New to the East Bay with a Lexus. Berkeley Minicar is reasonably priced, clearly explained service, prompt, and friendly service. (huge contrast to overpriced at Coliseum Lexus dealership in Oakland). read more

Charged 50% more than the Honda dealership for scheduled maintenance, tried to pad part prices by 2.5 times what the dealer quoted for genuine OEM part, and tried to sell services that were not necessary. It's one thing to charge labor rates that exceed the Honda dealership, but if a shop is charging 2-3 times the genuine Honda part price...it is owned by scumbags. read more

Wanted to trust them with my family's cars, couldn't after this. I've brought my vehicles to Berkeley Minicar for three years. Credit where it's due first: when I came in, Antonio was courteous and professional. He didn't brush me off, and he set up an appointment for me. I came in to address a check engine light. I even printed out my car's service history along with the code I'd scanned, to do my part. They confirmed a catalyst-efficiency code and recommended a catalytic converter replacement, a roughly $3,000 job, which I put a large prepaid deposit toward. This was actually my second visit for this repair. The first was for diagnosis, and since the parts had to be ordered, we scheduled the installation for a later day. That morning I called to confirm the parts were in and that my 11am drop-off still worked, and was told yes. I dropped the car off before 11am, expecting the work to be done that day. In the afternoon I got a call saying it couldn't be completed that day. I explained I needed the car back for the next day, so they said they'd put it back together for pickup. When I got there, the work had not been done, and the car was in the same condition as when I dropped it off. Between the drop-off, the pickup, two rideshares, and arranging childcare for two toddlers, it cost me an entire day. After that, I lost confidence in having them do the repair and asked for my full deposit back. To their credit, I want to be fair about how it ended. After I requested a refund, the shop took responsibility and processed a full refund of my deposit. I appreciated that they owned the mistake rather than making excuses. I'm still moving on, and the reason is simple: the lost day and the loss of confidence. As a parent, I have to be able to fully trust the shop I hand my family's cars to. But it's only fair to note that when I raised the issue, they made it right. I'll leave it to other customers to weigh both parts of that. read more

Berkeley Minicar is not the best mechanic in Berkeley or Oakland. I cannot recommend them. I have taken my 2012 Acura MDX to Berkeley Minicar three times over the past year. My most recent experience was so poor that I will not be returning, and I cannot recommend them to anyone looking for a mechanic in Berkeley or Oakland. I have retained all invoices, repair records, and towing documentation related to this experience. Everything described below is based on those records and my direct interactions with the shop. My Acura developed a loud whirring noise whenever the engine was running. The sound increased with engine RPM, even when the transmission was not in gear. Based on my own research, I suspected the alternator might be failing, but I brought the vehicle to Berkeley Minicar because I expected a professional diagnosis. When I dropped off the car, I specifically described the symptoms and asked them to inspect the alternator. The vehicle also needed its scheduled maintenance. Instead, I was told the problem was something else entirely. They recommended replacing another component that cost several hundred dollars. The repair was delayed because the part was not ordered on time, extending the time my vehicle was in the shop. When I picked up the vehicle, I immediately noticed the same noise was still present. I pointed this out before leaving. I was told the sound was normal and was simply the belt tensioner operating as expected. Two days later, while my wife was driving our son to preschool, both the battery warning light and AWD warning light illuminated. The vehicle then lost electrical power and died, leaving her stranded. We had to pay to have the vehicle towed back to Berkeley Minicar. The following day, the mechanic called and told me he now believed the alternator was actually the problem. This was surprising because inspecting the alternator had been my original request when I first brought the vehicle in. The alternator was eventually replaced. Berkeley Minicar did not charge labor for the second repair, and I appreciate that they attempted to make things right. However, I still paid for the alternator itself, I had already paid for a repair that ultimately did not solve the problem, I incurred towing costs, and my family was without a reliable vehicle for approximately two weeks. The biggest issue was not that the alternator failed. Car parts fail. The issue was that I specifically asked for the alternator to be checked based on the symptoms, the vehicle was diagnosed differently, I was charged for a repair that did not resolve the problem, and the original symptom remained after I picked up the vehicle. Only after the car completely failed was the alternator diagnosed. I have invoices documenting the initial repair, the subsequent alternator replacement, and the towing expense. Those records support the timeline and sequence of events described in this review. Based on this experience, I cannot recommend Berkeley Minicar to anyone looking for an auto repair shop or mechanic in Berkeley or Oakland, particularly for electrical or charging-system diagnostics. Other customers should carefully verify that the root cause of a problem has been identified before authorizing expensive repairs. read more

