Several years back, the Toyota dealership said we had a coolant leak and it would cost over $1k to fix. I took the car to Berkeley Minicar for a second opinion. They said the leak is less than minimal and only needs monitoring, not servicing. They charged me $60 to fix an A/C issue that the dealer said would cost $400 just to diagnose. It's been two years since this visit and there has been no need to deal with the coolant leak. :) Today, they called to say the spark plugs, which we thought were old and close to needing replacement, looked new and were in good shape. In short, they have a track record of honest, reliable service and advice and have several times provided fixes or solutions that were hundreds of dollars cheaper than the dealer recommended. It's hard for me to imagine a car repair shop with higher integrity than these folks. read more

Had a 5000 dollar transmission replacement done here around a month ago. Car now has an oil leak, shop showed me a service bulletin describing oil leak related to transmission mounting bolts, but have absolved themselves of any responsibility. Do not trust these people as friendly as they may be. They will hang you out to dry. read more

The boss Jim personally serviced my car today, very helpful and friendly, and he refused payment for help with fixing a shaky engine part cover. Awesome place!! read more

Sometimes your car mechanics know when you need a little extra care and they give it. Thank you Jim and Jerry for your kindness and generosity during the shut-down. Thinking about yesterday, I don't know why, brings tears to my eyes. Yes, my brakes still squeak even though they're good for another 5k miles but you rescued me and my dead car. Thank you so much! It pays to stick with the same auto shop! Maryly read more

I have been going to Berkeley Minicar for over 3 years and they are AWESOME. They are friendly and most importantly, honest. They are very reasonably priced and provide excellent service. It's worth buying a Honda just so you can take it to BMC. The first time I went there my oil lamp had come on and I thought it was a good opportunity to take my car to them. Prior to driving over, my dad (trying to be helpful) checked my oil and said that it was low and "topped it off." Not to diss my dad, but I still wasn't convinced and took it to BMC anyway. They had me pull my car into the garage and they took a look at it on the spot. As it turned out, my dad had put too much oil in the car, and they corrected the problem without charging me a dime. They told me it would be fine at that point and if I had any other problems to bring it back in. I WAS A LOYAL CUSTOMER AFTER THAT!! They run an honest "mom & pop" shop and I will go there as long as I live in the Bay and drive a Honda. read more

Clear and concise description of of services to be provided by Jim, the service manager. Fair price. Flexible means of retrieving vehicle at the end of the day. read more

This place is the definition of a rip off auto shop. They tried to charge me over $200 to replace a part which took me 10 seconds to do without any tools or experience and have been rude and condescending every time I have come in. read more

these guys are solid. trustworthy. they take care of my car when it needs some love!

I'm on my third car since moving to the Bay Area, all of them Hondas, all of them serviced by Berkeley Minicar. I've come to them with leaking radiators, drained batteries, mangled transmissions, and cars that just generally needed a lot of work. Jim and the team have always done great work, been very honest with their assessments and pricing, and have always given 100% with respect to customer service. Today, I came in with what I thought would be a simple fix. Busted headlamp on a 2007 Fit. Turns out, you need to unbolt the fender liners to get at the headlamps. Man, such design! Oh well. Jim got right on it, and in a manner of minutes, I was back on the road with 2 new front headlamps (the second one burned out on the way to the shop, or some time last night!). The best part : Jim didn't charge me labor! Parts only for the headlamps. Great folks. I'll go back to Minicar for as long as my Honda vehicles will put up with me. read more

Love this place! They found out the issue to my car. They were very upfront and truthful. It was going to be a huge cost to fix, which they could have done, but directed me to get the dealer to pay for it, since it was an issue with my model. They also prepared me for what the dealer might say, and told me how to handle them. I will definitely be back for any future issues. Thank You For Your Honesty! read more

I went here for the first time today. Everyone was super nice and I feel like I got a fair deal. I arrived at 8:30 and had my functioning car back by noon. Also, they get bonus points for inflating the low tire on my car which I only noticed right before I took it in. I would definitely go back here given the positive experience I had today. Thanks! read more

