My last review was over three years ago, so here's a recent one! My service engineer light came on and I assumed it was an oil change. Called my aunt and asked if I can come by around 2pm on a Friday and she said yes. Turns out it wasn't the oil change light but something else. They got the part delivered within 30min -1 hour. Luckily I stopped in on a Friday bc I was heading out of town on Sunday. Cannot rave enough about how honest & reliable my uncle & aunt are (it's not that we're related, they just do quality work.) read more

I cannot begin to describe how amazing this small business is. We are new to the area so when our starter died we had no idea what to do. My coworker suggested Mons. The advice he gave was "Amazing work, good prices but they're busy so you might have to wait". Not a problem with us. I'm not complaining about quality work, let alone at a good cost. Turns out they could get us in the same day so crisis averted. My standards for a garage are sky high. My uncles, cousins and brother are mechanics. My brothers best friend I owns his own shop. I've been known to swap out a fuel pump or brakes. All that to say, I'm not some dingus that doesn't know what's going on. Mon's got us fixed up in a jiffy, they are so incredibly kind, and really went above and beyond. As long as I'm here away from my family, Mon's will be my go to. Thanks for everything! I wish I could rate you 100 stars. read more

Mon has always done great on my vehicles but he has gone from 5 stars to 2 stars for me because of when I took my Toyota 4Runner to get repaired. Blown Head gaskets was the issue and I ordered an entire engine rebuild which he agreed to do. During the time he had it, he left it outside his shop on the street for several weeks before he got to work on it. Homeless people broke into it and were living in it. They tore up my interior. I addressed that issue with him but it took another 6 months for him to complete my repairs. Engine works great but all the electrical systems to my windows, moon roof, and tailgate ceased to function when he called me to go pick it up. I left it with him for another month because he said he can fix it but he never touched it. I paid him for his work but now I'm stuck with electrical problems which I now need to take to another shop to fix. read more

Mon helped me out of a bind when my 1974 Porsche 914 quit on the side of the 101. He normally doesn't work on these but agreed to take the car when I called from the side of the road. After the tow truck dropped it off he drove me around to a number of local shops, but no one wanted to help. Mon's small shop was full but he fit me in after hours, replacing a fuel filter with a spare I carried in the car for just such an occasion. He was finally done at 7:00 pm and I was able to continue with my plans for the following day. read more

Honest, reliable, prompt and most importantly FAIR! Mom and pop shop that treat their customer like family

I've taken three of my trucks here on many different occasions for oil , brake changes, and suspension. It's affordable, and quick. I've not had any issues with mons. He's super busy so I usually call him the day before needing to take it in. I also personally don't blame them on the homeless situation because that's the Salinas city's/Monterey county's issue. Anyways, if you want someone who isn't going to charge you an arm and a leg, and does great work, I recommend Mons! read more

Love my uncle & aunt! They're the best! Always squeezing me in and does an excellent job with checking everything before I leave! It's hard to find quality service around here, but I'm so glad they're not too far away. Don't know what I would do without them! The shop is always busy & packed, but they're the best in the area and does quality work! Wouldn't go anywhere else! read more

The husband and wife team are sweet people to work with... and he replaced an engine for me did a great job!!!!

I have been going to Mon's auto repair for quite a long time now (22 yrs +). His prices are very reasonable and will get the job done. It's a husband and wife team (the wife knows her stuff). I usually work on my own cars but, when it comes to stuff I am not familiar with I always take it to Mon's. Yes it may not be in the best part of town and yes homeless people are present in the area but, in this day in age, unfortunately, that is almost everywhere. do I have confidence in knowing Mon will fix my issue with my car? Yes, I do. Just remember to always do your maintenance on time and your car will last a very long time.( yeah stuff breaks from time to time but, that is normal) Read your maintenance manual and change your oil every 5000 miles and transmission fluid when the manual tells you to do so. ( and if it says the transmission fluid is a lifetime fluid, change it anyways because no transmission fluid lasts the life of the transmission. google it and you will find out. read more

Trust worthy guy and honest. I've come here for the past 5 years and his rates and help is the best.

