My horn on my Lexus was not working properly Dan diagnosed the problem, ordered the part and fixed it in a timely fashion as promised.

I was able to get an appointment within two days. I needed a 60k service on a Mini Cooper. I had Stevens Creek Mini Cooper do a service write up, they listed practically the entire car up to the sum of 10k and change in US currency. I went to Hidden Valley. Not knowing what to expect. I also needed the air conditioning serviced. I waited for the service. In a very reasonable amount of time, the service was completed along with the ac. Very professional and friendly staff. Nothing the dealer stated was wrong with the car was found. I'll definitely return for everything concerning the car. read more

I have been doing business with Hidden Valley for decades. I have always been mostly pleased with the service and the staff. Overtime, Hidden Valley has gone through multiple changes in staffing. The current iteration is by far the best ever. Dan is a super mechanic and an incredibly nice person. Jen runs the office with super efficiency and kindness. We recently moved to south county. I do not hesitate to continue to use them despite the horrendous traffic to get to them. I cannot over recommend them. If you car is sputtering for any reason this is the place to go. They provide great work, pricing, and interaction. Do not hesitate to use them. They are the best. read more

While traveling I had brake issues. They came highly recommended and rightfully so. They completed the work on the same day so that I could get back on the road with confidence that it was safe. They were very friendly and helpful! read more

First time customer and they fixed a broken axle in one business day. I was really impressed. I talked to two folks on the phone and both were very friendly, clear and helpful. I felt well taken care of even though I dropped my car off before they opened, picked it up after hours, and never interacted with anyone face to face. This is the first mechanic I've taken my 2018 Subaru to outside of the dealership. read more

I have had my car serviced by them for a few years. They have taken excellent care of my car in every respect. They are prompt, meticulous, polite and reasonable. Once I showed up at 4:30pm on a Friday with a small problem. Dan fixed it anyway. High praise for your service. M.B. read more

My starter was dying in my 1998 4Runner and I tried to get an appointment with another company but they were unfortunately booked out over 2 weeks so I remembered Hidden Valley Automotive, which is very close to my home, called them and was able to get my car in the next day ! Toyota recommended parts and now my much loved 4Runner is back on the road ! I will be taking my car to Hidden Valley for future services and oil changes in the future ! Thank you !!! read more

I started getting my cars serviced and repaired at Hidden Valley in 1999 and haven't stopped since. Simply a superb business: deeply competent, scrupulously honest, reliable and very fairly priced. Before COVID I commuted 15K miles/yr and my whole family drives a lot, so we rack up miles pretty quickly. I'm a pretty decent shade tree mechanic, but I still end up bringing in our cars for projects over my head or when it just needs to get done immediately and without issue. Over the years I've had them do big jobs like head gaskets, heater cores, main seals. Medium stuff like radiators, brakes, axles, starters. Small stuff like rough running, check engine lights, oil and water leaks, etc. This spans everything from Acura, BMW, Mazda, GMC and Jeep. I've recommended them to innumerable friends and family, and particularly to women. Never heard anything but good reports in return. You'll know when you step into the office they aren't wasting any money on decorations. :) Seriously though, give them the chance to earn your business and you'll be glad you did. read more

Dan is an excellent mechanic and most of all is trustworthy. He helped me diagnose my failing truck engine and put time into finding a cost effective replacement. Even while my truck was taking up space on his lot he never pressured me into any decisions. He has a great team that I would return to anytime. read more

Best place in town with great service from an expert mechanic. Stopped here to get car checked on my way back south. Highly recommended.

We were traveling from Tacoma WA to LA in a '64 Dodge Dart when the four speed transmission would not disengage properly. Signal lights and road construction stops were getting to be a real pain! Another shop recommended Hidden Valley Auto because they knew "the old stuff". Dick took the car in, and we picked up a rental to make our date in LA. Couple days latter, back at Hidden Valley, our '64 Dart is shifting better than it ever has and for only a couple hundred bucks. Needless to say this is the place to go and a great value for the dollar! And Dick was great to talk with after a couple minutes of warming up. The guy has led a super colorful and blessed life. read more

Hidden Valley Automotive - Cruising HWY 101 & 1 in our '64 Dart. - Auto Repair Near Me - Scotts Valley, California

See all

We were on vacation and our car engine light turned on. My husband went to 2 other places and was not helped: came here and the guy was great helped us right away and did a diagnostic check. There was nothing with the car and took our worries away in less than 5 min. Great service. read more

