Called Nick's to see about a smog test; he said "Sure thing, come any time." When I arrived he was performing another smog check, but acknowledged me with a wave and a smile and said he'd be with me shortly, and he was. When it was my turn he told me I could stay in the car and keep warm (it was freezing out). The fastest, easiest smog check I've ever had. He noticed that my registration renewal was due that day, and reminded me, so I could avoid the late fee. I was surprised indeed when I came to Yelp to leave a review and read a few negative ones. Nick was warm, attentive, friendly, efficient and appreciative of my business- a pleasure to deal with. I know where I'll be going for my future car maintenance needs. Thanks Nick! read more

While driving I noticed one of my tires needed air, so I pulled over at this shop hoping for a quick bit of help. I asked if there was any way they could help fill the tire, or at least allow me to do it myself but I was completely turned away. What was especially disappointing was how rude the interaction was, there was no effort to offer guidance or even point me toward somewhere I could get help. As a mechanic myself, I regularly help people with small situations like this when I can so the lack of basic courtesy was really disappointing. read more

Very honest guy. He knows what he's doing For sure! They only place In Big Bear who Does old cars smog check. read more

I dropped the car off and went to a movie, right up the street. I could've also went for a beer. Nick shop is right on the main drag. There's lots to do if you have a few hours to kill. He was done by the time the movie finished. Very friendly guy. Answered his telephone, when you called him. Did a good job. Price seemed reasonable also. I would definitely go here again, if I'm ever up the hill and need car servicing. read more

Stopped in for gas to fuel up before heading home the next day. Nick's offers the cheapest gas prices for cash or credit users. They were busy every time we drove by. read more

Friendly, reliable and excellent at what he does, Nick is the best! Did you know he's a local authorized Subaru repair place too! He offers real replacement parts, not junk. Highly recommend this place. read more

Hey, I'm just a tourist who bought gas for his car. Used my Visa card, asked the machine for a receipt. It said, " Get it inside". So, the pump will accept the card, but the customer needs to go fetch his receipt. Well, the price wasn't bad, $3.48/gal, exactly the same price as every other station I saw in the Big Bear Lake area. Makes you wonder . . . read more

Nicks Auto Center - Go fetch your receipt - Automotive Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

I owned auto body shops and retired in Big Bear. Over the years I have dealt with many mechanics and not all experiences are good even with dealers. Nick is awesome. He is busy because he is awesome. He is worth the wait. read more

Was visiting Big Bear two years ago for the weekend. Stopped by to buy ice. Used my card and it was compromised. I know it was here since it was the only place I bought anything. I should've realized something was up when I saw a bunch of middle aged guys (probably friends of the worker there) hanging out by the cashier. Plus, I read that something similar happened to someone else on a Yelp review. Go somewhere else. read more

What a complete amatuer!! We called ahead for a routine smog, arrived, and simply requested also to top the tires with air as our sensor indicated they recently dropped a bit. He said "those need to get 80 psi" and I mentioned that that seemed quite high. He got argumentative and temperish, immediately escalating it to an argument with no regard to customer care. I just felt that the sensors reading 57 psi would have been on for a long time if they dropped from 80 psi. I finally pushed back and said "look buddy I'm not trying to argue with you" I told my wife, do you mind if take our business elsewhere? Good bye Nick. The moral of the story: If a guy can't even handle filling some tires, then what the #&@ else is he doing with your vehicle? read more

Nicks Auto Center - Automotive Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Every once in awhile I run into a quality human that just radiates kindness and care. This I found in Nick. He was very busy yet took a moment to hear my need for my car and took care of my issue timely. As I looked around his shop I saw it reflected love his customers have for him as there was unique homemade wood signs a cross and an amazing jar of newly canned pickles that he was quick to offer me a share!!! This man has what it takes for Big Bear mechanic local loyalties! Good job Nick! read more

We hit a rock as we were leaving town. We found Nick's automotive and pulled in. The woman said Nick would be back in two or three minutes. We waited and he finally arrived 20 minutes later. In the meantime, we had unloaded our trunk to get out our spare tire though hoping he would be able to patch our tire. When he finally arrived, he said, "I don't do tours. Get your stuff put off the way. You're blocking my shop." When asked if he knew Place that would do ties he simply said, "By McDonald's." No directions. No name. Avoids this place! read more

