The only place in San Diego I will take my car for repairs. Claudio is honest, and fair. Sadly, mechanics like Claudio are rare in the auto repair industry. I began coming here when my Mom called from out of state, looking for an honest mechanic for a car being shipped to myself as an inheritance gift. He was honest with my mom, and completed the repairs for a fair price. Other shops have attempted to extort both myself and my girlfriend for made up repairs, Claudio either fixed for a fraction, or advised that the recommended repairs were not necessary. An absolute gem of a business, and as a reward for his honesty he has two more customers for life. read more

We have been taking our vehicles to Claudio for over 20 years. He is honest and fair. Claudio is an expert in his field! It is good to have a mechanic that can be trusted! read more

I was able to walk in and get what I needed in a timely fashion. Would work with again.

This was our first time coming here and it was great! He's fair with prices and gets the job done quickly!

I wish I could give Claudio 6 stars. You will never find another mechanic like him. He is honest and straightforward. I took my girlfriends car to Firestone over on Lake Murray and they told me I needed a new radiator, coolant cap and one more small small thing for a 2015 Honda fit with 35k miles. How much was Firestone going to charge me? $989.93... I took my car, paid the stupid fee and found this place. Let me tell you what Claudio found wrong. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. It was an issue that's been recalled for this same reason. He didn't even charge me for checking the car, tires and engine. I will be making him a small basket for his kids and him to enjoy as a huge thank you. If you see this Claudio, again, we are truly grateful to have found your business. We will be coming back here if we ever do come across something again. read more

Outstanding service to start a bumpy new years. My car battery dead and I had to get it changed as it's the momma van for the kids to school and back. I brought the battery and happen to find this place open during The new years. The owner of the shop was able to take my Honda Pilot and change it out for me as well as get an oil change that we needed taken care of as well. The cost of labor is probable the best you're going to find throughout San Diego and they are very knowledgeable. We've found our neighborhood mechanic and I've already told my father to bring his car there as well. Very highly recommended you won't regret it. read more

Called after working an overnight shift scared my jeep wouldn't make it home safely. Owner told me to come in, last minute, on a holiday and diagnosed me an hour later. Extremely friendly, kind and explained things to me. Would recommend to anyone (especially females) who are looking for a good place to go that's trustworthy with good guys. - Montana read more

Professional, kind, and honest. That isn't always easy to find in car repair shops. We will go back and recommend The Auto Center in La Mesa to everyone. Thank you, Claudio! read more

Claudio great mechanic, fair price and honest. Definitely will be going back to him!

They were super helpful, from the phone call, to the mechanical work, to the checking out process. As soon as I got there they were ready to work and finished up within a couple hours. As a female who knows nothing about cars they walked me through everything and made me feel super comfortable. Definitely a family owned business which is a great bonus. Will definitely go back again for any car needs. read more

As soon as I called to ask If they could help me with the AC in my car the man answering sounded annoyed and assumed I was someone who I guess called or was there before. So right off the bat it felt like they were being unprofessional. After saying "hey ive never called before can you help me or not?" they let me know it might be the freon or the whole part and that I could come so they could check what it was. Either way there was no reason to sound irritated over the phone with me wether or not I had called before. When I get there, I didnt see anyone out front so I parked my car and then walked in. When I saw someone inside finally I said "excuse me" and this guy turns around and immediately starts cussing. Then he said sorry not you where is [****] FUCK I WAS IN THE MIDDLE PF SOMETHING WAIT HERE"....Im really pissed off right now. Anyway, this type of awful service (or lack of) upset me and I decided to leave. Whoever was working there at the time needs to work on their attitude. read more

My check engine light went on yesterday in addition to my ESC light; I was having sensor malfunctions. My dealership couldn't give me an appointment until 5 days from today...which didn't work for me as my car was barely working or accelerating. I needed immediate attention to my vehicle. I called Claudio and he told me to bring it in right away. I towed it over and and in less than 3 hours, he had it diagnosed, fixed, and all ready for me to take home. It's a holiday weekend and he helped me ASAP no questions asked. He was extremely communicative, kind, thorough, and quick. Did I mention he was there by himself today and still got my car back to me faster than I anticipated? I will be going to Claudio from now on with any and all car issues. I highly recommend him. read more

I've had my bmw and jeep fixed here. Quick turn around, great work and price. I trust him with all my mechanic needs.