The old guy is a little salty, but once you get past that they're a good shop. It seems almost every shop in town has gotten really snooty about which cars they will work on, but Hidden Valley didn't give me any attitude. They took care of everything I requested (I had a laundry list of deferred repairs needing attention) and were pretty fair price-wise. They did the work right the first time as well. read more

My boyfriend and I were visiting Santa Cruz for a night, drove in from San Francisco. On the way home our 2006 Dodge Charger started to show that it was over heating on the freeway. In a panic, we got off the freeway and parked because we didn't want to damage the engine. After trying to figure what's wrong, we decided it was best to find a local repair shop to see if there was anything we can do. We were basically stuck which was a little terrifying. I proceeded to call HVA, which then Dick answered. I'm not going to lie, the convo was a little discouraging.. Dick wasn't the most inviting person on the phone and said he wasn't a Jack in a Box service. He was extremely busy. He said he will look at it for us but didn't seem promising since he said most of the people keep their cars there overnight. We arrived and again, Dick not being the most inviting person and pretty.. grumpy lol We also quickly realized he was hard of hearing so we had to adjust with these stupid masks on. We park the car, Dick comes over to look and the car roof isn't even opening. Boy oh boy, this wasn't a good start. Dick left to help with the other cars, my boyfriend and I spent 5/10 mins getting this piece of shit to open. YES, finally open and he proceeds to look at our car. As the time goes on, he does his thing and slowly warms up to us. He's nicer and nicer as time goes on and he's actually a very sweet man. He really gave us his attention, even knowing how busy he was with another guest waiting. Dick adds a shit ton of water, cools our engine down with time, adds some tube scrubbers and look at that.. our car is drivable again. We might have a leak but we'll address that back at home. We proceeded to pay and had a really nice conversation with him. After getting to know him, he really is a nice man. Dick really saved our day and got us back on the road again. I am incredibly grateful, he truly is a Dick in a Box service and he didn't even know it. THANK YOU! If you are lucky enough to be a local, come here. He'll get the job done! read more

The guys at Hidden Valley Automotive were awesome! The engine light on my 2006 Honda Pilot lit up on my trip up to Santa Cruz. I was planning to take it to the Honda Dealer in town even tho I HATE taking my car into the dealer...but since I was staying at the Hilton in ScottsValley and Hidden Valley Auto was just around the corner I decided to talk to these guys first. The best decision I made this new year 2018! Dick and Jeff were very knowledgeable. They quickly figured out the best and cheapest way to deal with the codes that came up from the engine check diagnostic. I know the dealer would have costed me ALOT more than what I paid. I was so happy and satisfied I tipped them an extra "lunch on me" $20. Thank you Hidden Valley Automotive. My son and his 7 roommates go to UCSC. I'll make sure they go to you for their car repairs. read more

I called every auto shop in Scotts Valley looking to get work done on my Honda. Hidden Valley was the only place that sounded empathetic and interested to solve my issue. After dropping my car off and learning more about Dick - You can see his passion in portraits of his racing days and hear it within 65 years industry experience. My car runs better than ever and I'll come back anytime I need automotive service. Dick has created success through relationships built on trust, integrity, and deep technical knowledge. Don't waste time elsewhere and get in with a shop that cares. read more

Quick, honest, and fairly priced. Not to mention great conversation with Dick. With the exception of my wife's new car that goes to the dealer, I usually do my own work on cars. However, when I'm short on time I will definitely take my cars in to them. read more

Fantastic shop. Dick and his crew are kind, honest folks. I brought my M4 in for its 30k service and couldn't be happier with the outcome. The very competitive estimate I got beforehand matched the bill afterwards and the work was done when they said it would be done. Can't ask for more than that. Will definitely be back and will recommend them to anyone who's looking for a great mechanic. read more

My oil change and 2 headlights was $140... never again! I was not told that the cost of labor was going to be $90 for an hour!! I was sent here off of a locals recommendation that they have fair and honest pricing.. complete disbelief that I just paid double what an actual dealership would have charged me! To say I am pissed is an understatement! read more

This place is THE BEST. Three people work there. All have over thirty years experience which means they fix old and new. Dick the owner who was an international professional race car driver knows more about cars than anyone I have ever met He is also one of the nicest people you will meet. This guy will not take advantage of you. His prices are fair and his work is impeccable. At times you will see Ferraris and Alpha Romeo's sitting next to an 84 Honda or 51 Chevy truck. Let me not forget they are experts in air conditioners. You can TRUST this local business, Barry read more

