When it was time for this year's DMV renewal on my 2010 BMW, I needed a smog test. I had no intention of doing that at the BMW $$$dealership$$$. Instead I did a little sleuthing, and found that San Carlos Service had the best price locally. With a coupon in the Daily Journal, it's only $31.75 + the $8.25 state fee. When I went in, I'd left the coupon at home (duh!). But the shop's owner, Ben, told me that was fine--I just had to tell him I'd seen it. Unfortunately, I went on to fail my test! Ben told me that this was due to some recent engine service I'd had (elsewhere). Rather than get impatient and rude, he told me to just go out and take a long drive on the highway so my old BMW's brain could "reset." I did that, and when I went back in a few days later, Ben immediately tested the old girl, and she passed. No charge for the failed test or the extra time he had to spend. San Carlos Service is one of those great old-fashioned garages. It's staffed by three guys, Ben, Rudy, and Joe, who've obviously been there a long time. They love cars, and seem to know everything about them. I felt well taken care of there, and next time my old girl needs a hand, that's where I'll take her. read more

Ben and his team have been my main mechanics for decades. He knows his stuff and treats everyone fairly. If he can't fix something, he will tell you who can. On more than one occasion, he didn't charge me for minor work as a courtesy. read more

Best in the west Ben is your friend Great service from real people! Can't say enough about the quality work they do and reasonable prices read more

Very helpful, professional owner, who knows domestic and foreign vehicles. A STAR Certified Smog check business. He's been in business 31 years! Off of El Camino turn on Holly towards Laurel Street and take a right at the small alley before Laurel. You'll see the businesses signs and parking area in back. One block from businesses and restaurants on Laurel Street. Drop your car off and sit under a canopy of trees across the street or go grab a cool drink or coffee (Starbucks and Peet's are within walking distance) a bite, or get some shopping done. Quick and pleasant! read more

I recently responded to an ad in the paper to have this business do a smog test on my Honda. I found the owner to be responsive and friendly. He took me right in when I came by and did the job quickly. I've not used this business before, but based on my experience and other reviews that recount similar experiences, I'd certainly be willing to swing by again. One key tip: As Dena said, there's not an easy way in off El Camino Real. You need to pass the business and take the next right. I believe that's Olive Street. Then, take your next right up the alley and enter into the garage from there. read more

My wife told me what a great experience she had at this shop. I looked them up online, printed out their coupon. I was told when I called to come anytime before 2:30. I had to wait maybe 15 minutes, and then another 10 or so for the tests to be run. Fast, easy, and economical - plus a friendly guy running the shop. Highly recommended! read more

Honest and prompt. Had my Mercedes towed due to a broken serpentine belt. They fixed it within a day and charged a fair price for the parts and labor. Nice to have them located in our downtown. As others have mentioned, it's tricky to find the location. read more

Just had my car smogged here on 4/29/25 - with Ben the owner - likely for the third time. The price is the best. If you get the coupon out of the daily post or San Mateo journal, the price is $32. By the time you throw in a few dollars for the actual certificate, it comes to $40. I was out of there in 15 minutes after finding it very easy to make a reservation the day before. The whole process was pleasant and I highly recommend getting your car smog here in San Carlos. read more

Ben and his shop are amazing. He will work to get you in ASAP, he provides estimates in advanced, high-quality craftsmanship, great turnaround time. I love supporting local, family business. An original auto-shop to San Carlos, serving our community for (several) generation. Easy access, great communication and great location. Thank you, Ben! read more

Ben, the owner is great. Gave me the coupon price, even though I didn't have one. Excellent no BS service at a fair price. Will be going back to him for my future smog tests. read more

Best services , Ben very helpful . He is call me every time and explain to me how he find out what to need to fixing my picks up. Thanks again San Carlos Services Team . Also price very reasonable. . read more

Top notch! Fast and friendly service. Got a smog inspection for me and my wife's cars. Piece of cake, no wait. Based on my experience, I would use this business for future car repair needs. read more

Very quick service. The owner Ben is very personable. This is twice I've visit them in the last 3 years whenever my car registration requires a smog test. read more

I am new to the area and was having issues with my car on a very rainy day. I called and spoke to Ben and explained my problem, without hesitation he told me to bring it to him and I did. Not only did he check my car but the care and understanding he had for me as a person was so needed at the time. Ben not only gave me advice on how to worry less but checked my car and when he diagnosed the problem he found that my transmission was slipping and referred me to Rudy at San Carlos Transmission who was also great and eventually fixed my car. I will ONLY be taking my vehicle to Ben in the future for all my car maintenance needs and feel so lucky and glad to have met him and Rudy! Thank you Ben from the bottom of my heart! read more