Having serious problems with this business. Very dismissive of the elderly, aggressive and discriminatory. Berkeley Minicar, http://berkeleyminicar.com My Mom took her 2003 Hylander in for a tune-up. The car was running pretty good and is well taken care of. The only issue was it was shaking/vibrating a little more than what seemed normal. It had been a while since the last tune-up and she figured it was time. She took it into Berkeley Minicar. They gave it a tune-up and did a lot of other costly work on it (a long list of things). They tell her it's done (after keeping it seven days) and she gets the car back. Driving home, the car starts to sputter and the engine goes dead. This has never happened the entire time she's had the car. She is able to get it started again and makes it home. She immediately calls and tells them the car died on her on the way home. Something it's never done. This is on a Friday morning, they come that day, drive it around and say it is working fine, and they bring it back that evening. They said it didn't stop on them. The car was still shaky, but not as bad. She doesn't drive it every day. So it was about a week before she drove it again. She was driving down San Pablo, stopped at a light, it started vibrating then shut off again. She got home, called them, and left a message about what happened. They didn't call her back. She called again and made an appt to bring the car in, but wanted them to come pick it up again cause she was worried it would stop on her on the way there. Let me stop and say again, this is my Mom, she's elderly, and trying to handle this alone. This car stopped on her in the middle of a busy street. This is dangerous for anyone, much less an elderly woman. When she told the guy at the shop about the issue, he yelled at her and told her it was fixed. This is the second time this man (Antonio) has yelled at my Mom. This is becoming senior abuse/scamming I'm pretty sure. I went with her yesterday morning to drop off the car. I followed her to make sure if it stalled again, I was behind her. She made it to the shop and dropped off the car. Again, this guy was angry and said "he wouldn't charge her" for the new issue. ??? It's not a new issue. The car isn't fixed and is running worse than when she brought it into them. They also wouldn't listen to any of her suggestions of what to look at. And those came from a friend of ours who is a mechanic. This guy got angry at her for even suggesting he check something else. She called yesterday to get an update, and they gave her some story about hooking it up to a computer and they can't find anything wrong with it. They are the ones who messed it up! If anyone from the company reads this, you need to repair what's wrong with the car, and stop using abusive language toward women customers. read more

I used to exclusively use Berkeley Minicar for my Honda's maintenance and repair and I was quite satisfied. Then I moved to another part of the state for more than a decade. When I returned I began using BMC again. Wow! What a difference a decade (or two) makes! Now they hassle you. When I went in for a tuneup, they handed me a short list of highly overpriced suggestions, although they had already upsold me a great deal just that day. Then they emailed me 'reminders' , something they never used to do. I ended up going elsewhere and paying a third the price. Ok, fine. I didn't really sweat that. What I did sweat was a part that I paid for separately (through them) and had a quote for installation that ended up shocking me. The quote for installation was well over $150. I'd had to wait while they installed it. It took less than 10 minutes. I questioned them before I paid, but the person at the window insisted that was just their price. I do think he was a bit embarrassed. Well, I had agreed to it I guess, but long story short, I'll definitely never go there again. They have changed for the worse. read more

