After years of looking for a mechanic and only taking my Subaru to the dealership for all repairs or maintenance over the life of the car (8 years), I decided to take a chance here. I had a great experience with Alex at Value Auto Repair. I originally reached out through Yelp, and he was responsive and answered all of my questions. His pricing was significantly better than what the dealership quoted me, but what really stood out wasn't just the price--it was his honesty. I came in with a humming noise that I believed was a bad wheel bearing but was unsure. Alex was upfront from the beginning after making the same diagnosis and even encouraged me to get quotes from other mechanics if it made me feel more comfortable so I could make sure I was getting a fair deal. That kind of confidence and transparency is hard to find. When I arrived, he was able to get my car in within about 30 minutes to diagnose it. While the part was being delivered, I went to lunch, and once I came back, he had the wheel bearing replaced in about 45 minutes. Before I left, he took the time to show me both the old and new wheel bearings, explaining how they worked and letting me hear and feel the difference. I really appreciated him taking the time to educate me instead of just handing me a bill. One thing I noticed while I was waiting was how many customers came in who clearly knew Alex. Everyone seemed genuinely happy to see him, several appeared to be repeat customers, and there was an obvious level of trust between them. After my own experience, I completely understand why. Alex also has a great sense of humor, which made the whole experience much less stressful. Most importantly, the humming noise is completely gone, and my car drives perfectly again. If you're looking for an honest, knowledgeable mechanic who charges fair prices and genuinely cares about his customers, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Alex and Value Auto Repair. I know I'll definitely be back. read more

April 29, 2026 I took my 2018 Forester XT (turbo-charged) to Value Auto Repair for Subaru recommended maintenance. Subaru requires special oils, and fluids, or the warranty is voided. I wanted only recommended Subaru oils, antifreeze, spark plugs, etc. Value followed the manufacture's recommendations, which I was very happy. The maintenance was done in a few hours. The prices are competitive, but the trustworthiness is superior. This a great company. read more

Alex is seriously the best!!! He let me come in the shop the day I called to replace my rear brake pads and rotors, I already had the parts, and his team installed it in less than an hour! He's kind, fairly priced, and efficient. I can't recommend him enough! read more

Great service, can fix any car, unfailing honest: in more than a decade of going there, Alex has NEVER recommended service that is not needed. Love this place. Quality people and results. read more

I had a great experience at Value Car. They helped me install my engine air filter quickly and made the whole process so easy. The owner was incredibly kind, honest, and welcoming. It's hard to find such great customer service these days. I really appreciate their help and would definitely recommend Value Car to anyone looking for friendly and reliable service! read more

I couldn't be happier with the service I received from Alex! My car started acting up and felt like it was going to stall while I was driving on the freeway. I took it to Alex, and he took the time to explain what the trouble code from my scanner meant. He quickly diagnosed the issue, replaced the faulty ignition coil, and had me back on the road in no time. About a month later, the engine stumbled again while I was backing out. I told Alex what happened and shared the new trouble codes. Even though it had been a month, he replaced the ignition coil again at no charge, believing the first replacement part may have been defective. Alex stands behind his work and genuinely cares about his customers. He has a great attitude, is honest, and is easy to work with. He even recommended a trusted shop for my A/C repair which was also very good. I highly recommend Alex if you're looking for a knowledgeable and trustworthy mechanic. read more

This Auto Repair Shop is one of the best I have worked with. They fixed both of my front brakes on my Toyota Camry. They worked with us on getting in for the appointment. The service was pretty quick while we took a walk and relaxed. The price was exactly what was quoted. Very reliable and i will return for more service. Recommended highly. The owner is straight forward, professional and very honest. Thank you! read more

Friendly, quick and honest service was kind enough to squeeze me in last minute for my AC issue.

I found Value Auto Repair on Yelp because I wanted a shop I could actually trust, especially knowing how common it is for mechanics to upsell unnecessary services. After reading the reviews, I decided to give them a shot, and I'm glad I did because they lived up to the hype. Alex was great to work with. He took the time to go over everything with me, recommended what actually needed attention, and never pressured me into anything extra. What really stood out was how honest he was--some of the issues I was worried about turned out not to be problems at all, and he made sure to explain that clearly instead of trying to turn it into a sale. It's not easy finding a mechanic you can trust, but this shop definitely earned mine. If you're looking for a straightforward, no-pressure auto repair experience, I'd highly recommend Value Auto Repair. read more