I called this shop for smog. Ben was kind and considerate. They were able to take me right away. Very good service. I will seek out this shop for future service needs. read more

I've had my cars smogged here for over 6 years and each time Ben has been friendly, sharp, and efficient. He asks questions that reflect the depth of his knowledge and experience. He noticed that my car hadn't been driven much since the last time I was there and asked if my battery had died recently, if I drove the car much, and if I had driven on the city streets and highway lately. The answers to these questions told him whether my car was actually ready to be smogged. A dead battery would have resulted in my car needing to go through a driving pattern to retest all the sensors before it was smog ready. And if that was the case, it would have required some city and highway driving. Fortunately, my car battery was fine and my test was done in 20 minutes. Not only was it done fast but it's also the lowest price / best value in the area! Go here for friendly, knowledgeable, and fast service at a great price! read more

I always have Ben do my smog checks on all my cars. Fast and reliable service. It's a small shop, so be sure to call and schedule an appointment. read more

If you want an honest shop this is it. You'll see all the customers that agree because around 11am this place is packed . I'd definitely call ahead. Ben gives an honest job with an honest price .Those are two things that are huge qualities to look for in a mechanic. He's a San Carlos staple . You can see the historical evidence on the wall and see his many achievements. read more

Great place and friendly staff. Got my smog test done here. Was in and out in 20 mins. Great value, I think this was the cheapest in the area. read more

My Previa "failed" a smog test at another shop because the mechanic didn't know much about the timing control on my engine and wrote it off as malfunctional. So he sent me over to San Carlos Service whose owner, Ben, is a friend of his, so that I could find out what was wrong with my van. Ben was busy working on other cars when I got there, but he was nice enough to take a moment to look at my engine. In just a few seconds he determined that the other mechanic made an incorrect assumption about my vehicle timing. Ben called the other guy and let him know that there was nothing wrong with my van. After that, I went back and had no problems passing my smog test. Though my experience at San Carlos Service was short, I would recommend the place to anybody needing auto repair. Ben proved to be knowledgeable, kind, and honest. He didn't even charge me a cent for looking at my car! Most mechanics would try to nickel-and-dime you for any work they do. Ben seems like the kind of person who would do a good job because he genuinely cares about people. read more

Today I brought my car to San Carlos Service for the first time. Jeff at Nielsens had recommended Ben to me last year. I wasn't disappointed. IMHO, Ben and his crew earn their high customer satisfaction rating. I was pleased about every aspect of my visit. These are people you can trust and rely upon. A wonderful find. read more

After having my car towed to this shop (a very unexpected breakdown on the San Mateo Bridge) I was impressed by the care and quality of the work they put in to repair my car. They managed to fit me into their schedule last minute as I needed to return home the following day. Ben is an absolute professional and was very honest with me about the state of my vehicle and the repairs that needed to be done. He took his time to explain what went wrong with the car and even showed me the malfunctioning radiator hose so I could understand it better. As a young woman who is not well-versed in the mechanics of a vehicle, this was greatly appreciated. I could tell that they were honest with me not only about the work that needed to be done but also about the pricing. Though I am from out of the area, I will be returning to San Carlos Service when I am in the Bay- thank you, Ben and team! read more

The two brothers are very honest. Excellent service. I bring all three vehicles there for smog. Fast , convenient service. Very wait time. read more

A good place for repairs and smog testing. Ben, the owner seems honest and recommends only the needed services or repairs needed. I've heard him tell a customer what services weren't needed for maintenance (which I knew as well) which says a lot about his integrity since he could have upsold unnecessary service that dealerships or chain lube shops normally do. The only problem is that his shop is always busy and a bit cluttered. You'd need to make an appointment even for a smog test. Best to call ahead to schedule an appointment or see how long of a wait time. read more

Ben the owner is such a great guy!! He's a great mechanic and smog technician!! He's very friendly and professional! I left my smog to last minute (I don't recommend doing this) thankfully Ben fit me right in and made it happen!! I trust my vehicle with him!!! read more

Ben writes: "In response to this review,all I can say is I'm at a loss. In my recent memory we have had no complaints or dissatisfied customers that would match this persons description." ____ Of course you do not remember, but I can promise you that it happened. I would not go out of my way to target a business that did nothing wrong. And now all of a sudden, Bens customers read his yelp reviews and feel the need to write about him? - and these reviews are first time reviews and all pretty much during the same week.. A little suspicious...but all in all, I dont care what anyone writes...Yelp is to write reviews,and that is what I did based on my experience. Im not a one time yelper who came on here to defend or criticize a business like some of these other reviews. read more