I have a 2019 Honda Fit and hit a compost bin, after morning pick-up, as I pulled out of the driveway. My passenger side mirror was taken out. I went to Honda Service who gave me a huge estimate (almost $1300). The inflated cost for an OEM part is directly related to the tariffs, putting OEE parts in higher demand. A friend referred me to a mobile installer, but they couldn't source the OEM part either, even after I gave them a deposit. Marquis and Berkeley Mini came to the rescue, found the part, and adjusted the cost to the deposit I lost. Thank you. I am forever grateful! read more

They are so friendly, kind and responsive. They fixed everything I needed to have fixed and the final price was less than their initial estimate! read more

Originally, when I first bought my used car, I needed someone to look at it and see if there were any issues that I didn't see while buying it from a used car dealer. They gave it clean bill of health. read more

Charged too high and did not do a full diagnostic check. Ended up having to go to a friend to check everything and make the repair for me.

Great experience at Berkeley Minicar! They did an excellent job repairing my engine oil leak and replacing my timing belt. Marquis was professional, friendly, and kept me informed throughout the process. I would definitely return and highly recommend them. read more

Patient and understanding to the circumstances to get my son's car repaired PLUS the impressive reconnaissance for his car's needs. I'm in Southern California and my son is fairly new to Berkeley. Finding an OUTSTANDING mechanic for a Honda Family, Berkeley Minicar is a GEM! Thank YOU! read more

I spent most of a morning trying on my own to replace a headlight on my 2011 Toyota Prius. I was unsuccessful in doing it because my hand couldn't twist the new bulb into the opening in the cramped space within the engine compartment. I called Berkeley Minicar to see if they could help me that day. Recognizing it was middle of the day, I expected them to say they were fully booked and I should wait for another day. Instead, they invited me to bring it right in and they'd have one of their mechanics look at it. After I arrived, I had to wait only a few minutes for a mechanic to finish another job he was on. The mechanic employed a trick-of-the-trade to work within my car's cramped space and - presto - the new light was installed. Even better, the shop didn't charge me for the handiwork and sent me on my merry way. As Thanksgiving approaches, I have to appreciate Berkeley Minicar for their expertise and kindness. read more

I dropped my car off here after someone vandalized my door handle and the whole team was very diligent throughout the entire process. This place is reasonably priced and will go above and beyond to make sure the work is completed. i want to especially commend Marquis. My insurance was being difficult with paying for the work but Marquis got the work needed approved and even go me a new key. Marquis kept me in the loop every step of the way and got everything taken care of. The whole team here is great. This business has a lot of integrity and will continue to get my business if needed. read more

Recently my 98 Toyota Corolla had my entire break system repaired. Brian & Marquis informed me that they only use Toyota parts & not after market replacements, which was a major concern. They kept me informed about the progress which was very professional. I have been using Berkley Mini for many years & I find them to have excellent mechanics, plus fair pricing.. read more

I made an appt. for an oil change/general maintenance check for my Honda Civic. Got in the next day, got out in less than an hour. Good pricing, competent and affable people, much better experience than what the local dealerships offer. read more

Took my Honda CRV in for a regular servicing. Scheduling was easy. Staff were friendly and knowledgable. Price is obviously better than the dealership but I think they also did a better job. They even recommended work I could get the dealership to complete for free! (under warranty) I'll be getting all my regular services, small and large fixes done at Berkeley Minicar in the future because I trust their work and honesty. read more

Just had my oil changed here, and I wanted to say how great of an experience I had! Morgan (the front desk associate) was so kind and helpful even though she's new. The service was very fairly priced and completed quickly! (Granted it's a Thursday morning) but still very quick! Thanks again and I'll definitely be back. read more

I would highly recommend Berkeley Minicar for their service! Marquis was wonderful to work with yesterday to take my car in. I have always received excellent customer service and felt safe driving my car away with the work they have done... wonderful spot! read more

Excellent service once again. Very nice staff. Great job maintaining my 2018 Honda. Thank you everyone at Minicar for your first class work. Car maintenance was also done very quickly. You guys are the best! read more

Great service always! Value for money. Gets the job done efficiently and quickly. Simba read more

