Lael&#x27;s International Auto Service

(179 reviews)

Service on my son's car was done as requested. Only issue we had was communication. Stated if the…read morecar was dropped off on Friday, it would be ready on Monday (Memorial Day). Due to the holiday they were not open, like we originally thought but when we were told Monday we just thought maybe they were going to be open regardless. We were able to reach someone and were told the car would be ready the following morning, we showed up and the car was still being worked on. We came back a few hours later and the car was still actively being worked on but was finished within the hour. Prices were reasonable and as far as we can tell the work was done properly.

Very frustrating, I took my car here to have them take a…read morelook at it. There was a possibility my car had been running rich based on the code my car had given my scanner, and it had aligned with the fact that my car had started to struggle when idling. So I cleaned the mass airflow sensor, and the code went away, but the symptoms (struggling to idle) were still there. So I took it to A Better Auto Repair because it's not far from where I live and told them what had been going on. They called me back a day after I had dropped my car off, and they said there were no issues and that the car did not struggle to idle and they asked me to pick it up. So I went and picked up my car, but this time the idle issue was still there, and now my car has rod knock. I have babied my car, and there would be basically no reason for this to happen, but then I take my car here, and this new issue (along with the old issue that they said went away, even though it didn't) appears out of thin air, and they deny it all. Unacceptable. I'm now going to have to pay upwards of $10,000 for a complete engine replacement somewhere else. AutoNation Subaru Carlsbad quoted me for a complete swap at $13,000. I wish I were joking, but I am not. My entire family and I will never go there again. 0 Stars.

Mission Car Care Center

4.0

(159 reviews)

Mission Car Care Center is the only place I'll trust with my car. My car pushing 20 years and it…read morestills runs like the day I drove it off the lot. I recently took it in for preventive maintenance so I don't have to worry about any major repairs down the line. They're fast, professional, and their prices are fair. No games, no upselling--just solid, honest service. Feels like my engine will run forever. Sean really work ethic stands out He treats everyone with respect and makes sure your car taken care of when walk in through the door. This is the only shop I'll go to. Anywhere else would be a downgrade.

Went in for routine maintenance. I waited for an hour before they gave recommendations for brakes,…read moretransmission work, and other items for a total cost of $3800! I then went to Jiffy Lube to get all I needed - an oil change! and fluids checked for about $40.

Valvoline Instant Oil Change

4.2

(204 reviews)

I love Valvoline. You can always get a coupon. Plus, you can drive thru. I had my meows with me, so…read moredrive thru services are the easiest solution. Having a car service day, and I was in this area. They check all of your lights, fluids and they say 15 minutes, but it usually takes longer, so plan accordingly. Not a bad price for a full synthetic with a coupon. It's a great and convenient service. Don't forget your coupon. P.S. you can call and get an AI quote for whatever your model, and oil preference is. If you want to make your car last, I always recommend full synthetic changes. For any location, overall Valvoline is a good value/convenience. I really like this Valvoline in particular. Some are hit or miss at times. This one was awesome and I'd definitely come here again and highly recommend to others.

Outstanding service! You pull up and they are so attentive. You don't even have to leave your car…read more You stay in it, they have a single person who communicates with you and instructs everyone to do the specific things, then checks everything.

North County Auto Service

(224 reviews)

This place is a gem! They got me in and out so fast, made everything simple, and were incredibly…read morekind the whole time. You can tell they really value honesty--they explained everything clearly and didn't try to take advantage of me at all. On top of that, their prices were super fair. I finally feel like I found an auto shop I can trust! Thank you Rex

Great service! I had a routine checkup for my 2017 Honda Civic Sport. Staff was friendly and…read moreknowledgeable. Price was reasonable. Service was timely and well done. I'll definitely be going here for all of my auto maintenance needs!

Jiffy Lube

3.5

(132 reviews)

This is my 5th or 6th time at Jiffy lube & once again I was treated kindly, oil change done in…read more15-20 minutes and it was worth the price. Asked if I needed anything else and I said no thank you just the oil change :) I appreciate guys being professional and friendly when I'm just a women going in for an oil change & that's it! Thank you to Chris (the one name tag I could read) :)

Great for quick oil change BUT beware of unnecessary recommended service. Just say NO!…read more I have a quote from Jiffy Lube for recommended new brakes, for over $1,000. I took my car the next day to my Ford dealer to check and rear brakes were barely used and front were more than 50% left. Shame on you Jiffy Lube! We won't be going to you again.

