We have been taking our cars to Hector and his team for years. They are knowledgeable and do fantastic work.

SMART auto repair is our trusted local mechanic that I take my Toyota and VW to. Each time I go, I can trust that they are really diagnosing the issue and not trying to upsell me. I think they are good quality mechanics that are trustworthy. Today's visit included a timing belt replacement, water pump replacement, oil change and other items. I would recommend a SMART auto for anyone looking for a trustworthy mechanic. read more

Smart Auto Repair - Repaired Toyota truck. Timing belt, water pump. Oil change and other general maintenance. - Auto Repair Near Me - El Cajon, California

Honest mechanics, great service and good prices. I am very pleased with their work and their great customer service!

It's always hard to find a good mechanic. Hector has been amazing. He has saved me money and he does quality work. Thanks Hector.

Hector is a very knowledgeable mechanic, fair priced, and trustworthy. Makes sure you understand what needs to be fixed immediately, and gives you advanced notice on items that may become issues in the future. read more

I have had good auto service with Smart Auto, El Cajon since 2022. However, it concerns me that my 2005 Kia , dealership maintained vehicle was taken to Smart Auto for a throttle body install. I paid $1200 as requested, within 2 weeks the throttle failed and my vehicle was returned there. The Mechanic held car from Nov 2023 until May 2024 steering me along. Just received email to come tow my vehicle before he starts charging me storage. I feel the Mechanic is being unreasonable, as I have made frequent calls regarding the pick up and reason for delay at his shop. I could have easily moved my vehicle, which I drove to his shop. But a non-op vehicle is more difficult, as I am a Senior. Please do not leave your vehicle at Smart Auto for too long, unless you have arranged to do so. read more

I bought a car in El Cajon that needed an oil change before driving it back to LA and hector squeezed me in and had my car back to me in just an hour or two! He also gave me a list of things that my mechanic at home could look into, which was so nice (and clearly honest since he knew he wouldn't make any extra money off of that!) read more

Hector and his team are great, friendly and trustworthy people. Their work is impeccable as well as their customer service skills. They diagnoses the cars and trucks and do the work at a reasonable price. They never recommend anything you don't need. read more

Horrible customer service. Had to practically babysit them by calling them daily to know what was going on with my car. The first 3 days of leaving my car with them they never called to let me know I gave them the wrong bumper. Again, only found out by calling them first. They never bothered to even apologize about not letting me know beforehand and wasting my time. They seemed bothered by me calling them also, maybe if they just bothered to call me I wouldn't have to. Do your job and call your customers to inform them about the next steps that need to be done for their cars. Would never recommend this place to anyone. If babysitting grown men is what you like then by all means come here. read more

Hector is the guy to go to! He is knowledgeable, straightforward, honest, and efficient. He an his team are trustworthy; a rare virtue in these days. I have been taking my cars to him when I can't fix it myself. I trust his opinion, and his work. If you are looking for a good mechanic, give this place a try. You'll be happy you did. read more

I brought my car here to get an engine swap for a blown motor and they had my car for over a month and a half because they kept ordering bad engines, which also could entirely not be their fault. But on top of that they never called me to give updates I would have to call them sporadically to get any sort of info and no matter how many times I called they never remembered who I was. They seem to have done good work but my Headliner was left filthy and stained and my front passenger side wheel is completely curbed rushed and scratched up (which it wasn't before giving it to them). So all in all they don't seem to prioritize things properly, over promised on expectations and then clearly just didn't take care of my vehicle. Good work for the most part but probably the worst customer service experience I've ever had. Still so pissed about the curbed wheel since they're aftermarket not OEM. read more

When our car overheated on Halloween, right when we were going out of town, Hector was able to get us in and give us a quote for the repair. It was honestly the best car repair experience we've ever had (and it's a hard-driven 2005 Kia, so there's been plenty of issues). There are so many options when it comes to finding a good auto repair shop, but Hector takes customer service to the next level - he even drove our car to our house when I was at work and my husband was home with the kids and no car seats!! Above and beyond every step of the way. Customer Service at its finest. We will be customers for life. Thank you Hector. read more

