I seriously cannot recommend this place enough. I went to THREE other shops that quoted me anywhere from $3,300 to over $6,000 to replace my catalytic converter to be able to pass smog test bc my check engine light wouldn't turn off in my 2007 Toyota Prius. In total for a (slightly used but legal and legit) catalytic converter, installation, and smog test it was only $1924.22! David (I think it may have been Dani... either way, everyone I interacted with was incredible) took the time to answer all of my questions without ever making me feel pressured. Even after giving me the initial quote, I was able to text with follow-up questions, and they were always patient, honest, and responsive. The service itself was unbelievable. They picked up my car while I was at work (I gave them the location to where I parked and left the keys in the tire), replaced my catalytic converter, cleared the check engine code, completed the smog test, and even picked me up after work when everything was finished all in the same day! What really blew me away was that they even fixed my A/C at no extra charge. He just texted saying "I have a surprise for you" lol. It was really so sweet. I know nothing abt cars so I was always worried that other places were gunna scam me in some way and throughout the entire process, they were just so wonderful in helping my nerves and never tried to upsell me or take advantage of me. They were transparent, professional, and genuinely cared about getting me back on the road. If you own a Prius or any hybrid, do yourself a favor and come here first. I will be bringing all of my future business here, and I'll be recommending them to all of my friends and family. 10/10 service. Honest pricing, outstanding communication, and some of the best customer service I've experienced. Thank you so much! read more

This is absolutely the best place I have ever been to. The customer service and care, communication and time that they put to ensuring that my car was fixed above standard goes unparalleled to any other place I have ever been. The owner himself took the time to ensure that I understood everything step of the process and that it remained affordable. They care not only about the business but for the people and I can't see myself going anywhere else while I live in San Diego. This place has my highest recommendation across the board. I'm forever thankful and grateful to the team for the amazing job they did getting me and my family back on the road! read more

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I found certified car care because they work on all the diesel trucks at my work. I have a 2012 Mercedes Benz e350 bluetec diesel sedan. A good Mercedes mechanic can be difficult to find and Mercedes diesel mechanics are even hard to find. Danny got my DPF - diesel particulate filter covered by the dealership due to failure and again a month later when all the DPF sensors went out. He also complete the motor mounts and two oil leaks I had in the same visit. I returned to him for a roof leak and his crew was able to get to cleaned out with no additional charge. I highly recommend this mechanic shop. read more

Certified Car Care - Car - Auto Repair Near Me - San Diego, California

They have limited fixing experience and skills!!! My vehicle had problems in cooling system and this repair shop cannot fix it by running back forward two times! The first time they said its radiator issue and after my car only ran normal for 5 days, they charged for 8005! Second time they said there is a plastic tube cracking, okay I paid again 330$ fixing it, but after my car still shows the same problem on cooling system after 5 days! This is annoying because these issues are all related to the cooling system, why cannot they just fixed at one time. They started to complain this is not their problem but I have to blame my car is old???!! My car is 66,000 miles, how can it be too old to be repaired? Now I towed my car to certified chvey 45 shop and they finally get it work! If I could give zero star to this repair shop I will. DO NOT go to this shop for fixing your loving car!!!! PS: this shop threatens to cancel the zero start comment in the yelp. but I will keep it here! Don't go this place. read more

Certified Car Care - Auto Repair Near Me - San Diego, California

My car was side swiped. Left scratches and paint was removed. Certified car care customer service was over the top! Not only did they repair the scratches and restored the paint to a better condition than it was before the accident, they also removed a small dent and my car looks amazing. They were on point with their estimated time of repair, returning my car earlier than the promised date. I have found this new gem! They literally do every type of repair or service request. My new mechanic shop!!! Thanks again for the great customer service! read more

Dani truly saved the day for me. My car wouldn't start, and I was stressed, but he turned a nightmare situation into a dream transaction. He kept everything professional, handled all the work, and made the entire process smooth and worry-free. The pricing was fair, and the service was exceptional. Dani's expertise and dedication left me beyond impressed. I highly recommend the Certified Car Shop, especially if Dani is the one helping you out. Thank you for making what could have been a bad day a great one! read more