Purrfect Auto Service

4.3

(165 reviews)

Great place -- affordable prices and honest, great service…read more I've been coming here for years, from simple fluid changes to big repairs. The location is super convenient, and I'll definitely keep coming back. If you ever feel like other shops or dealerships are overcharging, get a second opinion here. Highly recommended!

I would recommend going to a different shop. I brought my car in after a failed smog test and was…read moretold they would get to it the next day and they were more affordable place. Called for 2 days in a row and they still never started working on my car and kept getting the run around of what could be wrong, never called back when I asked how much it would be to replace something. After I was not comfortable with them working on my car, I went in on Monday, to get my car back at 8 when they open...to be told the front desk guy wasn't there yet and won't be there till 8:30. Walked back in at 8:30 and he still wasn't there! Thankfully I got my car back to take it to a different shop. Don't be open at a certain time if the person who does the paperwork doesn't show up until 8:30 or whenever he wants to show up.

Oceanside Auto Repair

(115 reviews)

Rick & his crew did a great job! If you need a smog, I…read moredefinitely recommend you bringing your vehicle here! Very reasonably priced too! Ron Z.

1 star. Do not bring your car here…read more I brought myJeep SRT8 in for a valve cover, oil pan, and crank seal job on 5/8. Got it back 5/13, five days for a two-day quote. It was smoking before I even got back to work. Oil dripping onto the headers. Returned it same day, they re-torqued and sent me home. Still smoking. Dropped it back off 5/14 at 3:10PM. Picked up 5/15. Two lights from the shop my transmission started slipping hard in second gear. Turned right back around. Owner Ricky confirmed the slip on a test drive. His first question was whether I'd done aftermarket work to the transmission, trying to make it my fault before we even got back to the shop. Plugged in a scanner, found an old unrelated stored code, erased it, drove it again. His conclusion: "I don't know what to tell you." I pointed out the transmission was perfect at drop-off. He got angry. Said no one drove it, they only idled it. Then offered to pull camera footage as proof. I said let's go watch it right now. He said he had other things to do. This happened in front of my fiancée and two of his own employees. No intake paperwork was made when I returned the car, no mileage logged for the exact period the transmission failed. What I can tell you is the mileage on my car does not support the story they're telling. A certified third-party inspection from the shop literally 150 feet away documented my transmission passing with zero issues the same morning I dropped off. The oil pan job on the 6.1L HEMI also requires physically moving the transmission for access. They did something and when confronted with the proof, they dodged cameras and kicked me out. BAR complaint filed. Small claims next. Update "Response to Ricky, thank you for responding publicly this actually helps me significantly. You identified yourself here as "Business Manager." When I asked you in person for the owner, you said you were in front of witnesses. That is now publicly documented. Regarding the OBD codes : the stored code found was a historical "lost communication with TCM" event. That is not a transmission mechanical failure code. It is entirely unrelated to active gear slipping. Any qualified technician or BAR investigator will confirm those are two completely different things. Regarding the SRT8 being driven aggressively: on the morning of my drop-off, another shop conducted a certified digital multi-point inspection of my vehicle. 31 of 33 systems passed. Transmission was in the green. The only red flags were the exact leaks I hired you to fix. That inspection is timestamped and on record. A performance vehicle with aggressive driving history does not pass a certified inspection hours before drop-off and then suddenly fail two blocks from your shop after picking up You stated the transmission was not touched. The 6.1L HEMI oil pan job requires the transmission to be lowered for access. It does not need to be fully removed to be disturbed. You also claim no evidence exists linking your repairs to the transmission failure. There is also no intake paperwork from my return visit, meaning no mileage baseline exists for the exact period the failure occurred. That absence of documentation benefits only one party, and it is not me. Your building advertises transmission services. You told me to my face you don't diagnose transmissions. Thank You Sir

Oceanside Motorsports

(160 reviews)

lifetime oil change and cabin and engine filter change service complete. Thanks again to Frank and…read morethe rest of the OMS team.

Used to bring my BMWs here for service over the years because of how friendly, responsive, and…read morereasonably priced they were. Fast forward a few years later and I call them to get a quote on a service and they refuse to give me a quote unless I bring it to pay and diagnose saying it could cost "4 or 5 times more than I expected". Every single other shop I called didn't even do that, clearly it must be to gouge on the cost once your car is already in their possession or else they would have nothing to hide. Sad to say I no longer trust this place.

