video. Dismissing it that way doesn't make the problem go away--it just makes it seem like you weren't interested in acknowledging what I actually reported. Second, the radiator cap. You've now framed it as though catching this $5 part was some heroic save that justified the entire visit. Let's not pretend replacing a radiator cap is equivalent to diagnosing the issue I brought the car in for. As for communication: I paid for a diagnosis, I left with no diagnosis, and the noise continues. That's the entire story. Your response suggests my review was inaccurate, but the facts are straightforward: - I brought you evidence of the noise. - The noise was not diagnosed. - I was charged anyway. That's not miscommunication--that's a service that didn't deliver on what I paid for. I'm glad your technician looked the car over, but the work I requested wasn't completed. That's why I shared my experience, and I stand by it. Regards, Yonas read more

Berkeley Bobs are first class auto repair! They did a very efficient and thorough job on my Toyota Prius and did not try to upsell me anything that was not needed. Leo was a very nice guy and they are super honest. I highly recommend Berkeley Bobs! read more

I took my car in because the AC didn't seem to be producing cold air. I'm not a car person, but from the first phone call (Thanks Leo!) I felt like I was being valued and everything was explained in a way that made sense. The fact that they send a digital inspection with photos and an easy to understand rating of each element they check was really helpful in understanding why they recommended some extra services. They didn't try to hold my car hostage, just gave me the information and let me decide when and how I want to fix the other things. They were very friendly even when I arrived only a few minutes before closing to pick up my car. I'll be back, for sure! read more

Called in to see if I could get my brakes checked out. Not only did they fix my issue but also recommended other things I should consider doing on my car. As a person with a reliance on their vehicle, it is very important to know what I need to think about and what the car will need next in terms of repairs. For what they did and the service I was provided, it was well worth every penny I spent. read more

Efficient and easy to work with. Stuck to quote with no extras popping up. Car looks good. read more

I brought my Subaru Forester in for an oil change and was charged $300 -- which included a 27-point inspection that their website says is complimentary with service. I had even called ahead to confirm that the inspection was included, and was told it was. But when I arrived, I was charged $300 for just an oil change because it "includes the inspection." This is misleading and false advertising. I expected transparency and honesty, and I did not receive that here. After picking up my car, it drove dangerously -- stalling, jerking, and lagging when I accelerated. I had to return immediately, and was told something had been accidentally disconnected during the inspection. They reattached it, but warned the car might continue stalling for a week. I requested and received a full refund. This was an upsetting and unprofessional experience. I will never return and do not recommend this business. --EDITED FOLLOWING OWNER'S RESPONSE BELOW-- I appreciate that the shop issued a full refund to compensate for their mistake, but the owner's response below is dismissive, dishonest, and unprofessional. First, their website clearly states that a 27-point inspection is included with all services and I also confirmed this over the phone when making an appointment for the oil change. I chose this shop specifically because the inspection was advertised as included, just like many other shops that offer it as a complimentary service. I was shocked that the bill for an oil change was $295 and I confirmed multiple times in-person that this cost was just for an oil change. The inspection was clearly not included with service and I was charged for it. It would have been fine if it was disclosed upfront and not advertised as included on the website and over the phone. I would simply have gone to a different shop. As such, this business shows a lack of honesty and transparency. Second, the mistake their technician made caused my car to drive erratically and unsafely. That was not a small oversight--it was dangerous and I was told that my car could now stall at any time for over a week, which it did. The fact that this issue was created during the service and not caught before returning the car to me shows a lack of attention and quality control. Third, the owner's final sentence--"due to your inability to comprehend the logistics"--is disrespectful and condescending. She could have apologized and taken responsibility, but instead she chose to insult me while trying to justify their mistake, defensively list out all the items that would be included in any 27-point inspection from any shop, and for the inflated cost for an oil change. I stand by my review, and I hope other potential customers read both the owner's response and mine when deciding whether to trust this shop. read more

Great service from these guys. Phoned yesterday, car went in today. All done in 2 hours and that was with replacement air filters. Shout out to Leo who was super helpful. Courteous and professional. Will definitely be returning for the car's next service. read more

Berkeley Bob has taken care of all four of my recent cars (Volvo V50, Subaru Crosstrek, Scion xB, and now a Toyota Highlander). Always honest, fair, and reliable -- they explain things clearly, never upsell, and get the work done right. Leo keeps everything running smoothly, and Sean, the owner, is incredibly knowledgeable. Since moving, I've tried other auto shops, but none match the quality and integrity of Berkeley Bob. I've learned it's always worth bringing my car here for any repairs. read more

Berkeley Bob's does not do body work. They also only work on foregn cars. Don't be misled by Yelp. Wasted trip!