Dropped my Lexus off this morning for general maintenance, was ready by 1pm. Shout out to Ernie, I appreciate the excellent service you provided. I love the teamwork, that this garage exudes. Andres the owner is present, and manages this operation very well. If you are looking for quality car services, I strongly recommend Berkeley Mini-car. read more

Lifesavers! (Potentially) I was in a real pickle with a piece of safety equipment that had stopped working. I pulled in and went to see if they could fix it. I was truly worried to keep driving. Cristian came out and his first words were, "We don't repair Hyundai's." But he still looked. Then he got Jafet to come look and a bit of tinkering and he fixed it. Whew! And then they said the words--"No charge, have a nice day." So I would highly recommend these guys because they fixed me up and I was willing to fork over a big one since they knew I was desperate. Good People. read more

Huge shoutout to Christian and the team at Berkeley Minicar. I hauled my '17 Civic to them after Honda Oakland tried to charge me $7k just to teardown my engine to diagnose what was going on with it. Christian was extremely patient, kind, and empathetic when dealing with me and my situation. They took the car in for a diagnostic and gave me a free loaner while they had it. Though they came to the same conclusion as Honda, they were more direct and explained that it would be better and cheaper for me to just replace the entire engine than try to dig around and search for the root problem which is what Honda was proposing. Though they are not able to provide that service, they were honest and open about the work. Please check these guys out next time you need some service done. read more

I've had great experiences at Berkeley Minicar - they've serviced my Prius several times. It's easy to schedule, fast, and efficient. I appreciate that they call with updates or any recommended service, and they're fair and transparent about pricing. read more

Called Berkeley Minicar for a quote on an oil change for a Toyota RAV4 and a tire rotation. I read positive reviews online so I figured I'd shop around before I book the usual dealership service appt. Man on the phone told me "depending on how much oil it takes" it will be $92 plus tax and $15 for the tire rotation. I asked if they price matched to the dealerships service center and they said no. $92 for an oil change is steep considering the Toyota dealership charges approx. $80 for the oil and the rotation. I will pass. Posting this for others to have transparency. read more

Berkeley minicar is a place I feel I can trust. They explain things well and their prices are reasonable. I would definitely recommend them. read more

Just a shout out to Ebony who works up front. She is fabulous. I needed my headlights replaced and she did it for free! And it was a bit tricky too! Yay for Ebony! Love Berkeley Minicar. read more

We've owned Hondas for almost twenty years. Until our most recent service at Berkeley Minicar, I'd exclusively gotten my cars serviced at a Honda Dealer--one in Mountain View and then most recently in San Francisco. After the dealer recommended an alignment on a brand new car with just over 3,000 miles we decided we were done with Honda dealerships. For our 2020 Honda CRV's second service we decided we'd take it to Berkeley Minicar. Scheduling was super easy as was drop off. The team at Berkeley Minicar asked us what we needed and explained the service code we were seeing. They didn't try to upswell us and asked when I needed our car back (in time to pick up our daughter from school), having it ready earlier than promised. I especially liked the time they took to explain how our car was needing service at roughly 3000-4000 miles that it wasn't just something the dealer set to make more money, but determined by how the car was driven, oil levels, and so on. If you have a Honda--especially a new one--skip the dealer and take your car here. You'll be glad you did--reasonable prices and no pushy upsell of unneeded services. read more

Called and got a much cheaper quote for valve adjustment and spark plug replacement for my Honda civic than the dealer was offering. Next day took it for the job, and they got it don't no problem. Will defiantly return for other service I can't do myself. read more

DO NOT BRING YOUR CAR HERE! To be clear, I used to have a lot of respect for this shop whilst under their original owners. However, a lot has changed since the new owner Andreas took over. The service advisor Ernie is as incompetent as they come. He's duplicitous and dishonest, and has no grasp on how to execute his position. To begin, they started work on my car without express written or oral consent. When I tried to retrieve my car, they held my car hostage under the pretense of a $2200, 10 hour alternator job and an oral approval. No one works on a car with an $2000+ estimate without written approval. Upon arrival to pick up my car, it was in pieces. This man is a crook, has zero integrity, and has been reported to the California Automotive Repair Board. You've been warned. Don't be fooled. read more

