If I can give zero I would! BE AWARE OF THIS SHOP! I took my 1998 Toyota Camry to California Auto Center in Millbrae for an oil change on March 17, 2026. Shortly after the service, my car began leaking oil significantly. Within days, the engine started producing smoke. I had the vehicle inspected by another mechanic, who found that an INCORRECT oil filter had been installed. This improper installation led to oil loss and further engine damage. Prior to this service, I did not have any visible oil leaks (no oil on the ground, no smoke). When I contacted the shop, they denied responsibility and only referred to a "pre-existing leak," without addressing the incorrect oil filter installation at all. They also stopped responding after I provided this information. I have since filed a complaint with the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) and am providing documentation and evidence. I recommend being very cautious when considering this shop. THEY ALSO mixed up my service records with a completely different vehicle I owned in the past, which raised concerns about their accuracy! read more

California Auto Center - Evidence about their sloppy work - Auto Repair Near Me - Millbrae, California

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I called them around 10am on Fri Jan 2 for a wheel alignment. They were super busy, as I was told, but could squeeze me in at noon. I had called over a dozen tire places for a wheel alignment and all were too busy to take me. I showed up exactly at noon, had lunch across the street, and got a text that my car was done at 12:45pm. They have a spacious and clean waiting room and what looks to be a well kept garage area. I was completely happy with the fast turn-around and being squeezed in last minute. I also asked if they had time for an oil change, but they weren't able to accomodate me today. Bummer. read more

New Update: April 12, 2025 While washing my car I notice that the little hub caps that has the Toyota logo on it was scratched. This is a poor quality control. It doesn't it take that much precaution to try not to scratch them. I know that they were scratched because I had to buy the separately from the car. read more

California Auto Center - Red arrow is where the defect is. - Auto Repair Near Me - Millbrae, California

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Great place, they told in details everything going on so i am informed which alot of places don't do. They did an excellent job. The workers are great here. I suggest definitely calling ahead because they do get busy. The prices are excellent too. read more

Paul was great. He lift my car up then pointed the issues on the car. Paul asked good questions about the car; I am a YouTube, diy guy. I told him what I did to the car and what I want to do to the car. We both agreed what needs to be done for the car. I got my car back within two days. Everything was quick and painless because of Paul's communication and honesty. I will come back here because of Paul's direct and honest business approach. read more

GROUPON USERS BE AWARE!! The 4 -5 stars are deceiving. Scrolled further down to see real victim's horrible experience. There's commonality to Po the owner treats GROUPON users very rude, disrespectful!! Unbelievable! After work was done, tells you your car has a problem and need fixing. Had deal on oil change voucher from Groupon. After work was done about to pay, tells you you have an oil leak!!!! Most mechanics tells you problem beforehand. Also, my garage floor had no oil on the floor not did my dashboard of my car had indicator my oil is low! ZERO WARNING! Groupon is their form of advertisement! I agree with all YELP bad reviews are from GROUPON USERS! Owner Po was rude from get go as soon as he knew we were using GROUPON VOUCHER. read more

Been coming here for years for great oil change deal through Groupon -- and they happen to be a terrific business. The nicest people up front, they get the job done in a timely manner, and at a truly excellent price. read more

As far as Tire Shops go in the area this is your best bet. I had a slow leak and visited two highly rated tire shops before this... 1. Hanlon's Tire Service = Not Acknowledged when I entered lobby, left after 5 minutes 2. America's Tire = 4.5 Hour Wait Time So it was very refreshing to come to California Auto Center right up the block and get serviced right away. As soon as I entered the lobby I was greeted and the gentleman looked at my vehicle. Within 5 minutes they found the problem. It was fixed 5 minutes later, as small puncture, $35. I would highly recommend this shop if you are looking for a quick and cheap place to fix a flat in the San Bruno area. read more

Will definitely return, honest up front pricing & customer service. Always smooth transaction process and or wait time.

