My car has been having SO many issues and it finally gave out. Decided to tow my car to this nearby auto shop and they fixed ALL my issues in the same day at an affordable price. I had issues with my starter, my brake pads, my brake fluid, and I needed an oil change and they took care of everything swiftly. Nelson is the best and super personable. I would definitely come back here. read more

Red Box Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - Alhambra, California

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My wife took her car to have an oil and filter change and also an air filter change inside the passenger car compartment. Nelson has exhibited the utmost professional care for handling the job. The Honda CRV is a 25 year old car that needs special tool to take off the steel bracket in order to change the air filter inside the compartment of the car. Nelson not only change the air filter but also professionally "air -blow" clean the inner compartment of the component prior to installing the new air filter. That's above and beyond the normal process of changing the filter. It shows Nelson's professional pride in proving services to his clients. Nelson puts his clients first in providing his professional car services. You will be awed by his excellent valued oriented professional services! read more

My favorite Asian mechanic retired and this shop is now under new management. The shop received a new bright red paint job which makes it really stand out. I was in need of a professional opinion on my 5 speed manual transmission KIA which was giving me issues with the clutch. The main guy told me to bring it in so they can see if it needs a new clutch or hopefully just an adjustment. read more

Red Box Auto Repair - Under new management APR2025 - Auto Repair Near Me - Alhambra, California

Nelson is amazing! I highly recommend this auto repair shop! My boss has been talking about this place for years, and I finally decided to give it a try. I finally had them take a look at my car, and I'm glad I did. They found that my rear brakes needed to be repaired along with rear shocks. The pricing was very affordable, and they even included a courtesy car wash, which was a great touch. Excellent service, and I'll definitely be coming back! read more

Needed an oil change and called on a Saturday afternoon expecting to have to wait until next weekend but Nelson was able to squeeze me in the next day. Quick & great service. Great price. read more

I never rate anything one star. I don't care even if I was treated horrible, because I understand people have their bad days. But today I am truly disappointed. My uncle had been coming to Redbox to service his Honda for over a decade already, recommended me, and seeing the 4.2 star review that backed up this shop I was ecstatic. I had a very simple wiring issue, my positive terminal harness cable snapped. Bought a replacement for $25, easy job, but I had injured my thumb and my nail broke off. I figure I'll just come to my uncles recommended shop. First red flag, talking over you on the phone, I kept trying to explain the issue and the cause: my battery was loose, and snapped the wire, but the owner of the shop just kept cutting me off never letting me get there. I told myself it's fine, I get it we have a language barrier. It's the same thing with my family, no worries. I show up the next day, waved hi to the owner, we smiled, I walked up to the buzz cut Asian man, I told him exactly what I needed. He looks at the wire look at my broken harness and says," this is not the right part." He walks away handing me back my harness. I felt so stupid, so I started comparing the part to the car. it was the right part. I measured every single connection. I bought the god damn right part. I walked back to the Asian man, "hey I did purchase the right part" and he then he finally realized. Afterwards he hands the owner the wire, owner goes," Just f*king take off his fuse box and connect this there!" Walks to me "$120?" I say are you serious? "Ok Good Bye" waves me off and walks away laughing. That was the most disrespectful I've ever been treated by a mechanic. I stormed towards him but wary of his age, I calmed myself I asked him," why were you so nice on the phone, and very willing to work on my car with your son, but when I show up you give me this treatment?" He explains, " that is not the issue, we need to get paid, it doesn't matter how cheap you buy the part or from where, we need to get paid" I understand, it's a very simple job, I understand it's laughable, I understand the job is too simple, but I did not deserve that treatment. Nor does anybody else. Please improve your attitude, and competency. read more

My spot for smog check. Please call ahead, the guy that performs smog check may not be there and parking can be an issue if there are more than a few cars waiting. read more

My starter had gave out on me after work. Bye the time I got home from work by 4pm. It was really hard to find a Mechanic that's open late. And thankfully Red Box Auto Repair was OPEN till 6pm , which is PLUS. Nelson and his team were willing to wait little after his closing hours as I wait for my AAA towing. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND RED BOX AUTO REPAIR. Ask for NELSON read more

Red Box Auto Repair - Red Box Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - Alhambra, California

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42 bucks for smog check. I think it's pretty reasonable. Finished within 15min or so not bad. I went to another today lol I asked him you guys do smog he said yea but not today. Lol so I find the closest one and came here. read more

Red Box Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - Alhambra, California

Red Box Auto Repair has really stepped up with a great new look and even better customer service. Nelson goes above and beyond. He is transparent, attentive, and genuinely makes sure everything meets your needs. Hands down the most affordable and reliable auto repair shop in all of Alhambra. Highly recommend! read more

Red Box Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - Alhambra, California

Not original owner anymore but Danny still does the smog checks quickly for the new owner .