A wonderful business that I've patronized for about 30 years, from owning a Honda to Acura. Through ownership changes too. They are honest, helpful and offer reasonable prices. A gem! read more

I have been going here for my Honda for two years. They repalced my battery about a year ago. It died. I was easily able to make an appt. While I waited they check for phatom loads and battery health. The battery was bad, still under warranty. I was back home in an hour and my bill was $0. I offed to pay for the labor to change the battery and they refused - he said that is what a warranty is for. Class act. Not the first time I have been impressed. Well run operation! read more

I just had an excellent experience chatting with Jim at Berkeley Minicar. My 1999 Honda CR-V w/ 200k miles on it has had a couple quirks lately related to the AC and the clutch behavior (it's a stick shift). I brought my car in to get looked at and had a conversation with Jim. I enjoy getting into the technical details, and I'm very comfortable speculating about possible root causes and dealing with the inherent uncertainties of trying to diagnose problems. In the past, a lot of the mechanics I've talked to refuse to get into the details (at least until they get well into billable hours) and will either be tight-lipped about their hypotheses, or just tell me I need to pay $$$ to replace all the things seemingly without giving much thought to the root cause. In contrast, Jim was a delight to chat with. We had a very straight-forward conversation about what he expects is causing my issues and why he's come to that conclusion. He was very pragmatic about my options moving forward (e.g. 'don't replace the AC compressor, but don't use it if it makes a squealing sound, and then if it makes a squealing sound when you're not using it, get it immediately replaced'). He answered my questions, listened to my suggestions/hypotheses, and explained the likely root causes of my issues and what he thinks most likely needs to be done to fix them. At the end of the conversation we decided he didn't really need to take a further look at the car today. He didn't charge me anything, gave me a quote for the work he expects my car needs, printed out my Carfax for me, and sent me on my way. As I was pulling out of the parking lot he even ran out to tell me he noticed there was a Honda recall affecting my vehicle. It was the best experience I've had with a mechanic by far. read more

Had a B service done in Aug 2022. Made my concerns known (possible transmission fluid change and maybe gear shift problems) and they told me all was working normally. Had B service done since I hadn't done a full inspection for my 2011 Pilot for the full 20 years and only did regular oil changes. Gave me peace of mind for a 800mi+ round trip. They are a proper honest business who tells you whether or not you want the job done (including the full parts+labor cost of it) before actually going through with it. I have 2 other Hondas and will likely take them here for service when needed. read more

The work and the service at Berkeley Minicar was more exemplary than ever. There is no way that a car dealership can compete with the incredibly very reasonable cost and the quality of service. read more

My second time here. Their price is reasonable. The team is friendly and professional.

I went in to Berkeley Minicar for a routine service today, my first post-COVID visit (since I drove hardly at all during lockdown). And was appalled at the change. I've been taking my cars there since 1980 but the business was sold during lockdown. The new management did not do a service of any kind (not even water for wipers or battery), but charged me $148 for an "inspection" after which they presented me with an estimate of $1150-$1200 for rear brake pads and a fan belt. Is this the new normal? read more

My car's (10th generation Civic) AC stopped working (blew hot air), so I brought it into Honda Oakland to see if I could get the repair covered under the extended warranty. After diagnosing it, they told me they could replace the condenser and perform the refrigerant recharge under warranty, but the compressor replacement would cost $2400. I began calling around different independent shops. Luckily, I called Berkeley Minicar because they encouraged me to reach out to customer service with Honda of America since the compressor failure was most certainly linked to the faulty condenser they installed at the factory. After a few days of waiting, Honda decided they could perform the repair for a reasonable price. Berkeley Minicar saved me nearly $2k, so they've gained my trust. I will definitely do business with them next time my car needs service. read more

Been bringing my Honda here for years. Service is unfailingly courteous, responsive, and solidly good. Highly recommend.