Claudio is honest and does great work. He went above and beyond on servicing my car. read more

Our brakes failed the day before Thanksgiving and we found the Auto Center on Yelp trying to find a nearby spot. We stuck gold finding this spot. They knocked it out within 2 hours at a fair price. So grateful for the help! read more

Was referred to Claudio from a friend and was so far from disappointed! Not only did he get me right in, but charged me such a great price. Would definitely refer the auto center to anyone looking for a great and honest mechanic read more

Called on a Friday about a squeak in my car. Claudio said to bring my car in early Saturday morning to help fix the squeak. Drove around, and took a wheel off to get a closer look. Ended up being a LEAF stuck in my break pad! Hilarious story! All to say I got great service from a great person! Highly recommend! :) read more

HORRIBLE!! I brought my truck in off the street based on reviews.. BAD idea. The guy told me he would make a repair (465$) and was "pretty sure" it would fix it, "but there's always a chance it won't". Of course it didn't. He then had to farm out the work to the dealership. He told me that his original repair cost would go towards the bill at Chevy. Then he changed it to "I'll cover half the cost". All the while making no effort whatsoever to try and keep me informed, I had to keep calling and going to BOTH Chevy and Auto Center Chevy said they were gonna charge 3 hrs of labor (330$). Claudio then calls me telling me between him and I have to pay $857.00. That makes claudios portion $527 not even close to half. It's actually MORE than his original price - The guy tried to JOB me. He probably didn't expect me to go directly to Chevy and start asking questions- He never gave me a written estimate, tried to get me to sign a blank work order. Thank god Chevy did the right thing. I acted completely naive the entire time and just as expected, just like every other mechanic, he tried to charge me 857.00 WITH NOT EVEN A PART! That's literally for a short and blown fuse- He claims he dropped the gas tank and did something or another (which didn't work, and STILL trying to charge over $500) As a matter of fact, Chevy actually did MORE work and replaced a coil, their bill was 471.89 So I'm interested to know how Claudio breaks down his math on these repairs. And did I mention that this entire process took 3 weeks? I literally had to goto Chevy and act belligerent to finally get results. And then guess what? It went from not even being looked at yet, to fixed the very next day- TERRIBLE experience, TERRIBLE communication (still haven't heard from Claudio) I have a complete paper trail , receipts messages, texts, I would be more than happy to provide them to anyone that contradicts my honest and impartial assessment- Never heard of the guy- walked off the street because he was close to my house and had good reviews- That's why when you leave a BAD review, give it 5 stars so people actually see it Might as well take your truck straight to the dealership every time then- his website advertises he can basically do anything (engine swaps, trans, etc) I can on for day's. Not Recommended read more

The Auto Center in La Mesa - Receipt from Chevy. Cost of Labor up top. - Auto Repair Near Me - La Mesa, California

I spoke to Claudio about my brakes & he had me come in right away. He replaced my rear brakes, did a great job & was reasonable. Super customer service only concerned about your satisfaction! My sister is also a long time customer & recommended I go there. read more

Best service ever , trustworthy, caring and respectful and cool . Loyal and cool guys to be around

Just an update to say that Claudio is still our go-to here in La Mesa. I always trust his advice! You won't be disappointed

I'm so grateful for Claudio! My car's check engine light came on and it was skipping. He diagnosed and fixed my car in 5 hours at a very fair price! I know where I'm taking my car from now on! read more

Claudio is always been so nice so honest and so helpful with me never tries to rip me off and a single woman I feel like I can really trust him read more

I can't recommend The Auto Center and Claudio enough. We arrived from LA to La Mesa on Saturday early afternoon, and the battery light on my older Honda Civic came on. After researching it, it seemed likely to be the alternator, so I called around to various places on a Saturday afternoon around 2 pm. The first three did not answer, but Claudio picked up. Within 30 minutes, I had the car in his shop and it was quickly diagnosed to in fact be the alternator. Claudio quoted me a reasonable price and said he should be able get it done by Monday afternoon if nothing unexpected arose int the process of fixing it. (We had planned on leaving Monday morning, so moving our leave time back half a day was, at best, a minor setback). He made it a priority on Monday to get it done by taking a mechanic off a car that he was working on that was not in a time-sensitive situation, and I called him several times throughout the day to get updates. He answered each time and was very friendly, keeping me informed on the progress. By 3:30 pm on Monday, it has been replaced and, to boot, fully tested, meaning he drove it around for 30 minutes or so to make sure when he came back and parked it that the battery was being charged. This really set me at ease, because it indicated the high likelihood of being able to get back to LA with no problems. I was informed every step of the way and I feel confident in saying he was honest, friendly, comprehensive, accommodating and at a very fair price. For someone out of town who knew nothing of the mechanics in the area, having taken my car to Claudio at the Auto Center turned out to be an excellent experience that went above and beyond what I expected from such a urgent situation. Highly recommended. read more

