My wife drives a 2006 Toyota Rav with a 6 cylinder engine. She loves this size and strong hose power. I have been taking it to theToyota dealership for repairs. Until now! The Rav was sounding like a broken washing machine and I could not find a replacement SUV. Avo heard the Rav and said he could fix it. Avo an AMAZING MECHANIC. A quote from my wife: AVO HAS GOLDEN HANDS Avo was able to fix the Rav in thee days and extremely reasonable price. PS. I was referred to Avo to get the Rav smog because no one else could pass the smog test. GREAT JOB! read more

Great service for your car. I was recommended this garage by a friend of a friend. Avo the proprietor of this establishment is a professional when it comes to your car maintenance. I brought my WRX b/c the dealership was charging a lot for what I needed done. Avo was able to get me in and out in a timely manner. His waiting area has what you need while waiting on your car. I am definitely coming back for service with him. read more

Went in during my lunch and was seen right away, even without an appointment. Everything was so smooth and easy. I just asked for a smog check and he was able to get it done! I'd recommend anyone needing one to come here. Everything was put right into the DMV system automatically & he explained it all very clearly. Great service & experience for the price I paid! read more

I have been putting off getting my car smog checked. I decided to stop in at Foothill Smog & Auto while I was out running errands yesterday. Avo was polite, friendly, and very professional. The office and waiting area are spotlessly clean and neat. The test took maybe half an hour with no surprises. I will return again! read more

Called and got an appointment for smog test next day. I was in and out in less than 30 min. Very polite and a clean waiting area.

If you want to be overcharged with unreasonable fees, don't come here. I had my car towed nearby my work and chose this shop based on good reviews, but I regret it. so I haven't taken my car in for maintenance in a while and he quoted around $1,600, so just went for the oil change. I was charged $342 for oil change and inspection fee. Most shops remove the inspection fee if you get work done, but here they insisted on charging me anyway. By the time I realized, I had already paid. Very upsetting this kind of pricing shows a lack of integrity. I also noticed they charged me for degreasing spray three times, totaling $38. That's like being charged for five bottles of whipped cream on a banana split, something that should already come with it. Makes no sense, lol. read more

Could not ask for a better place if you need anything for your vehicle. Avo is absolutely wonderful - very professional and trustworthy. He does great work in a timely manner and his shop is immaculate - I am talking pristine clean! The waiting area is really nice, and Avo just makes the whole process feel easy. Recommend HIGHLY!!! Thank you, Avo! read more

Five stars all the way. While I'd rather do a whole lot of things before shucking out my monies for a smog test and oil change, Avo at Foothill Smog & Auto Repair does great work and deserves his high ratings. I found him on Yelp and stopped in yesterday to see if he had availability. He was able to get to my car right away and texted me when it was ready. He was really flexible with my pick up time as I wasn't able to make it in before they closed that day, and he even included some photos of different areas on the car that needed work. He was low pressure in providing a quote for those and was clear about the work he can and can't do at his shop. I picked up my car this morning with my smog test, oil change, and a new wiper blade all complete. He has a 25% off smog test check in offer on Yelp if using cash, so I saved about $10 on the total. Will certainly be keeping him in mind for future car upkeep, oil changes, etc. Thanks Avo! read more

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Simply the best! Avo took care of my Smog and I was in and out within minutes! Thank you Foothill Smog!

Avo is the best mechanic I have ever dealt with a great guy as well. I can't say enough good things about his expertise, integrity and generosity. read more

If you are looking for a great auto mechanic/smog check, etc. This is your place! Avo is top notch, honest, knowledgeable and reasonable!! He saved me about $1100. for a catalytic converter. He knew there was still a partial warrantee on this part from the dealer and he was right! :D I have gotten other services done here too. Avo is the best! Thanks, Avo! read more

Basically, I can relate to the many 5 star reviews regarding Foothill Smog Auto Repair. I've had my car serviced by a few other shops over the years, but always uncertain about the overall value of the repair. However, no other shop can compare to this shops ownership care and expert knowledge. Not only do I have our family cars smog certified, but all general maintenance and periodic stuff that happens because of our long commutes. read more

Foothill Smog & Auto Repair - Mammoth Commute - Auto Repair Near Me - Pasadena, California

