We brought our van there today to have a coolant hose replaced because that's where the Valvoline oil change place said there was a leak. Fidelity did a pressure check and saw that a rubber cap was bad and leaking coolant (probably a result of rats chewing around in there). They ordered the cap a the local RAM dealer, installed it, re-ran the pressure check and that solved the problem. Done in about 3 hours. read more

I've gotten my car smogged here at least five times. They are friendly, capable and take an appointment. All good at this place.

My husband purchased a pre-owned Ford Escape. We had not owned an American car in years so we asked the owner of the place where we bought it for a reccomendation of where to take it to be serviced. He told us that he brought his cars to Fidelity to be looked over before he sells them. We trusted him, so we starting bringing both our cars there. About a year after purchasing the Ford it started making a weird sound when accelerating. My husband brought it to Fidelity and they said it was "probably" the transmission and it would be about $4,000 to rebuild. We did not want to spend that kind of money, so we decided to live with it for a while. In the meantime I had taken my Honda in for a regular service and felt that I was overcharged. I started looking around for another shop to take both our cars and found a place that had really good reviews. My husband took his car there and found that the noise was not the transmission but the CV joint and it was not $4,000 to fix but under $2,000. Fidelity did not take the time to figure out what was wrong with his car and my husband was therefore driving a car that was unsafe. read more

Edgar and his team are awesome. I have gone to them for the timing belt, sparks and oil changes on my 1998 4Runner. Affordable prices and thorough diagnosis. He's honest and gives spot on advice in my opinion. I love these guys! read more

High quality service. Always bring our cars here. The professionalism and attention is exemplary.

I highly recommend this smog shop. They were very quick and cheaper than any other place

Called this morning to arrange an appointment for a smog check. They were able to get me in the same day in the afternoon. Prices of smog checks have certainly gone up with inflation just like everything else. $50 bucks out the door though isn't horrible compared to neighboring shops. I showed up a few minutes early and they were able to take my car in right away. Service was super fast with my smog only taking about 15 minutes. This will probably become my go-to spot for smogs in the future. read more

Fidelity Automotive - Smog Check Stations Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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I've taken my cars there for years, and it's always a pleasure getting smog tests. Reasonable, quick and no hassles.

Great experience w smog test. They were super quick, professional and nice. I will be taking all our vehicles to Fidelity.

Was there for a total of 15-20 minutes. Staff was very kind as well. Very quick and cheap. Highly recommend

This was the quickest and easiest smog check! They couldn't have made the experience better. I highly recommend, thank you guys!

Came in for a smog check the other day. Called the morning of, came in at 1 and it was done in 20 minutes. Friendly, streamlined service.

I called and spoke with Edgar, in the service department. He was professional and courteous. He gave me a quote and he was able to get my car done, right away,because of my time constraint. I've come to Fidelity Automotive as a happy customer and I left after my service, as a very happy customer. I recommend this company and I give them a strong 5 stars. Thank you, Elaine Lee read more

I'm over 300 miles away and my daughter is going to UCSC. Her car needed a smog. I'm a retired mechanic so I'm very familiar with any work that's needed which is nothing on my daughters car. I went and replace everything that's needed before she left for school. I called Edgar and set up an appointment for smog on my daughters car. He was very nice on the phone and very easy to talk to. My daughter took it in at the appointment time and it was done really quick with no up-sales by Edgar. Really good to know there are still really honest mechanics out there. read more

I had my car smog test completed at Fidelity. I called and they got me in immediately. They were very professional and prompt. I will recommend them to family and friends for smog check. read more

My splash shield was badly damaged and Fidelity automotive was able to take my car in within the hour to have it removed. I easily schedule an appointment for the team to replace the shield and Edgar was able to get me set up very smoothly with ordering the parts and getting the service done. I really appreciate the kindness and great costumer service they had, their communication is wonderful. Thanks y'all! read more