Literally God-sent!!! These guys legit saved my car and my sanity. I recently bought another 3rd generation Prius which all of a sudden began to have this VERY unsettling engine shudder as the battery got low. So naturally looked the problem up online which led me to the Prius Forums, where i quickly realized that many others tended to have this issue as their car approached 200k miles. None of them seemed to particularly have a concrete solution to whatever the problem appeared to be. I had originally made an appoint with a Toyota Dealership for no other reason than the car has only been religiously services there. But something told me to look for a "Prius Specialist." Enter: Certified Car Care! The owner, David, was so kind over the phone and disclosed that, indeed, they did specialize in Priuses! That brought me immediate relief because while yes Toyota built the car, that doesn't always mean they'll be the more cost-effective option for repair. Taking it to an independent shop seemed to sit better with me because of the sense of personal accountability that tends to come with their professional reputation being on the line, being that they're unable to hide behind the name of a multi-billion dollar company. Also considering the amount of the contextual unknown in the equation, I figured that they'll be able to figure it out, likely having seen something like this before. Being that I had to have my Prius towed over there in the dead of the night as it was no longer turning on and making this unnerving squealing sound, their key drop made that a breeze and saved me from the headache of often having to drop it off within the small window of normal business hours! David kept me in the loop the entire time, letting me know what was going on and giving me options and appropriate estimates! The mechanic, Danny, proved undaunted by the complexities of the error codes which in my opinion didn't really diagnose much at all. He always assured me that they'll figure it out and let me know what it is... Figure it out they DID! I'll spare you the handful of things which they took care of, and suggest that if you have a Prius to just have them take a look at it! When the receptionist, Jessica who is such a sweetheart, gave me the call letting me know my car was FIXED and ready to be picked up I was so stoked! My car literally feels brand new and I've had it back for about a week now! So thank you guys for bringing my baby back to life!!! The hospitality you guys showed me will have me returning whenever I next need a tune-up. My dog and I thank you! read more

Certified Car Care - Auto Repair Near Me - San Diego, California

Dani is the best repair man I've ever had the pleasure to help me. He not only repaired my camaro's transmission, he worked with me to ensure I could stay within budget while still getting what I needed to get my car back running properly. He did everything to make sure it was restored to the beast it was before. I watched him with other customers and he treated them just the same. He's a stand-up individual. Make sure you speak with him if you're seeking a great and experienced technician. read more

Took my car in to get a alignment.. had me done in less then 30 min great experience friendly staff Thank you CCC read more

Certified Car Care - Took my car in today for alignment had my car done in less then 30 min super happy about my experience with this shop - Auto Repair Near Me - San Diego, California

Amazing customer service. Dani thoroughly checked every aspect of my car and went through every potential issue I could have. He addressed all of my potential concerns as well as issues with my car that I did not know about. Very efficient as well. Highly recommend and will definitely be coming back!! They seem to be able to do anything. Thanks so much! read more

These guys doesn't value customer's time. I went here to have my wheel alignment but they were too busy that day so they told me to setup my 8am appointment for the next day. So I agreed to have the next day 8AM appointment. Next day came, woke up early to be on time, I got there 7:40AM. Nobody is there yet, by 8:10AM one lady came but she got no keys, she called somebody and she said they will arrive in a bit. We got inside around 8:30AM. But the time we got inside I thought they will start my car right away but they said there is another car in the alignment spot and it will take another 30-40 mins to get it out of the way. I was in a hurry because I have other appointment to go so I decided to leave. On my way home, the somebody called me saying they are sorry and they will do car service for me for FREE but I said NO because I'd rather go to other auto repair shops that would value my time. So guys beware if you are making appointment with this repair shop. I don't think Customer's time is their priority. read more

