Personal review: I'm a woman of small stature, and I've unfortunately come to expect to be treated differently than men when I visit 'shops' in general. This was not at all my experience with Lara's. Mario looked me right in the eyes as he explained the issues my vehicle was facing, discussed my options, and even shook my hand at the end of every transaction. My most recent mechanical issues required several visits to the shop (putting miles on my vehicle was required between visits), and each time I was treated with the utmost respect and kindness. How clientele is treated is nearly as important as the services rendered, and I couldn't ask for better customer service than I received at Lara's. Professional review: Instead of encouraging me to throw money at my mechanical issues, Mario encouraged a slower path to repair that he thought could eliminate the need for an expensive fix. As it turns out, he was completely right, and ended up saving me an entire repair bill that I feel I would've been stuck with up front elsewhere. When the time came for our final interaction, he even 'helped me out' with the price. I'm so grateful I chose Lara's. I live nearly an hour away, but after dealing with Mario and his staff at Lara's, they have a customer for life. I know that when I inevitably return, I'll be in good hands. read more

For now, 3 Stars. What had HAPPENED was... I noticed when every time I'd bust a right turn, my stirring wheel would break out into loud rubbery squeals. WTF? What are you doing!? Huhhhhh...I take no chances. I found the first shop close by on Yelp, and Lara's was it...just around the corner off E Gutierrez. I told the guys my problem, but had to move my car off to the side and wait to be seen. This place shares a small enclosed space on Gutierrez with a few other businesses and there isn't really much room for several customers at a time, but they make it work. A dude comes and looks at my car and tells me what he thinks it sounds like (my suspicions were correct) but proposed replacing the whole part when I was told by another mechanic LATER that I didn't need the whole part replaced...just oiled/lubed. Hmmmmm...suspicious. Nonetheless, he did reassure me that everything looked fine for my trip. Nothing seemed dire or urgent, and at least THAT put my mind at ease. Thank you for that cause I get carried away with worry sometimes. Thank you for taking time to listen to me, look at the problem and answer any questions. If you have a mechanic that you absolutely trust, keep them as your plan A. However this place could be an OK plan B. I'd cross check what this place tells you with your trusted mechanic, though. Make sure it sounds ballpark. read more

These guys totally tried to rip me off. They said that I needed $10k in repairs for my BMW and I should just unload it to them. I had a friend of a friend give me a second opinion and they charged me $80 for the parts and labor. All the car needed was a new bolt. These guys are total Assholes, and scam artists. I wouldn't suggest that ANYONE take their car here. I NEVER write bad reviews but this place was so deserving. After the told me the stuff about my car, I kept the car for another year and had ZERO issues with it. DO NOT TAKE YOUR CAR HERE read more

I brought my son's 1965 Mustang in to fix a transmission leak, figuring they might be old-school enough to know how to fix it. It's a bit hard to find down an alley/parking lot, but once you know where it is it's easy. They told us it will be about an hour to look at it, so we grabbed a burrito at Lito's around the corner. When the inspection was done, they said the leak was higher up (than the pan) and would require a specialist. They recommended a guy at Aamco, and Aamco was able to repair it. While Lara's didn't do any repair work, they were first rate in diagnosing the problem and finding us a solution that worked. They were kind and courteous and didn't charge us a cent. Lara's is obviously very trustworthy and I would come again for other, future work. read more

I went in for a break and light inspection they said I need a new headlight and that I could come back and get it re checked no charge because I already paid I scheduled it in at another place and finally got the new headlight put n and when I called back now I only had fifteen days to do this, When we spoke they were unclear it had a time limit especially such a short one. and most other places are at least 30 days. read more

Lara's has always done me right. They've worked with me on price when I was in a hard spot and they are pretty quick at getting things done. The problems they fixed, stayed fixed. No auto place is perfect, but having been through a few bad experiences at other places, this place is good in my opinion. read more

Very helpful, honest, kind people! He even took a video of what was wrong with my car to show me. Highly recommend.