Usurers with no maners and probably Racists! I took my civic hybrid to get connected to the computer to check the codes regarding the IMA and other light from the dashboard. IT WAS NOT FREE. They did not tell me that I was going to be charged $60 plus taxes beforehand, and when I disputed to the manager that I was not told about this charge, they did not correct their mistake. Obviously, if they were told me about the charge. I would have taken my car to another place. Secondly, and most important, I am hispanic. These honnkies might not honor hispanics as well as the people of their tribe. Right after, I went to the Honda dealer in Berkeley, and they laughed at me for the $60 charge since everyone else does it for free. read more

I was visiting the Bay Area and the night before my scheduled departure home to San Diego, my car wouldn't start. After confirming it wasn't the battery or any fuse/fuse links, I deducted that it was likely my starter that went bad. I called Berkeley Minicar at 8:30am the following morning and talked to Jim. I explained the situation and asked if it there was any way he could fit me in and have it done by the end of the day so I could get on the road. He didn't make any promises, but instead said that they would do the best they could do. Thankfully they were able to fit me in and had the new starter in by the end of their business day. Additionally, the price for the repair was fair. I highly recommend Berkeley Minicar for their excellent customer service, honesty, and fair prices! read more

I do not know what has happened to this place, but it has gone down hill all the way. They have turned into a bunch of scammers as another yelper mentioned. I have always had Hondas and have been going to them for over ten years, but in the last two years they have been trying to gauge me left and right! I had an ignition switch issue that they missed and I ended having it fixed somewhere else, even though the "check" engine light kept coming on. They said it was "nothing." They also use fear as a tactic by dropping hints about "don't drive too far on it." I should have learned, but went in to for a routine oil change and they let the air out of one of my tires! I drove home on a slow leak, Also the receptionist is rude and offensive. She called my car a "clunker." There are much better shops to go to. read more

So... I get a call from my son, who's up at CAL, for school (I live So.Cal). His car over heated on freeway and spitting out all its coolant... I went on YELP, found Berkely Minicar (great reviews), had car towed to them.. I get a call from Jim yesterday (Monday), Good news, bad news.... Your Engine Block is CRACKED!! I about fell to floor! asked him if that was the bad news?? He said, good news is Honda knows about this problem and has a TSB for it, and there is a 10yr. ext. warranty on it. Have car towed to dealer and they will replace under warranty! How many places would do this? He could of easily gave me the bad news, and the dollar amount to fix it, and id be none the wiser. Being 500 miles away and son at school, id have no choice but to have him fix it! Thanx! car will now be serviced regularly at Berkeley Minicars!! read more

I've taken my car here since I've had it; the people that owned it before me swore by the shop. Mechanically, they work wonders on my car. But the service leaves something to be desired, bordering on rude at times. I had to bring my car back for a re-repair and wasn't able to do it the following day (as I had told them I would)--because I got in a bike accident and got a concussion! When I returned two days later, they seemed annoyed and said they'd been "waiting around" for me and they would have my car ready the next day. They seemed apologetic but clueless when I finally picked it up. Again, mechanically pretty sound (though I did have to bring the car back after a repair), but expensive and a bit on the curt side. I'd give them 2.5 stars, not sure if I'll go back. read more

We've been having our Honda cars serviced at Berkeley Minicar for many years for two simple reasons: They do an excellent job on maintenance and repairs and equally important they are the most honest car repair shop that we have ever dealt with! read more

This place has my stamp of approval. They know what they're doing, so I let them touch my car. That says something. I haven't had any packaged services here since I usually order a la carte. Their prices are reasonable for the Bay Area, and they'll even let me bring in my own oil + filter for the oil change. Definitely my go-to-car repair shop in the East Bay. They finally switched to an electronic system so you don't have to decode their handwriting. read more

I wish that every business was run like Berkeley Minicar. I am completely happy with the manner in which they do the maintenance on our Hondas. On one occasion, I asked them about putting synthetic lubricant in the transaxle. They could have simply taken my money and been done with it; instead, they explained why it really was unnecessary. A good test for them was after one of our Hondas was stolen and then recovered, quite a bit worse for wear. They were really thoughtful in how they evaluated the damage, and worked with us to decide what to repair, and what not to repair. It ended up being affordable, yet acceptable. We couldn't have asked for more. The one bum steer was when I asked them where to take our Nissan pickup for service. The place that they recommended to us was quite poor in comparison to Berkeley Minicar. read more