American Tire Depot

(630 reviews)

My tire picked up a nail and they repaired it with a patch for free. How can you beat that?! You…read morecan't! Professional and friendly service Thank you ATD! Ron

Bait and Switch Advertising!!…read more Bought a set of tires here, they were listed as having the lowest advertised price for the set I wanted and claim they offer a replacement warranty. They charge that rate per tire, and then the fees start coming in. Fee after fee end up putting them on the higher side of the market for the tires. At this point I have too much time invested so I move forward. They end up taking an hour and half longer than originally quoted. Then when I got a nail in the tire they charged me over a hundred bucks to replace the dang thing! After I had paid for the warranty!! Predatory marketing and dishonest service claims. Find a different tire shop.

Firestone Complete Auto Care

2.9

(61 reviews)

Avoid this place like the plague! They will push unnecessary…read moreservices and aggressively try to upsell you on their credit card. I only took my car in for a simple radiator flush. Afterward, the attendant told me I needed -- ASAP -- a new radiator, new hoses, a new radiator cap, and two thermostats replaced. That would have cost me over $4,000. I took it straight to an independent shop and the only thing wrong was a simple bad cap. Avoid this place at all costs!!

Great service came in for a alignment and the service was quick…read more I had the lifetime alignment so it was free of charge

Discount Tire

4.0

(33 reviews)

Wow! Fastest…read moreservice I've ever gotten! I was in and out within 30 minutes!! The staff was friendly! I only needed to get 2 front tires. They had what I needed for a great price and O got the warranty! Thank you for being quick and kind and caring to my sexy Lexi!!

I usually visit the El Camino Discount Tire location in Oceanside as well as Encinitas but since…read morethis location was closer, I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, this visit wasn't as smooth as my previous experiences. When I arrived, I walked toward the service area and was told to go to the front because there were employees available to assist me there. Once I got to the front, I wasn't acknowledged right away. Later, when I returned to pick up my vehicle, I went to the front desk again and was directed back to the service area. When I got there, no one was at the desk, so I walked back to the front and again waited without being acknowledged before finally asking for my keys. The work on my vehicle was completed, but the customer service and communication could definitely be improved. There seemed to be several employees working, yet the process felt confusing and unorganized. Based on this experience, I'll likely continue visiting the El Camino location, where I've consistently had quicker and more attentive service. Hopefully this location can improve the customer experience moving forward.

Accurate Alignments and Service

4.9

(142 reviews)

Shocks/struts replacement (and alignment) on 2018 Honda CR-V. Clear and accurate estimate…read more Excellent work. Vehicle handles noticeably better after. Friendly staff.

I met Accurate Alignment Services sort of second hand by their partnership with San Diego Motoring,…read moreonly minutes away. My first use of their services was for alignment for new tires on our 3 autos from www/sd.motoring.com. Since then, we've had new tires and front-end alignment for our daughter's car as well - all great service from both companies! Recently that "daughter auto" was afflicted with a dead battery, leaving me puzzled how you navigate this sort of issue. I called Scot at Accurate Alignment simply trying to put together a plan of action. Not being familiar with the whole towing process, Scot's guidance was welcome in getting the car to his shop to move toward repairs. I hadn't looked to Scot's team as being able to also provide other "SERVICES" as their name suggests. With his help we had the car in his shop, and out with a new battery by 4:30 same day! Scot was his usual helpful, professional, friendly self, guiding me along the towing steps from AAA, to one of their towing agents, and on to Accurate Alignment SERVICES for our needed repairs. Thanks, Scot, for the full spectrum of auto repair!

Oceanside Auto Repair

(115 reviews)

Rick & his crew did a great job! If you need a smog, I…read moredefinitely recommend you bringing your vehicle here! Very reasonably priced too! Ron Z.

JB Mobile Auto Repair

(61 reviews)

Jose came to my home to fix my car battery that erupted in my engine. He did an amazing job!…read morePromt and ready to go from our agreed upon start time. A extremely friendly person with great customer service! He has very reasonable costs for products and labor as well. He went above and beyond to help fix an electrical issue with a seat on my other vehicle. I would highly recommend him to anyone who reads this as well as my family and friends. Great job Jose keep it and I will be contacting you again in the mechanic work . ~Nathan Mandelenis ~

JB came to our home and fixed the car. His prices were competitive and his communication was…read moredetailed and timely.

North County Brake Pros

(51 reviews)

Jose was super friendly and honest !…read more I called twice on different occasions to ask a few questions. He was not at all rude or unpleasant. I was worried that maybe I might have an issue with my brakes on a recently used purchased vehicle. He offered to take a look for no charge This made my day, one less worry to worry about!!