I've been bringing my cars to Dick for years now and I've always been really pleased. He's a no nonsense type of guy and he won't oversell you parts that you don't need. As a matter of fact, I used to have a 1997 Civic and my (manual) transmission broke. A new one was $1500 but Dick got a used one with 60,000 miles on and I saved 50% of the the price. They are all knowledgeable and will work on just about any car/truck. More recently, my Subaru Outback was leaking steering fluid and the dealership gave me an estimate for close to $2000 to change the faulty part, while Dick tried something first, which was to put some sealant of sorts and that cost me less than $20. Turns out that the part really needs to be replaced but I'll probably just go pull it off a crashed Subbie and have the shop replace mine. read more

I came to do 30,000 miles maintenance check last month; Dick told me they found one of the front brake pads wore out about 2mm left, so he recommended replacing the left side brake pad. After it was done, now, when I drove on the highway, the car vibrated and jitter when braking. So I stopped by today to ask Dick to check if anything wrong after he tested driving; he said it's not that bad; you can wait or replace the rotor if it gets worse. After Googling, I found online that whenever you replace brake pads, you need to replace them in pairs, particularly for the front pairs. Dick only replaced one pad since the other pad still has half-life remaining. But according to the article, that is bad and can cause jitter because the front pairs don't have the same thickness of the pads and pressure. Do they seem don't know this? Why asked me to replace the rotor? The article said most rotors need to replace after 50,000 or 70000 miles, and my car only had 30,000 miles! Now I am not sure this garage has the enterprise on brake repairs? I have been using this garage for my repairs for the last few years; this is disappointed. Dick even did not offer to recheck the brake pad before asking to replace the rotor! read more

I can't recommend Hidden Valley Automotive highly enough. Every time I've gone there for a question or repair, I've been treated with the utmost respect. I know nothing about cars, but these guys have never once talked down to me or made me feel taken advantage of because of it. Today I went in expecting a +$2000 bill based on a dealership estimate, but the mechanic at Hidden Valley explained that there was an easier solution that would cost me only a fraction of the cost without damaging my car. This is not the first time they have saved me tons of money and my peace of mind. The second these guys actually charge me something, I will gladly pay it. They have absolutely earned my trust and I have no intention of going any where else for as long as I live in the area. read more

Dick is the owner. He knows and understands cars and is very helpful. He has always done right for me.

Dick is our GO TO mechanic. If I could I would add a sixth star! Easily the most honest and friendliest automotive shop I have ever experienced. Dick truly cares about fixing the problem, getting your car back on the road, and making sure you are taken care of. Dick takes the time to explain the diagnoses and how he will fix the issue with the vehicle. We have been bringing our vehicles to Dick for over 5 years now! read more

they are so good, literally always tryna bring my car here, Dick is the man, when im droppin my car off im tryna give it to someone who is somewhat efficient, & both times hes been on point read more

I wanted badly to rate Hidden Valley well but the last two experiences have been absolutely appalling. My mom needed her radiator replaced in her van and she took it to Hidden Valley. She had found a radiator for sale at Oreilly's for her van that was $120 and when she offered to pick it up and provide it to Hidden Valley, they told her not to worry about it. They'd charge close to the same price for it if they purchased it. They charged her $300! For a radiator?!?! She ended up paying near $500 for a radiator in her van including installation which is freaking outrageous. Radiators don't take that long nor are they that experience. Next experience was just as bad.. Car was making a noise when turning the steering wheel. Took it in for diagnosis. They said it was the wheel bearing. Cool, estimate? They estimated $450 to replace a wheel bearing WITHOUT the hub.. Sorry guys. The car had its other wheel bearing replaced at GST Motorsports. Yeah, they specialize in race cars which this car is and for replacing the wheel bearing AND hub (which is $200 alone), it was $450. So I called up Larry's Automotive which is less than a mile away from Hidden Valley and what did he quote? $200 for the whole job. He said it would take 1.5 hours. Hidden Valley claimed it would take 3.5 hours.. So.. either they've never replaced a wheel bearing hence it will take more than twice as long to repair it, or they were trying to take me for a ride like they did my mom. Well I didn't fall for it. We've got an appointment to have Larry do the job, and Larry comes highly recommended by several people in Scotts Valley. And let me mention that a year ago they said the check engine light in my Hyundai was caused by the transmission going out and it would be $2500.. Took it to AAMCO a week later and they said it was just the head gasket that needed to be replaced cause a chunk of it was gone. 60,000 miles later, my transmission is running perfect... I will never go to Hidden Valley again. I can't believe they honestly try and charge people the prices they do. I feel horrible for people who don't know any better and get taken for a ride when they go to this mechanic. Go to Larry's if you're looking for good, honest work. You won't regret it. read more