Found a local mechanic to make 'my mechanic'. The team here is extremely friendly and informative. They go the extra mile without nickel and dining you. I found them by being in a pinch, and will continue to take my car to them in the future. read more

Great shop! We were in a pinch, towed our car in and they worked some crazy magic in just a few hours. Amazing staff, highly recommend. I wish I didn't live so far away or this would be my go to auto repair place. read more

These guys truly understand the meaning of service. I would have been pleasantly surprised to receive this kind of treatment at a five star restaurant in Hollywood! But auto service?!?! I came here for a last minute smog check after moving do downtown SB. I called the day of and despite obviously being busy, they still squeezed me in at the end of the day. I was immediately greeted upon arrival by Ivan (I hope I am remembering his name correctly) who was possibly one of the most genuinely courteous people I have dealt with in the service industry. He was complimented me on my car care, made sure all my questions were answered, and was showed genuine interest in me as a person. In addition to Ivan, at least three other mechanics (including Lara himself) came out and introduced themselves to me. I honestly felt like a celebrity. They even all waved me off in the end. I'm sure this is sounding like I went to a nightlong dinner party at Lara's so I need to also stress that I was in and out of there in maybe 15 minutes. Boom boom boom.... Done. Smiling the whole way. I will absolutely be returning and would highly recommend these guys to anyone in need of automotive work! read more

Lara's is the best... they take care of our business van, Hino truck, BMW and more.. They pickup and deliver. always honest pricing and good customer service... highly recommend... Kim Kieler read more

New to town and was trying to find a good place to get my oil changed. Luckily, I found Lara's. They have a friendly and efficient team and I will now be a regular for any tune ups and repairs. read more

I commute from Ventura. My gear shifter was getting stuck, and I kept putting off getting help because I couldn't afford fixing it. One evening it wouldn't un-stick, and I had to leave my car in Santa Barbara for the night. I found Lara's on Yelp and had my car towed there the next day. They had it ready the day after I took it in and helped me out with the cost. The work on my car was great, but I also really appreciated the way they treated me. I felt respected as a customer and not looked down upon because of my limited car knowledge. I plan on returning for all my car maintenance and repair needs. read more

My close friend took his Toyota there. He uses a mobile mechanic but it was a problem beyond the capability of the mechanic - who recommended this shop. I talked to the gentleman that worked on the car when we picked it up. He seemed honest and straightforward. They definitely found and fixed the right thing. The car is running well. They did not overcharge. The next time I need work ( that my mechanic can't do ) I'm going here. read more

I am a first time customer never met them before. These guys are great ! Very Knowledgeable! Took me in at the end of the day and finished the work for me cause I needed it ASAP... I thank them for that... Chuck Swartwood Computer Repair Service read more

These guys are on point. I needed to have some work done to my 2016 Toyota Highlander. They were able to fit me into their schedule with very little notice and were done within a few hours. Super friendly and a pleasure to do business with. I'll definitely return if I need other repairs or inspections. Thank you Mario! read more

I'm not sure if I know of an adjective that adequately describes how amazing Mario Lara and his staff at Lara's Auto Repair are. Saintly? Angelic? Godly? Perhaps those will do... Emergency! My clutch went out in my old car a few weeks ago and I was in a time crunch to get it fixed. Mario received me graciously even though closing time was rapidly approaching. He identified the problem and took it for a test drive. The car was being finicky and of course decided to behave while he was driving it. So at the time we left it alone.. fast forward a few days and it (the clutch) died completely. Again in a crunch needing the car to function later for work I called Lara and briefed him on the situation. He came through like a champ and acquired a new clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder and had it installed all in the same day. Mario was extremely communicative during the whole process and even took the time to show me exactly what he was doing, demonstrating with the parts he was going to install how the mechanism worked and what was malfunctioning. In short I had a dream of an experience with Mario and his whole staff, and will always be taking my vehicle to his shop. I suppose, now that I think about it, I do know of an adjective that would properly describe Lara's Auto Repair: Chingon!! read more