I can't say enough about these people. My husband needed his window fixed. He went by for an…read moreestimate and the owner said he'd order the part right away. They made a plan for my husband to come back on Saturday at 9 AM. He did and discovered that the owner came in just to do his window repair and it took him about 45 minutes. What great Service and Care!

Oceanside Paint and Body

5.0

(101 reviews)

It was time for our 2000 Tacoma for a facelift. We gave Shawn our budget and he worked magic for…read moreus. First, he delivered on a showroom quality paint job! He went above and beyond when he completely replaced our hood, front bumper, hooked us up with a windshield replacement guy, coordinated window tinting, threw in new door handles, covered rust, replaced the existing antennae, and popped out numerous dents. I cannot speak highly enough of how easy Shawn made the entire process so easy for us. He communicated quickly and finished a week ahead of schedule. When we went to pick it up, it was completely detailed and pristine. We are still in awe. It feels like we have a brand new truck. This is the place to go in Oceanside!

After backing my Volkswagen Tiguan into a parking pole, I needed a new fender and found Oceanside…read morePaint & Body through referrals and their stellar reviews. Now I know exactly why Shawn and his team have earned them. A few other shops tried to take advantage of my wife when she called around for quotes -- Shawn was straightforward, fair, and reasonably priced from the start. He had the car back to us in just three days with a new fender and a paint match that looks completely factory fresh. You genuinely can't tell anything ever happened. Easy to work with, honest, fast, and the results speak for themselves. If you're in Oceanside and need body work done right, don't bother shopping around -- just call Shawn. Can't recommend him enough.

Auto Glass & Tint of Oceanside

4.9

(695 reviews)

Walked in and got my truck tinted fast! Brought all three of my cars here. Can't recommend…read moreenough, fast and quality work.

I recently visited Auto Glass and Tint based on my son's recommendation. He had his Tesla X tinted…read morethere nearly two years ago and is still extremely satisfied--no bubbles, no peeling, and no fading. That alone spoke volumes, so I decided to give them a try. I also have a Tesla and quality is for sure what I'm looking for. I reached out after business hours, and they still welcomed my call and helped me schedule an appointment for the very next day. From the moment I arrived, their team demonstrated professionalism, knowledge, and excellent customer service. Their pricing is competitive, and their shop is clean and well-organized, which is a major plus for me. The tint quality is outstanding. They use 3M film, one of the most reputable brands in the industry, and the results show it. Definitely shields heat. So much cooler in my car. If you're looking for knowledgeable staff, high-quality work, and exceptional customer service, this is the place. They even followed up the next day to make sure I was happy with the tint and to answer any questions. Truly a great experience from start to finish.

Olive Tire Shop

See more unrecommended reviews

(62 reviews)

Got 2 (used yet in excellent condition) for $100 and he helped me put my new hubcap on my car too!…read moreI was looking for $30-$40 used tires but I went to at least 4 other spots before this one and they were all asking for $65-$75 for each tire so I guess this was the best deal I was going to find today.

My tire kept losing pressure, and after stopping at two gas stations in the pouring rain, I…read morecouldn't get air because the machines weren't working. Thankfully, I found Olive Tires, and they were able to quickly fill my tire with air. They discovered a piece of metal stuck in the tire that was causing the leak. Within 20 minutes, they switched out my tire for a very reasonable price. The service was fast, honest, and professional -- I highly recommend Olive Tires if you ever need tire help!

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Mike B.

15 years ago

Lael's International Auto was pointed out as a great place to have auto service and repair work done by a AAA tow truck driver. I am so glad I was introduced to this garage. They have all the diagnostic tools to work on my car a Honda at the time (now an Acura) and did a great job. My new used car now runs better than the day I bought it. They were able to work on my sisters BMW and have the tools only BMW dealerships usually have, she was so impressed that when her husbands car needed work they drove it to visit and had the repairs done while they were here. I like that Lael is down to earth, and gives honest answers that a non-gear-head like me, can understand. It is like he treated our cars as if they were his own, and he was cheaper and better than any other place we looked at (and my sis lives in L.A.) I would recommend this shop to anyone who needs to get their car repaired, especially an import auto like Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Infiniti, Acura... or other make from high end to average. The service is above average and prices seemed lower than other shops. If I have to do maintenance to keep my car form having problems or if a engine light comes on Lael's international Auto in Oceanside is the place! They are open early and close late 6 days a week and that is convenient with my schedule that varies a lot. I'd recommend this place to anyone that needs good honest answers to keep their car in top shape. Also, I hear they are having a Auto Body Shop open next door so it is a one stop shop for all the needs a car owner has... BTW - if they can't do it, they gave a referral to a great contact that fixed the problem for a fraction of the estimates elsewhere (car stereo/nav). Keep up the great work! And thanks for taking care of my family's needs! read more

Scott F.