My family and I have been going to Red Box Auto for the last 10 years. The new management is just as dependable as the previous one. Nelson always gives the best prices and he's honest and fun to talk to. One time, I had to change my brake pads and front axles and Red Box was cheaper than a nearby shop by about $200. Nelson will always try to save you money. One time, Google recommended I change my alternator, but Nelson was honest with me. He said a new alternator wouldn't fix the problem, that I just needed a new battery. Great shop. I'll be coming here for as long as I have a gas car. read more

Red Box Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Best prices, quality and service in Alhambra. Nelson was able to take my vehicle in immediately, quoted me w/o fee. I had my vehicle's break pads replaced and oil change done in a very short period of time. Nelson was very helpful and professional. Highly recommended. read more

Awesome staff and Nelson, the owner, is honest and prices are reasonable. I take all my cars to Red Box because I know they will take good care of them. read more

I was here today looking Danny for Oil change found out that the lady took over his business. Usually the business very busy and crowded, but when I came no customer at all! She charged me for $80.13 for Oil Change, (other place I paid only $54.0) that's is very expensive!!! I will never come back here again. Thank you Danny for giving a good service these years! read more

Red Box Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - Alhambra, California

Highly recommended! I came here and had to replace my car battery. I was not able to do it at AutoZone because my battery was corroded. So I purchased my battery at AutoZone and drove over here to have them install it. Since my battery was corroded, be carefully remove the corrosion to prevent any of the parts from breaking. Afterwards, they installed my new battery for me and also applied some anti-corrosion gel to prevent it from happening again. Great service, fast and very reasonable price. read more

Red Box Auto Repair - Changing my car battery - Auto Repair Near Me - Alhambra, California

Amazing service here! Staff are very friendly and personable and my car is running great now! In my opinion he should have charged me more but it was a great price with amazing customer service and friendliness. Will definitely come again! read more

I visited Red Box Auto Repair today for a smog test. This was my experience: Upon entering the office, which was open, I saw a man behind the counter eating. I simply said "hello". The man did not look up, but mumbled something. I said "excuse me?" To which he said loudly "I'm eating!" in a dismissive manner, all the while never even looking up. Shocked, I said "okay thanks." I walked out of there quickly, taken aback by the complete lack of customer service. While I understand he was on his lunch, as a business, I would recommend either closing the door and putting up a sign, or simply informing the customer of when to return. I don't mind a wait. Due to the rude nature of the employee, I took my business elsewhere. Less than a five minute drive away, I found "Valley Auto Repair & Smog Station". I arrived to find their employees also eating. Upon seeing me enter one employee got up, said hello and asked what I needed. I replied that I need a smog test. The employee informed me they could help me in about 20 minutes, as they were on lunch break. I said "absolutely, thank you, enjoy your lunch". That's how you do business. read more

I called a day in advance, Smog check from 1:30-5pm?? Then day of they say oh sorry the guy didn't come in today. New owner off to a bad start read more

With other oil change quotes from many places ranging in the $85 - $100+ range it was a no brainer to swing by my old pal Danny for a premium oil change at a fraction of the cost. My father recommended Danny years ago for smog checks and other maintenance as well as larger jobs which take some time to complete. This is now my second vehicle I am taking to him. Some people may mistake him as unfriendly or short however once you start to chat with him you'll see he's a very friendly and mellow dude. His honesty in the work he recommends is also a big plus, he isn't one to try and upsell you but to make a mechanics honest opinion about whatever is going on. You may have to longer than other times you visit but understand you don't want someone rushing through work on your vehicle. I highly recommend Red Box Auto for any of your car needs! You can even bring in your own oil if you fancy as well as other parts you may like to buy on your own and have installed. read more