Five stars, no question. I found Value Auto Repair after sending out a ton of service inquiries to get a single rear wheel stud replaced. This was after a really unfortunate experience at a chain auto repair shop, and I needed it fixed fast...my son was about to start a long drive to Colorado and the car had to be road-worthy by the next morning. Most places either didn't respond, gave unfavorable answers, or quoted surprisingly high prices. If I had been in town, I would've done it myself, but thankfully Alex responded to my Yelp request with an awesome, fair rate. I followed up with a phone call and reached the answering machine, but what really stood out was that Alex called me back not long after. Given our tight timeline, I asked about availability and explained the situation. His response? "Just bring it in and we'll knock it out." Exactly what I needed to hear. My son brought the car in and they took care of it just like Alex promised. On top of that, my son mentioned he had a great conversation with Alex and came home saying, "Alex is dope!" That alone says a lot. I'm really glad we stumbled across this shop. The value, service, care, and especially how they treated my son were excellent, completely different from other places that tried to take advantage of him. We'll definitely be coming back and recommending Value Auto Repair to others. read more

Value auto always has their customer's best interests in mind. Half the time I've been there they either gave me a free quick fix or politely said they couldn't help. The other times the price was always fair and the work very professional. read more

Finally checked this place out after the dealer was charging us an insane amount of money. Alex was very helpful and communicative. We probably saved 50% of what we thought we would spend at the dealer. Now my husband wants to go here for future needs. Def recommend. read more

I had a really positive experience here and felt confident in the service from start to finish. The team handled everything efficiently and kept the process straightforward, without adding any unnecessary complications. What stood out most was their transparency and practical approach they focused on what actually needed attention and didn't push extra work. It's refreshing to find a place that values honesty and respects your time. My vehicle was taken care of properly, and I left feeling reassured about its condition. Id definitely return and recommend this shop to anyone looking for dependable, no-nonsense service. read more

I am blown away by Value Auto Repair and Alex. I reached out after seeing glowing reviews and was hopeful. But Alex and his team managed to exceed my high expectations. I only wanted a check up on my vehicle before a long road trip. They thoroughly went thru my vehicle checking every system. When they finished Alex told me that my vehicle was perfect and did not need anything. I can't remember the last time mechanic didn't try to sell me on something. Not Alex and Value Auto Repair! Absolute salt of the earth people that I highly recommend! I can't thank them enough for the service and respect they provided! read more

went in by appointment through Yelp messages. got in the next day! i don't have a specific auto shop i go to. could be toyota dealer, valvoline, an uncle etc.... difficult to find a trustworthy autoshop! this one... fast response no BS asked for oil change and tire rotation and to check my brakes as sometimes it's squeaky, sometimes not. told me brakes were good but tire rotation needed to be done a while ago! maybe it's my fault for not going to toyota dealer or any auto shop ...as often as they sell you more things that's not needed... that said i went to toyota dealer and never told me anything about the tire rotation when i went for oil change when the autocare plan was still valid. which was 6months ago. so i trust value auto repair for telling me brakes are still good and telling me to at least stay with one autoshop to keep track of things and do them on time! i will definitely come back they seem busy but with appointments it was nice! i waited in their waiting area. humble and friendly people! read more

First off, let me tell you that I had been going to the same mechanic since I was 15 years old. I am now 44. I trusted him for many reasons but the main reason was because he was just a very honest hardworking human being who just wanted to help out his fellow man without burning a hole in their wallet. Unfortunately, he has since passed away. RIP Q** Now, I'm in search of a new auto repair shop and happened to stumble upon this YELP review and so glad I did. I have yet to get any work done on my vehicle but I know I will be using Alex and his shop for my future automotive needs because the mere fact that he took the time to even look at my 2004 Ford Expedition without charging me for a diagnostics fee, provided me with a recommendation and explained the rationale was above and beyond what I could have asked for. He TRULY IS EVERYTHING people say his is. I will definitely be coming back to service my vehicles here because so far he has lived up to his reputation!!! read more