13 years ago

My family was on vacation in Southern California (LegoLand) to celebrate my son's 6th birth over the 4th of July Holiday. As we left to return home (AZ), the belt that operates the water pump snapped and our vehicle over heated. AAA recommended Lael's and we had our car towed there. Dick Wilimek at the front desk helped us out with getting the initial paperwork done so that our Vehicle (2003 Ford Escape) could be evaluated. He was sensitive to our situation, being out of town and on our way home, and was very helpful in providing us with details on what the process would be. Brandon Williams, the mechanic that did the work on our vehicle was every bit as kind as Mr. Wilimek, and even drove me down the street to the rental car dealership so that we could get a vehicle and find a hotel for the evening as we waited for parts to arrive. The next day (7/6/2013) All the parts arrived and our vehicle was fixed and ready to go by 2PM. All told they had to replace the radiator, Water-pump, thermostat, upper and lower hoses and the thermostat casing. The price was very reasonable...and they even did all the work on a Saturday...which they are NOT typically open on Saturdays so they went well above and beyond excellent customer service, in my opinion. Our Escape runs great...stays cool...and even the AC works better now because they had to discharge/recharge it to remove the radiator. I would recommend Lael's and Dick & Brandon to ANYONE who requires vehicle repair. It was an excellent experience in an otherwise crummy situation. Thank you soooooo much Dick and Brandon...I appreciate you guys more then words can tell! read more

Kevin B.

9 years ago

It's very hard to find a mechanical shop that is completely trustworthy, respectful, and also fair and reasonably priced. Lael and his crew offer top-notch customer service, and a repair process where you are kept informed if there are any changes. The first time I used them was in January of this year, I was having problems with the starter on my 2003 Infiniti FX45. I generally do my own repairs, but had recently had surgery and couldn't tackle it at the time. Lael's offered a free diagnosis to be certain that it was the actual starter that was bad. They honestly try to save their customers money (and frustration) wherever they can! They determined that it was the starter that was bad, and gave me a written quote. They were able to replace it the same day, and the final bill was actually LESS than the original quote (that was a nice surprise)! I knew that I had found a trustworthy, knowledgeable shop to recommend to everyone I know. Earlier this week, I was doing a small repair on my own when I ran into an issue that stumped me. I called and spoke to Lael, and explained what was going on. He spent his own valuable time to look up some very specific footnotes related to the repair. I was amazed that he not-only took the time to help me out, but he also texted me the specific footnote! I'm not aware of ANY other shop that would go to that extent. I was able to complete the repair thanks to the information he provided. It's THAT kind of customer service that truly makes this shop shine above others. I cannot recommend this shop enough! read more

Mike R.

14 years ago

Lael's International auto Service. We have had quality service with work being completed in a timely manner and a reasonable price. We needed a AAA new battery. Since Lael is a Auto Mechanic member of AAA he called directly with AAA and I was able to receive a new battery free of charge. Lael kept his business open until the job was done, even when it was raining cats and dogs. (They did a heroic job) Also another time we have had our tires rotated at a fair price. Today We needed an oil change. Lael has a deal to purchase a (3) time oil change @ $39.00 . We can use the oil change 3x at any time. Plus the membership for the oil change also enables one to receive $10.00 off any other work. I filled out the paper work except they forgot to charge me for the oil change. My brain was somewhere else and did not notice they had not charged me. My father had heart surgery and I was concerned about him. Thank God he came through with a pace maker successfully done...!!!Later Lael's called and Let me know I had not paid and said I did not need to pay. I told Lael I would fill out a review even before he told me not to worry about paying. Gladly I filled out this review. We reccomend Lael International Auto Service! Lael has qualified diagnostic testing for many types of cars. They fix what needs to be fixed and that is It! Thank you! We are happy Campers! (Lael is Honest like Abe Lincoln) He goes the extra mile!!! read more

Richard N.