Avo is a top notch guy! Took a potential used car buy here to get checked out and found this place in its pristine pictures and glorious reviews. He did a full inspection and noted many huge downfalls to my potential purchase. Gave me all the information I needed to make an informed decision. Very detailed work and very courteous. Prices are a tad higher but this is in Pasadena and considering his work ethic and the cleanliness of his shop it's no wonder people keep coming back! I am a ways away but I may have found my go to place! read more

Foothill Smog & Auto Repair - Funny guy! - Auto Repair Near Me - Pasadena, California

I recently brought my 2009 Subaru Forester to Avo's shop for the timing belt service. I appreciate his high level of customer service in keeping me informed of the status of my car and on the quality of the work including the use of OEM parts. It's great that he happens to be close enough to my home where car drop off and pickup is not too far out of my way between my regular commute route. I brought my car back a few weeks later after I snapped off one of the wheel studs while removing the lug nuts to swap out a tire with a nail in it and Avo replaced the stud without issue. The shop is very well kept and clean. Keep up the great work! read more

Foothill Smog gets a perfect 10! Everything about this shop is A+ from transparent pricing and easy appointment reservations on their website, to a quick and easy inspection in a perfectly tidy shop. Avo keeps his shop perfectly clean - the workshop was organized, clean and tidy, a indication of a very meticulous mechanic that takes pride in his work. The waiting room was surgically clean so I had zero worries during the COVID19 pandemic. Avo finished my smog inspection within 20 minutes and was extremely courteous, respectful and cleanly with my Porsche Cayman. Give this shop your business. I will trust him again the next time around! Thanks Avo! read more

Foothill Smog & Auto Repair - A surgically clean waiting room overlooking the tidy shop as my Porsche Cayman was inspected for smog. - Auto Repair Near Me - Pasadena, California

Avo and team are fantastic. He's always on point with estimates. Always considering safety, and always friendly and patient explaining issues. Foothill is pretty expensive but quality and attention when you're tooling around 2500lb car is worth the extra dough. read more

Avo, who is both the owner and mechanic of this car repair business, is a remarkably capable, knowledgeable, and honest gentleman. He will go out of his way to respond to his customers' needs. I cannot say enough good things about this place. read more

Avo is for sure the life-saver of my Mini Cooper, after a year of pandemic lockdown across the street: I stored my vehicle during the pandemic and when I finally returned, the car's battery was already dead; I had the luck finding Avo just three minutes from my parking garage, I did not have my usual luck with AAA that day, they sent two trucks and could not move my car to Avo's garage due to issues they couldn't diagnose properly. Avo gave me a referral to a local guy he works with instead, and his local guy "finally" moved my car to his shop the next day, Avo took care of the rest from there. He gave me a safe car to drive after two days. I won't give my car mechanic dollars to anyone else in this town now. Avo is the best! read more

This place is THE BEST!! I've been coming here for at least seven years. They are top notch!!!! Avo treats your car like it is his own! Beautiful establishment!! I won't take my car anywhere else!!!! We need more businesses like this!!!!! read more

Amazing service! I called and spoke with Avo the day before and asked if it was an issue he could fix with the car that I drive. He was very friendly and said he could take a look at it the next day and that he would be in as early as 8:30AM. He was so humble that I didn't even know he was the business owner until I got there! Dropped off my car at 8:45AM the next day. The office is very clean and modern. I told him what the issues were, left my contact info, and was out of there in less than 10 minutes. He said he would call with the estimate once he took a look. There were signs everywhere regarding costs of certain services so I had an idea of what to expect. At 11:15AM I get a text that my car was ready! Talked to Avo again, and paid for the services provided. I just want to say that Avo is a gem of a business owner in Pasadena. He is kind, skilled, and professional - and I believe in paying for quality. Anyone who complains about costs should know they don't HAVE to see Avo, but if they want a job well done, then they should visit Foothill Smog and Auto Repair! read more

My go-to mechanic for all my cars' needs. Our SUV, economy, and luxury cars have all been taken care of by Avo. Professional and honest, even his shop doesn't look like your typical car shop, clean and organized. Make your next car service here! read more

I came out to Foothill Smog & Auto Repair (around 2 pm on a Friday) for a smog check and an inspection for an oil leak. The smog check was reasonably priced and Avo didn't charge for the oil leak inspection. He performed the smog check and was able to find the oil leak issue / repair it fairly quick. Apparently the last time I got an oil change (somewhere else), they took out the oil gasket and didn't put it back or replace it. Avo made quick work out of this and I was out of the shop by around 3:30 pm. read more