Alex and VAR are on-point, reliable, fast, and friendly. Before they opened, I quickly got a quote from Alex through Yelp, and the next thing you know, I was getting my brakes done. I called the store right when it opened and Alex told me to come on down. No, I wasn't a contestant on The Price is Right, but I sure felt like one. Upon arrival, I immediately pulled my car up near the stahl, and Alex and his crew got started. Talk about transparency, Alex even encouraged me to stand by and watch them service my vehicle (new brakes and resurfacing of the rotors). I declined, as I could already tell this shop was legit. They do have a no-frills waiting room, so don't expect fancy coffee machines or TVs. Luckily for you, you probably won't be waiting long as Alex and his team are swift to execute. And besides , all that fancy furniture and coffee just adds to the price of services. So feel free to sit and wait, read a book, watch your stories, or whatever it is you do while they handle biz. I made it out for $225 and was thoroughly pleased. Alex is a well-educated man and 2 time SDSU grad mind you, with some very interesting stories, so chat him up for some good conversation. Huge thanks to Alex and the team for the 5 star service. I'll most certainly be back! Soon, but hopefully not too soon. read more

Value Auto Repair - Yelp likes it here! - Auto Repair Near Me - National City, California

I can't speak highly enough about Alex and the team at Value Auto Repair. They handled many issues with my 1999 4runner involving my front suspension, and Alex was extremely honest and communicative with his thoughts on what was actually needed. I want to let other ladies know that this was a great shop and the owner Alex is AWESOME and very kind and it feels comfortable to be there. They replaced my rack and pinion, sway bars, and LCAS for an extremely fair price and did excellent work. I will be returning for future work with Alex and his team!! read more

Excellent service, very reasonable pricing and was able to get job done very quickly. I highly recommend.

The Best Auto Shop Experience of My Life -- Period. I brought in my friend's 2002 Ford Focus after it threw a check engine light for a cylinder misfire (P0304). From the very start, Alex at Value Auto Repair showed the kind of honesty and integrity that's almost impossible to find in this industry. He and his team were quick to jump on the job and provided me with an estimate. The amount was outside my budget, but rather than push for profit, Alex immediately suggested ways to save money. He encouraged me to buy the parts myself and even sourced a quality used wire to cut costs further. Amazing! Even more incredible, after replacing the spark plugs and wire, the car was still misfiring. Alex went above and beyond, even installing an ignition coil to see if that would solve the issue. He spent hours troubleshooting, but in the end, nothing could fully fix the problem. And here's where his integrity truly blew me away: He told me, "If we can't fix it, we don't charge you." Despite my offer to pay for his time, he refused to take a dime. Alex also gave me valuable advice on what to do next -- either take the car to an engine repair shop or consider letting it go since it's very old and tired. In today's world, finding someone who values honesty over profit and genuinely puts the customer first is beyond rare. Alex is an angel of a mechanic -- honest, helpful, knowledgeable, and kind. If you want a shop that treats you like family and stands by their word, Value Auto Repair is the place to go. I wish I could give more than five stars. I'll be referring all my family and friends to Alex -- he has earned my lifelong appreciation and loyalty. read more

The service here was amazing and they went above and beyond with their care of the vehicle. The price was much lower than competitors and I couldn't recommend them highly enough. read more

I requested a quote via yelp from many other companies. This shop was by far the best in price. Got there and they completed the work and quote was honored. read more

Great overall experience, came in thinking I'd need to replace all sets of brakes and rotors. They quickly diagnosed and recommended just replacing the front set. They're able to re-surface rotors so that saved me a lot of money. I had a few other concerns which they politely took a look at and diagnosed right away. They gave me a fair quote to repair. I'll be back again for sure! read more

Alex and Valué Auto Repair are the absolute best. I needed a tune up and brake check on my 2013 Avalon. It would have been a jillion dollars at the dealership, not to mention days without a car. Alex scheduled me for 8 am and my car was ready at 1 pm. So efficient, and so honest! Told me brake pads were fine, no expensive work needed, which is always good to hear. I am a huge fan! read more

Alex came through at the perfect time when my mobile grooming van needed immediate service. He was professional, honest, fast, and efficient, communicative. and provided great quality service from start to finish. I truly appreciated how smooth the process was and highly recommend him!!!!!! read more

Value Auto Repair - My mobile grooming business that was worked on - Auto Repair Near Me - National City, California

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Alex told me that I would need to allow 3-4 hours for a pre-sale inspection, and that I didn't need an appointment...I could just drop in on Friday. I was worried that it would't work out but I pulled in at 11:00, walked in the office and he said, "here for an inspection?". He came highly recommended from an old friend and didn't disappoint. Charged me $20 less than he quoted me and did a very comprehensive inspection, including photos to take to the dealer and detailed explanation of the issues. On top of that he just kept it real and gave me the lowdown on what he really felt. I highly recommend his place, at least in the limited capacity that I needed. read more