Just going to keep this simple. Cheap, fast smog checks, get your car in and get your car out. The owner literally just keeps the talking to a minimum and just does what is needed to get your car in and out. Best price around and no need to haggle or look for a cheaper option. The parking lot is tiny and difficult to navigate in and out on to an open street so if you see the lot full and cars lined up to the garage door, just take that as a sign to come back later. read more

Many of my friends recommended Red Box Auto Repair because the owner/mechanic is very honest. That much is certainly true and I really appreciate it. I first went to the shop because my 12 year old Camry had brake shudders. He recommended I come back after the problem had become more severe because it was just annoying at that point and I was going to get the brakes replaced soon anyways. I now trust him enough that when there are small problems, I will just stop by and get his thoughts. He has never tried to sell me something I didn't need. He pretty much always tells me that there is no issue. Therefore, I get a lot of value here and I trust him. I'd recommend this auto shop to anyone looking for a straightforward and honest mechanic. However, his demeanor is sometimes offputting, and he's often reticent to look into problems until they're extraordinarily severe. I think I'd want my car to be decently maintained rather than as he puts it: "wait for it to require a tow truck." But overall, I'd rather deal with this than be overcharged on a consistent basis by many multitudes. If you do choose to stop by, do it early or be prepared to wait. This is basically a one-man operation, and there is a high volume. Expect at least 45 minutes up to 1 1/2 hours. There's an extra charge for credit card, so bring some cash. read more

The front brake pads on my Honda Civic needed to be changed. The dealership was going to charge me over $250 for parts and labor. Luckily, my friend recommended Red Box to me. I bought the brakes from the local O' Reilly for $50, and Danny from Red Box helped me change them for $40. He recommended that the rotors also get changed for an additional $25. In total, I paid half the price it would have cost at the dealership for a simple brake change. I didn't need to make an appointment, but I did hear from my friend that sometimes the lines get long at Red Box, so I went early. It took an hour for Danny to do the work. I just walked over to Main Street to grab a drink and he was done. Super quick. No frills. No added cost on anything. In case there are people out there who care, there is a surcharge of $1.50 if you want to use credit card, but that was chump change to me compared to $250 for the dealership. read more

Took my car in for a smog check on a Saturday (around 10am) and I was out of there in less than 30 mins! Smog check + certificate, all for $32!! How great is that?? The parking lot is small and it gets crowded quick, but other than that...no complaints here! I would highly recommend this place! read more

Danny is always busy, but always helpful. Been coming here for years and always recommend to friends and family. From my previous cars Toyota 4runner, Sequoia, FJ Cruiser, Supra, Lexus IS and previous GS they've been serviced here. One of the questions that may be asked is if I want original or aftermarket parts. I tend to request factory parts. Highly recommended if you need work done or even just a smog check. read more

Red Box Auto Repair - Getting rear brakes done. - Auto Repair Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Danny is a very experienced mechanic and has very reasonable prices. Most of all he's HONEST.

Intimidating, rude, unkind, and unreliable car repair shop. Take my word- I made a big mistake by coming to this place. Very disappointed! He was not shy to say, come at this time, when I was willing to wait till my turn. He has no respect. Narcissist. read more

I have been here for a few years because on the owner honesty; but things have changed. There are better mechanics out there until the trust is lost again and have been thru many with the same story. read more

Went there last Saturday for an oiltchange and found out that the business was sold. Danny and Q still works there. Got an oil change and transmission fluid changed. Was charged by new owner almost $200. $100 went towards "labor.". wasn't there 45 mins tops. Q, the mechanic is great as usual. No choice but to go next door to Lim's auto repair from now on. Thanks Danny and more recently Q for being my mechanic for the past 20 years. read more

Great group of guys. Have been coming here for years. Back when I had my used 1990 Supra, 1998 4runner, 2005 Toyota Sequoia, and 2003 Lexus GS430. Never had an issue I would tell them to change a number of things on the card and was told "you don't need it yet". I bring my 2011 GS350 for brakes and stuff, but take it to the dealer for routine maintenance. I've brought my new toy FJ cruiser for a few different things. Nothing major. They are a great deal! read more