I have been to this shop for smog checks for many years and recently started having my auto repaired and routine maintenance done. Work has been done in a timely manner. Avo, the owner is honest and trustworthy, very transparent with the work needed, takes pictures and shows you parts that were replaced. Thank you Avo for keeping my car running in good condition. read more

I am very pleased with the service Avo gives and the great work is done with my vehicles. I will continue to take my cars to him as he does a great job. Very honest and straightforward. read more

Avo is just strictly AMAZING! Went to him years ago as did my ex-husband. Always professional, immaculately clean workplace and was always honest and upfront about what needed to be done. Like finding a good dentist or contractor....finding a good reliable, especially honest, mechanic is near impossible. So fast-forward a couple of years, my fiancé was having issues with his Nissan Frontier and is was a no-brainer to recommend Avo. He did a great job and my fiancé will be back. Once my car is out of warranty....I will be back. Unfortunately I think I need to keep on having my car serviced at the dealer until then to get full coverage. But after that..... read more

Came to Foothill Smog & Auto Repair for my 30k mile service on my 2015 Honda and had a great experience. I had initially planned to have the service done at my local Honda dealership, but am very glad I decided to go to Foothill Smog & Auto Repair instead. Would definitely recommend them! read more

To clarify: I actually gave Foothill's level of service a very good review, and obviously, I agreed to all prices that were charged, which any mechanic is required to present per California law anyway, and I appreciated being walked through all of the (overly expensive and currently, it turns out, unnecessary) options Avo presented. But I think the story above speaks for itself as to why I am giving Foothill a poor review. Avo overdiagnosed the problem, and I saved at least $500 by taking my car elsewhere. Avo called to follow up about this review and then posted the response online. While I appreciate his ethic to check in with a customer first, it felt like the point of the call was to encourage me to give a better review. Part of running a business is being able to take it when a bad review was warranted. I found Avo via Yelp, because obviously, Avo has plenty of people on Yelp who do like his service, and I did not like his service, so I gave him a poor review. Yelp relies on a balance of opinions to work for its customers, and that is what I provided here for Foothill Smog and Auto Repair: balance. read more

Avo truly is a great guy. He is hard working, honest and a great friend to the community. Let me tell a couple stories just to show how honest he really is: My wife was having troubles in her Maxima, and so took it to the dealer for repairs since it was due for normal maintenance. The dealer told her that it needed a new alternator, at around $400. We went to Avo for a second opinion. He agreed that it was the alternator but showed us a bulletin from the manufacturer- it was under recall. We went to a different dealer to have the work done for free. Avo could have charged us for that work, but he didn't- he was honest and it cost him money. I referred another friend of mine to Avo after the dealer had told him that his Subaru outback needed a new transmission. It had been giving some horrible squealing for the past few weeks. Once again, Avo pulled up a bulletin that indicated differently. Instead of replacing the transmission, they performed some minor maintenance and repair. Problem solved. Once again, a very expensive repair was avoided because of Avo's honesty. Avo makes use of email reminders and computerized records, so he always knows the latest on your car. He is also an avid soccer player who has taught kids for several years. He is a mild-mannered, well spoken, clean and courteous gentleman. And the same is true for the rest of the staff at his establishment. The only thing to be mindful of with Foothill is that they have very limited space at the garage. As a result, they really manage which cars are there and he will be very anxious to have you come pick up your vehicle as soon as the work is done. This doesn't mount to a criticism in my book, but it is worth keeping in mind when you make your plans. Bottom line, if you always dreamed of car repairs that don't include scamming, cheating mechanics, I can tell you that dreams DO come true. read more

Go somewhere else, unless you want to waste your money. They charged me $50 for a smog test. Do yourself a favor - there are six other shops in Pasadena that does smog tests for $29.95. That's a 40% rip off. Ridiculous. In reply to the owner's comment: I have a receipt that shows my car was in the shop. A smog test is the same every where you go. I understand over charging by 5%, but there should not be such a huge price differentiation. 40% is a huge difference. There is no service to speak of in a smog test. Just plug it in the computer. read more

I found Avo through a coworker, and I couldn't be more happy. I've taken three cars to Avo over the past few years, and I really trust him to tell me the truth, to quote me a reasonable price, and to make my car safe. I have a Volvo S60 (2004) and the repairs can be steep, but Avo comes in at a price I can afford. He explains his repairs until I understand, explains why he does repairs the way he does them (better for the car, cheaper labor, better for a longer period of time, etc.) He always answers emails and phone calls, and is never so busy that I have to wait too long to get into the shop. His shop is close to my work, so it makes it easy for me to get in, and get out. If he can't do a repair (tires, for explain) he tells you where you CAN go to get them done. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend friends and family (and coworkers!) to Avo's shop! read more