This is my go-to mechanic. They're very knowledgable, super friendly and they explain things to me like I'm a human being. They've also made great recommendations when I needed services done on my car that their shop doesn't handle. read more

I took my 2016 Toyota Highlander to Berkeley Bob's for the first time. I had used the official Toyota service location just off Shattuck but I always felt like they were trying to add on unnecessary stuff. It was very easy to book at Berkeley Bob's and Sean took great care of me and my car! read more

They got me in last minute to replace my battery before a trip. thank you all again! Everyone was super nice

My family has always taken their cars to be serviced here and so as tradition goes, I also take my car here. I honestly love the service I have gotten here and the fact that the employees remember your name is awesome. I love how when I walk in or even just call, Shelby answers the phone in her welcoming voice always saying, "How you doing?" They will get your car fixed no matter what happens and if you tell them that you need something asap, they will try their best to fit you into their schedule despite how busy they are. The only time Bob's has ever really "failed" me was when I took my car in to be serviced and they had to take apart and put together one of the pipes that connected to my gas. After I got my car back from this service 1-1.5 weeks later I am driving less than 0.3 miles from my house and suddenly my car just stops running. I found out that my car's gas pipe broke in the middle of the street! I called Bob's to let them know what happened and that my car was going to be towed to them. I believe I spoke with Sean and he stayed later (even though they were supposed to be closed) and made sure my car got into the shop so they could fix the damage. Sean apologized about this realizing that when they put my car back together from that service, one of their employees didn't properly put it together and they made sure I didn't have to pay a dime for this incident. It's honestly nice to know that Bob's has my back, will take responsibility for any issues that comes up (if it is their fault), and have great employees! Definitely recommend this place. read more

Leo is really on it and totally prepared and professional. very easy and pleasant to deal with these people and they really seem to be intent on being professional and service-oriented. It's very refreshing these days. read more

Sean the owner is great and was very clear on what the work done will be, including getting your permission before proceeding if needed. Was in n out within 6 hrs for my 2019 Volvo xc60. Now it drives with a kick in the power too awesome! read more

Excellent mechanics who will give a thorough and fair assessment. I went to them for a second opinion and they save d me thousands of dollars. Please stop going to the dealer for your service needs and head over to Berkeley Bobs! read more

My partner brought his Corolla to Berkeley Bob's twice for a maintenance light - both times the service has been very good. Last time he made an appointment in the same week, and on the day of the car service was done in 2.5 hours! They are so organized and prompt. read more

This place is plain great in every area! They provide me & my Audi S3 with excellent thorough service, clear explanations of work performed & needed and are always extremely courteous and friendly. I am so grateful for the service they have given me over the last couple of years. read more

My license plate fell off my car and they were so kind and fixed it for free! So so kind!

Overpriced! Charged me $275 to change the oil on my car and give it a Quick Look over after I returned from travel. No wonder there was no one else getting their car worked on. read more

Leo at the front desk is always so helpful and knowledgeable. We've always had a great experience with Berkeley Bobs.