We found San Carlos Service on their website at http://www.SanCarlosService.com. There was a coupon for a discounted smog check that we printed out, and brought in. While we were there, we told the owner (Ben) that our van also needed an oil change. No problem - he and his crew are fast , and get the job done right! Didn't have to wait long, and our van is running like a champ. Best service on the Peninsula! read more

San Carlos Service - San Carlos Service - Auto Repair Near Me - San Carlos, California

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A long-time yelp consumer, I've never written a review before but was compelled to do so after reading Stella B's scathing entry. I simply had to say how wholeheartedly I disagree. I've been taking my cars to San Carlos Service for almost 10 years now and will continue to do so, recommending them to anyone who will listen (in fact, my 2003 BMW is there now). I first met Ben & his team when my '94 Acura threw a rod late one Friday night coming home from a company function. The tow truck driver (near Palo Alto) recommended Ben so I had the car towed to his shop. This repair usually requires a new engine, but Ben brought my car back from the brink, quickly & for the lowest cost possible. From that moment on he has been my mechanic, handling all repairs large & small, and not once has he tried to upsell or overcharge me. He even found me a new emblem when someone stole mine off the Beemer. Currently I'm dealing with a significant electrical issue with the BMW which has caused a chain of issues. Ben has a network of mechanics with whom he trades services & expertise - such as Bimmer, a local body shop and a transmission specialist; and this network has been hugely valuable for my current car issues. I experience the same professionalism, fair pricing & VIP treatment I get from San Carlos Service when sent there by Ben. If it sounds like this review has been written by a friend, it's because Ben and his team treat their clients like friends and neighbors. They provide a level of customer service usually only found in small towns. They've always gone the extra mile to work around my crazy schedule, help me with pick-ups & drop offs, and I've repeatedly seen them work with customers on payment plans (even first-hand) when necessary. I wish all service providers were this respectful, capable and reliable! read more

Visited San Carlos Service for a SMOG check yesterday. Called them in the AM, Ben was cordial and super helpful. He ran the SMOG the same evening without an appointment, and even extended the discount coupon that was published by the workshop in the local newspaper (which I did not have!!). Remember this is a STAR certified SMOG shop and not just any average SMOG station!! Amazing service, very polite and cordial people!! I would certainly recommend San Carlos Service to my friends!! read more

I've been working on my own vehicles for over 40 years, but when I don't have the time, proper tools, or inclination to do maintenance or repairs myself on one of my four cars, I go to a repair shop (never a chain shop or specialty service center, or dealer). I've lived in San Carlos for 17 years, and have tried many of the local shops. What I like in a repair shop is competence, fair price, respectfullness and patience when a customer has an opinion, and friendliness. Ben's shop was recommended to me by a friend, but before I took my car in for work, I went to visit and get a feeling for the shop. I got a good feeling. I'll write about my last two visits there, both done in the last three weeks on my 2001 Impala. The first repair was to replace the fuel level sensor, because my fuel gauge was not working. Ben quoted me a very reasonable price and the time to repair. Ben followed through and did excellent work. The next repair(s) I had done was something I was putting off for a while, but because I was going to go on a long trip with the car, the next day, I finally decided to have the repairs done. The repairs were replacement of the catalytic converter, and replacement of the water pump. These are two jobs that I just didn't have the time or motivation to do. I dropped the car off on Wednesday, and Ben diagnosed the problems, and gave me, again, a very reasonable estimate (nearly half what a dealer would charge or a third of other local shops). Late Wednesday, near closing time, I told Ben to go ahead and do the repairs, and the car was ready when promised, Thursday. Ben has never tried to up-sell me, or sell me services I don't need. I'll continue going to Ben, and give his shop five stars. read more

Tuesday 11/19 I was running errands in San Carlos and when I came back to my car it wouldn't start. Luckily the store I was near suggested San Carlos Service & Tune-up Center. Ben the owner was calm and professional as I was panicking. He came right with me to my car he tried to jump it and realized it was the starter. He offered to have the car pushed to a shop and gave me a ride to my house. He then called me 10 minutes later letting me know what the issue was which was a bad starter and a battery that wasn't holding a charge. He had it ready to go on Wednesday. His excellent customer service, knowledge of cars and understanding was very reassuring. read more