Was referred to this business due to my tire company making rookie mistake of not using fingers to screw on nuts a few threads then using power driver. The tire company was charged the replacement fee for new bolt and technician time. At first I was quoted 4 hrs wait to repair a 1 hr job. Maybe they had previous clients and I needed to queue up for my job. Since I was a new client they took me in right away and completed within an hour. So far no problems with their workmanship. Bolt and nut was replaced quickly and no other issues showed up. David mentioned that first time customers can get discounts for large maintenance services like 30k, 60k miles. read more

Dave and his team are consummate professionals. They left a great first impression, as when they took a look at my girlfriend's car when she was having trouble with her starter, they didn't charge her a dime to diagnose the problem and give it a quick fix despite taking up some of their valuable time. I usually have my car serviced at a dealership, but I decided to give them my business because they do things right. Upon having some car trouble this weekend, Dave took my call despite it being a holiday the following day and assured me that they could take care of my issue first thing after the holiday. They diagnosed the problem within minutes of my arrival and gave me a great quote. It's easy to feel like you're just a "number" at a dealership, but you'll get personalized, efficient service at Certified Car Care. Even my tow truck driver vouched for their great service and said he would have recommended them in the area over everyone else. Support your local small businesses! read more

Since I know Dani the owner of the shop, I took my truck to his shop to have it fix. He started fixing my truck and told me that a lot of parts need to be replaced, so it's not going to cause me problems in future. He bought all the parts to fix the truck and didn't provide me with any dealer's receipt. I asked him about the dealer's receipt and he said "I'm going to provide you with my own receipt that shows the cost of each part". He charged me $5871 for the parts plus $1892 for his labor fix. I went to the dealership place that sells the parts and asked about the cost of each part. I found out that Dani charged me exact money on each part and the charges were between $400-$500 extra on some of them. The extra charges were about $3000 on all the parts. I don't recommend this repair shop. I still have the check engine light on and when I took my truck back to Dani, he asked me for $4000 to have it fix. Below are the copy of two receipts. One of them is Dani's receipt that shows (the extra cost and charges for each part) and the second one is from dealership that shows (the real price for each part). read more

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Operated by brothers Tom and Jim, who run the front desk and occasionally do work in the garage too, Certified Automotive is a small auto shop tucked away just off of Miramar Road. Since their business is relatively out of sight from the busy streets, they rely primarily on referrals. Our hero heard about them through Discount Tire (just a block west on Miramar), where they were recommended for wheel alignments. When contacted, they initially quoted a price of about $84 before discounts for an alignment. It was on the high side for computerized four wheel alignments, even after the 10% referral discount. After our hero wanted to shop around a bit, Jim lowered it down to $60, which was a more reasonable quote relative to other alignment shops. Yowzers! A 29% discount! While waiting around for his friend to pick him up, our hero had a nice chat with Jim. He's a man who takes pride in his work and has seen the challenges of owning a small business throughout the 8 years he's been a co-owner of Certified Auto. Jim is proud of the quality of the work he does and would rather break even on a small job to get a repeat customer or a good referral rather than have his staff twiddle their thumbs on a slow day and lose out on a client. When they finished, Jim gave our hero a nice computer printout showing what the factory recommended camber, caster, and toe angle ranges were for his wheels and which adjustments were made. This way, you can look at the red numbers on the page and say "wow, my wheels were that messed up?" They also weren't too shabby about diagnosing another unrelated automotive annoyance our hero mentioned and provided a reasonable quote for treatment as well. PROS: - Nice waiting room with a TV to keep you entertained. - Fairly flexible prices. CONS: - They offer pick up and drop off service, but are a bit hesitant to do so. read more