15 years ago

I was pressed for time, showed up at Lael at 2pm on a Friday, asked if he could do soem work that they had recomended 5 months earlier. I was going to fly out the next day at 11, and needed to pick the car up at 9 am, or have to use a rental to the airport. The next day, at 8:45 they had my car ready. That was great, but there is more. My car had been shaking when I hit thr breaks, and the usual suspects are pads, rotors part of suspension and bushings. So I was expecting to pay at least for breaks and something else, bushings especially, so we had put that on work order. Here is the good news Lael determined that the breaks alone whould remedy the problem, and bushings were in good condition. He did the breaks and left the bushing as is. Whe he informed of this my Jaw dropped. If Abe Lincoln (honest) has a competitot, it has to be Lael. Wait there is more. because of the time crunch, there was no time to flush the breaks. Lael informed of this and that the car would drive fine, but I shoud get that done soonest. So why was I at Laels? Prior to this work, I had rolled into his shop with busted radioator. Stranded on a saturday afternoon. I left car there and they went to work. my fear was that I had fried my engine. They did repairs on cooling system, and we threw in a tune up to boot. This workmanship was beyond my wildest dreams. I would refer the WSecret Service to bring their presidential fleet to Laels. Seriously. read more

Ashley S.

9 years ago

My car broke down on the freeway in Oceanside on my way down to San Diego for the 4th of July holiday. I called AAA and asked them to tow me to the nearest AAA-certified auto shop. All within an hour, Lael ran a diagnosis, gave me an estimate, ordered new parts, and told me it would take roughly 6-8 hours to repair. By this time it was already late in the afternoon and we both knew it would be difficult to finish by end of day. Being a young female in my early twenties and unfamiliar to the area, Lael wanted to make sure I had a safe, alternative way of transportation while my car was being repaired. Thankfully one of my friends who lives down in south county was able to come pick me up, but he even offered to help me find a local rental car if I needed to do so. Like it mentioned - I did not expect them to finish my car by end of day yet he stayed at shop working well past 8pm (after hours) to make sure my car was fixed and ready for pick-up prior to the holiday. I unfortunately couldn't catch a ride back to Oceanside that night and they were supposed to be closed the next day for the 4th of July. Lael kindly offered to meet me back at the shop in the morning to let me pick up my car, even on a closed holiday! I couldn't be happier with Lael's work and service! He's a nice guy who truly cares about his customers and quality of work. I would highly recommend you to go see him if your having any car troubles. read more

Bryton S.

10 years ago

Amazing customer service, great personality to converse with, and fantastic pricing--lets you sort of work with him so you learn what's going on with your car--real no bullshit mechanic. This guy saved my trip. Broke down Chrysler Sebring on exit 62 going south on 5 and tow truck recommended him. It was about 4:30 and he gave me a no bullshit diagnosis on what it was, I told him yeah my instinct told me it was a faulty gas gauge reading and I'm out of gas. He even taught me and let me watch what he was doing for he diagnosis to be sure it was out of fuel and not something else. Normally a mechanic would charge around $100 for that. I ask him "Lael it's getting late and we pretty much solved it so let me get out of your hair what do I owe you?" He tells me I took such little time out of his day and he's happy that I get to continue on my road trip (was heading to Mexico) and he didn't want to charge me at all. So I'd say a $150-$200 mechanics cost was free because of this guy. May not seem like a lot of money to some people but the interaction and conversation with Lael is worth the trip alone--he's really a great guy. I know you're reading this Lael, so once again thanks for everything... 2ndLt Seyfert read more

DeForest C.

8 years ago

Just wanted to write a little review about my many experiences at Lael's International Auto Service for the people that are interested in using his services. Lael is a great man! Very down to earth and explains everything very well. He is always giving me analogies and comparisons to help me understand the problem with the vehicle. Lael will work with you the best he can on what is necessary or what can wait. He is a master technician, very smart and does great work... but his guys are also some of the best too. Brandon is the man. A lot of his employees are former military so they have disciple in their trade, and take pride in their work. Lael's shop is clean and well kept (which says a lot). I found Lael by accident and have used him on 4 cars (VW Jetta, Dodge Durango, Honda Accord, WV Passat wagon). Laels Auto is the best mechanic shop I've ever used (and I buy a lot of used cars). I believe Lael work on all domestic and foreign cars. He is a great guy, does great work, and affordable. I live about 40 minutes away from Oceanside but I still make the commute whenever I need something done because I know Lael is honest and will do a good job. read more

Robert D.