Lara's is amazing! I showed up without an appointment and they ran a smog test right away upon my arrival. They are friendly, professional, offered me coffee and a tamale! Their service is efficient and unparalleled. read more

Last weekend my family and I decided to check out the fiestas for the first time. We live 3 hours away and sadly half way through our trip our car started to act up... wanting to see the festivals we just found parking, checked out the parade and then looked for a auto repair shop to see if they could tell us what was going on with our car. We found Lara's auto repair and these men were AMAZING!!! Despite the fact they were closing soon they ran a test on the car and were asking my husband a few key questions about the car. (I believe we were talking to the owner) He went out of his way to call the closest dealership and discovered that our car was still under warranty for the issues that needed to be fixed and told the shop manager to expect our call. This really made our day!! He didn't have to go through all that trouble to help us out and save several hundreds of dollars but he did!! So when my husband went to settle the bill with him on the test he ran, he told us not to worry about it!! He wanted us to be able to use that money Incase any surprise issues came up. AGAIN I AM FLOORED!! This man and his fellow mechanics were BEYOND AMAZING!!! They made us feel like family!! Their professionalism and hospitality in our time of need really made our day!! We owe them BIG TIME!!! If we lived in Santa Barbara this would be THE ONLY PLACE I would want to take my car!! read more

Great smog check experience. I showed up at 8:00 sharp before work,, and they had calibrated the machine (they have to do this in the morning when they first show up) and finished my smog check by 9:00. Very friendly and gave me really accurate time estimates so I could make sure I could get to a meeting at work on time :-) read more

I called them last minute at the end of their day and they fit me in! Nice guys, friendly and professional......I will go back to them again!! :) read more

Great customer service family, friendly! Went for smog check in and out quick been here for several repairs reasonable price you pay for quality repair! Have been coming here for several years my whole family comes to them always appreciate the work and service! read more

Came in fo a smog check and got out in 20 minutes. Excellent service and they even check my tires pressure. Definitely will be back for any future services. Would give then 6 if I could, yada imean? read more

I have brought all of my vehicles and my friends' vehicles to Lara's for over a decade. They are honest, do a fantastic job and are reasonably, fairly priced. They are incredibly friendly and professional. They explain clearly what is being done, what could happen, time frames, costs, etc. I trust them completely. It doesn't get better than this! read more

These mechanics are NOT trustworthy! The receptionist Ivan ( who has zero phone etiquette) quotes way different prices than Lara (who pretends to be nice but is really just trying to hustle you too.) They are incapable of diagnosing an over heating engine, instead they just stab in the dark with a bunch of expensive and unnecessary repairs and you'll end up 3 thousand dollars down the drain and a car that still over heats! Be warned they will rip you off if they get the chance. read more

I recently used siri to find a nearby smog certification mechanic and it took me to Lara's. They were very friendly and efficient and I was also able to use my Access discount. A week or so later I took in my other car for oil change and another issue. They are friendly, honest and fair prices. They even gave me a ride home so I could wait for my car to be finished. Thumbs up from me! read more

I've been here twice now, once for a rear main seal replacement and most recently an alternator replacement. I can't say enough good things about the work they do. They're staff is extremely helpful and is always communicating what they find and what the best solution is while giving you the best possible options. This will be the only auto shop I go to now. Everyone should be taking their vehicle to Lara's! read more

These guys are the best. Been a customer for a few years now, very genuine honest guys. They even pick my car up and drop it home when they're done which is included as part of the service. read more

They are the nicest guys, really cater to what you need and know what they're talking about. I used to go to ayers and they would nickel and dime me. Lara's doesn't at all. I got work done that was half of what I paid before and my car is running so smoothly!!! I would recommend them ten times over. read more

Wow, what service! I've been a customer for about 6 years now, and I will keep coming back! I get my vehicles smogged here, and they're always on time and very prompt. Very professional highly recommened! read more