The only people who write 1-star reviews are flatlanders who can't get past Nick's gruff exterior. Let me tell you something. Nick is a GREAT mechanic with a big smile & a heart of gold. If you come into Nick's (or Big Bear in general) with the attitude of entitlement that we should roll out the red carpet because of your tourist dollars, get your car fixed (and your stuff in general) down the hill. read more

Ok so Nick might not have the perfect personality. I can understand his frustration as people want their cars worked on now and want it to be done now. As you can see the man is backed up that must mean something. I waited 3 weeks to have him work on my truck on a Sat because that's the only time I could do it. I had him check out my windshield wiper transmission because the wipers weren't working and the motor was. Dropped it off and a hour in a half later He calls saying my truck was done and he fixed it. I was quoted $800.00 just to replace the transmission and not the motor from another shop down the hill. Well come to find out it was a plastic clip that came off and that was it. He saved me lots off $$$$$. So when I get all of my hoses changed quests where I'm going? That's right Nick's. He is ownest and knows what he is doing and is worth the wait. read more

Blew an air suspension strut on a Range Rover while visiting the mountain. Nick it turns out is a Rover aficionado and has all the tools and diagnotics. Rather than renting a car and getting a 100 mile tow to the nearest dealer in Rancho Mirage, I chose Nick. Glad I did. It took a few days too get parts delivered up the mountain, but they got there and he got us back on the road. Great guy and very competent. Love his business card, "If you're in a hurry... Keep going." Kind of the Seinfeld soup guy of mechanics. read more

Stopped in regarding headlight. Mercer would talk to us in a week. Nick, stopped, got a bulb and I was done. Bulb $23.00, paid $40.00... said buy lunch, having working headlights, priceless. read more

We were visiting Big Bear for the weekend and when we went to go home on Sunday I realized something was definitely wrong with my brakes. On Yelp it said that this place was open on Sundays. We stopped in and the gentleman was very rude. He yelled that he was closed and too busy to help us on Monday. read more

First to Wayne H, you could have gone to the tire shop in town... do you work for free? Then to Lisa W. So your time is more valuable than those whose cars were waiting before you. Sick and tired of self absorbed people. Now to my review, I have gone to Nick's for years he has saved me a ton of money when it comes to smog checks alone...if he doesn't think it is going to pass he gives you suggestions before he does the test so you can fix the problem so you don't get charged for 2 tests for something simple. Went today passed all it was my gas cap was not tight and I had to drive it around so it could reset. That's Nick's. read more

I paid $612 for front brakes and when i took it to another mechanic shop they told me he had done a "pad slap" only!!! I trusted him blindly to do everything with honesty never again will I take my truck there he liar and a stiffer don't recommend this place at all! read more

Nick is by far the best car service place and best customer service I've had since moving from london to CA last year. My husband and I got stranded on a Sunday in big bear mountain as we lost the cap to our water coolant for my Mini Cooper meaning the engine over heated and we had no way to get home to LA. We were convinced we were going to have to call a tow truck but managed to find nicks auto Center - he didn't have a mini cap but spent almost an hour figuring out a solution for us and eventually managed to solve it to get us home safely. We are truly grateful and highly recommend you get your car fixed here as Nick is not only a talented and creative mechanic but also a wonderful human. Thank you nick! read more

We've been going to Nick for years. You might have a short wait sometimes, but not for long. Nick can get it done and his prices are fair. We've never had a problem with any work he's done for us. He's a busy man, but he's the best. read more

When I cracked my transmission the only person I would take my car to is Nick. Nick even helped with dealing with my car insurance. My family and I have been going to him for a years and I never had any issues. After this experience I will continue to see this mechanic as long as I live in Big Bear. read more

The guy that answered the phone was really rude. He didn't even say hi and said I will give you the mechanics number. He was rushing. And I told him to give me a second to write it down. He told me the number again rushing so fast than hang up on me. I couldn't get the last 4 numbers. If he doesn't have time to help his customers than why would I trust him or the company to work on my car. We were ready to bring our car there and went with Another auto shop down the road who did a fantastic job. Phil's was great! read more

We're only visitors of Big Bear. We used our debit card (once and it was at this location) earlier in the month and now someone is splurging with our money for Christmas! -.- read more

We drove up to Nicks with very cambered tires and the mechanic came out and the first thing he said was that he saw we had an issue but couldn't help and was very rude. We called another garage and they fixed our problem in 15 minutes. Will never go to nicks again and would definitely not recommend them. read more

Nick was kind enough to fix a flat tire on a Sunday, much quicker than he said. Lifesaver!