9 years ago

Lael and his employee's are very different than most auto repair businesses, they are friendly, will engage in a conversation and most of all perform diagnosis and repairs while explaining step by step process. There are no surprises, and they only use OEM parts. I've had parts replaced by Lael, because the previous auto repair installed after market parts while not telling me that is what they were using. Lael pointed out the parts and what I needed to assure correct parts are being installed to assure functionality. I've been to 6 auto repair businesses and none of them come close to the service I've received from Lael's International Auto Service. John is the Ford specialist, he checked technical bulletins, printed it out, gave me a copy, this bulletin tells you what Ford has determined can be done to repair your vehicle. The confidence that Lael and his employees instilled in me, makes it very easy to determine who I'll be going to for any other vehicle repairs in the future. Lael has a great sense of humor, so if you don't mind a little humor mixed in with your exemplary vehicle repair, then I suggest contacting Lael's International Auto Service. read more

Dean H.

115

9 years ago

My girlfriend and I were traveling from Los Angeles to San Diego when the crankshaft pulley in my 2005 Ford Ranger disintegrated on the 5 freeway causing it to overheat, lose power steering, etc. The AAA tow truck driver recommended that I have the truck towed to Lael's, and so we did. We arrived at the shop around 4:40 p.m. and the shop closes at 6:00 p.m. Lael looked at the truck and saw exactly what was wrong. He performed other diagnostics on the truck to make sure I did not ruin the engine when it overheated. He then called a friend at the local Ford dealership to see if they had a crankshaft pulley for my truck in stock. Luckily they did, and the guy from the Ford dealer drove it over. Lael and his men stayed after hours to ensure my truck was fixed because he knew we were from out of town. They got everything done while we waited in the office. My girlfriend and I are super grateful for the work Lael and his men did. Their service went above and beyond. Thanks again! read more

Mark W.

11 years ago

This was an amazing shop! My car had died the previous night, i had AAA come out the next morning to jump it (as we discovered it was a bad battery later) and they gave me one of their designated repair places. Turned out the Lael's International and he is dedicated to making sure you get exactly what you need, not what will make him the most money. He tested my battery, told me it was a dead cell and we had the AAA guy comeback out to out in a new one (it was still under warranty.) The driver got out to us, tested himself and said he couldn't change it out without a specific result from their tester. Lael explained he had gotten that result twice, he fought pretty hard to get me a new battery and they took care of it for me. Both Lael and the driver were beyond helpful and made sure i was taken care of, i will be coming back to Lael for all my automotive repairs for, likely, the rest of my life. Thank you guys so much for the effort you put in to get me that battery. read more

Rhonda H.

11 years ago

The guys down at Lael's International Auto, have helped me out tremendously, I was having a problem with my car that is an older car, that seems to be getting worse at consuming oil and gas, they have been able to help maintain it and keep me safe on the road. The staff is a very courteous, and caring. They run a very clean shop, for which i am very thankful. When I first came here I was rather worried, about some issues my car was having. i wanted to feel road safe, and Lael dropped everything to come take a look at my car, he didn't want me to worry so he took me under his wing and helped me understand what needed to be done and why. He doesn't try to worry you about the little things that aren't problems yet, but rather the pressing issues that need to be addressed. I am a divorced woman that needs to feel safe on the road. I was in need of a reliable trustworthy auto repair shop, and now I've found mine. I will continue to be a return customer for life. read more

Lisa F.

117

10 years ago

Horrible neighbors! For years the residents that live around Laels have had to endure noxious fumes, unreasonable loud noises late in the evenings and on weekends, plus they often park their cars on our residential street knowing full well it is illegal for a business to use residential streets to park commercial vehicles. We have asked MANY times for them to be more respectful of their neighbors but they are rude and will lie to your face. Tonight we and several neighbors begged them to stop working on a truck that was backfiring so loud it was rattling our windows. It also scared our dog so much that he ran off and we only caught him with the help of another neighbor down the street that was also outside being harrassed by the inconsiderate guys at Laels. We asked them to stop they said they would but the moment we left they started up again. Please Laels stop profiting off the abuse of your neighbors! read more

Bonnie P.

9 years ago

As good as it gets definitely describes Lael's Auto. I had a dead battery and had AAA Battery Service replace it. Next morning the battery was dead. Called AAA and had it jump started and they said there was nothing wrong with the battery. Next morning it was dead again, had it towed to Pep Boys. They told me it was the alternator. Replaced the alternator and the next day the battery was dead. I had it jump started again and was referred to Lael's. He had the car for 3 days and determined it was the new battery all along. He replaced the battery and the car runs great. Although he quoted me a price for diagnosis in the end he charged me nothing. Wow, how often does that happen. To top it off he was able to get AAA to return to my account 3 of my service calls. Lael was honest and respectful. I've found a new shop to take my car for my service needs. I would recommend Leal's to anybody. They were great. read more

George E.