Claudio is a really nice guy to talk to, and a really great car mechanic. Notice I didn't call him a "certified auto technician" (although he may be one). He's an old school, old fashioned, honest-to-Gawd highly talented car mechanic. He doesn't wear a pin-striped shirt, protective gloves and walk around holding a Samsung tablet while wearing safety glasses. He wears black shirts and black pants. His hands are greasy, and he carries a spiral notebook in his back pocket, along with a stub pencil. No Samsung for Claudio. He's really, truly 'Old School' when it comes to fixing cars. He certainly does not have the "check it and chuck it" mentality so pervasive in the auto industry nowadays. He actually fixes things that are broken, if at all possible. His reputation for honesty and fairness in dealing with his customers has a solid basis in fact. He displays pictures of his family and is happy to talk to you about them. His shop is . . . well, 'cluttered' doesn't seem to adequately describe the place, but that doesn't really matter. The building itself is from the '40's, it appears, and could use a little attention. Problem is, Claudio is far too busy taking care of his customers, fixing their cars. He's honest to a fault, and his shop could use some spiffing up. However, he will fix your car, and you will be happy with his work. read more

Always have had a amazing experience with Auto Center! Claudio is honest, professional and personable! I've known him and have had him doing my repairs for 25 plus years! I highly recommend him, you will not be disappointed! read more

I have been using Claudio for over 30 years. Great service and cost. A man you can trust.

Claudio is so great!!! He will always treat you right and give you quality, reliable service. If you're looking for a trustworthy and competent mechanic, go to Claudio! read more

My whole family always comes to Claudio. He is a wonderful person who is honest and kind. He does what is best for you and doesn't pressure you into anything. Hes always willing to squeeze me in for oil changes. I got my tires here as well after using him for a while for our cars, and he rotates them for free with each oil change. Hes definitely a family man and has a great history of knowledge. read more

I went into The Auto Center thinking I needed new front break pads, fix an exhaust leak, and an oil change. Being that it was my first time at this facility, and female, I tend to get a bit nervous at car repair shops. Not here. Claudio was amazing to me! I told him my inquiries and he said, "May I have your keys?" I handed them over and he hopped right in the drivers seat. He started my vehicle, did a few things, and asked me to hop in the passenger seat. I have been driving for over 13 years and have never had a mechanic do this.. He proceeded to drive my car around La Mesa, asking me questions about where I'm from, how long I've had my Jeep, you know, small talk. He did some break tests, accelerator tests, and drove back to the shop. He turned my car off and told me he didn't think I needed anything done, and come back when my oil light comes on. He was honest with me, and didn't try to take my money right away. This is exactly why I support small business, and exactly why he will always gain my business, moving forward. Claudio- thank you for being an honest, kind Mechanic! read more

Claudio is the man!!! Hard working and honest, something you don't see much of these days. If your vehicle isn't up to standards bring it to Claudio and let him take a look. read more

Fantastic service. The issue was not easy to diagnose but they were very thorough and great about communicating. We live out of town and we're handing this for our daughter (college student) and very pleased with the service and price. read more

I spent thousands of dollars at auto center. He didn't do half the work I was charged and use a half tank of gas driving my sons car that didn't run. I should have sued him read more