I scheduled a synthetic oil change ahead of time via phone and came here for my appointment. You park your car inside which is convenient because it is difficult to find street parking close by here. The people here have great communication and will make sure everything is good to go. The oil change itself was about 35 to 40 min, which was quick! The other thing I like is they do a multipoint inspection and check if everything else like tires and brakes are alright. They told me my engine and cabin filters need to be changed and the front right strut was leaking, but didn't pressure me to fix anything at all, which is a rarity. I love that! I will definitely be coming back here again for my car service needs. read more

Groupon users beware. They will upcharge you, nickel and dime on everything. Net, it was cheaper if I took my car to the dealership for an oil change, plus I would get a free carwash. Never going back. I also Blame Groupon for not vetting out this business. read more

AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!! I had an incredibly disappointing experience at California Auto Center in Millbrae. I purchased their alignment and oil change special through Groupon, and called ahead to confirm that my truck on which I had installed new suspension components would be fully aligned to factory specs. They gave no mention of extra fees or issues. What fine print said that it was valid from the 5 quarts in my vehicle only takes 4.5 so he only added more fees out of spite. When I arrived after driving from San Jose, I was met with aggressive and condescending treatment. The owner insisted I'd need special parts, and refused to do the alignment properly, despite my explanation and the adjustability of the parts. He became more hostile, adding surprise $100 fees for both services, which contradicted the terms I had confirmed and read. Ultimately, they refused to perform the services, reversed my truck out, and I left. This shop treated me with disrespect and deception. I am reporting them to the Bureau of Automotive Repair. Avoid this place at all costs they are dishonest and unprofessional. read more

I take my car here for multiple things, they are honest and thorough. Always point out other things they check- no pressure to get anything you don't want done and reasonably priced. Highly recommend read more

First time bring our tesla here. Tesla quoted us 1k for a part that had nothing to do with our problem/sound. Powai the owner took a look. It was just brake clips that were loose and replaced all of it for $300. Never going back to tesla unless needed. Honest shop definitely no need to worry about them trying to trick you. Last visit our van needed to fix the auto door and dealership wanted to alot to inspect and fix and PO Just spliced the wires and saved me alot again. Over and again they have been amazing Will always bring my cars as 1st choice here! read more

Amazing experience with this auto shop. Got a flat tire and back on road in 15 min. Friendly service with great value!

I came here to get a battery replaced and was sold a re-built battery without it being disclosed. I found out a year and a month later when the battery failed and had a tow truck come out to jumpstart. The battery was dead and I had to get a new one. This battery barely lasted over a year. You had to remove the battery to see the label saying it is rebuilt. I trusted Po and this auto shop for years with various cars and am incredibly disappointed to have been duped. There was another incident before this that triggered my suspicions but I gave them the benefit of the doubt. I obviously should have followed my gut feeling... Will be taking steps to see what can be done as the final bill was expensive. I will be warning ppl away from this shop from now on. read more

Bad experience!! Came there because I got a Groupon deal for wheels alignment. They wanted to charge me 40% more than what I signed up for - said it was because my car is an "SUV", and I should have called ahead. But I did call the day before to make the appointment, and nobody mentioned any additional charges. When I insisted they honor the deal, they told me to leave! read more

Found them through Groupon--total scam. $50 in extra "fees" that resulted in them being significantly more than Jiffy Lube. If this is your only choice, cool. But, I prefer to deal with people who are honest and upfront. read more

The auto repair business is a tough business. I've too have gotten an oil change special and was surprised to pay additional cost. Service was great, needed repairs was noted. I would recommend this auto shop for oil changes and every day repairs. It's best to advised the car owner upfront before service is done if any additional cost to minimize shock and anger. Not everyone reads the fine writing. read more

Got an appointment on the same day for an oil change. Oil change took 45 minutes. They did a free inspection of the car and found some things that need looking into or fixing. No pressure to have it done by them. Friendly people. Will go back for more car service in the future . read more

Provided excellent service for two cars, one electric and one ICE. Paul offered clear, honest information. Satisfied customer

I got an oil change here and the oil is still dirty. I'm assuming they didn't replace the oil filter or maybe even the oil. The oil is not clear and still has grit in it (dirty). To every person I saw them talking to, they were trying to tell them something expensive was needed on their car, and they all drove away, including me. read more

They did a great job with my car. Had my alignment and wheels balanced for my 1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo done there. Yes, I said it, 1991. Im very particular with who touches my cars. I would recommend them. I had my ASE certified master tech double check their work, and it was good. The manager Po can be a bit intimidating but he knows his stuff and has been dealing with car for a long time. Highly recommended place to visit. read more

Great experience. Detailed report for a simple oil change. Overall I would go back and they were honest about work needing to be done.