Taiwanese hookup lesson 2. How many phone calls does it take to find a smog place? 18. ish. why? See thread on Asian cheapness: http://www.yelp.com/biz/a-ian-cheapne-san-francisco . Even after the phone calls I wasn't satisfied and started driving down Mission Rd. My lil bro had set the low price benchmark at $32 last week and I was determined to beat it. First shop, $31 all-in, but they shut down the smog machine. Second stop, $35, refused to bargain. Third stop, Taiwanese dude at Red Box, $28 all-in. SIGN ME UP. Ask for Daniel, the owner / operator. No lines, opens late Saturdays. He let me press the enter button on the smog computer, so I left a $2 tip. Who tips for smog? It's ok lah! he's a fellow countryman. Useful info: This isn't a test-only station. Your car needs smog 6 years after original date of purchase, every 2 years thereafter. Drive your car hard for an extended period amount of time before visiting smog shop to heat up the cats for better chance of passing. Make SURE when you're pricing out smog the shop includes "certification" fee which ranges from $8-15. NB: 50th continuous FTRs, had to make it useful. read more

Red Box Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - Alhambra, California

Smog Check = $28! Yes, you heard right...$28! What a deal! That's the cheapest I've seen anywhere. If you know of a place that's cheaper, please let me know =) Two years ago, I paid $70, yikes! What a ripoff, never again. My fault for not checking Yelp... Don't forget to bring in your DMV letter for the guy to scan and he will transmit to it the DMV for you...all for the low price of $28 =) There's a small waiting area (could probably fit 4 ppl) with 3 chairs and a TV. CASH ONLY!! read more

After calling around about 10 other smog check shops, this was the cheapest. Showed up on Friday morning and I was literally in and out in 15 minutes. The shop has a small waiting area. It is just literally 2 plastic chairs, which I would not recommend sitting on. There is a restroom but I highly recommend you don't use it. I just stood around and surfed the web on my phone while the guy worked on my car. Smog check for my '06 4 cylinder was $29 out the door (sent my certificate electronically to DMV). Definitely recommend for smog check. Bring cash! read more

Reasonably priced auto service. Does only what's needed. Doesn't over sell the fix. Danny is a straight shooter.

Smog Check is still only $29!! Almost the same price from 4 years ago! I paid cash cuz some other Yelper said it would be a buck more if you pay with credit card...didn't verify if it's true. Always have gone on my day off. Never went during the weekends...figure I avoid the crowd that way. Was in and out in 20 minutes. There was one customer before me. They send the certificate directly to the DMV. Still the same crappy/dumpy looking place. Definitely no frills, but price is reasonable and they get the job done. That's all it matters to me, so I've been a repeat customer (whenever I need to get my smog check done that is). read more

Red Box Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - Alhambra, California

My elderly parents needed a Smog Check for their car, so they went to Red Box. They were "helped" by someone named Tie Sung who they said had no customer service whatsoever. He didn't communicate when they tried to ask questions about the car, or provide them any information other than taking their money and giving them a receipt. They were feeling so disrespected and so bad about how they were treated to the point of feeling like they were scammed just because they are elderly and for their money. We are locals to the SGV and try to support small businesses and business owners in the area. This business will never get our support again. read more

Quick service and only $29 for a smog check! My dad recommended me this place and I'm glad we were in and out within the span of 15 mins on a Saturday morning. The only down side about this place is that there is no parking whatsoever, so you will have a hard time getting into the lot. I thought that the parking could be extended, but for a $29 smog check? I'm not complaining. Also, there is another auto shop right next to this one. Please don't get it confused with Red Box Auto Repair! This shop is in the red letters and has some Chinese words on the bottom too! :) read more

On a Monday, quick to get smog check done. Less than 15 minutes in and out. They're now also a STAR smog station. Price is reasonable. Speaks English and Mandarin. read more

Honest, reliable, reasonable, Danny and staff work hard. If there is nothing wrong with your car, they let you know. They use high quality parts. Wait time is reasonable. read more

I'll agree with most people on here that the price was good and service was fast. For a smog check, I guess there isn't much else you can ask for. But the guy I worked with, Danny, was very rude and impatient. He gave me major attitude for not bringing my smog check paperwork. Did he think I was trying to cheap out by telling him to do the non-STAR one? Who knows. That doesn't make much sense since I'd be screwing myself over by doing that if I did in fact need a STAR check. Anyway, he gave me attitude the whole way through the process. In my opinion, saving a couple bucks almost wasn't worth the lack of respect given. read more