These guys are awesome. I needed a smog to sell my old car and they did it same day. Fit me in their busy schedule and they were very friendly. I will def go back. read more

Lara's Auto shop is a diamond in the rough Lara's Auto Repair shop may not be glitzy from the outside, and the customer waiting room may not offer much besides a cushioned bench, today's newspaper and thickly brewed coffee, but if you want competent auto mechanics, honest communication, fair prices, prompt service, and a friendly reception, Lara's Auto Repair is the place to go. I've been a customer for over 15 years, and I appreciate Mario's willingness to take time to explain the results of diagnostic tests, to show me the defect in the old parts he is replacing, and to coach me about what I need to do to keep my car functioning well between check-ups. All his mechanics are experienced, and if something perplexes one of them, they all work together as a team. If they say your car will be ready by a certain time, it is. They do on-the-spot service when they can. Accommodating. Trust-worthy. Enough said. C Pidduck read more

Lara's was timely, friendly, and reasonably priced! They take the stress out of a stressful situation!! Live these guys!

I give this shop 10 stars! I have nothing but great experiences with this shop! The personnel and The mechanic were outstanding! He worked on my honda that has 300k miles and it drives as if it was brand new! They are very honest and let me know what was wrong with it from the beginning! Great prices and no hassle!! I recommend anyone to go to them! read more

They took great care of my car and were fast and courteous. They even removed a big stick that was jammed in my engine splash guard - for free! read more

First time here.. Super friendly.. Also when you check in found out you get a $5 dollar off your smog or oil change.. Happy I got to save a little money.. read more

Sexist thieves broke my car, ripped me off and treated me worse then I have ever been treated! I brought my car in because it was over heating, they replaced the radiator and water pump for 1200$. Then a week later my car starts over heating again, I checked the paper work and found that the repairs were under warranty. I spoke with Ivan who assured me that they would be able to take a look at the problem for free. The very next day I get a incredibly rude message on my phone saying I need to authorize 1400$ worth of repairs or come and get my car out of their lot immediately or pay a parking fee( which is supposed to be applied after 3 days.) I return the call right away and ask Ivan what repairs he is talking about. He refused to speak to me! Even though I am the registered owner of the car and have brought it to him 3 previous times and paid him directly in cash. He explicitly said he would only explain the issue to my friend who came in with me most times. I was in shock by the whole thing so I gave him their number. I then rushed down to the garage to pick up my car. On the way i spoke with my friend who said Ivan claimed we had a cracked head gasket and that they want to charge us 108$ for just the inspection. Neither of us had ever approved any charges for an inspection, on the contrary I signed a paper saying the inspection was under warranty. I came to get my car and Ivan and Lara demanded I paid the inspection fee and said that my friend confirmed it! ABSOLUTE LIES! They didn't know I had already confirmed the truth and tried to convince me we had approved the charge. I call them out on lying to me and say I am taking my car back and not paying for an inspection that was supposed to be under warranty and was never approved. They say that they will only release the car to my friend. At this point I flip out and threaten to call the cops. They freaked out and finally gave me my keys back. Beside how horribly they treated me they never found the cracked head gasket and proceeded to do a bunch of irrelevant and overpriced repairs. read more

Why would you go anywhere else? After two separate repair shops could not diagnose a problem and told me I needed a $1,300 main computer, Lara's spent the time and went through all the systems and found the answer....and saved me about $1,000. Not only were they professional, but super great people too! I have found a repair shop that I trust and will certainly refer anyone in need to your shop. Thank you!! read more

52 Dollars to fill up tires and tell me I had a bad battery. Then over 200 dollars to replace the battery. Sorry I had to go 1 star :(

Awesome service and a nice group of guys. After driving all around town trying to get a last minute smog check I ran across these guys and dropped in. I was able to sit down, have a cup of coffee and read the paper while my car was getting checked out. Cool, friendly & local. The way it should be. read more