Bob did a proper job of installing timing chain and water pump and alternator belt on my '85 toyota…read moretruck

I can't praise Bob highly enough: friendly, honest and great service. I brought in our 24-year old…read moreVolvo with a starter issue on a Friday - it was getting worse with every crank. Bob took it in right away and replaced the starter same day. But when I came to collect it the engine started perfectly but then shut itself down. Very worrying as there could have been any number of causes, but Bob worked on it through the weekend and called me first thing Monday. We couldn't have been more relieved to hear he had fixed the problem by replacing an old corroded part. So happy to drive home after a bit of a scare. Bob is not only an expert but thoroughly honourable. Although he had to put in a lot more hours to get to the bottom of things he charged me exactly the same as he first quoted. And whenever I called up, Bob and his wife couldn't have been nicer on the phone: patient and accommodating, so different from calling almost any other business. Great to discover someone so reliable in the neighbourhood.

Lucas is amazing. After 3 other mechanics, he found the problem and fixed it. Incredibly HONEST and…read moregreat price. He even talked us out of doing work the others had recommended. Saved us a ton and the car runs so much better. I highly recommend this place. So happy!

From the owner: Specializing in automotive repair, restoration, and custom installations.read more

Junior and his crew are top notch mechanics. They love what they do and it shows in the quality of…read moretheir work and the honest, friendly customer service that seems to come so naturally to them. I live in LA and got a new set of tires from them on my way through Santa Barbara. They did such a good job and because junior (the owner) was so cool - I drove back to Santa Barbara the next time I needed a tune up. Well worth the drive. No one likes spending money getting work done on their car, but if you have to, you might as well give it to an independent business that does better, more timely, more affordable work than its corporate-chain competition.

Great service. Super fast. Super great guys is working there…read more Would highly recommend!

Hector and crew not going anywhere else…read morehonest, fair and timely took extra time to diagnose a random thing. 2022 Tiguan

Brought my 964 in for a few repairs (typical nonsense with old cars, AC, CEL, minor oil leaks)…read more Great communications, excellent diagnostics, finished on time. Really pleasant people. Place is full and busy with antique Porsches.

Straight forward process and a friendly staff! A couple of days ago I got my coolant changed, tires…read morerotated and my tires realigned. Jee, the service advisor, was great at answering my calls and any questions I had before bringing in my car. After the car repairs my mechanic, Chris, explained to me what he did and answered any questions I had about the work done and the overall condition of my car.

Akauto does great work, they work quickly and honestly. Jee and Arsen are super helpful!read more

I came in needing a new tire as I got a flat. Mind you, I'm from out of town so a flat tire was NOT…read moreon the agenda. Santa Barbara Tire was recommended to us and my tire was on my car within less than an hour. I was so impressed with how quickly it was done AND I was only 30 minutes late to my wine tasting. I appreciated the great service and, although the tire was a little pricey, I couldn't argue as it was the only one that would fit on my car. However, I know what I am getting myself for Christmas...three matching tires! This is going to sound odd, but, besides the customer service, I was so excited to use the old school towel dispenser in the bathroom! It was the cloth towel system where you pulled down to dry your hands. Talk about eco friendly which is always appreciated!

I took my truck into this place to change the wheels & tires and they sent me home (risking my…read morelife) with a damn missing lug nut. Owners nickel and dime and charged around $500 to install a sway bar (I provided) and align it. If you are clueless they will take advantage of you.

I got in my car this morning and got a low tire pressure warning, on a Sunday, no less. Well, Yelp…read morefound this little shop right near me and it said that they're open 24/7. Guess what, it's true. I called and my call was answered in just a few minutes. The gentleman told me he would alert the on call tow truck driver. Victor then opened the doors in a few minutes and checked his stock. Victor was both kind and efficient. He told me I only needed one tire and found a nice lightly used tire which he showed me, then proceeded to jack up my car and change the tire. Afterward he checked the pressure in all four tires. Total time, about an hour. Total cost, including an after hours charge was $270.00. This place is a Godsend. I'm telling everybody. These folks are the real thing. I drove away very happy. Thank you, Victor for a truly professional job. And thanks to Eric for the quick and efficient response.

2 Stars -- Issue "Fixed," But Dishonesty Left a Bad Taste…read more I'll give them 2 stars because they technically fixed the issue in the end -- but consumers, beware. I've been a loyal customer of this shop for years. They've handled all four of my vehicles and, aside from a few minor hiccups, have generally done a good job. Unfortunately, my recent experience completely changed my opinion. I brought my Lexus RX back after Lexus informed me that the front brake pads had no shims, which was causing a squeak. This was surprising, as Erics had replaced the front rotors and pads in February 2025. Lexus also told me the pads were aftermarket -- not OEM -- even though I specifically paid for factory parts. When I returned to the shop, I dealt with Jr at the front desk. He inspected the vehicle and eventually admitted the shims were missing. However, instead of simply taking responsibility, he repeatedly tried to justify the mistake, mentioning the cost of the parts and suggesting I might have to pay for them. He even implied the missing shims were somehow my fault because the old pads didn't have them -- a poor excuse, considering OEM pads always come with shims. After some back-and-forth, he reluctantly agreed to order and install the correct parts. But even when handing my keys back, he still tried to charge me for their mistake. When I told him I'd pay but wouldn't return as a customer, he threw me out of the shop. Jr came across as dishonest and unpleasant throughout the entire experience. It's a shame -- Alex, who I've dealt with in the past, was always great, but now that Jr seems to be running things, the shop's integrity has taken a serious hit. Take my experience as you will, but Carp residents -- be cautious if you choose to take your vehicle here, especially if Jr is the one you're dealing with.