We have been using San Carlos Service as our primary mechanic for five years - 3 vehicles all Fords (father-in-law is former Ford). What compels me to write is that this is a quality garage and they deserve (albeit delayed) a shout-out. There are two aspects that stand out beyond the quality of their work and friendly service. Both are related to integrity: (1) When they can't or shouldn't be hired to fix something they say so, and (2) when a job is beyond their scope of support, excellent referrals are provided. read more

Ben and Joe are the BEST. Super amazing customer service, and they really care about their customers. If you don't go to get your car done here, you are really missing out on having a down to earth and honest mechanic. They both are as well as their crew. I have been coming here since I got ripped off by another shop located on El Camino towards Redwood City. Change it up and give them a try. They always make sure you get an estimate first to see what items you should have done and which ones are priority. Super! read more

Nothing bad to say Ben Knew me When I was 15-16 years old I'm now 38 Only Person Mechanic I can trust for everything and smog if anyones needs a place Togo San Carlos Service is the Place to be read more

I walked in one afternoon and asked a few questions regarding a nagging engine light that keeps coming on. The owner of the shop, Ben, was so nice and helpful. I made an appoitment to have them repair the issue and the service there was top notch. As a woman taking my vehicle into a mechanic in the past has sometimes been a stressful experience as often I have found they try to sell repairs to me that I know I don't need. I never felt that way at San Carlos Service. Ben informed me everystep of the way on all possible costs and options. Someone from the shop even phoned me a week later to ensure all was well with the repair. Now that is awesome customer service!!! Five star rating on the vehicle service and on customer care. read more

I just moved to the bay area and I was very lucky to have found San Carlos Service, the owner Ben was very professional and friendly. I was having problems with my car passing the smog due to some lights on my dashboard, he fixed the problem, run a new test and passed... I am not taking my car anywhere else He is awesome! read more

9/2020 - just got my brakes done. Great job. I can't say enough good things about this place. Thanks!!

Brought my 1970 Ford Mustang into his shop a couple of months ago for a new starter and alt.(which i provided).....$390 later and a sore backside from "all the labor" I bring my car home and notice all the emblems are missing from my car. I call Ben and tell him what happened and his response was "it couldn't be my guys that did it, because their all chevy guys" I don't get an offer to pay for the missing parts even though they went missing while at his shop. Hell i didn't even get an apology. I'm sure his shop is great at smogs(according to the other reviews) but i wouldn't bring any of my cars there again. read more

Ben hooked it up with great service and got my car done before noon which was amazing. My car feels like brand new with its new brakes. :) Appreciate the service a lot! He also tells you more about your car than any other auto repair shop would. No bs. read more

I refer to San Carlos Service as "my mechanic" to friends & family. I have taken both of my cars, a 1992 Ford Explorer XLT and 1997 Acura Integra GS-R, there several times over the past few years. Ben, the owner, is usually the person who answers the phone and handles customer service. My Explorer is almost 20 years old now, and I simply want to keep it running. Ben understands this and is able to work with me to identify and prioritize repairs based on my preferences (i.e. it doesn't have to run like a clock, it just has to run safely). After working on my brake pads/rotors, air conditioning, clutch, wheel bearings, power steering, and tracking down a mysterious fluid leak, I know I can trust Ben's word and work. There are a couple of issues that we are keeping an eye on because the fix would be very expensive and Ben knows I'm tight on money with a young family to feed on my single income. Ben is such a great guy that today, when I called about bringing in the Explorer for some air conditioning work, I mentioned that my brake lights stopped working yesterday. Ben quickly ran down the systems I could check on my own as he knows I am interested in doing my own repairs if possible. With his encouragement and a copy of the shop manual I got off ebay, I was able to repair my brake light switch all by myself. On another occasion, my heater was malfunctioning because the fan would only blow on high, but not on low or medium. The Integra was already in the shop getting some clutch work done, and I mentioned the blower problem to Ben. Ben printed out a circuit diagram, handed it to me, and said that I should take a look at the blower switch behind the glove box. He even told me how to test the switch with a multi-meter! At home I tested the switch, confirmed it was broken, bought a new switch at the local auto parts store, and installed it myself. Problem fixed. Finally, Ben repaired my A/C system including installing a new compressor and new coolant back in December. He told me at the time that if I find the A/C not blowing cold enough in July/August to bring the Explorer back. I brought it back because it wasn't blowing cold enough in August, and sure enough, Ben took care of it right away. There was no charge. A/C works great now. San Carlos Service is busy enough that it normally takes 1-2 days for them to see my car. read more