I have been looking for a reliable local shop to take care of my muscle car for years and believe I've found one at Certified Car Care. I had issues with my carburetor for quite some time and was looking to add more horsepower to my 327. Unfortunately, one day my car just wouldn't start and I needed a place to fix her but couldn't take it just any place as most shops don't work on older muscle cars. As luck would have it, I found Certified Car Care and brought her in. To my excitement, there were several muscle cars in the shop they were restoring at the time so I knew I was off to a good start. Dave and his team quickly assessed the issues I was having with my car and provided options to add more power. The starting issue was a relatively easy fix but I ended up getting quite a bit of work done to add horsepower (new camshaft, lifters, etc.) and couldn't be happier with the results and the workmanship. The engine looks and runs great! I'll try and add a picture to this review or to their Yelp page. read more

Certified Car Care - End result of engine upgrades: rebuilt carb, new manifold, camshaft, lifters, valve covers, air filter, etc. - Auto Repair Near Me - San Diego, California

Please by the mom and pop that I just drove over to. A friend told me about their services, I was excited they could fit me in. Office is a little cluttered, but the owner knows his stuff and brought the price down. I am a College student and prices are not always affordable. Thanks Certified and crew for the oil change, and break job! read more

Danny. Took care of me I was on vacation car broke down before heading back home I towed my car he told me what was wrong ordered the parts and started right away fast and great service my car works fantastic I haven't had any issues since he fixed all the necessary parts if you are looking for quality service great customer service this is your place read more

I moved to San Diego 2 years ago and had the hardest time finding a reliable mechanic that wouldn't rip me off since I know nothing about cars. The employees and owner at Certified Car Care are trustworthy, transparent, affordable and wonderful to work with. They informed me of everything that was absolutely necessary that I needed to get done to my car since I'm on a tight budget. My experience has been impeccable and I will be a long time customer as long as I'm in the San Diego area. read more

I had to replace the defective actuator in my sedan; Dave took care of it on one of the hottest/most humid days of the year, for less money than it would have cost at the dealer. His tech, Dave, showed me my tie rods when my car was on the rack, NO sign of wear & tear -- unlike what the dealer had informed me. I took pictures... I emailed the pics to the Dealer, zero response... His secretary, Ruby, is VERY sweet, & even offered to help shuttle me home if need be! What a find :) I have a lot of respect for the owner, & I'll be back! read more

I have a 2003 Honda Accord that I got used when I was 20 and careless. I was at least semi-responsible enough to have the oil changed maybe every 400-500 miles past the time it was due, but never fully responsible enough to get preventitave maintenance or actual maintenance every so often miles. AND LET ME TELL YOU, I put serious miles on that car with having driven it back and forth from LA to SD for an entire year in 2011. In short, Ive had it for seven years and the most I ever did for it was get the oil changed. The lack of maintenance has really taken its toll on my car to the point where the oil would leak constantly leaving me to top it off before it would completely run dry. It was so bad I would smell a burning smell from the engine at the end of a work commute, which I later learned was a valve cover gasket problem. I would also have to floor the gas pedal just to get up a meager hill. Now that I'm older and have come to my senses (and with better finances) I finally got the maintenance my car deserves. I knew my car had a bucket list of problems, and I was scared it was going to be expensive. I chose Certified Car Care as my repair shop because my husband has had great luck and pricing with them. I wasn't 100% sure I would be treated the same because I was by myself and to my thankful and pleasant surprise, I was. David, the owner, listened to my concerns and took my car in. After a look over, himself and his mechanic were very transparent with what repairs my car needed and could benefit from. Im also thankful I didnt get the sense of bullshitting or the tactics of up-selling unneeded repairs. The price of getting all this work done at a Honda place would have been well over $1000, but David had it all done at several hundred dollars cheaper. It was generous of him too giving me a discount that worked with my budget for the amount of work his crew did. His shop is genuine, fair, and Im seriously happy I went for the repairs there. and ALSO! have you ever turned off the radio while driving and cringed at the sound of your car/engine knowing full well it doesn't sound right? well the drive home after the repairs I did the same test and holy heck, it hadn't sounded or drove that smooth and clean in the last 7 years of hell I put my car through. read more

Love going here, Been here a total of four times. Trust their opinion 100%. I recommend to all my friends and family.