I've been here several times now for oil changes and cabin + air filter cleans; and I've loved their speed in terms of service! The value is also excellent because I use a Groupon for the oil changes. read more

Found this shop through Groupon when I bought two synthetic oil changes for $88 which is quite the deal. After changing my oil, they told me that my engine had a leak. They diagnosed and fixed it for less than $400. They told me to bring my car back another day to replace my rear shocks which were leaking. Came back today for an oil change and to replace rear shocks. They told me that my car also needed a transmission flush and tire rotation. Which I agreed to. Then they said that I also needed to replace something on my front wheels. Which I also agreed to. I was happy to pay $1200 for all this work done, especially on the Peninsula. Their prices are reasonable and the staff is polite and honest. I had been going to the same mechanic for 7 years before this shop. Although I won't be living in the Bay Area much longer, they are my new mechanic. read more

Purchased 2 oil changes for $98. Ended up paying $140 after the first oil change. They said it was due to fees and extra oil. Just came back for the second and had to pay another $50. What a load of crap! So I ended up paying double the initial advertised amount? False advertisement and shady business practices. I highly recommend NOT coming here, as I will not return to this place again. I'm almost inclined to go back to tell them again how shitty this is. Reply: let me recap this, I'm frustrated that it was advertised for $98 and I ended up paying $198, and your response to that is essentially "too bad, you didn't read the fine print". Got it, I understand. read more

I had a great experience getting my wheel alignment done here. The younger team at the storefront is clearly learning but remains very professional, courteous, and eager to help. The owner, who manages the rest of the business, is extremely knowledgeable and ensures everything runs smoothly. Plus, I got a pretty good deal on the service. It's a perfect mix of experience and fresh energy. Highly recommend! read more

I finally came for my second conventional oil change that I used my Groupon for. When I purchased it, it was awhile back but I had moved so didn't have a chance to use it before. I was very glad it was still valid to use. FYI, there is a $20 minimum to use credit cards. I called in and was able to get an appointment fairly quickly within the week. I drove right in, went to the front desk and the mechanic took the car in for the change as the male owner got the paperwork started. The owner just said to wait a bit while the oil gets changed. I had to ask to see how long it would take since he did not mention the time frame. He said it would take approximately 45 minutes to get done. When I changed my oil last time around, the woman working was so friendly and she even called me for when things may or may not need to be replaced/when the car was ready for pick up. This time around, they didn't offer that similar service and I just ended up coming back within the 45 minute time frame. read more

UPDATE: So owner responded that I was told before I brought it in about $10 SUV fee and that I was charged a $7 environmental fee? Really??? Nope. I was told it was going to be extra ($10 or so) for the extra quart of oil for my engine -- no problem. They knew it was a minivan due to the extra oil, but did NOT tell me about "suv" fee. And I have now attached actual receipt -- which shows $7 for a... wait for it... OIL FILTER (which apparently is NOT included in an oil AND FILTER price). ORIGINAL: Going to have to agree with some of the other recent reviews here (and on google reviews)... I went in for their $48.88 full synthetic oil change that they have on their website -- I called in advance and was told it would be an extra $10 or so (turned out to be 12.99) due to my minivan engine size. However, when I arrived at my appointment, they charged ANOTHER extra $10 "suv" fee and ANOTHER extra $7 filter fee (umm, you do see it says "oil and filter" on the coupon, right???). So my $60 (49 + 10-ish) turned into a $85.93 oil change with tax. And as with other reviews, I was also told that I have a leaking timing chain cover, which is highly unlikely. I'm getting that checked under warranty (and will update)... but I'll go elsewhere next time, even if more expensive, thanks. read more

