I brought my 2022 Toyota 4Runner in for 120k mile maintenance at Alvin's Auto Center in Willow Glen, San Jose, and it was by far the best experience I've had at any shop in the city. What really stood out was their technology -- the way they handle inspections, communication, and customer service is on another level. I honestly think more repair shops should adopt the software Alvin's uses; it made the whole process transparent and easy to follow. Tony and his team took great care of me and my car. They patiently answered all my questions, walked me through every detail of the work that was done, and recommended which services to do now versus later to help me save money. They even worked around my schedule so I could get to work on time that afternoon. I highly recommend Alvin's Auto Center for anyone needing maintenance or repairs. Tony and his team treat your car like it's their own. read more

Alvin's Auto Center - Auto Repair Near Me - San Jose, California

Growing up, I watched my brother frequently visit Alvin's. I decided to carry on the legacy and started going to Alvin's for my general car repairs and maintenance, and that is something I have never regretted. From my first car fresh out of high school to the 5+ vehicles i've owned since, Alvin's has given me a level of satisfaction and comfort that no other shop has managed to do. Even for vehicle repairs that I know I can do at home, I still opt for bringing my car into Alvin's, knowing that they will do it right and make sure it's right every time. Their pricing is very fair taking into consideration the amount of value you get. They have some extremely knowledgeable technicians who have been in the industry for many many years. Mike also makes sure to always purchase parts that come with warranty (unless stated otherwise) and i've seen parts that come with 1-5 year warranties. It adds an extra layer of comfort knowing you won't be charged again for a faulty part or a job not done to proper spec. If you're considering a new shop to take your vehicle for general repairs and maintenance, I would look no further. Alvin's really knows what they're doing, and Mike at the front desk is extremely easy to reach out to. read more

Alvin's Auto Center - My Mitsubishi waiting to be serviced by them :-) - Auto Repair Near Me - San Jose, California

My car was taken here to continue the service work from Milpitas location. I was kept in the loop by Mike from Milpitas shop the entire time. He updated me via text or call with whatever the mechanics found and next steps. I also received a text from Willow Glen shop when my car was ready. Tony was easy to talk to during pick up. He also got air added to my tires when he noticed it was low before I left the shop. Payment for both locations is easy, it can be done via link or at the shop. The invoice is also very informative and provides exactly what work was done on my car. Value wise, priceless. I didn't need the headache/stress dealing with other shops. Both locations are great. Any questions or concerns, they'll look into. read more

Honest, reliable, and reasonably priced. They are my "go to" place. I recently got a "courtesy" multipoint inspection from the dealership which quoted me a high price for items that it claimed were "urgent." I took their recommendation to Sam at Alvin Auto. He reviewed everything thoroughly with me. Turns out not all the items were truly "urgent." They took care of the things that actually needed to be addressed for half the price the dealer quoted. I highly recommend them! read more

If you are looking for a professional, trust worthy, friendly, affordable & efficient auto repair/maintenance shop whose staff won't try to oversell a customer on "extras", then Alvin's Auto Center in Willow Glen is the place to go.....Sam took excellent care of me and my hybrid SUV. For years, I always stressed about taking my car in for service to auto dealerships or other local auto shops who pressed me on completing unnecessary repairs....Michael & Company just down the street from Alvin's Auto Center is a prime example of this. I trusted them and after gauging me with multiple costly repairs, my SUV still didn't run properly. Those days are over now that I've found Alvin's Auto Center. They also have a Milpitas location which I am sure provides the same level of customer service & care. Again, Sam & Anthony - You guys are the Best!!! read more

Anthony is a great mechanic thank you for checking my vehicle He fixed the problem on my vehicle I strongly recommend to anyone who needs repair ............................................................................................. read more

Alvin's Auto Center - This photo was repaired by my friend - Auto Repair Near Me - San Jose, California

I love how you can make an appointment online. Just changed my oil and oil filter here recently. I decided to bring my own materials. Tony assisted me and provided an inspection of my vehicle. I like how I was texted a link to view my vehicle health with some photos and explanations. That's the first time an auto center has done that for me. He was very helpful and friendly. Alvin's Auto Center is walkable distance to Jake's of Willow Glen in case you're looking to kill time while your vehicle is being serviced. read more