I wish I could give six stars. Wow! Certified Car Car and Danny and David are angels going straight to heaven! I'm a single mom with 2 jobs and have a very old, high -mileage, leaky, squeaky 2009 Mercedes 350 SUV, that is about to die! I got a good deal on the car, and planned to run it into the ground, to avoid car payments on a new car. Trying to save money, I began replacing the steering fluid when I heard a squeaking sound. I also YouTubed how to fix coolant and did it all wrong-putting the steering fluid in the coolant reservoir. Don't do what I did! Like most things in life, everything goes out at once! Within 2 weeks -my driver side window stopped working, rear tire had blow out, all the lights blew and most frighteningly-my entire steering rack became so stiff I could barely turn my wheel more than 45 degrees at a time! In addition to being terrified of an accident, lots of drivers gave me the finger as I held them up attempting to turn safely. I had no other car, or adult in our household to help get to school and work. In addition to the inconvenience, it was not an awesome few weeks. My shoulders popped out from putting all of my muscle into turning the super stiff wheel. I couldn't park in normal spots. It was dire and stressful. As a female, I'm reticent to go anywhere near a car shop or dealership as I feel I'm always up sold or swindled. The last time I had an estimate for the aforementioned repairs it was 2-3k. I asked the AAA guy who put on the spare tire who he knew that was: highly skilled, high integrity, honest and cost-conscience. He recommended them, and said he's never suggest anyone else and that they are above all-honest and skilled at domestic and foreign repairs. Within a day, they fixed EVERY single thing for far less. They also did things I did not ask at no charge-oil change, smog test, rewiring my broken window. Most importantly (warning, I'm about to get Cheesy), they had empathy and compassion! They pled with me to use an Uber or loaner until repair was done not wanting us on the road. Even offering one of their personal cars.They explained in elementary terms-in a way I could understand-what was wrong and located a salvage part to shave off what would have been 1-2k more than my bill. I arrived in tears because I could barely turn safely and didn't have thousands to blow on a repair for a car that's not even worth that. I left misty-eyed, with a renewed hope in humanity thanks to David and Dani. Oh yeah-best part, my hunk of junk car now drives like a brand new one! They are gifted and intuitive mechanics. Easily, they added another few years to her life-ultimately saving our family the expense of having to lease or buy another one. I will never go anywhere else! David and Dani, I can't thank you enough for keeping us safe! -Jessica, Devon (11), Grace (9) read more

These dudes are legit. Helped last minute before my big road trip and did a bunch of shit I didn't even realize that my car was compromised on. Hella nice dudes. I'm so stoked I found them. read more

I am so thankful for Victor and his hardworking crew! If it wasn't for them I would've spent a ridiculous amount of money at Toyota of Poway for a new hybrid battery pack. Toyota of Poway would have charged me $4000 for a new battery. With Victor I saved so much and I was able to get my car right before the New Years Eve celebrations began! I was one very satisfied customer:)! read more

I can't say enough good things about this place! From the moment I walked in and was greeted by Savanna, the service writer at the front desk, I felt so comfortable here. I've been totally burned bringing my car places in the past by shady mechanics and auto shop owners. This place is different. I brought my car in because my wheel was shaking like crazy and I knew something was seriously wrong. I heard good things about CCC, so I decided to give them a try. Dave had my car diagnosed within hours of dropping it off even though they were kinda busy. It was serious, but luckily my car was still under warranty! And even luckier that I found myself at the best auto repair shop in San Diego. Savanna and Dave both spent a ton of time talking to my warranty company making sure that they had everything they needed to get everything covered... Way above and beyond! My car was in and out in a matter of days and Dave and Savanna both kept me updated with phone calls everyday to let me know what was going on with my car. I couldn't be happier about my experience. I hope nothing else goes wrong with my car, but if it does, I'm bringing it back here! Highly recommended. 5 STARS. read more