HONEST MECHANIC ALERT: The wife told me that everyone she works with goes to Severin Auto Repair, and that they are always treated with courtesy. I also heard his prices were very fair, and he explained all recommended services before performing, which is always a plus. I went there for the first time today and couldn't agree more. The owner (Hector) was very friendly and forthcoming about my car being in very good shape, and that whatever issue I had was probably going to be relatively minor. He wasn't able to recreate the symptoms I was experiencing with my idle fluctuating, so he released the the car back to me WITHOUT CHARGE. This came after connecting it to the diagnostics tester, driving it and inspecting it thoroughly. He told me to bring it back in if I start to experience the same issue, and would would settle up then. Also, he changed my air filter (which I didn't notice was slightly cracked) for a mere $10.00. This type of honestly is certainly appreciated. read more

I was first referred to Hector at SMART (Severin Mobile Auto Repair Team) by a manager at Kragen/O'Reilly for my car issue. I of course looked up his reviews and they all looked good, so I called this morning. Hector himself picked up and was very friendly. I told him I would be there in a little bit. He and his associates took extremely good care of me and my vehicle! He solved the problem and it was relatively quickly fixed! He made sure to first rule out any smaller issues that could be causing the problem, in order to save me money, and sure enough he found the problem and fixed it. He had someone deliver the part I needed, and in no time it was installed. Very good customer service, very knowledgeable, great experience! read more

DO NOT TRUST THIS OWNER/BUSINESS WITH YOUR VEHICLE OR HARD EARNED MONEY! What a poor example of professionalism! They should have been honest they didn't know how to do the fix. He had us fetch him a part, claimed it was a defective part but then wanted to charge us to take it out. Have you heard of a tester? Hector argued and cussed at us in front of the business & blamed us. Took no responsibility! Treated us as though we could not afford his services, even though we had already paid and he was the one not able to give us what we paid for! read more

HONEST, HONEST, HONEST!!! Where has Hector been all our lives, my wife has taken her car to Hector 3 times without me and she gets treated like a Queen every time. First time for a break job, she was in a hurry and they finished in 1 hour, this last time we had a broken engine mount bolt and they finished next day after lifting the engine and threw in wiper blades because it was raining and the car needed them all for a minimal price. It is no wonder that this auto repair place is always packed. Thank you for being a great business in our neighborhood and for treating women so fairly in the auto repair industry. I trust Smart Auto Repair to treat my wife fairly without me ever having to go there. read more

Hector is the best! I used him over a year and a half ago for my dad's car. I also found his business by Yelp reviews and then the tow truck driver praised him when he asked where I was taking the car. He fixed it quickly, and it ran perfectly. When a part that was used went out, recently, he tried to get the manufacturer warranty to extend past the year. The company refused, so he repaired it for me at cost. I paid half the price, and I know he didn't make much off me, if anything. He stands behind his work! I will definately use him again. IT IS SO HARD TO FIND HONEST AND TRUST WORTHY MACANICS! FYI: The shop is small, but don't let it discourage you, he and his crew are excellent macanics. read more

A++++ for their honesty, low costs, professionalism and efficiency! Read all about Hector (the owner) here on yelp and I was in desperate need and an HONEST mechanic after a terrible experience at Valvoline with my breaks. Glad to say that Hector diagnosed and fixed my problem which was my drivers side hub/ bearings and he got me in and out of his shop in 1.5 hours! I cannot say enough positive things about my experience and these guys have me as a customer for life! Thanks Hector and staff! read more

I've been ging to Hector since 1997. I would never consider going anywhere else. Hector is the most proficient, honest mechanic that I have ever met. after all this time, not only is he my mechanic I consider him a friend. When I lived in the neighborhood he would pick me up and drop my car off when done. Hows that for service! read more

After 15 years with the same, great mechanic I was forced to find a new one due to my guy's early retirement. My preference was to find a small, established, neighborhood shop that wouldn't rip me off or try to sell me work or parts that aren't needed. Guess what? I found what I was looking for at Smart Auto. I drive a ten year old Pontiac G6, which I bought new, and have rarely had any issues even after 150k miles. Recently I needed to have a few repairs done. Arturo gave me a reasonable quote and I approved the work, he even threw in a new air filter. I need to go back and have some more work done, but I know my car is in good hands! read more

For over NINE years now my husband and I have been taking our vehicles to Hector for maintenance and repairs. We have our one car and four work vans that Hector has taken care of all of those years. We have the utmost trust in his work. It is wonderful to have a mechanic that we know provides great service and reasonable prices! read more

Hector's team is the place to go for your automotive repair needs. Honest and fair work at a good price.