I've taken my car to Mon's multiple times and they always are able to help me out! They are quick with their work and they are always able to get me in last minute. I would recommend to anyone! read more

I brought my car in because it was having issues starting. I never in 1 million years thought I would deal with someone so nice and caring who knew exactly what he was talking about. I took it somewhere else and they completely misdiagnosed it. He literally sat in the car for 30 seconds and knew exactly what the problem was and he fixed it very quickly and it was already done by the next morning. He is a miracle worker and also such a good person. He literally gave me a ride home because he didn't want me to call an Uber. We need more people like him in the world. Him and his wife are a great team and they run a great business. Highly recommend if you want somebody honest who will not over charge you! read more

They put the right oil in my Nisssn now it has lots more power! Thank you! Why couldn't anyone over the years do this I don't know but glad it's done right now... read more

I came here a few months ago (I'm always late posting my reviews -___-) instead of Star Tune to get an oil change and for them to give a one looksie. I have a 98 Corolla that's burning oil and drinks it like water. No leak visible. Therefore, I wanted a mechanic who has more experience than me to see what they can do. For one, I know how to do an oil change. I drive 3,000 miles every 1 1/2 months. I do the oil change like clock work. Called them up and you wouldn't have known it was a business. No "this is Mon's Auto Repair". Just an "hello". I thought I got the wrong number. Made an appointment for Friday or Saturday? I don't remember which, but I know it was an appointment for 9am. We waited probably 1 1/2 - 2 hours for an oil change. It takes less than 20 minutes. No one came out for a while to tell us anything. Just waited and waited. I know there are other cars being worked on there, but there's a reason why I made an appointment....so I wouldn't have to wait. The lady was surprised that, I, a girl, knows how to change the oil. I tell many that I do and they ask me, "Really?". It's like those times people ask me where I'm from and I say California. Then I say "yesss, CAL-I-FORNIA". Like asians can't be born here. PFFFFT. Anyway. After an hour or so of waiting, the lady came out and took the dip stick out, wiped it with her finger and smelled it. Ok...maybe I can learn from this lady? Wells, my car is black. Can't really tell if the exhaust is blowing out black smoke. Usually it gets on the paint. Well 30 minutes later I get an oil change. She said the only other way is to get a new engine and she'd call me about the price. Alright I guess, but I never got a call. I know there's a known problem with the ~90s? Corolla with it burning oil. However, I wanted to know if it was something else. I'm glad almost everyone had a great experience here, but I'll just go to Star Tune next time. read more

Brought my car in for oil leaks either in the Distributor area or in the Vtec Solenoid. Mon's diagnosed its leaking from the Vtec Solenoid. He give me a quote to fixed the leaks. Part cost $25.00 labor cost $25.00. He said after fixing the leaks no more leaks. He lied after driving home noticed its still leaking, -call him the next morning in speak to him now he said maybe the leaks is coming from other area. While his diagnose is from the Solenoid. I won't not bringing in my car to this dirty place and unsecured area. Homeless leaving nearby his garage area. Also when i paid his wife charge me $80.00 not $50.00. I complaint but Mon's said part is $28. labor is $50. Don't bring your car to this place they're very dishonest. read more

Hands down the most honest and professional mechanic I have been to. No unnecessary up selling/ "recommendations"not needed by Mon's. He gets it done RIGHT every time at a great price,this man knows cars foreign or domestic. If you need the red carpet rolled out for you when waiting this is not the spot for you but if you want good old fashioned honest professional service at best price Mon's is it. You will leave with a smile not questioning the value you received (great feeling) read more

Here's a familiar story across America Boy moves back home; boy has to deal with no Transportation. Boy bequeaths moms vw. Jetta Boy wrecks jetta . Boy trades wreck and 500 For a Honda civic. Guess what happens next ? Honda blows head gasket Guess next ; Mons auto repair fixes Honda for $500 End of story The moral of story? Mons auto repair the best! read more

I have been with Mon for over 10 years. He was recommended to me by my dentist and his neighbor, my CPA. Mon's prices are reasonable, and quality is excellent. Sometimes he says that a repair is NOT even necessary -- how different from what most repair shops do, they always want to do more and more. But Mon has enough customers, more than he can handle, so he does not need to cheat by recommending unnecessary fixes. Most highly recommended. And his wife is very kind, professional and helpful. read more

Excellent place to get your car service for anything that happens. I drive from Carmel to Salinas so they can work on my cars.