If only I could give them 6 stars...this place is incredible. I have been going there for years and they've never let me down. I couldn't trust them more. They are regularly saying to hold off on things I thought I needed (like when AAA came to jump start my car and after testing it said my battery was completely dead and would not last another day--Berkeley Minicar tested it and said I had at least a few more months and should wait!). And their prices are very reasonable. They might not be the rock bottom cheapest, but if you add up all the money they've saved me by only doing what really needed to be done, I'm sure I've spent significantly less in total than I would have anywhere else. I called them today to ask where I could get some wiper blades and they said they had them in stock. I went in and in 5 minutes not only did they sell me new blade inserts for only $6 each, but also they installed them, and filled my wiper fluid without any additional charge. You rock, Berkeley Minicar. read more

I started off taking my Honda CRV here and now I take my Pilot here, too! The service is always timely, reasonable, pressure-free, and great customer service! Sean has worked on my car multiple times and I always trust his recommendations and have been more than happy with the work performed on both my vehicles! I've recommended many friends to get their car serviced here, too and they've all said the same thing I do -- great service at affordable prices! read more

I've used them for several services on my car and will continue to come back. When they replaced my timing belt (not a cheap service) they quoted me one price but charged me less than that when I picked up the car. Turns out my car year was actually designed to be easier to change the timing belt on so it was less pricey. I appreciated the honesty. They do good work and are trustworthy... that's a good combo. read more

I've been using them for close to 20 years and wouldn't think of taking a Honda anywhere else. It's all they do and they are not in business to rip you off. If they can save you money they will. Every single time from a $75 to a $1200+ job their service has been great and final bill has been BELOW the original estimate! read more

Spotless garage, knowledgeable courteous staff, excellent work at a reasonable price. One of the best garages I've used (and I used to work in one). read more

When we switched driving my wife's 1991 Honda, I asked Don at Model Garage where I should go for service. He recommended BMC. We've been going there for years now. They're honest, friendly and excellent mechanics. And take a look at their shop floor. It looks cleaner than many hospitals. I wouldn't use any other garage for a Honda. read more

Friendly, honest and fast turnaround on a 2007 Acura MDX alternator job. Add the 15 percent yelp discount and you can't beat the price for the service. Highly recommend! This pretty much sums up my experience at Berkeley Minicar. Thanks! read more

I've used these guys a couple times since my last review, and they've always come through. They just replaced a missing belt in one day, and now we have a running car again! Thanks Berkeley Minicar! read more

kind of expensive but very quick turnaround and knowledgful. very good at explaining the problem. the woman behind the counter is very rude and seems to always stressed but everyone else is smily and friendly and makes up for it. read more

I've had them work on three different Honda's since I moved here in 2001. They compare favorably to any mechanic that I have ever used. Many people here state that they are not cheap. Well you get what you pay for. This is the Bay Area, "ain't nothin cheap here". You want cheap, do the work yourself. I've never had any problems with the receptionist, she is always polite and efficient. This is not a massage parlor, when I get my car fixed, I'm not really looking for someone to hold my hand. read more

I've been bringing my Hondas to Minicar for 25+ years. And that's only two Hondas. (They'd probably still have the first one running if parts were still available.) That might tell you most of what you want to know about this shop, and maybe about Hondas. Minicar is scrupulously honest, highly skilled, reasonably priced, and uncannily good at coming in under their estimate. They've invariably tried to save me money. Jim, the service manager, likes to share DIY tips. Nancy, his counterpart, acts grumpy only to stay in character - she's actually on your side, too. This shop strongly prefers OEM Japanese parts for quality. But when they don't like the best price they can offer you, they'll refer you to a whole network of specialists, salvage shops, etc. For things they don't do at all - mufflers, radiators, body work and paint, welding, smog checks, and complicated car audio - their referrals have always turned out to be equally trustworthy. The only error Minicar ever made with me was having me drive for months with a bad alternator - because it kept testing just barely within specs, and they couldn't justify charging me $110 (back then) to replace it for nothing. After all-bad experiences with dealerships, I discovered a similar independent Honda shop in L.A. (Modesti), which did great work. When I moved back to the Bay Area, these folks popped up as the closest equivalent. They've obviously earned my trust, and they now service Acuri, Toyotae and Lexi too. Highest recommendation. read more