$60 for wheel alignment! Just have to ask nicely and you'll get the discount. Pros: Timely service Flexible prices Cons: None, except maybe the hot-as-an-oven waiting area. Owners, please install an a/c! Overall verdict: 4.5/5 read more

I came to certified car care for my 100,000 mile service on my 2009 Honda Accord. Dave and his staff are absolutely incredible! I would refer anyone even my grandmother to this shop. They are honest, compassionate and EXTREMELY knowledgeable. They kept me informed every step of the way and educated me on my vehicle and gave me all the information I need to make sure my vehicle is maintained properly so I can have it for many more years. Certified car care definitely has a lifetime client when it comes to me. Thank you Dave and Dani for taking such good care of me and my read more

As a young lady I have always been nervous taking my car in for service, I dont ever want to be taken advantage of. The staff of Certified Car Care made me feel really comfortable by taking me through the entire process for having my Air Conditioning, and my Brakes done. Dave took me into the garage and showed me that I needed my rotors resurfaced and a new set of pads, finally squeek free brakes and I only had to pay $150 for my brakes. I also only needed a pound of feon for my air conditioning, I was told to go to their webpage for a coupon so I could get it cheaper! I really like how the staff walked me throgh the entire repair, suggested some repairs that would be needed soon. Again as a young lady, this is beneficial, I dont know much about cars and they took their time to help me. After about $200 plus taxes I am happy that I wasnt ripped off! read more

I've just moved to California & was trying to put on my new California License Plates, but my Minnesota Plates we're rusted on . I went to a place by my house & they couldn't get one of my license plates off & stripped the screws. I Drove to Certified Car Care and they helped me & they knew the secret to get off the old license plate and they put on my new one. Super great guys, knowledgeable, would highly recommend & I will be back! read more

If you're a Prius owner and need to replace your hybrid battery, here is the place to go! My hybrid system's warning lights suddenly turned on, and when I went to the dealer, they charged me $115 just to diagnose it! After that, they quoted a ridiculous sum of 4700 dollars (including a "10-15% loyalty discount") to replace the hybrid battery. Somehow, I got in touch with Certified Car Care and talked to Victor. I explained that I'm a student in San Diego, and was freaking out about the car situation. My dad also called and talked to him, and got a lot more detail about his services. Long story short, I got a new replacement hybrid battery for my Prius at half the cost of the dealership (~2600 including taxes), and am now a loyal customer!! Victor is very genial and very friendly, and very willing to help out his customers. On a side note, I needed a ride back to pick up the car after the service was finished, so Victor had one of his techs drive out and pick me up - this was the cherry on top of the sundae that made my day, and shows that they care about the customer!!! I am very happy to recommend Certified Car Care for any hybrid issues and replacements, and will definitely use them again in the future! read more

My aging Toyota needed some work that I was not able to take care of myself. Reluctantly, I set about the task of finding a local mechanic after moving into the area 3 years ago. Finding a new mechanic is like going on a blind date. You don't know what to expect, and you're already committed to spending some time (and money) with a complete stranger. After speaking with David (the owner), he was able to discern quite quickly what I wanted, and worked with me to find a solution within my budget. As far as friendliness and customer service, I did not have a problem -- but you have to remember that they deal with defensive customers all day long. So they tend of have a certain amount of reservedness that I expected at a smaller shop. But I'm there to get work done, not invite them to my birthday party :) The mechanic who actually worked on my car (also named David) was quite friendly and showed me, specifically, the parts he was working on, and I felt he had a real passion for automobiles. This guy I might actually consider inviting... never mind. There also was an issue with the shocks they replaced (they were defective) but they were able to get me in and get them replaced right away. It was inconvenient, but not their fault, so no marks deducted for that. Overall I had a positive experience. I got work done that I needed and had no surprises. They will be seeing me again (but hopefully not too soon). read more

Great work done here. My representative that helped me, I believe her name was Ashley?? Was extremely helpful and concise and I really was impressed by her to the point I felt like going on yelp to recognize the great work done by her and the company ! Thanks and nice work everyone!!! read more