Fair prices, fast service, great customer communication and they go above and beyond. Many places feel like a rip off or have bad customer service. Not this place. They rock. Cannot recommend enough! read more

Took my car (Nissan Murano) to the shop to install new headlights and replace the USB port that wasn't communicating with my phone, and they were very attentive (thank you, Samuel) and the job was done right the first time. Thanks to the mechanic as well. read more

The work performed is always top notch, but my reason for being a returning customer is the easy going nature of the employees. Unlike many other mechanic shops, Alvin's never makes you feel like you're being taken for a ride. They're genuine care for you and your vehicle is palpable. Even my wife does not fret about going to Alvin's. read more

$200 required diagnosis to tell me exactly what i told them was wrong $600 for a radiator fan i bought later for $80 on amazon $500 for labor that i ended up doing myself for free + $150 oil change they tried to sneak in returned my car to me without high/low pressure valve caps and components unplugged i'm sure it's worth it to some people, but my main issue wasn't with the price. i ended up paying the $200 regardless. but it should be the bare minimum to return my car to me with nothing missing haha at least the customer service was good : ) read more

I brought my 2014 Scion xB to Alvin's Auto Center in Milpitas, where I initially worked with Mike. After weeks of delays and no clear progress, they towed my car to their San Jose location, where Tony took over. It's now been over four months, and despite paying $5,000 plus approving an additional $1,500 for engine mount replacement, my car is still not fixed. Communication throughout this entire process has been abysmal. Both Mike and Tony have provided vague, inconsistent updates, with no real explanations or timelines. I have repeatedly requested detailed information about what work has been completed, but I'm met with excuses and silence. They've had my vehicle for over 120 days, charged me $6,500 in total, and I'm left with a broken car and zero answers. This level of disorganization and lack of accountability is beyond unacceptable. If you value your time, money, and sanity, do not trust Alvin's Auto Center--especially their Milpitas and San Jose locations. This experience has been nothing short of a nightmare. read more

Great place to take care of you and your car. They are good with handling the right customer service and my car now runs better than before. read more

This is my second time doing business with Alvins. I was experiencing heating problems on my 2013 Lexus LS460. Michael was my service technician and I could have been more pleased with his endeavors to troubleshoot the problem. This shop has always earned my trust with its integrity to serve their customers read more

Called for a timing chain replacement for a Mercedes they were honest and advised me to sell the car instead!!! They were blunt and advised me it's not worth it to fix it because they might be other issues saved me over 5k in repairs!! read more

Dropped in without an appointment due to some battery replacement issues with my car. Michael was professional and extremely helpful. Will definitely be back here for any future auto issues. read more

Alvin's is the best. Professional, reasonable and friendly. They have top notch mechanics and Tony goes above and beyond for making sure the customer is treated fairly. One of the valley's best auto repair shops. read more

I got my 2018 Porsche Macan to Alvin's Auto Center for what I thought was a stolen catalytic converter issue. Anthony was our point of contact and he was such a pleasant person to work with. He immediately got the inspection going, sent us pictures & kept us posted on what needs to be done & how much it's gonna cost. Turns out the thieves stole the muffler section. Once I gave him my farmer's insurance claim number, he synced with insurance & got the amount approved. He placed order for the OEM part with the dealer and got it fixed immediately the day it got delivered. We had such a great & professional experience throughout with Anthony at Alvin's. So glad we found them. Will definitely stick to them for any of our future auto needs. Highly recommend them! read more

* NOTE: Alvin's in San Jose is a new location of Alvin's in Milpitas. Alvin's Milpitas has 171 reviews as of now and 5 star average, Alvin's in San Jose only had 3 reviews and 5 star average. Don't be put off by the small numbers of reviews. This is my second review. * I had 2 additional services performed on my Camaro ZL1: 1) SmartTOP install; 2) brake service * Please read my first review from Oct 8 - everything I said there is duplicated. * Alvin's San Jose, the manager Tony, and the mechanics get the highest marks possible again - thank you Alvin's! #%^D read more