I think Berkeley Minicar is a great place to bring your car, especially if you are wary of mechanics overcharging or doing unnecessary work. Unfortunately, they're also condescending and snobbish about their knowledge of cars. I feel like they don't take my concerns seriously, and if a problem is transient in nature, they full-on make me feel like I"m delusional. it's like, I know you are knowledgeable, but don't just doubt me, prove me wrong, I don't make a lot of money but I will sacrifice the money to make sure my car is in good shape, it's what enables me to meet my obligations and put food on my table. read more

Berkeley Minicar is one of my two favorite places for Honda work in Berkeley (the other, Art's Automotive, edges them out by a star). Berkeley always did good work on my old Civic and Accord, with good prices and complete honesty. read more

Trustworthy. Love the ethics of their mission to keep good old cars running clean for a long time. I've been coming here for 15 years and as long as I have a car I'll be coming back. read more

Love Berkeley Minicar. They take very good care of my Odyssey, take the time to explain everything done, and I don't believe that they have ever suggested any work on my car that wasn't needed or overcharged me (tho I really wouldn't know this). There are times that I've been certain my car needed major work and have been patiently told that no, she just needs something minor done. My car is always returned in the same condition I gave it to them in, meaning there's no smudges on the steering wheel, my bridge toll is still in the coin drawer, my radio station is still at the same volume. Every once in a while the guys can be a bit snippy, but no more so than other mechanics, in fact, really less so. Lastly and most importantly, I don't feel taken advantage of because I'm a woman, and I don't have enough fingers to count how many times this has happened to me. read more

They only work on Hondas, which is also why I like them so much. My previous Honda Civic 1988 was totally serviced by them and I was up to 189k miles and the car was still running fine when I sold it to buy a Honda Civic Hybrid. Needless to say, my Hybrid gets serviced by them as well. My only complaint: although they will drop you off at a local BART Station, it is your job to find your own transportation getting back. read more

My car is so old and dying and at every turn and all my questions, they were accommodating. Incredibly helpful, honest, and patient. They did everything in their power to get me on the road when I needed and were honest when it came to quoting prices. I highly recommend them to anyone. read more

This is a good bunch. They replaced the starter on my 2007 Honda Element. The first rebuilt starter they put in did not perform well so they kept my car one more night and put in another starter the next morning. The charges remained the same. I highly recommend these people. read more

This is an excellent place to consider for car repair. We brought the car in for a diagnostic and it was obvious the technician did a thorough and honest job, honest being a very important word when dealing with car repair places. When talking with the staff, Jerry explained in detail the problems with the car and the repair options. He did not pad the work to be done and we were very satisfied with not only the quality but the friendliness of the service and the price charged to us. read more

Phenomenal experience. Took in my 06 element to get my front lower control arms changed and they accommodated me the same day at an amazing price. They also recommended and provided some great insight on other potential things that needed changing. Highly recommend. If you are looking for a mechanic you can trust then this is the place. read more

Berkeley Minicar definitely a great resource for any Honda owner. They've worked on my car multiple times, and always fixed the problem. An appointment is always available in the near future, and when you drop your car off they look at it promptly and call you and tell you whats wrong and what it will cost to fix it. On my last visit, I dropped my car off at 4PM on Friday, telling them "the right wheel makes a loud crunching noise when I break, turn, or go over a bump". Fearing for the worst, I headed out of town for the weekend. Forty five minutes later, they call to say it's fixed. For, I think, half an hour of shop time, they'd the entire thing back together, tightened it up, and told me I shouldn't go back to the last place that worked on it and didn't manage to tighten the bolts in the suspension. It's probably not the cheapest place around, but they do honest, quality work that's worry free. I wish they did drop in oil changes, as I'm just not together enough to plan for them, or I'd be there every time my car needed anything. read more