Exceptional service! Great customer service, reasonable pricing, and repairs completed timely.

Nothing but good things to say about Dick and his staff. They performed an emergency repair for less than the estimate and far less than the dealer quoted. The repair was also performed one day earlier than originally estimated. I was very pleased with their service. read more

I went to Hidden Valley Automotive for the first time today. What a hidden gem. OK, I only went for an oil and filter change, but they were ready for my appointment, they were very nice, and they got the job done quickly. No BS or trying to sell me something I didn't need (rare for Scotts Valley). I will definitely go back. read more

Good reliable auto shop, and not expensive. Brought my BMW here three times for repairs and all three times my car was ready for pickup when they said it would be ready. read more

Dick and Jeff and crew are skillful, fast, and TRUSTWORTHY. They will never suggest unnecessary repairs. This place is a welcome alternative to big impersonal shops. What a treasure. read more

I've taken my cars to several places in 30+ years, and never have I had such a miserable experience as I did at hidden valley small car. We brought in the car for front wheel bearings. I got the call saying it was finished, and I was told the check engine light is on because the speed sensor is broken from the wheel bearings being worn out, but "that's how we got it when your wife dropped it off", so I went and paid the bill and got the car back. Talking to my wife, it turns out the check engine light was never on before she brought it in. The story seemed pretty fishy, so I popped the wheel off to see how things looked (I've done all my own motorcycle maintenance and much of my own auto maint in the last 30+ years). The damage was clearly not caused by the reasons I was told, as it was very clear that the $200+ speed sensor had been mishandled, and there was other evidence of abuse (fresh dents from a hammer, etc) on other parts in the proximity. It was the work of a hack. I took lots of pictures. But this wasn't the worst of it. I phoned and told hidden valley I wanted to talk about this, and the guy said OK, fine. I told him I'd stop by during the week. I showed up a few days later, about 10 minutes after their closing time, but the doors were open and the OPEN sign was still lit up, so I went inside. The guy I had been dealing with showed up from the back of the shop, spouting off in an angry way that they were closed. I told him why I was there, and he finally agreed to talk. Although I stayed as pleasant as possible with him, explaining what I had found, for the next 10 minutes I was there he was the most foul and miserable person I had ever met. Conclusion: although he agreed to fix this problem, it was the most foul experience I have ever had dealing with any person in any business I've ever been to, and I would never in my life go back. Stay away read more

These guys are truly the best. I live in the east bay area and have searched far and wide for 3 years now just to find a REAL shop that has REAL mechanics who know their trade...DICK, DAN and JEFF ARE THE GUYS!!! I'm the proud owner of a 420,000 mile '03 Toyota Tacoma and with a truck with that many miles I need true experts who know how to diagnose and repair. I've had them do everything from tackling a very tricky check engine light problem to replacing my steering rack and shaft to installing new front seats and each time drive away knowing my truck is smiling! They won't trick you into doing work that's not needed and are very fair with pricing on top of it all! Now even though I must travel an hour and half just to get to them from Alameda...it's worth it! I TRUST AND WILL RECOMMEND ONLY THEM!!! read more

As long as the job get's done right, I don't mind spending the cash for it. Dick and Jeff were very sympathetic to my situation and took care of me whereas another mechanic completely ripped me off. They managed to find errors another shop had made and even backed me up in attempting to recoup some of the funds that I had spent at a previous mechanic that needed more money to do the job correctly. My car was running better than it ever had after taking it here, smooth idle and start. They also only took a weekend on my car whereas the other shop I had taken it to had my car for 1.5 weeks waiting for parts and installation. They even gave me a head's up on what will need replacing and when would be the best time to replace so I could make my money stretch. Excellent speedy professional service, highly recommended, A++ service sometimes you get more than what you pay for. Will be a repeat customer. read more