I needed an oil change and a couple of light bulbs changed. I walked in the door and was met by a very friendly woman. I had no appointment. She told me she would call me when it was done. I sat at Whole Foods across the street for about an hour, at which point I received a phone call from possibly the friendliest man (Rich) in the world who told me that my car was almost done, and asked if I wanted the transmission fluid changed (per his suggestion). A few minutes later he called back again and said, "Your car is ready for its next adventure!" I was very pleased with my entire experience! 5 stars. read more

I've been bringing my cars/trucks to Fidelity for almost 20 years (eek). Mike and Francis Botzon run a quality, top notch service shop, and I trust everything they advise me regarding my vehicles. I have had Fidelity check vehicles out for me before purchasing, brought vehicles in thinking I was due for a major service only to hear- 'nope, not that big a deal, much less than you thought'.. Bring in for an oil change, and rest assured they check belts/hoses/etc and let me know what to look out for before my next service. In 20 years, I have never felt taken advantage of and have always experienced friendly, knowledgeable, respectful service from the Botzon's and their staff. It gives me great peace of mind to know I can trust the Fidelity team to advise me and maintain my vehicles, and I highly recommend them. read more

At least when you go to a have a smog check there should be some guarantee that you can feel rest assured about... at LEAST "we'll give you 2 tries to get it fixed, therefore you will not have to pay smog fees again"... BEST senerio is "if it doesn't pass you don't have to pay"... We just lost out on over $50 we could have invested in purchasing the part that is broken or will not pass... Won't be back for sure.... it's too bad.... read more

Took my 91 Chevy light truck to Fidelity for a smog test (passed) and asked them to check out a "death rattle" from the engine which another auto repair shop had said was a major bearing problem. The folks at Fidelity advised me that the noise was a worn-out water pump and would be fixed the same day if I could leave it with them. Happiness! changed the pump and good as new now at very reasonable charge ($359) told me it took extra time because my vehicle is fitted with an after-market electric fan and some bolts were found stripped.....but they stuck to their original estimate/quote for the job good work professionally done read more

Desperate for a last minute smog check, I lookup smog check, santa cruz, ca. Fidelity Auto has the highest rating. I call them up "can I get a smog check today " guy at Fidelity "It's super busy today, but we can fit you in at lunch. It will take about 15 minutes". me "great, see you an hour". And that's how it should be done folks! Friendly customer service goes a long way! These guys are off to a good start with me. read more

I used Fidelity three years ago, right before we moved out of town. They are straightforward people offering honest service. I wish I would've found them sooner. Now that we're back into town, I decided to try them again to see if they were still good. Everything is as good as it was before. Edgar, the mechanic, was willing to explain what he was doing and why. He was patient with my questions, which is a big deal for me. The lady at the front desk, whose name is Irish, was cheerful and friendly. She had the kind of attitude you would expect from the hostess at a 50s diner... Upbeat, humming and a smiling tone in her voice. On the phone, the day before, the price they quoted for me was about $25 higher than the price I actually paid. When does that ever happen at a repair shop? I would say the main difference between three years ago and now is the fact that everything looks cleaner and more organized, which is probably helped by the fact that they moved to an electronic filing system/database rather than using paper all the time. I like to see it when businesses use new tools to offer a better service to their customers. Quality product/service is a prerequisite for doing business. As always for me, great customer service will always earn a five-star rating... And my repeat business, referrals to my network, etc. read more

Fidelity Automotive - Their front entrance. - Smog Check Stations Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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RIIIIICH!!!!!! COME BACK!! I'm not sure what happened but I miss you quick efficient, snappy personality. You really got the job done! read more

This is probably the easiest smog check I've ever gotten. I went in late without an appointment and they stayed open a bit longer to help me out. My car is technically registered in LA and Los Angeles has much more strict smog policies. Fidelity had the necessary gear to check up on my car. LA drivers, this is your place. The whole thing took about 10 minutes. I went to get a cup of coffee and boom: they were done. The guys that work here are really good at what they do. The whole thing ended up being $46 which is a really great deal. They are also very friendly. I had a little chat about the crusades with Rich as well which is always entertaining. Next time you're looking to get a smog check and/or a medieval war conversation, fidelity is the place to go. read more