I drive a recent model Ford. Now, I'm not all that mechanical, nor am I a huge do-it-yourselfer when it comes to cars. I like to take care of the basics and leave anything complicated to the pros. Thus, I need a mechanic that I can trust not to take advantage of my laziness or rip me off by ordering parts or repairs I really don't need. Luckily there's the Auto Center in LaMesa. The Auto Center is an locally-owned shop in La Mesa doing business for over 11 years at the corner of University and Spring St. in downtown La Mesa. Claudio and the crew have never disappointed me. I've come in for simple oil changes as well as smog-test problems and tire replacement/installations. No matter what my concern, I know that the work is going to be done right the first time, that I'm going to get honest pricing, and that I'll have my car out of the garage in just a few hours. These guys stand behind their work, and usually you can come back for free tweaks or adjustments if needed. Plus, as an added bonus, I always get tips and advice on how to take good care of my car. If I had to sum up my experience in just two words, it would be: "No Bullshit." I know it sounds a little weird, but I actually enjoy going to the mechanic these days. Above the counter, you can see various awards, thank you cards, and testimonials from the satisfied customers from around community. You hear the same five classic rock CDs playing on the stereo. You're also likely to hear the owner/operator singing along. When I show up, I'll describe the problem and get an spot-on accurate estimate of how long and how much. I know my car is going to be taken care of by someone who values my loyalty as a customer and someone who has a reputation in the community for providing efficient, quality service. If you usually take your car to one of big national chain stores, for service, you are going to really like the Auto Center, guaranteed. I absolutely hate to wait for anything, but the convenient location is definitely one of the best things about the Auto Center. I usually leave the car and walk across the street to the library, or down one block to Cosmic Coffee or Java Mama and get some work done. If I have somewhere else to be, the orange line stops right there. I'm not all that into antiques, but downtown La Mesa also have a variety of recycled junk stores to browse if you have about an hour to kill and a few pennies to spare. That's why I recommend the Auto Center. They don't waste my time, they don't waste my money, and they help me to take good care of my car. read more

My wife and I recently moved to San Diego, and just days ago flew to New York to retrieve our Cadillac CTS, driving it coast-to-coast. On arrival in San Diego, I wanted to get the synthetic oil changed, and meet the California standards by getting a smog certificate, but knew nobody. I "Googled" my service questions, found assistance from YELP, which directed me to a list of professional auto shops, among them The Auto Center in La Mesa. I called the number listed and spoke to Claudio, Owner/Operator, who immediately understood what I needed, and was actually able to give me a slot for service the same day. I found the service to be professional and friendly, provided in a reasonable time frame, and the pricing was quite reasonable. Although my review is based on my initial visit, my opinion is that The Auto Center is a safe plce to bring your auto problems. I personally feel Claudio's service has helped welcome me to San Diego, and I can easily recommend his auto center. read more

If I could add more stars I would! I can across the auto center after taking my car for a diagnosis at the family auto center they wanted to charge me over 1100 dollars just to do a full break job!! I asked around Facebook for recommendations in La Mesa and Claudio at the auto center was mentioned several times! He was clean fast and friendly, but most notably mentioned was that he was very honest and reasonably priced!! He charged me half of what family auto center was trying to charge me! My car is running great and I feel confident with the work he did! read more

I'm a new resident to La Mesa and had a laundry list of routine maintenance that needed to be done to my 2014 Mazda CX5. Before taking my car in I called the shop and Claudio gave me a quote for all of the repairs I wanted done and the total cost was hundreds of dollars below what other local shops were offering me. The same day I dropped my car off with Claudio and before he even looked under the hood he told me to keep the quoted amounts I'd written down during our phone discussion, and in the end he actually stuck to those exact amounts. He even called me to say that some of the things I'd asked him to do didn't need to be done because the car was in good shape (while other mechanics had tried to take advantage and tell me that perfectly good materials needed to be changed out)! They got a solid amount of work done on my car in a swift amount of time and was great at communicating throughout the whole process. I'll definitely be taking my vehicles back to the talented and honest gentlemen at The Auto Center in La Mesa. read more

Been taking my car to Claudio since I've moved to San Diego. He always fits me in and makes sure I understand what's going on. He and his team are such nice people and I will continue to support his business! Thanks Claudio!! read more

Dropped my 87 Mercedes off for a break check since I've been hearing an intermittent break squeal. Left the car over nite since I didnt call ahead for an appointment, and some dismantling needed to happen to get an accurate status. No big; it's my backup ride. Dropped off at 3pm, got a call the following morning 10am. Dealt only with the owner, Claudio. Good news: 40% front & 60% rear remaining. No fibbing, no up sell. Was told the brake noise is likely from the car sitting so much, and infrequently driven. Claudio gave me a suggestion on handling the "glaze" that likely builds up and causes the brake noise. ALL GOOD. NO HASSLE. Will likely return in the future for a standard service. read more

First off, Claudio is awesome! This guy is honest and very cordial to his customers. He looked in an oil leak that I had and gave me the honest opinion about what I should do about it, which was basically just to watch it. A lot of other car mechanics would have told me a scary story about how I would have to get it fixed right away, when that wasn't the case at all. He also fixed my broken door lock switch in two and a half minutes. This is the place to take your car if you want honest, reliable, and fantastic service. read more