Had a great experience here. Good communication of progress, clear estimate. They also found that something in the estimate wasn't actually needed and didn't do it even though I had approved - which was a trust builder. Will return. read more

These guy are awesome! The community couldn't have been better and super sweet! Kept in contact the whole time my car was there and didn't do anything without permission. Even topped off my oil read more

I took my car for shocks and struts which I found Alvin's on Yelp. Well they found I didn't need them. I appreciated the honesty in telling me they were not required. Great integrity! Highly recommend them on this alone read more

I was running errands and needed to get my headlight bulbs replaced. I went into Alvins without an appointment or anything, and Michael was extremely helpful! They do excellent work and are extremely customer service oriented. read more

I have been going to Alvin's auto center for over a decade ( Milpitas) site.I have trusted them with all of my car needs and always feel like family and not just a client. It's exciting to see that they have expanded to two branches. Tony and his team are always very knowledgeable, transparent and amazing with my car needs. I highly recommend Alvin's Auto Center. read more

These people were genuinely honest and thorough and their quality of work is absolutely the utmost best place I've ever been to for car repair ever so if you want a very dependable reasonable and trustworthy mechanic and shop bring it to Alvin's thank you thank you Mr for my oil change yay read more

Took my Mini Coop to Alvin's Auto for the first time last week because it needed oil (emergency!) I love that they have an online system to book your appointment. You can also chose which services to accept or decline, automated. Picked up my car the next day and paid a reasonable price as well. Tony was very helpful to get me back on the road! Thank you! Will be back! read more

Five star service. Our car was stolen and recovered with damages. Alvin's Auto worked with our insurance to get everything fixed up. They did an amazing job. Shout out to Tony who was SO communicative and kept us updated every step of the way. I will recommend Alvin's Auto to everyone I know! read more

Honest, personable and transparent! Came in late in the day for an oil change and was able to be squeezed in. What I appreciated the most is that they provided pictures directly sent to your phone (via text) of what they inspected and find during the safety inspection so you can see everything what they are seeing and talking about. Would be coming back here and high recommending them for any future needs. read more

I needed to have my 2005 Mustang electrical system checked out, my battery was always drained and needed a jump start. I was afraid I had a bad alternator or battery. I brought it in to get tested at Alvin's Auto Center. Anthony and Crew reviewed electrical system and tested everything. It turned out great. I just need to drive my vehicle more often to keep the battery charged up. Thank you so much for your service and I'll for sure be back if I'm in need of any future services. read more

Very reliable and always available to help solve your automotive problems . Family own best auto repair shop in the Bay Area

I've been to Alvin's twice now for my Mitsubishi and they have been spectacular every time. They're super thorough with the process and best of all very transparent with everything that has to do with your car. I will admit i'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to automobiles and parts but here they make it very clear what services they are doing for you. It truly feels like they're there to help you out instead of just seeing you as someone who is going to pay them, which is how I always feel going to other mechanics in the past. There is absolutely no reason to go anywhere else, as Tony and his team are some of the best in the Bay. Oh and their prices are unbeatable. read more

During a recent heat wave, my 2004 Sienna's AC couldn't keep up, leaving me much too toasty on the road. When I stopped by Alvin's they made me an appointment for the next day - I dropped it off at 8am and they had everything fixed up and tested well before lunch. Couldn't have asked for more professional service, and the AC is still nice and cold. I have definitely recommended them to friends. Thanks! read more

Had my catalytic converter stolen and called Alvin's. Tony began taking care of me immediately - all the details...towing, working with my insurance company (thanks for your patience with State Farm :), ordering a new part, and installation. He kept me informed throughout the entire process. Great service and team of pros. I'll be using these guys for my automotive needs going forward. Thanks guys! John Reilly read more

The service here deserves a "10". I commute from San Mateo had a tire problem while in San Jose this week. I came to Alvin's without an appointment and did not have to wait. My tires were checked and the computer was reset. I was reassured I could make it home and was referred back to where my tires were purchased because they are still under warranty. I wish I lived closer because I would go to Alvin's for service. Nice people, professional, and honest service. read more