Given the good reviews on Yelp for Certified Car Care at 8360 Miramar Place I called Dave, the owner, who was very nice and persuasive saying he would take care of my Sprinter van. I told him the fan belt (also called the serpentine belt) needed to be replaced and Dave offered to diagnosis the van for free (most shops charge a flat fee which can be $100 or more). Dave sounded like a really honest and helpful guy so I had the Sprinter van towed to his shop because it cannot be driven without the fan belt. Please note, when I left the van with them it would start and the engine would run. Dave said he would get back to me in a couple hours. No one called later that day so I called the next day he said he needed a more time to check it out. Basically, this went on for another week, then finally Dave calls me and reads off a long list of repairs the van "needs", including new brakes, new glow-plugs, etc., totaling about $3,000. He explained how he had diagnosed and researched the costs of all the repairs. I told him that is good to know but that when I brought the van to him I SPECIFICALLY said I just wanted the fan belt replaced. This is when Dave's tone and attitude became defensive because he was upset that I wasn't going to have his shop do all the repairs he claims were "needed". This really annoyed him. When I kept insisting that he just replace the belt, he said that to replace the belt he needed to do ALL the other repairs. He also told me the fan that the belt attaches to was missing as well as other parts, which I knew was untrue. When I told him that it wasn't missing anything, his story changed and he said they were just old and needed replacing. So I asked him why he told me they were missing, he didn't respond. After Dave had obviously lied to me, I decided I needed to just go to the shop and talk to Dave in person. When I got there Dave again began telling me all the repairs were necessary in order to replace the belt. Away from Dave, I spoke with one of his mechanics, Tom, who said sure he could replace the belt without doing any other repairs. When Tom and I went back inside, Tom got very quiet around Dave, who again was telling me all the repairs were necessary in order to replace the belt. Tom said nothing. This shows his own employees are afraid of him. I of course just keep repeating that all I want is the fan belt replaced. So now Dave starts telling me he's going to need to file a report with the police because the car is not safe to drive (needs new brakes, etc.). I tell him it will be towed away by AAA and ask him what he is talking about. Changing his tone of voice and looking like he's becoming upset, he keeps telling me the car is not safe and he's going to have to file a police report, and of course I keep telling him it's being towed and not driven and that they just need to replace the belt. Finally, seeing that I wasn't going to agree to any of his "necessary" repairs and that the police report intimidation strategy hadn't worked, Dave finally agreed to just replace the fan belt! What a drama! I ask him when it will be ready and he says tomorrow by noon. Next morning, I get there and Dave says the car is ready and starts saying that Certified Car Care isn't responsible or liable for any future problems the van may have because it's unsafe. He hands me the invoice to sign and says that if I don't sign it, he won't release the van to me. So, I look at the Labor Description column and there is no less than five statements that describe Certified Car Care is not liable and or responsible from this date, including for any "KNOWN ISSUES TO INCLUDE BRAKE SYSTEM, DRIVE TRAIN, STEERING SYSTEM." (See picture of invoice). At the end, Dave starts accusing me of getting estimates from other shops to get the work he says needed to be done that I'm going to take it to another shop. When I said I wasn't, and asked him for names of shops he says I had called for estimates, he shut up. Anyway, after I get the van home, I try to start it and nothing happens. Remember that when I left the van at Certified Car Care it would start and the engine would run. Now the starter sounds as if it's broken, and the engine doesn't even turn over at all, all you hear is a clicking noise. The brand new Interstate battery in it, was tested and it's fine. So what did Dave do to the engine as payback for us not spending $3,000 at Certified Car Care? Is he trying to send us a message to justify all the repairs he says were needed. Read this: http://www.certifiedmastertech.com/2012/06/04/three-signs-your-mechanic-is-a-crook/ "One sign of problems is when the repair center is recommending a list of services that are unrelated to the main reason of your visit" and "Another sign that there could be problems brewing is when the mechanic or service adviser or shop owner takes a defensive and or aggressive position". Dave unfortunately met 2 out of 3 signs. Sad! Do not trust your vehicle to this shop. read more