Value Auto Repair - Inspection checklist. - Auto Repair Near Me - National City, California

I took my car here to get my brakes fixed, and I'm so glad I did. They got the job done quickly, charged a fair price, and were super nice and professional the whole time. It's not easy to find a shop you can really trust, but I feel like I've found my go-to place now. I'll definitely be coming back for any future repairs. read more

Alex is the best and just a totally honest person. You don't find that much these days with auto shops. His customer service was great and is always willing to help you with your time frame. Prices I say are fair and reasonable read more

I want to give these guys a major shoutout because they could have easily hustled me but instead told me to visit my dealer and see if a specific engine would part was under an extended warranty. Turns out it was, but I will definitely come back when it's time for an actual service. read more

I usually get my car serviced at the dealership, but this time I was on a budget. Alex, was so honest, friendly, and made me feel comfortable with my decision to bring my car to him. He honored his quote, service was fast, and I love the way my car is driving. I will be returning for their great service, if need be. Thanks Alex. read more

My Toyota was misfiring and I was totally unsure what it was. Stressed as I am, I went to yelp to find a good mechanic. I found Value Auto Repair and I am so blessed. The shop is known to be "limited car knowledge" friendly. I felt so glad and comfortable that I was not getting scammed or anything. It was an easy fix, I was told to grab my parts online (wayyyy cheaper), & paid for labor. Man! So grateful! Plus, I was able to fix it on a Saturday which is so convenient considering my working hours on weekdays. I was In & out of there within 15-20 mins. I'm definitely telling all my family & friends where to go. I would give 5 stars a million times if I could. Go! read more

Really great auto shop, I've recommended it to my family. They'll explain everything clearly and are happy to explain in detail if you don't understand the terminology. They give very honest time estimates and text photo updates as they diagnose problems or show the work they did. Just really happy with them all around. read more

Very friendly, noticed that some suspension components were loose and addressed it while still keeping the same reasonable price previously agreed upon for the requested service. read more

I had a really good experience here! I even got text updates on my car. I think I found my new mechanic! Thank you!

The other 5 star views for Alex and this business are real & true! There is a thing called business ethics that Value Auto practices while so many other businesses don't even care about. Excellent service and very competitive pricing. He's and his team have taken care of my car (with 250,000 miles on it) for ten years now. What-a-Guy! read more

This shop is amazing. Alex was super kind and honest. He patiently answered all my questions the day before and when I showed up he provided quality service for a great value. He even sent before and after photos of my brake pads and rotors. Then I received photos of the oil filter and oil he used on my Mini Cooper. He even offered a loner car for me to use but, since I'd been at home for a while, I decided to just sit at his shop for a change of scenery. I expected to be there for a while and was in no rush, but he and his team got to work on my car right away. What a pleasant and wonderful experience. I found my new shop and will take my cars here from now on. Thank you Alex. read more

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They were quick, efficient, polite, and very thorough! Alex remembered my call about bringing bar in, but I was still nervous and somewhere new. The workers did great and by the time I finished an errand, they called that they were done! read more

My daughter had her 2008 CRV repaired there this past weekend. She couldn't speak highly enough about how honest and respectful Alex was. By far the best auto experience she's ever had. read more

After my check engine light came on and a failed smog check, I brought my car to VAR. the response was that they couldn't work on my vehicle,(08 Volkswagen) my fault codes were p0302 cylinder 2 misfire, and p0299 turbocharger underboost. I was sent across the street to a "specialist " who advised he could charge up to $1000 and I still possibly would not pass my smog, he also advised I sell the car with 140,000 miles. I went home confused that a car that runs and drives well would be rejected by 2 "professionals". Sure enough some google searches revealed there were some simple solutions to my car troubles - $50 part with 3 bolts and a new battery - And I was able to pass Smog check. needless to say I will not be back. Waste of time. read more

Over past several months I've had multiple vehicles repaired (Tacoma, Kia Optima, Ford, Mercedes). Alex suggested that I buy the parts which saved significantly. They did an excellent job with repairs typically dropping off that morning and ready by noon. Services I had done include: radiator, water pump, starter, ignition switch, washer reservoir pump, coils and spark plugs, EGR, some body trim pieces, etc.. Will continue to use them for all my vehicle repairs. read more

Value Auto Repair - Leaking auxiliary water pump. - Auto Repair Near Me - National City, California