A few months ago, we purchased a XC and drove it across the country. It had a host of recent maintenance done including transmission, steering rack, tires, and alternator. Once we arrived in California, I DIY'ed some new minor maintenance item, as I am well versed in working on my own vehicles. We had three older German cars in the household in addition to the Volvo at the time. I ran out of weekends before we were due to take the car on a long camping trip, so I brought the car to BB's to have an oil leak properly identified and fixed. The car was starting to leak from the area pretty badly and making a mess in our garage. I was fairly sure it was coming from the turbo oil drain and suggested as such. Took the morning off to bring the car over from San Francisco and the person at the desk was friendly, but seemed somewhat distracted and ultimately uninterested in my previous diagnostic work. Fine, I'm sure he has a few customers that are a pain, but I was willing to plunk down $700-$900 to get this $10 o ring replaced (its 2 hours of work because of its location on the rear of the oil pain, but probably books 4 hours or so). I also mentioned that I'd like to have the air conditioning charged. Received a call later that afternoon from the shop, telling me that they were unwilling to do the work on my vehicle, and that I should reconsider keeping the car because of its age and mileage. The person on the phone was not the person who looked at the car and insisted that I had oil leaks from the recently replaced crank seal/timing cover area and that they would not fix the drain O ring I requested, as they did not want to put their name/work/trust in the vehicle. I asked if they could charge the A/C and just bill me for their time so far, and they declined to perform this as well, asking me to "just come get the car the next morning". Frustrating, yet I remained calm and did not push back on this. I came to pick up the car the next morning after taking off work once again, and the tech, who stated I needed to trust him because he writes for a Volvo Magazine, had my car in the air. I pointed at the oil leak area offering the hypothesis that the leak was spraying onto the right axle and flinging around, but he did not seem interested. Again, I just asked if they could replace this o ring and I'd be happy to pay for their time. He declined. He said I could have the car cleaned underneath, take pictures, and bring it back at a later time. The tech/manager went on further and suggested that perhaps I should bring the car back to who I purchased it from and that it may not be worth fixing. Honest? Maybe, but this was not an option, I took my Volvo to a Volvo specialist to be fixed. I thought these guys could help. I bought the turbo oil drain tube O ring kit from IPD that evening for less than $20, called in sick a day and fixed it in my garage in 3 hours. Power washed the engine in a car wash. This was my only oil leak. TLDR: Brought my 03 XC into them to have a specific part replaced. They ignored my request, wasted my time, and declined to work on my vehicle. Why state a specialization in old Volvos, then turn the work away? I can no longer recommend them. read more

Leo at the front desk was very helpful. He went through all the issues with my car in detail and was able to help me out with what repairs I needed. The pricing at Berkeley Bobs is reasonable and I'm very pleased with their service. read more

Sean and the team at Berkeley Bobs take amazing care of my car, every time! From full service oil changes to mystery mechanical issues, they can get to the bottom of whatever is happening with my car and return it to me in excellent condition. Waiting room also has wifi should you want to get some work done while you wait on your car. So helpful! read more

Just had an excellent experience here at Berkeley Bob's :) it all started on Monday morning when, the dogs already loaded up, I tried to turn on our 2007 Prius and it showed the red triangle and exclamation point of doom Andy was polite and helpful on the phone, so I drove with the dogs a mile and a half down the road to the shop. They did a free computer diagnostic, and unfortunately it was the worst case scenario: replace hybrid battery. But this is common once the battery is more than 10 years old, and there was nothing to do about it. They quoted a fair price, and said they would have the full estimate that afternoon, so I left the car there and walked the dogs home. (They also liked the dogs a lot FWIW haha) What happened next is what really impressed me. They called two hours later and informed me that the out the door price would be about $500 LESS than they had originally quoted! Toyota had apparently lowered the cost of the part in the new year, so they were just passing the savings directly on to me (while a less reputable shop could have just pocketed the difference and no one would be the wiser). They performed the repair quickly, and even stayed open a few minutes late on Tuesday so that I could get there in time to pick it up. I could not be more pleased with my experience! read more

Berkeley Bobs - The old hybrid battery they removed, ready to send back to Toyota. - Auto Repair Near Me - Berkeley, California

The underneath of my car bumper was broken off and one of the mechanics here at Bob's put it back on for me without charge. They definitely gained a new future customer. I am so appreciative and grateful for their hospitality and generosity thank you Berkeley Bobs. Y'all the best. read more

Great place to get your car serviced ! Definitely coming back.. see ya soon for my check up

Berekely Bob's provided excellent care throughout the whole process of getting a car inspected prior to purchasing. Reputable, efficient, and... kind! read more

Very friendly and helpful. They did a routine service aid air filter change on my Lexus RX 450h. They did great work. It seemed a tad pricey, but I am not used to prices in the Bay Area coming from Arizona! read more

Shelby at the front desk is awesome, so friendly and a great liaison between you and the rest of the team. My husband and I get our Subarus serviced here - never had an issue and always reasonable pricing and strong service. Highly recommend. read more

We've been taking our Audi to Berkeley bobs for a couple of years now and I'm very grateful for them- they are a solid shop, Shelby the office manager is friendly and is honest with you about what repairs need immediate attention and what can wait, I've never felt pressured or shamed by them for not being able to afford all the recommendations. They are the kind of trustworthy, reliable neighborhood mechanic that you always hope to find- and I drive far out of my neighborhood to use them! Their prices are also very competitive for the level of service and quick turn around. read more