What a great experience! I called one late afternoon last week and needed an oil change. They took care of me. simple and the best no fuss service. Hector also suggested I do a tire rotation to improve tire wear.....he could see something about the tires I could not - and now my car runs better for it. You're the best Hector and crew. read more

I think all the reviews are true! If you are a girl like me that has no idea what goes on inside a car, Smart Auto Repair is the place to go! They are honest and knowledgeable. I loved the experience! Will definitely go back! read more

Smart, honest and fair. Provides any fix and is also just as quick to tell you what *doesn't* need to be done.

I could not be happier with the quality of service that hector and his crew provided. Not only did he fix my fuel pump at the lowest price I could find, but they also did it same day and very quickly. This is the most trust worthy mechanic I have found and I will be coming back and recommending it to all my friends. I highly recommend to come here for all of your car service. read more

I got my car towed there back in January and they were quick to fix the problem with my battery. Took my car back here again a few days ago to get brakes and struts. Hector gave us the best price possible on those and came back with a few other things to make my 2010 car run like new!! His prices are super reasonable and he knows what he's doing! I will not take my car to anyone other than Hector. Being a female in my 20s it is easy for someone to scam me but I know that's not the case here. Most mechanics would also come back to you with a laundry list of things to fix and be doesn't do that. Highly recommend!!! read more

Great and honest service. Extremely secured regarding job performance. Unlike other mechanic places, they are fair and real. Hector took great care of me regarding last minute services. read more

Smart Auto Repair - Inside TV - Auto Repair Near Me - El Cajon, California

Enrique is the man. He helped me out with my oil change today. Definitely coming back for a fix on my windshield wiper fluid.

I didn't intend to write my first review on a garage, but I actually had a good experience with this one. My Jeep stalled on my way to do errands last Wed. . I was so bummed since July is the first month that I don't have to pay monthly anymore & I was already thinking of how much partying I could do with the extra money. I called AAA roadside assistance, Twenty minutes later, the man told me that he I should have it towed because he thinks it's the fuel pump. So, I called for a tow. They were there in 15 minutes. The driver asked me where I wanted my car towed, I told him that I am open for suggestions. He suggested SMAR, a new shop off Fletcher Parkway. He said that the master mechanic, Hector, is also the owner, & is quite good. I am all for patronizing local businesses, so I said ok. Man, I was impressed with Hector. He checked my Jeep thoroughly & diagnosed that the problem was not the fuel pump, but electrical, one of the sensors. He explained to me in detail what the cause & the solution & how much it would cost. I was relieved. Hector speaks with a mildly thick Mexican accent, but I listen with an accent anyway, so it is all good. He personally worked on my car all day Wed. I got it back in the PM. I recommend him. Plus, his shop is next to "Beef N Bun", they have awesome shakes & fried zucchini. That sounds like another review. read more

marwin's right... I blew my radiator on sat. called AAA on mon morning to get it towed. the driver (Ray) prob the same guy... recommended Hector. He gave me a price I couldnt beat. Met Hector and Andy, they told me it would be done in a couple hours. Went back to get my house key that i left and it was done! I was surprised because it wasnt supposed to be done quite yet. Hector told me everything they did (changed thermo, radiator, filled it with coolant, pressure checked it) and told me if anything was wrong with it to bring it back. great service. car runs like a champ now! ill recommend this to others for sure! read more