Very reliable auto repair! My family and I have been coming here for years. Avo is the nicest guy and is very honest and upfront. I can't believe some people giving such poor reviews. I've been coming here for at least 6 years and it's always consistent. You can compare their prices to the competitor and they are the best. Avo even gave me a heads up when he saw something was wrong with my car and told me if i waited the cost to fix it would triple. He was fixing another part on the car but I asked him if he could double check to make sure everything looked okay. So I was able to get it fixed much cheaper than what it could have been. I also consult with my dad and have him talk to Avo before I get any work done because my dad lives in Ohio and knows a lot about cars. He thinks Avo is great and even when I moved to Playa Del Rey wanted me to keep taking my car to him in Pasadena. This is a family owned business with honesty and integrity. If you live in the area you should definitely take your car here. read more

Nothing bad to report here at all. In fact, Avo's shop is stellar in all facets that you'd want a repair shop to possess: cleanliness, good prices, honesty, timeliness and quality work. I'd definitely recommend this shop to family, friends and associates. read more

This shop has the best customer service, always makes sure he does a great job takes pride in his work I don't go anywhere else. Avo the owner is amazing. read more

Very clean and straightforward service. The people were very pleasant and explained the smog check process and how it is sent to the DMV and whatnot. In and out within 30 minutes or so on a Wednesday afternoon. Got the certificate issued and had time for an early dinner. Would definitely recommend. read more

If you are looking for a mechanic this is the place to go. I took my car here which was 16 years old with over 200,000 miles. Avo did a standard diagnostic on it and gave me an estimate on what it would cost to fix it. In addition, he said i would need to make future repairs in the next 6 months. Ultimately i decided to get rid of my car but I appreciated Avo's honesty as he was clear in regards to what the total cost would be to get it up and running and what it was going to take in the next couple of months. Also he let me keep my car at his shop a couple of days while i figured out what i was going to do. Finally when i picked it up he did say that if i bought a used car to bring it by and he would complete a diagnostic on it and let me know what he thought about it. read more

winner winner chix dinner. My car failed smog check due to me running down my Honda battery down to zero twice then replacing old battery with a brand spanking new battery thanks to AAA BATTERY replace service, AAA deserves a chix dinner also. I was advised that I run my car for a constant 65 miles a hour for 100 miles To reset my smog thingy on my Honda and I thought were in the wild will ever get that done in this Megga amazing city. 2 am mid week I shoot off from Pasadena going west 210 134 with the goal of hitting 50 miles out and that took me to Camarillo once I got there I though a little truck yard or a rolling stop dinner at 3 am would would work and thanks to Denny's it all worked out and no chix dinner for them but thank you for being open. I made back by 5:45 am and later that eve my car took the smog test and we passed the smog check and i was proud dad to the passing grade on the Honda. Thank you for the advice and knowledge to assisting me and not draining my thin wallet. read more

Reliable and honest! We don't hesitate getting our vehicles checked by Avo. Thank you.

Fantastic! After being quoted something outrageous and time wasting by the dealer, I decided to take my Mini Cooper to Avo as he had great recommendations by friends and decent Yelp worthiness. I was able to make an appointment for in the next two business days and he gave be a fair estimate of $$ and time. I arrived early for my appointment and Avo was extremely cordial and prompt, and began service on my lil' one early. He was done within 10 minutes of his quote and within $5, something rare with mechanics. His recommendations for the next appointment were reasonable and nothing out of the ordinary given my vehicle and what I had already known. I will definitely take my car back to him as well as my older vehicle next week. EXTREMELY clean and well lit lobby with free wifi and several chairs and magazines. Highly recommended! read more

Friendly, fast, communicative, and incredibly organized and clean. This is the only place I will bring my car. read more

Foothill Smog & Auto Repair - Their front lobby. - Auto Repair Near Me - Pasadena, California

Excellent work. Honest. Prompt. No high pressure upselling scams. Uses email and maintains record of the car so he has up to date info. I got a smog check, oil change, and air filter change on my 2004 BMW Z4. Even the prices were very reasonable. I would recommend this place to friends and co-workers. read more