First experience was good, but thereafter pretty much what some of the bad reviews indicate. No professionalism, for sure, at this place. Long wait time just to get someone's attention, wrong parts ordered at times and had to leave my car with them longer than I expected, and forget about getting a call back when they say they will check on parts for you. I asked about catalytic converters for my car and they could not locate, but said they would keep trying and would call me. I kept calling back myself, and sometime just lucky if someone would answer the phone. I finally gave up and took my car somewhere else. Sure they are nice people, but I'm there to get my car serviced. read more

I love this place. Before I went to them I had gotten estimates at several different car repair shops. I chose them because they had the lowest estimate, but I later kept returning because they gave excellent customer service. They even dropped me off at home across town and picked me up when I didn't have a ride. I take all my cars to them now whenever there is an issue, and I am confident that I will never be overcharged, that the work will be done as they promised, and that I will always be greeted by a friendly person. They have a heavy accent but they always get the job done right. Happy customer here if you haven't noticed :) read more

Great service i have no complaints #1in town in service and price. Tell them Jesse sent you. You wont regret it.

My daughters car broke down on I-5 and had it towed. I check Yelp and so did my daughter. She decided to have Mon's Auto repair work on it. What nice people and did good work and didn't over charge. They treated her as if she was a returning customer. read more

The only place in Salinas I take all of our cars once their factory warranties have expired. I don't understand the negative reviews because I've always gotten my car back on time and with no damage. Yes, this place has gotten busier but I still receive the same excellent service that I've gotten since Mon was on Boronda. And if something isn't fixed the way I want or if something is overlooked, they are always willing to take the car back and double check everything. Unlike other places, they don't try and up-sell you. Mon and his wife are great. If you're looking for an honest mechanic, this is the place. read more

BEST MECHANIC EVER!!! My daughter's 2000 Lexus ES300 needed a new timing belt. We received quotes from a few other shops, including Trustlane Automotive. I called Mon's and spoke with Mai. She was very helpful and friendly. The quote she gave me for a complete timing belt kit was more than half the price the other places quoted. I was both shocked and happy. My daughter took her car there and Mon did an excellent job. The final bill was even $20 cheaper than what was originally quoted. A couple of weeks later, her engine light came on. She took it back to Mon's for a diagnostic test. It turned out to be a simple fix (gas cap), which he did not charge us for. Mon only charged us $45 for a diagnostic test. Trustlane Automotive previously charged us $150 for a diagnostic. I am thrilled to find an honest, fair priced and reliable mechanic my daughter can take her car to while she is away in school. read more

HONEST and KIND. We broke down in the middle of the night on our way home from SFO. We had to hit the road first thing in the morning and Mr. Mon squeezed us in. He could have charged us an arm and a leg as neither of us knew anything about cars and we were far from home. Long story short, nothing was wrong with our vehicle. He ran a diagnostic but nothing had to be fixed and he didn't even charge us for his time (I would have expected to and would have happily paid $50-100 for his time and service in getting us in so quickly and running a diagnostic test). I hesitate to write in a review that he didn't charge us because I would advise him to charge people in the future... but I say this because it shows his true honesty which is (cliche) something hard to find in mechanics (especially when you are far from home). He asked for nothing in return, just waived us away with a big smile. We felt so blessed by him. Thank you for making sure we got home safely, Mr. Mon (and charge people for your time in the future!) read more