I can't say enough about the job the work they did on my vehicle. I took my truck to them in preparation of a cross country trip. I asked them to take a look at the vehicle and give me a complete diagnosis of any and everything they found wrong with it. They conducted the diagnosis and found several items that they were in their scope of repair. They made the necessary repairs at a great price and also referred me to muffler and tire shop to complete the remaining repairs that they weren't able to conduct themselves. They were very professional and thorough. I certainly recommend, and will return for all my auto repair needs. read more

So far I am very happy with this shop. I have returned here three times for different issues with my Durango and Hector and his staff have been very helpful. I will continue to use them. I am satisfied I found a reliable mechanic I can trust that doesn't rip me off. read more

Hector is a class act mechanic. I am new to San Diego but feel very confident in him. He had helped me fix a small problem here at my office and is very deserving of being a BBB member! Thanks Hector! read more

I CANT BELIEVE THIS! Who are all these people giving 5 star reviews and where did they go because this cannot be the same repair place! I will never come here again! I listened to all these reviews and had my car TOWED FROM LA JOLLA to this shop, where a 6 hour job turned into keeping my car for a month. I never got calls or updates on what was happening or when the car would be ready. what originally started out as 400.00 some how turned into 2,000 with parts of my car all of a sudden failing, AFTER he had just tested those parts and said they were OK. His price was even 300.00 extra to do the EXACT same job as the mechanics I had just had the car towed from. AND the car still isn't fixed! I cannot believe I went here, and I will NEVER recommend this place to anyone. A waste of time and money. read more

Learned about Severin and Hector here on Yelp. I am VERY particular about mechanics, and I found Hector and his team to be among the best I have ever employed. Hector is the kind of guy who wants to do it right the first time, and will do all the little things without being asked. He replaces small parts like o-rings, clamps, etc., as he encounters them and doesn't charge any extra labor over the original estimate. He just wants to do it right. I had him repair the cooling system on my diesel van, and he finished it on time, and at the price he quoted, which was very fair. He made an effort to save me money where possible, but suggested I change hoses, etc., while he had it apart, which saved me more in the long run. I appreciate his thoughtfulness. Hector's personable, intelligent, and honest, and I would recommend him without reservation. He is the way a mechanic should be. read more

I was buying a used SUV and needed a good mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection. I called and they were able to schedule me in although they were very busy. They were very knowledgable, fast, friendly, and reasonably priced. They were very thorough. I did purchase the SUV and with some piece of mind knowing about some little things it might need. (it also helped me knock $1200 off the asking price!) read more

My friend recommended Smart Auto when I was asking about finding an honest mechanic. He put me in touch with Hector and I have now taken two of my cars there. He is a genuine, honest person and deserves the 5-star rating. He won't try to sell you engine flushes or extra services you don't need. Just take your car in, tell him why it's there and he will fix it right away for not a lot of money. It is like having a family member who is a mechanic. I was a bit doubtful that a auto repair shop could be so good that it has a 5-star rating, but now I know. Go see Hector, just don't drive by too fast otherwise you may miss his shop, it is a tiny place. read more

I called this place at 2am just to get a voicemail to see if the hours for the shop were in the message, but Hector actually answered the phone. AT 2AM!!! He then proceeded to answer all my questions about a pre-purchase inspection appointment I wanted to make and he told me to just come by. I came by the next day and he checked out the car very thoroughly and got to me immediately. Hector walked me through the process and helped me understand what to look for. He was very friendly right off the bat. He would be great to have as a mechanic. Hector is honest, friendly and very humble ( I told him that he had amazing reviews on his Yelp and he told me he put his daughters to work and made them type up all those reviews). Give this man your business and you'll keep a good man working. Hector WILL NOT let you down. read more

We needed a pre purchase inspection and came to Hector for help. Buying a used car is always a very difficult process for me since I am the type of person that worries if the car will be as good as advertised. Hector took the car for a test drive with us and we pointed out a couple things we had noticed on our short test drive. He was very thorough in checking the car's performance and put our minds at ease about the things we weren't sure about while confirming others. After that he put the car on the lift and checked everything underneath. Very useful information and treated us like equals. Didn't sugarcoat anything and gave a real honest opinion on the car ALL AT A GREAT PRICE! My wife and I were thrilled to have met such an amazing and helpful person. read more