I took my car here for a smog check, which it passed with no issues. However, when I went to start my car afterward, the ignition switch was suddenly broken, and my car wouldn't start. When I brought this up to the mechanic and owner, they completely dismissed my concerns, claiming they weren't responsible and saying, "It's an old car, things break." They offered to fix it at the hourly rate with no discount despite very obviously be responsible for the damage. I got my car towed and I am on the hook to repair the ignition myself. They did not even offer a sincere apology which honestly would have went a long way. I understand wear and tear, but my car was working fine when I arrived for a simple smog. The lack of accountability and customer service here is unacceptable. If you value your vehicle and want a shop that stands by their work, take your business elsewhere. read more

Ultimately, they were not able to help smog my 1999 Acura Integra because it is a "gross polluter" and had failed previously elsewhere. But they took me right away and explained that I needed to go to a STAR certified station (they are not), and directed me to Pedro's down the street, where it finally passed with flying colors! So grateful for their honesty and recommendations at GM Auto & Smog. read more

Quick thorough service. All paperwork filed electronically. No issues. Very efficient.

I love them they can get you in fast. They do a great job. They're just around the corner from me perfect! And they have a terrific little office, an outside spot You could sit down to wait. On top of that, the woman who is there is a fantastic Dog rescue supporter . read more

See through the SMOG and come to GM Auto for your state test. For over a decade I've been coming here for my biannual SMOG testing. I always call ahead and get in same day for a quick, 5 minute test and a couple more for the paperwork. The price is fair and from what I've seen in Santa Barbra, more than fair if not cheap (shhhh. Don't tell them). This is TOO easy. I wish everything with cars were. Thank you to the Miguel, Mary and the team who keep me coming back every time. read more

GM Auto & Smog - SMOG testing - Auto Repair Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Staff is sassy, but fun. They know their stuff and if you need a smog check, it's a place to go. Quick in and out, as long as you have an appointment. read more

I needed a smog and the place I usually take my car was too busy. I'm not willing to wait over an hour for a smog check. Driving home I passed by GM auto on Alamar so I pulled in. They took care of me right away. They had other cars they were working on but took care of me right away. Quick and easy! I appreciate that! Thank you. read more

Update: so the owner responded, as I knew they would, basically implying I'm a negative person, therefore my review must be dramatized. Not only is his comment on my other reviews false, but If you scroll down their reviews you will see right away I'm not alone in my experience. The co-owner Mary was rude and unhinged. The voicemails she left me aren't dramatizations, they're real and unprofessional. The fact that they had a chance to rectify this in their response, but decided instead to try and discredit me and take no responsibility, clearly proves that my review is 100% accurate about this unprofessional crowd. To the owner: As a business owner myself, a little advice- I think instead of trying to discredit peoples reviews, or backhandedly trying to tell them "to smile more," you should probably take a hard look in the mirror and recognize these complaints are important, like them or not. For someone to spend their time reviewing your company obviously means something either went really well or really bad. The irony in all of this is you're telling me to smile, yet it was your lack of smiles and professionalism that got us here in the first place. You might be surprised what good things come when you actually give a flute about how your office treats people. read more

GM Auto & Smog - This is a picture of Mary that I found in their site. - Auto Repair Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I can usually get in the same day I call. They are very friendly and do the work quickly. I have been going to them for years and wouldn't consider going anywhere else. For smog checks, they send the results electronically to the DMV, so you don't have to worry about that part of it. I recommend them. read more

I don't know why there are so many bad reviews here. I actually thought the lady at the front was very nice. I mean I get why people say she is rude, because it could come across that way if you don't listen to her :) If I owned a business I would hire her to run my store front too. Failed smog, mechanic noticed short vacuum hose that was broken. Passed smog after he replaced it. read more

We were in a pinch facing an ongoing check engine light issue our regular mechanic was not able to figure out. My son needed his car to leave for school and time was running out for answers and hopefully smog check complete!!! How I wish we had gone to GM Auto&Smog sooner! Problem diagnosed and although there wasn't time to order part we know what to do and feel confident mystery solved. The owners of this business are not only kind but you are paying for years of knowledge when you bring in your car. Great people who really know what they're doing. read more

I bring multiple business and personal vehicles to GM Auto & Smog for vehicle smog they have always been great to work with. I happily recommend them. read more

I used to go to this shop when I first moved to SB a few years ago. They were ok and I liked the fact that it was a family business and had been around for years. I got a few minor things done on my car, including a smog check, and never had any complaints. Plus it was close to my house and I could walk home after dropping off my car on my day off. Anyway, at some point I had them check the brakes and they determined I needed new ones. Fine, it was legit because I hadn't had a brake job in years and had basically just taken the car on a road trip in the mountains and was pretty sure I had ridden the brakes more than I should have. They did the brake job, I took the car away and immediately noticed brand new squeaking when I pressed on the brakes. I called them, took the car back, they had a look and determined there was no squeaking. I took the car away again, and heard squeaking. I called them a second time and said, "hey, my brakes are still squeaking, can you have another look?" So they said yes, and when I brought the car back, I got a TON of attitude from one of the younger guys, who basically said that my brakes had always been squeaky and it wasn't their problem. This was approximately 2 years ago. I haven't been back since, my brakes still squeak, and I don't think they're supposed to. read more