The starter went out on my car in January and I needed my car ASAP as I had company coming into SF that week and had to pick them up. I tried the places I usually go to and no one could work on my car in that timeframe. I checked Yelp and this place had good reviews. SO MUCH FOR THAT! I called the place and asked if they could have the repair made within the timeframe. They assured me they could. As soon as I drove up I had doubts and i should have went with my intuition. The shop is extremely small located near Chinatown, and next to a vacant lot where homeless people with their shopping carts were congregating. There were cars everywhere but they do not have a secure location to store cars. However, I was in a bind and left my car with them. They had 2 full days to complete the repair. They called me with the price of the part - $80 more then the dealership would charge, because I called and asked - and when I asked why they assured me this was a 'BETTER PART, A GOOD PART, WE GET YOU THE BEST PARTS'. I decided to let it go just get the car fixed because I needed it. Well next day they call and say they ordered the wrong part, and needed the dealership part. except way more then dealership price again, this time i put my foot down and said i'm not paying more then the dealership price for the part, let me come get my car. At which point he said i couldn't come get it because he had already taken the old starter out and it's not drivable. Frustrated, i left it there for them to fix. i had to borrow someone elses car to pick up my company. When I came to get the car 4 days later, the driver door was BROKEN. Dragging, and hard to shut. When i pointed this out they tried to say it was like that when i brought it in. IT WAS NOT. They then admitted a mechanic might have dragged on it and they would fix it. I had to leave it another day. When i went back the next day, they assured me it was fixed and now it closed at least, but it didn't feel right. The whole door panel was jiggly. I examined it more closely and discovered the door panel itself had been ripped off for some reason, whoever did it ignored the screws that you can unscrew to take the door panel off. just ripped the plastic around them. I was outraged. In order to fix this the whole door panel has to be replaced. They insisted they did not do this and refused to take responsibilty or fix it, saying it was like this when i brought it in which it WAS NOT. They insisted the car was parked in the garage at night and it was a lie. When I arrived there the first time - at night - my car was parked almost another block down the street. THIS COMPANY DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR PROPERTY WHILE UNDER THEIR CARE. They are located in a sketchy location. They did not fix the car in the timeframe they promised. I got the car back WORSE then I left it with them with no way to fix it without paying for their damage myself. read more

Needed to get my brakes done really bad and quick (since I was leaving on a mountain trip the following day). Was searching the net for brake shops and wasn't sure who to go to. I finally decided to use Yelp since lots of my friends use it and went to Mon's auto repair just from reading his great reviews and his rating and.... boy was i glad I did!! I got my brakes done the day after I made my appointment and they were finished at the time I was told they would be without waiting around...I was expecting to pay well over 500 bucks for my 4x4...and to my surprise Lets just say way under (don't want to quote) I Ended up with a lot of extra money for my trip!! Will definitely be taking our cars to Mon's from now on!! read more

Great Mechanic. Definitely worth it. Was told i needed new rotors and pads at midas. Midas quoted me close to five hundred dollars. Mons did it for a lot less read more

I recently moved to the area and my radiator light went on. When I tried to open the hood of my 2000 Volvo s70, the lever under the hood was gone and I couldn't open it. I went by Mon's this morning to see if he could fix it after a suggestion from my neighbor and Yelp reviews. He showed me how to open it without having to order the missing part and when his wife saw that my battery was leaking a bit, she sprayed something to help it stop leaking! They wouldn't let me pay them, and I will definitely be back next time I have a car issue. Such a great people. I highly suggest them! read more

I needed a tune up for my car, took it Saturday morning without appointment, I told them i needed it done the same day, Mon worked on my car even after closing time hours, since there were cars before me. My car was ready about 9pm. Next time I'll make an appointment. Great costumer service read more

The work I received was effective and efficient with no waste like the dealers charge. NO EXTRA CHARGES. Thanks!!

Wow they were amazing. My wifes car was making a weird noise when she would turn right. Something about her chasis/steering was loose. Two hours later he called and said it was ready. We went there prepared to pay 300+. It was well under $100. Ford dealer no more. We will be using Mons from here forward! read more