I took my Class C RV to these guys. It was testing pretty bad on smog, and they got it taken care of pretty quickly. Rich, at the front counter, is genial, and the Mechanic/Owner (whose name I can't remember) really knows his stuff. He came into the office and very patiently went over my smog numbers discussing what might be causing it to fail. They do get booked up a couple days in advance so keep that in mind. I will definitely bring vehicles back to them in the future. read more

The check engine light was on in my 2001 VW. I know the car won't pass smog if this light is on, and I have had it looked at and 'fixed' before. Came on Yelp, search on 'smog repair' and the reviews for Fidelity Auto were excellent. And my experience was no different! Smog issues on a VW can be tricky, so Rich was very up front that the work involved might be challenging. This matches my experience with other garages. The car was diagnosed and fixed within the same day, Rich called me back throughout the day to keep me updated, and explained exactly what they found and what was fixed. HIGHLY recommended, and I will be going back to them for my regular smog check and anything else! read more

Needed to get a star smog check and Fidelity was the shop to go to. I was able to get an appointment fast and painless. I asked about places to get some breakfast while waiting and the women behind the counter gave some options. I came back after a nice coffee and croissant to find my car smog check done and ready to go. I had also asked for help regarding a hubcap that I was having trouble installing. They had installed it without a charging or any grief (which I wasn't sure if I was going to get). All in all great experience! read more

Got my smog check here; geat service and very quick. Everyone here is nice, honest and reliable. Was recommended here from someone and it was great! read more

This was the first time I had ever gotten a smog check and I have to admit that this STAR station was gentle with me :) I spoke with Rich the day before to schedule an appointment and was pleasantly surprised at how real he was over the phone. Even though this location was the only option I had (given my car is registered in San Diego with more strict regulations), I could tell that Fidelity Automotive was prepared to perform the "special" smog test. One I arrived Rich was funny and kept me occupied with entertaining anecdotes and useful life advise while I waited for my car. He even gave me a brief synopsis on what a smog test looks for and was realistic about how cars don't always pass. Luckily my car managed to barely pass by 3 ppm of NO (which Rich explained). This was a quick, pleasant, and painless experience! I'll never forget the 6 P's: Proper Planning Prevent Piss-Poor Performance read more

I've lived in Santa Cruz for about 8 years now and have been trying to find a good mechanic. I guess you could say I am lucky that our cars have been fairly reliable and we haven't needed any auto repair other than regular maintenance (back off, Murphy), so I haven't exactly used up all of my options but I also haven't found one I could recommend before. Nevermore. Fidelity Automotive fits the bill and is now the family mechanic. They were everything you look for in a mechanic; friendly, quick, fair, true to their word, on-the-spot diagnostics, and (wait for it) honest. They could have sunk me will an extra $500 for a new catalytic converter, but told me that even though it was showing signs of wear, it was good for a while as long as the rattles didn't bother me. ... and on this truck, they do not. Go to Fidelity. You wont regret it. read more

I seriously failed a Smog check here that I knew I should have passed and they wanted to replace the catalytic converter for $600+... I then brought the car to the place on Soquel and 17th, which doesn't stand to benefit from failing people since they aren't a repair shop, just a smog checking business. I passed with flying colors there. What gives? read more

I didn't realize that if the check engine light was on my car would automatically fail Smog. Fidelity ran it through Smog anyway, it failed, and now I have "Gross Polluter" on my record and have to not only get it fixed but take it into a special Smog tester to get approved. And they took my $40 for the failed test. These people were nice, but come on. Not going back there again. read more