What a gem of a local company. I had 20 minutes between appointments and thought I'll check to see if they can get me done. I wasn't really expecting on Friday afternoon that it would actually happen... and, it did! With smiles from both owners. I even got a photo of another happy customer while I was there. A+++ read more

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I had an expired registration I didn't know about and the DMV said I needed a smog check. I looked them up on Yelp & liked their reviews. They were very friendly when I called and made an appointment. I came in and they were very friendly! The atmosphere is fun and doesn't feel like a typical auto mechanic where you feel like you are going to get screwed big time. Fun family feel! They took me early and finished within 10 minutes! I am planning to come back for my oil change and will fill you all in after that! The price seems very reasonable. read more

GM Auto & Smog - Funny photos everywhere! - Auto Repair Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

They were very helpful and provided fair pricing. Just make sure to call ahead to schedule an appointment ahead to make things easier but they are pretty accommodating. I got oil change and smog check there and would go again if given the chance. read more

Weird, why didn't they leave a negative response to me? Thanks Andy for contacting me,wait YOU DIDN'T read more

Friendly service, local family business, great value! These people are super down to earth and care about the services they provide. Tip: Walk to Daily Grind or Chicken Ranch while you wait for your car! read more

GM Auto & Smog - Funny and funky decor- this place has character. - Auto Repair Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This is the BEST AUTO SMOG place I have ever been to!!! not only were they great in customer service but this place felt like HOME!!! Miguel was fast with my smog check and he was funny! He even asked if I brought him lunch! this place has a sense of humor with all the great signs in the office, I took pictures of the ones I liked and its now on my work bulletin board and I smile every time I look at them when I having a bad day! This place puts back humor and great customer service with real genuine people, something Santa Barbara is missing, we need more places like this where you go in and laugh and get a great job done on your car!!! Thank you GM Auto & Smog Keep it up your doing an awesome job!!!!:):):) read more

Great place for smog check I would trust them with repairs ....they are great folks! AND They love dogs. 12 minute Smog check...took me in as soon as I arrived(had an appt and would recommend that) Dorian read more

Stay Away! I took my truck to them for repairs and a Smog test. The order of operations was to replace parts, clear codes, and then smog after a drive cycle. They started with a smog test knowing it wouldn't pass and failed it! Next, they somehow replaced something GMC says takes 5hrs in just 2hrs? Long story short, $700 later and a passed smog test, I'm still not convinced they ever did any repairs. I'm happy it passed but now my truck has a failed test on its record. I will not be bringing any of my vehicles back here again. read more

Good smog shop. Quick and fairly priced. Silly signs in office to read while you wait.

My boyfriend wanted to take my Ford Van down to some place on Haley St. to have it smogged. "Oh, no you don't," I told him. "I always take my cars to GM on Alamar." I made an appointment, quick and easy. Got there a few minutes late, no problem. Sat on the patio with my two dogs, under the nice shade of the patio umbrella. Met the nicest woman and her son. The time went quickly. My Van passed with flying colors. I LOVE GM. I love the people, the great service, the low cost and the fact that they are happy, pleasant people who obviously appreciate their customers. As an added plus: it's not a noisy spot and the little patio really is quite a lovely place to wait. read more

I suggest these guys not to let their hurriedness get in the way of their customer service. I was told I would be waiting about 15 minutes, which ended up being twice as long when the service man doing my smog check admittedly told me he forgot I was waiting in the waiting room for my car (what?). So watch out if you have any meetings after your appointment with them, you will be late. Luckily for them, I had nothing to do immediately after my appointment. In addition to this, I paid for my smog check ($43) and was given not only my own forms, but someone else's D.M.V. form. I called them and I was asked to go back to the shop and return the form, which I begrudgingly did. The man behind the desk who picked up my call saw me walk in the door and just quickly said thanks before grabbing the paper and returning to the call. He could have at least put the person on hold and given me a sincere thank you (at the *very* minimum). It was not my fault that I was given someone else's DMV form and was then asked to come back and drop it off. I should have been compensated for the gas I wasted driving over there, as I live on the other side of town. I will be checking out my other options before returning to this shop. read more

I pulled in for a smog check at 12:15 without an appointment. The techs were at lunch but the cashier said they could fit me in at 1pm. At 1:15pm I was driving away with a completed smog certification. This is clearly a local family-owned business. The staff was super nice and their little office is filled to the brim with amusing signs and knick knacks. There are three chairs in the office for waiting, and also a little gazebo area right outside the bays with a table and benches. Not a bad place to eat lunch while they work. read more

Update: I received a response from this place which blames me for their lack of time management and that I didn't have an appointment. A.You didn't do me a favor and "squeezed me in" I called for an appointment and was told I don't need one B. My smog took 50 mins. Really you say it takes 10-15?? Because it didn't, it took 50. And there were only 2 other customers. Of course I was unhappy it took much longer than I was told. Thank god I read the other responses they had for customers that didn't give them great ratings. It's all the same. Not admitting to their mistakes nor wanting to do better. That's not how you do business if you want to succeed just FYI. Thanks to another review I won't be back for sure, and I'll make sure to share this with my friends and family. read more

Mechanic was rude to me and everyone in there. Ive been busy at my work sometimes. But i still am curtious. I was there on tuesday.