Certified Car Care - Auto Repair Near Me - San Diego, California

I couldn't help but write a review of my experience over the last few months with Certified Car Care. I recently purchased a 1970 Chevy Chevelle 454 SS and was in need of a local shop to do routine maintenance and repairs. I purchased the car from a custom builder out of Vegas. I flew him out, and he did extensive research to find a shop in San Diego that knew how to do work on a custom classic cars, and he landed on Certified Car Care. My car was continuously overheating, and it was leaking radiator fluid. The windows were also rubbing up just a bit against the frame when they were raised and lowered. I can't say enough about Victor (the owner), and his crew. Victor is a very positive person and is transparent and patient in explaining any repairs. All work is warranted so it feels good to know that Certified stands behind their work. Victor always calls to keep me updated on repairs. The shop and lot are extremely clean and well kept. Victor even sent one of his employees to pick me up when my car was done so I didn't' have to get a ride or take a cab!! Whenever I get my Chevelle back it has been washed as well, it just a nice final touch before I drive off. I like this shop the best because I have peace of mind. My expertise in cars is minimal so I'm always worried about getting fleeced (as we all have at some point). For the last several months anytime I've taken my car in, I've double checked with two or three people to see if the methodology and cost were appropriate for each repair, and I've received reassurance from my secondary sources that the work done and corresponding cost were accurate. Try Victor at Certified Car Care out, you won't be disappointed. read more

This place is awesome. I've had some issues with mechanics in the past and because of that I've been driving around for way too long with warning lights on and some weird shifting in my engine. On a recommendation from a friend I brought my car in here yesterday and they had it fixed the same day even though they had to order a part. This shop levels with you, tells you what you need now and what can wait, they don't try to upsell or tell you you need a bunch of stuff that you don't. The best part is that without me asking they took me back and showed me what was broken instead of just saying words I wouldn't understand, you can tell me all day something is broken but it makes me a lot more confident if you show me. I didn't even realize how bad my car was running until it was fixed, it's like a new car. I'm so thankful I found this shop and I will for sure be back. read more

Best car care in Southern California! Don't take your sprinter anywhere else! They will destroy your van. I had a broken glo plug and they spent several days replacing it instead of just ripping me off and making me buy a new head which would have been $8000. Can't speak more highly of David and his mechanics! They will do an excellent job in no time and for the best price you can find! read more

I do not know who reviewed this place but i feel it does not deserve a 5 star. I was literally looted by Dave. Steve , his cousin who works with ASAP Towing company recommended when my car had problem. The issue seems to be with starter. These guys opened up my car and said my car is in serious condition and gave an estimate of 4000$ for replacing couple of things. I told them i cant pay for and do what is necessary to get the car moving. They charged 800$ for starter. I contacted "other srvices" and they gave a Quote of 314$(including labor). So I came to know that I have over paid twice the amount . Also , the diagnosis said my brakes are on the verge of changing and I have been running the car with the same old brakes . It did not cause any breakdown till now. They make you feel like your car is a GONER . Do not trust them. Get a second opinion. Also, he forced me sign a page saying my tires are in worst condition and if something happens to me, its my responsibility. He tries to intimidate you with everything he got. read more

Do not use this company. I brought my sprinter van here and the idiots over torqued the glow plugs. I had to take it to Mercedes and they had to drill out the glow plugs. Cost me 4400 total to remove the 6 glow plugs. Do not use this company at all! read more

Got a wheel alignment here for my lifted tacoma 4x4. I called about pricing, and Jim was nice enough to give me a $16 discount on the phone. The alignment was quick (30-40 mins) and when I was paying Jim told me he gave me an additional $5 off since the alignment for my lifted truck wasn't as difficult as they expected. How cool is that. The waiting room is nice, with a TV, magazines and water. Overall nice and clean place with professional service. I'll definitely be back. read more