I went here for two years to get various service done. It was mostly fine, although it struck me as a bit overpriced. Then I took my car in for a routine smog check. When they returned it to me, the hood latch was broken. When I pointed out that one of their mechanics had obviously broken it, the receptionist not only refused to help me fix it, but was *extremely* rude and dismissive on the phone. He told me that, somehow, it was my fault, and then hung up on me. So not only did they break a part of my car that was quite difficult to replace, they were very unpleasant and defensive after they did it. That is not the type of service I would expect after coming here for two years. Stay away from this place at all costs. If anything at all goes wrong (which is often the case when fixing a car), they will take no responsibility whatsoever. read more

Whoever runs the desk is extremely rude and shouldn't be dealing with customers, ever. I've been hung up on twice! I took my van there to have it smogged, it failed, (totally fine, obviously not their fault) then was given an exorbitant price just to have them spend some time looking at it. The mechanic (who I suspect is the same creep answering the phone) gave me list of potential issues I might be looking at and I could hear him getting all worked up, he finally concluded with "Look, you're beating a dead horse, it's not worth trying to fix, get a new car" AND HUNG UP ON ME! WTF?? I ended up taking it to Bobby's Pit Stop where he was totally nice, spent two hours and fixed everything and charged me a couple hundred. Done deal. Would absolutely NOT recommend Fidelity. read more

I went here to get my car smogged and It was the lowest price I could find, they squeezed me in the same day I called and I was in and out of there in 20 minutes. The front desk guy was awesome and we even discussed other work on my car and gave me prices without pressuring me to make an appointment!!!! I would recommend this place to anyone. read more

Went in today for a smog check. Couldn't have been easier -- in and out in 20 minutes, just enough time to grab a burrito down the street. Spoke with Rich, who is possibly the friendliest person I have encountered in months, and had my car ready to roll. The price also appears to be very competitive for Santa Cruz. read more

I took my car here for a smog check. It passed so I didn't run into any problems. If you are not sure if your car will pass, take it to a shop that advertises a "pass or no pay" policy. I had one nitpick on my car. The interior door handle had grease on it when I left. Not professional. The bigger issue I had was from sitting in the office waiting for my car. The guy at the front desk was friendly to customers coming in, but not so much with customers on the phone. He was busy chatting with his buddy and put a couple of people on hold while he continued talking. Then he was upset that they had hung up instead of sitting on hold for a few minutes. I tried Fidelity because they are closer than the shop I usually go to. The reviews were mostly good, but I will go back to the shop in Scotts Valley that I usually use. read more

THIS "TEST & REPAIR" BUSINESS FAKES SMOG INSPECTION RESULTS SO IT CAN DO UNNECESSARY REPAIRS! My college-age daughter alone took her car here for smog inspection and it failed mainly the low speed (15mph/1163rpm) testing: 228 ppm HC (MAX = 62 ppm) 0.37 % CO (MAX = 0.54 %) 553 ppm NO (MAX = 467 ppm) Then she was told she should have a bunch of ill-definted repair work done. The very next day I (57 year old male) took her car to a different STAR Test-Only Center and it passed: 42 ppm HC (MAX = 62 ppm) 0.05 % CO (MAX = 0.54 %) 93 ppm NO (MAX = 467 ppm) Fidelity Automotive HC test result is 228 ppm then a re-test shows 61ppm! Fidelity Automotive NO test results is 553 ppm then a retest shows 42 ppm! Needless to say this is total bullshit. If your experience has been similar please complain to the BAR tool. read more

Fidelity Automotive offers up the grail in the form of an honest garage. My truck has been worked on here two times and the experience and work is on par with what others are saying here on Yelp. Rich was exceptionally good-natured and straightforward, offering some of the best costumer service I've ever experienced. read more

My girlfriend recommended this shop to me a couple years back and now I'm annoyed I didn't know about them sooner. They are very friendly, do excellent work, and are very affordable. Not only do they not ream you, they're excellent about counseling their customers about what work *doesn't* need to be done and are always willing to discuss options. Finally a pleasant auto repair experience. read more