My check engine light came on and this mechanic "fixed" multiple things and charge over $750. Mechanic said it was a fuse and to just put a piece of tape over the light. The next day, the light was still on and the car was overheating. I couldn't drive more than a few miles without stopping to let it cool down. Mechanic looked at car again, charged more money, said it was fixed. It wasn't. Same problem persisted so I went to another mechanic that was recommended by a coworker. Turns out I had a combustion leak! If I didn't get it fixed properly the engine would've been trashed. This mechanic should have his license revoked! He charged me almost $1000 to "fix" things that weren't in need of fixing and almost ruined my engine/car. Do not go to this place!!! read more

All of these positive reviews are totally true. I work in Goleta, most of the smog places in Goleta have negative reviews. Read about this place and decided to try it out - wow was I impressed. Mary was totally nice scheduling the appointment. When I arrived, there was no wait. I was in and out in under 15 minutes! No upselling, although they do more than smog checks. Simple $49 includes the smog certificate. I most likely will be going to them for repairs. They are probably the best in Santa Barbara. read more

Great place to get our car smogged. I called at 8:30 and they said bring it in at 9:30. I did, and with a little paperwork, it was all done in 10 minutes. It's a small shop and they're very busy, so sit down and wait until they're ready for you. Great people. Great service. read more

I'll never smog elsewhere again! They are so fast that it feels like a drive through. Excellent service! read more

Great business very helpful. Squeezed me in, when my car did not pass they gave me codes for my mechanic to look at.

This place is great. I was able to make a same day appt for my smog check. I was in and out in 20 mins and it was only $30! You can't beat that price in this area. The signs in their waiting area are hilarious and the staff is very friendly. They are also dog friendly. This is my 2nd time here and both times were great. Coming back here next time! read more

After moving back to SB a couple of years ago, I was dreading having to find a new place to get my Smog Check after liking the place I used in LA so much. After going to GM Auto and Smog, I would never go anywhere else again! I called about making an appointment when they opened and was able to come in on the same day. Between parking the car and paying, it couldn't have been longer than 20 or 25 minutes. Super quick, easy, and it has to be the best price in town. Will be back next time I need a Smog Check! read more

Fantastic! I needed a quick smog check to get my registration tag and they took me immediately! It literally took less than 10 minutes! Great service....Thanks! read more

Be very careful. If you have a bone stock car with all original emissions equipment, you're probably fine to go to GM, but if not, I would not go there. I had an aftermarket catalytic converter on my car that has passed smog test for years until I came to GM. He flunked me even though the car passed all the emissions tests with flying colors. He failed it because one number in the catalytic converter serial number wasn't what he thought it should be. I ended up going to the DMV Smog Referee in Oxnard where the DMV tester looked at me and said "Why in the heck didn't he pass you?" I shared the story with him. He just shook his head, looked the cat up in the DMV web site, saw it as an approved cat, tested it to confirm and then handed me the paperwork that I had passed. I ultimately got my emissions approved but I had to go through all that time, expense and travel to Oxnard to get it. All of this could have been avoided had GM known where to look it up in the DMV web site. I hate to give them this bad of a review but it was a lack of knowledge, expertise or both that ended up costing me a lot of time and effort to get resolved. read more

GM Auto is as good as it gets; the only place I take my cars and the only place I recommend to friends and family. In the last ten years they have helped us with countless repairs, including emergencies, made great recommendations that have saved us money, and in all ways treated us like friends and neighbors. Just this week, we showed up fairly distraught with a completely shot water pump. Once again they got us back on the road with a minimum of hassle, at a fair price, and with a smile. If I could give them ten stars I would! read more

We won't take our cars anywhere else. I had an intermittent rattle on my Scion that had been happening for years. I'd asked two different Toyota dealerships to fix it and one other independent mechanic: None of them could find the problem so I just lived with it for years. I told Andy about it, went for a test drive with him and pointed out the noise and he found it! Turned out to be a little plastic knob loose in a front wheel. He removed it and the rattle is gone. I couldn't be happier with GM, I highly recommend them. read more

I've had my truck and cars serviced for a number of issues from oil changes to water pump. I have the most confidence and trust in them. They give excellent referrals for exhaust and A/C when it's beyond their services. read more

I got there at a slow moment, just drove up and 15 minutes later I was driving off with my smog certificate! Thank you for the quick service! read more