Alvin's is super reliable and reasonable when it comes to car problems. I can always rely on honest assessments and analysis from them and will keep going back to them. I am so glad both father and son started location in SJ. I highly recommend!! read more

Alvin's Auto is the best mechanic shop I have been to. Great staff, very friendly and easy to work with. They do not pressure you into doing work that isn't needed. They are honest and reasonably priced. read more

My neighbor, a long time customer of Alvin's Auto Center Highly recommended Alvin's. While our son was visiting from Portland, his 4Runner began intermittently misfiring. Took it to Alvin's for a diagnostic check. His car needed the head gasket replaced. Tony, Alvin's son, is the customer facing communicator. He kept in contact during the 7 day process providing pictures and frequent progress updates. The truck has been running smoothly without issue the past 5 months. Recently the triangle of death came up on the dash of our Prius. We took it to Alvin's. The technicians diagnosed our inverter's cooling pump needed to be replaced. While replacing the pump, it was recommended to replace the heater's bypass valve, drain the inverter and engine coolants and refill with fresh fluids. While in the shop we elected to have a catalytic theft deterrent shield installed. All work was performed within 5 business days. We are a very satisfied client and wholeheartedly recommend Alvin's. Oh the original location is in Milpitas, our work was done at the Willow Glen location. Both locations deliver excellent work at a fair cost. read more

Great customer service, honest work & it communicating with Tony (Anthony) was such a breeze! I highly recommend this place! I came here for new rotors and possibly new brake pads as well. I had asked for a quote through yelp and Tony was super quick to respond. Luckily, I was able to bring my car in a couple days later. Once I got there, Tony listened to my concerns about my vehicle and advised that they would run a full inspection just to make sure I wouldn't have to pay for unnecessary work and/or parts. I felt like my car was in great hands. The entire process was transparent and I didn't feel pressured or haggled at all, which I appreciated! I believe the system they had used is fairly newer to them but I was able to stay updated and see what areas of my vehicle needed attention based off their inspections--all at my fingertips!! (They also share pictures of the car parts they inspected) From there, I was able to either accept or deny any work/repairs that they found. The estimated costs per job was also laid out on the website system used, a virtual itemized bill basically. Super clear and easy to navigate! I will definitely be coming back here for any future repairs/maintenance on my car. Thanks Anthony! read more

I had gotten service from here 11 months ago. My car was miss firing and then check engine light went on. I needed to find where I can take my car in. I did a search on yelp and came across Alvin's auto care and it was just down the street from me too! I was very stressed out! So, I called and spoke to Anthony, he was very kind spoken, told him my concerns and I was able to take my car in that same day Monday January 3, 2022. He and his associates checked what was going on with my car the same day. Although it was very pricey to get my car fixed and needed my car for work, I had no other choice or anyone to help. So I approve the necessary work to be done. My car was done by Wednesday evening. It is very, very hard to find auto shops that are honest, especially now a days and Alvin's auto care are those guys. They did a great job fixing my car. In addition I like how they diagnosed my car and sent the information either text or email along with pictures of the issues. It is the first time I've seen an auto shop that does that. It gave me confidence and a piece of mind that they are honest and really care about their customers. I will continue to go to them for my car needs and recommend Alvin's auto care read more

I only bring my vehicle (2015 Jeep Patriot) for service to this location and company (Alvin's Auto Center, Lincoln Ave.) since I moved to California (4 1/2 hrs ago). Now, they are overpriced (charges are so high that the new guy at this location hesitated and was uncomfortable telling me what they were charging me for water leak and back breaks ( over $2500.00)). Now, my vehicle always sounds as if it's about to turn off and a lawn mower. Now, I'm receiving emails on services they recommended (coincidence, not likely). The last oil change here, I was charge $115.00 (my 1st coupon helped) and after reporting that I had a water leak, my water tank was empty , so that $115.00 is just a basic oil change without tapping off my fluids. Everyone that has reviewed my bill states that I was over charged, grossly. I will find another company with more reasonable prices for my vehicle repairs in the future. Thanks for breaking the bank on me. read more