Message to all fellow "flatlanders": if you have car trouble while in Big Bear, Nick's is the place to call! Honest, reasonable, professional, courteous are some of the adjectives I can think of. Nick made us feel like we were part of the community and took great care of us. read more

I'm so grateful that I drove by this place when I got to big bear lake over Labor Day weekend. The coolant light indicating "low" was on so I went in this place at around 8:30pm thinking that I wasn't going to get much accomplished. Nick was so helpful, he helped me pick want I needed. Thanks Nick!!! you are awesome!!!! read more

Always reasonable, professional and very knowledgeable. Nick is like family to many of us who live in Big Bear.

I have been a customer of Nick's in the past, but when I called him today to make an appointment to get my car fixed, he was very rude. He abruptly told me that he was booked up for a week and if I wanted to come in next week sometime he would try to get around to looking at it. I asked if I could make an appointment and he refused, saying again that he was very busy and I would have to just leave it next week until he had time to look at it. Sorry Nick, but my time is valuable too and I don't have time to wait until you 'get around' to looking at my car. I will find a mechanic that actually wants my business. read more

I've never written a review here. But I feel I must. Extremely RUDE man! I had left messages with him over two days when it said he was suppose to be open- he wasnt as I walked by each day. then I showed up for him to look at a flat tire ...his tone was arrogant and said he didn't have time. He didn't even walk up to the car. And asked me to leave the property when all I did was ask him twice to look at the car nicely. I see from other reviews that he's done the exact same to other people. I've never had anyone remotely treat me this way. Don't go there. read more

Don't know for sure but Nick needs to check his pumps often for skimmers. Our debit card was compromised either at his pump or Crowley Lake. This has been common practice also in our home town. Tourist towns are a great place for thieves to put skimmers in pumps and get your bank information. Luckily we weren't out thousands of dollars. Don't know which station had the skimmers but gas station owners need to check their pumps often. Nothing was obvious on the outside where we inserted our card. read more

We went to nicks a few minutes after 5 just to ask if he repaired tires. He barked at my husband " no! And we are closed! " my husband got back into the car and then he asked again " could you fix a tire in the morning? " he yelled at him!!! We don't fix tires my husband asked if he knew who could, he yelled again!! He was the rudest, nastiest person ever. Thankfully we don't live here, and we found someone else who will fix it in the morning. He is awful!!!! Don't ever go here! ever! read more

I am very unhappy. Nick charged me over $300. to fix a problem and did not fix it. I did take it back to him and showed him that the problem was still there. He seems like he was playing me for a sucker. I am sure that he would have charged more to correct the problem. I decided to end all contact with him. read more

Nick was a blessing for me and my daughter during our trip to Big Bear. We brought tire chains with us in anticipation of the coming snow storm. We wanted to get the chains on the car before we settled in for the night. We were challenged and frustrated trying to get them on. I looked online for a place that might install tire chains. I tried calling a local auto parts store but they couldn't do it. The guy I spoke with recommended Nick's Auto Shop. I called Nick and he was more than willing to help. We brought the car over to his shop and he installed the tire chains in a flash, while it was snowing! He was super kind and helpful. We really appreciated his extra efforts to help us out. Thanks, Nick. You rock! read more

Had a nail in my tire. He said $20 to fix it. on Sun. he was nice to fix it, but when I got there he said he would plug it. Advised by tire dealers after the fact that a plug is not the best fix, especially for mountain driving. When I took it in, tire was off the car. I asked him if he would put the tire back on. Said yes for a extra 10 or 15 dollars. Always in the past repair shops have always included it in the price. A plug, a fast fix and a fast and easy $20 for Nick. I guess that is Mountain hospitality!!! read more

I got great service from Nick when I took my car in for a smog test. He even offered to back my car up for me because he knew I was nervous about doing so. I have taken our family cars to Nick for 10 years. I've never been displeased with the service I got. read more