California Auto Center - Auto Repair Near Me - Millbrae, California

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I was initially greeted openly by a extremely welcoming and knowledgeable kid. I ordered tires online and they were sent to California Auto Center and the price of installation was 50$. Once the tires were installed I found out the tires didn't fit and Pon (I believe that was his name) help me resolved the issue. I was able to drive my car out and im extremely greatful. Even though I was stuck, he didn't gouge me and got it done in a timely manner. I will go back with any tire issues read more

I write reviews when the service is either absolutely terrible, or absolutely terrific. Po and John went the extra mile to safely get my vehicle back on the road after being sold some absolutely awful brake pads and rotors from Orielly Auto Parts. I was so angry at 1st when these two guys showed me just how bad the other brake parts were. Thank goodness they helped or I could've ended up with warped brakes requiring an all new brake system. Very honest guys! Don't buy this Oreilly brand of brakes in this photo!!!! Very bad quality!!!!! read more

California Auto Center - Auto Repair Near Me - Millbrae, California

Went in for tire alignment service on appointment because of uneven wear on on tires. When I went in, they proactively mentioned that one of the tire treads were badly worn. They recommended I replace the two tires, then proceed with the alignment because I'd have to do the alignment anyway after getting new tires. I knew all this going in but I really appreciated that they mentioned that. read more

Thank you so much for taking my car in today and checking it out so thoroughly and verifying with myself and my brother about what we should have done on the car versus what is needed or what can wait. We really appreciate you working with me and how fast and courteous you guys were 10 out of 10. read more

Alex was super helpful in my car repair. Their services and skills are amazing! Highly recommend this place!

Imagine how you feel when your transmission suddenly goes out on a car that you like and depend on. Sell it ? Fix it? It's a dilemma. Let me call around and see how much for a replacement transmission would cost. But when I thought of the next challenge, I suddenly became apprehensive. I have to find a skilled, honest, reasonably priced place to do this. So I called around to a few places I knew. and fortunately this included California Auto Center. I had taken my car there several times previously for smaller service and wheel alignments and was always treated very well and satisfied with their degree of skill and customer service. When I communicated with Mr Po, the manager, he explained straight up what this would involve. He seemed confident and prepared to do it right. He called me back with a transmission that seemed the right one. The story is that Mr Po had selected the best transmission he could find and for a fair price, and with a skilled staff, gave me a transmission that was better than the original. In my mind , I thank him and his staff almost every day, as I drive my car and enjoy the perfect feeling of driving after this, among the most difficult of repairs, that often fails, but done professionally, skillfully, and for a fair price. I highly recommend Mr Po and the skilled staff at California. Auto Center. At all points in the transaction, I was treated with straight up honesty, informed about what this repair entailed, and how much it would cost. And there were no changes throughout the process. So, honest, skillful, diligent, with great customer service. Can't ask for anything more from a car repair shop. Thanks Mr Po and California Auto Center read more

Services I got : tire balance rotation and alignment Price: accurate from estimate quote They were able to attend to my car right at my appointment time. Super nice technicians and the lady who helped me during payment was so detailed explaining me what's wrong with my rim. Thank you all for an overall great experience Tip: no waiting area due to covid so plan to wait elsewhere. They also close at 5pm read more

I needed a tire alignment and an oil change called California Auto Center and they were able to see me within a day. The wait time was less than a two hours for both services. They also recommended that I change my air and cabin filter at that time but they gave me the option to do it on my own if I wanted to. I would highly recommend them to anybody looking for inexpensive auto service. read more

Sometimes it's hard to find an auto body place you can trust. Ive been coming to California Auto Body for a couple years. The service has been impeccable and the pricing is affordable. They always lay out what the costs will be and let me know when something is wrong with my Prius. They not only tell me but they show me. Very professional, courteous and efficient. Happy with the service I have received and highly recommend them. Thank you California Auto Body. read more

I always get my oil change from them at a decent price. I use Groupon to get the deals and that's how I found them.