8 years ago

I took my son's car to Lael's for some significant service, all arranged in advance, and left it with them while I was on vacation. My son is a Marine and is deployed overseas. Lael took care of all the work, without any surprises, and at the estimated prices. When his technician was test driving the car the alternator went out, so with my permission they replaced that too. Good thing it went out while they had it so it didn't involve a separate trip and being stranded somewhere. The car is much better for the work they did, and I always feel like I'm getting quality work at a fair price. My son will be very pleased when he returns. I should add that I am a knowledgeable consumer, having worked my way through engineering school as a mechanic, having been a coast guard licensed ship's engineer, and a long time member of the SAE. We will continue to take cars to Lael for all the work they need. read more

Nathan S.

11 years ago

I was having starting issues on my car, so i brought it into Lael's International Auto, to have them take a look at it and see if they could figure it out... turns out they had the diagnosis in minutes, and repaired even faster than it took to figure out.. :-) I am very pleased with the staff, they are all very knowledgeable and friendly. I will be coming back for my next repair. It's so nice to know that there are true honest auto repair shops out there, cause i have had shops in the past tell me all sorts of things were wrong with my car and it didn't need more than half of what they had told me.. (One shop told me I needed my brake rotors, calipers and pads replaced, when I myself had just replaced them 2 months prior to, and knew full well that they did not need replacing.) So thank you Lael for being a honest and very helpful Auto mechanic and now friend for life! read more

Ashley Q.

12 years ago

I don't usually write reviews but I had to sign up for yelp to give these guys a shout out! Being a woman I am always nervous about taking my vehicle to any shop besides my usual guy in San Diego I have used for years. My car broke down in Oceanside and the AAA driver suggested Lael's International, I took his word for it and had my vehicle taken there. I arrived with no appointment but Justin and Lael greeted me and made me feel more than welcome. They promptly got my vehicle in and evaluated while I waited. Justin clearly explained what had failed on my vehicle and explained how that system worked. I am glad he took the time to do this as if he hadn't I would have had no idea what I was paying for. They got my vehicle fixed up in a jiffy and I was on my way!! Justin and Lael are great! if you live in the Oceanside area I would strongly recommend these guys to anyone!! read more

Kenton M.

14 years ago

I lived in California for a few years while in the Marines. I purchased an Audi A4 with limited knowledge and Lael helped get the car in top shape. In this process we replaced the control arms and i drove the car with no problems for 2 years. Upon getting my car yearly looked over, my mechanic back in Nebraska saw the control arms needed to be replaced. I called Lael to let him know the parts were defective, mind you there was no more warranty on these parts. But Lael still remembered who I was and was willing to work with me on this problem. Lael then ordered and shipped new parts to us free of charge. He stands by his parts and his services, in this situation with the defective parts he took full responsibility in getting them replaced. I might not travel back that way, but if you are in the Oceanside area, I recommend Lael's for their top of the line service. read more

Stephen G.

13 days ago

I can't recommend Lael's Auto enough! Lael is hands down the best. From the moment I walked in, he was honest, professional, and genuinely cared about making sure everything was done right. He took the time to explain what my car needed without trying to upsell anything unnecessary, and the quality of the work was outstanding. One thing that really sets him apart is that he'll even check and top off your vehicle's fluids for free. It's those little things that show how much he cares about his customers and wants to keep their cars running well. It's hard to find a mechanic you can truly trust, but Lael has definitely earned my business for life. If you're looking for someone who is knowledgeable, fair, and treats customers like family, this is the place to go. Thank you, Lael, for the excellent service! read more

Mad L.

8 years ago

My Mercedes Benz SL 500 stopped in the middle of the freeway by Oceanside, Ca Friday 4:48pm. Engine light came on then followed by all the warning lights came on. I have a wedding to go to on Saturday. God is good, He took us to LAEL Int'l Auto Service via AAA technician who hauled our car. Though business only opens Mon thru Fri, LAEL fixed my car and it's done by 3 pm Sat, the price is right, the job was done with excellence, I was able to attend the wedding on time, and they are also kind enough to return my rental car on Monday because I had to go back home on Sunday, 5 hours away from San Diego. You are in God's hands when you're at LAEL's. Ken, assistant of Lael was funny and very helpful, he carried our luggage and walked around 2 minutes to meet our Uber driver :) God Bless this Business!!! read more

Lael's International Auto Service - autorepair - Updated August 2026

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