I love Berkeley Bob's and never leave feeling like I've been taken through the ringer - they are always super transparent about what my car needs immediately and what it will need. And the owner loves corgis (added bonus!) read more

Sean and crew and are the best. There's nothing like leaving you're mechanic's shop and thinking "damn that was money well spent!". Honest, skilled, reasonably priced and a super clean shop. Can't ask for more. Thanks Berkeley Bob's read more

Update: I ended up replacing the alternator myself. It took a total of two hours and my car is running perfectly, so Shelly: it is in fact quite a straightforward job that doesn't take much information to do right and quickly. For future reference maybe talk to potential customers with a little more respect. I called asking for a quote to get my alternator replaced and the woman on the phone, Shelly I believe, was so incredibly rude and dismissive it seemed like she was use to 5 year olds calling asking about cars. She refused to tell me what the hourly rate of labor is, claiming they don't have one. I've never met a mechanic who doesn't pay their technicians by the hour so if this is incorrect my mind is blown. My vehicle is in mint condition. I'm the second owner and it has been very well taken care of. I wanted to know the amount of time it would take and how much it would cost because I know from experience shops double the cost of parts to make a profit on customers. She claimed she couldn't tell me a number without the vin, but when I offered to give it to her she refused. I cannot understand why someone would be so rude to a potential customer, or treat someone like they don't know anything about vehicles right off the bat. Based on this call I will never come here. I hope that woman learns some manners. A co owner commented on this, claiming that a woman treating me like a moron was her way of "enlightening me" on my car and varying prices. I'm a consumer: I am very aware of prices changing based on the cost of the part. I could use some enlightening on why she claimed there is not an hourly rate for labor in their shop, or at least a set rate for labor for a specific job. I also am very aware of the process of replacing the alternator, which judging from Shelby's rant about things breaking and costing more, I figure she's never done it herself. There are no excuses for rude customer service. There is no excuse for her not giving me a ballpark estimate and simply stating it could vary x amount in either direction, or quote higher and then the customer is pleasantly surprised when it cost less? read more

Great, knowledgeable, and fast service! I was about to purchase a used car and had Berkeley Bobs check it out first and they warned me it was a lemon. Then had a bulb change and they did it promptly and fast. Overall would recommend again, especially for VWs read more

STEEP prices but good service.... I am a new customer to Berkeley Bob's, and brought my Subaru in for its 90k mile maintenance. When I dropped the car off, I was quoted a 5k mile maintenance at ~$300 total as a placeholder while they performed an inspection to see which of the 90k mile work was needed, as well as to check the clutch at my request. A couple hours later, I was quoted $870 total for the full 90k mile service, which included an oil change, air filter changes, brake fluid changes, and gear oil (but not manual transmission fluid) change. I was also quoted a clutch replacement at an additional ~$1800 total, which I turned down. I said yes to the 90k mile service over the phone without seeing the breakdown, but then called ONE hour later to question why the total was so high, at which point they said the work was almost complete and it was too late to back out. The work was completed and I picked the car up a couple hours later. All in all, it was no more 3 hours between accepting the final quote and picking up the car, and, by their own indication, only around one hour of labor was required. HOWEVER, when I finally saw the line item receipt, I was billed $530 for the labor. Again, the approximately 1 HOUR of labor. This is the quote I accepted, so to a large extent that's on me - Shelby at the desk was extremely responsive and courteous, and the work was done quickly. But, that seems like a ridiculous rate for labor, especially after the very first quote was less than half that. read more

I just had new tires, alignment, and balancing done and the process was seamless from start to finish! Shelbie, the Office Manager called me with an estimate, took the appointment for the next day, was on time and very pleasant. Great service, locally owned small business and did a great job. read more

Berkeley Bob's is an exceptional service for auto repairs. It is very clean and spacious--you don't have to worry about your car being crammed in there. They did an exceptional job on repairs of a used car I had purchased. Their prices are reasonable and they use quality parts. They kindly repaired a window for free that had come out of place after all the other repairs were done and paid for. I am so glad to have had their excellent service and will be back. read more

They were super helpful, put on my engine cover for free when the dealership wanted to charge over $100 for labor. Really friendly staff.

An update...7 months after this review, car is still running perfect with $30.00 part I installed. Nothing was complementary as there was a fee to look at the car "because the car was towed there ". On my way out, they tried to tell me how nice the car would look if I had it detailed... Really... I just wanted it fixed. Berkeley is full of Volvo's. Stay away from Berkeley Bobs read more