Berkeley Minicar offers competent and reasonably priced service delivered by cheerful and personable staff.

Berkeley Minicar has been wonderful to me and my Civic for the past 20 years. With the change in ownership, they still provide the same level of service and never try to push unnecessary fixes or services on me, which I really appreciate. It's not difficult to get an appointment and the pricing seems reasonable for the quality. read more

I had my 20 yr old Honda Civic in for it's yearly service. They were prepared that I was to wait as I had no ride and all was done within about 1 1/2 hours or so. All my questions were answered carefully and the price was right. I am always impressed by the care of the mechanics and the friendliness of the front desk. It is old fashioned care and I appreciate it very much. read more

I brought my Honda Accord hybrid in for a service. Making an appointment was easy, leaving it for an hour was easy and because they didn't have to rotate tires as expected, the bill was less than have been quoted. Honest work at a good price!! read more

I got in my car at the BART station on Tuesday evening, started it, it made a horrible sound and the transmission light was on. At the recommendation of a family member, I had it towed to the Berkeley Minicar lot where I left it overnight. The next morning before work, I dropped my keys in the drop slot with a description of the problem. I called at 8:30 when the shop opened and was greeted by Nancy who was very friendly. She said my car was fine to stay, but they were booked through Monday, so unless someone canceled, it would have to wait. I received a call from Jim around 3:30 the same day at which time he told me he knew the issue: the catalytic converter and the 2nd half of my exhaust system had been stolen. I quickly called insurance and breezed through the claim process. I sent Jim my claim number and he gave me an estimate. Within two days, the claim had been handled and the work authorized, and Jim had my car done by Friday afternoon. The folks at Berkeley Minicar were extremely friendly, professional, and expedient, and should I have any car issues in the future I will be returning to them for assistance. read more

Ok. These guys were just the BEST today. Someone took my windshield wiper, twisted it all around, stripped the connection, and left it broken on my parked car. (Rigga Frigga). I brought it in today and they looked at it within 10 minutes. Told me the part was $85 and would take 5 days to get her from Connecticut, and then suggested I just try a salvage yard. I was thinking- oh no, a wild goose chase, but they gave me a number of a specific salvage yard in town. I went to get the part. $25 later, I am back at Berkeley Minicar and the awesome Jerry repaired it before my eyes, and did not charge me for it. I wanted to kiss those guys. They made this problem that I thought would be a beast go away with such ease. I will be back when I have a bigger repair. read more

These may not be the cheapest guys in town but the reason ive been coming here for decades is that they're honest and competent. They tell the truth and know what they're doing. They've always done great work, and only what's required. read more

I went here a while ago because it was "check-rated". I had a minor service performed on my car. I got there promptly at 8am and was told that it would take about two hours. I said that I would wait for the car. I briefly walked over to 4th street during the 2 hours. I came back with 1/2 hour left to go, but noticed that my car remained untouched. Another hour goes by and somebody chewing a sandwich finally strolls over to it and starts working on it. I was the only person sitting there waiting, and it's not like they were that busy that day, so it was pretty obvious that I was waiting for the car. A total of 4-1/2 hours go by before my car is ready. I pay for the car, and the woman is not apologetic, but could tell that I was pretty pissed off, having waited that entire time. I don't care whether they do a good job if they're going to miss a time commitment by such a large margin, with not a single reason. Never again. read more

Had a specific problem with my car regarding the engine and they had that well taken care of. Regarding electronics, it's a different story as I had some problems regarding the engine computer and the nav system. After the service, the car cpu is now having problems indicating the right status and regarding the factory nav issues, well, lets just say that their response involved a series of 'mumbles'. Overall, I guess I can understand their lack of knowledge regarding the nav, but the car cpu that's part of the overall car's mechanics, nahhh... I would go there if I need a basic service on the engine on the older honda/acura models, but with the newer cars with bells and whistles i wouldn't recommend this place. read more

Lookit. I live in PDX and bought my friend's car. He lives in SF. Actually I bought back my own car, but that ain't no thang for this story. Truth up is that I came 600 miles and took this car not to the closest mechanic but all the way over to Berkeley for a checkup. They remembered me. They had all my records on file. The woman at the counter translates the grease on the edges of your work order into plain English. If they know you are working on a budget they will usually say "ok, do this first, it's important. Then, save up for this next." Since I don't know jack about cars, maybe all these years they have been jacking me, but it just don't seem that way. Besides, when I talk to boyz that know these things, they have always backed up BMC. These folks are real. There prices are midrange. They are not going to send you a postcard reminding you that you need an oil change. But when the front desk lady looks at you over her glasses, you will know your mom just took dang good care of you. read more

I've learned my lesson - going back to BM after trying out a Honda dealer in San Leandro (too close to home to resist). They just don't have the skill of Berkeley Minicar. My last visit started with a diagnosis of a broken timing chain - something unheard of at 120k miles. An estimate of $1700 to repair. The likely cause? Infrequent oil changes. That couldn't be, SL Honda did the last two in the recommended mileage and I had records for others. When I pushed back and said I wanted to speak with a factory rep suddenly the problem was solved. I can't trust that. I'm heading back to Berkeley Mini Car even though its inconveniently located in Berkeley. What would have happened if didn't push back and ask for factory intervention? A quick call to Berkeley Mini Car for some advice resulted in the Service Manager emailing me bulletins from Honda and providing me a more thorough explanation than I got from SL Honda. THAT is knowledge and experience coupled with amazing customer service (and I wasn't even a current customer, though I had been in the past). Mea culpa. read more

I had a TERRIBLE experience here. I took my Honda here based largely on the favorable reviews posted and was encouraged by the very straightforward woman I spoke with on the phone, but they really, really tried to scam me. They gave me an outrageous quote for some repairs that I needed--**three times** the amount I was quoted by every other Honda shop I called. They also missed another very serious issue, and God only knows what they would have tried to charge me for that. They clearly thought that I was clueless enough to pay whatever they felt like charging me. I called around to several other shops who all gave me similar prices and took my car and my money to one of them, who fixed it quickly and perfectly for a reasonable price. I will never, ever come back here. read more

You get what you pay for. With Berkeley Minicar, you get trustworthy service, quality customer care, skilled technicians. The people are great--they don't act like you're an idiot... or if you dare work on your car, that you're destroying your own car. Very professional. But that also means the place has a lot of demand. Some days you can catch them when they're not busy, but typically they are. If you want same-day service, always call in advance and schedule an appointment. Tuesdays tend to be less busy than say Mondays. I take my car here routinely for oil changes and any other repairs. Their reputation is warranted. Unfortunately, with that much-deserved reputation comes a price, and that's the only reason why it's a 4-star instead of 5. While it's not European-car-expensive, the prices aren't a bargain. They're not looking to rip you off and are very honest though, but because they're in high demand, they can charge higher prices than your average Honda shop. Maybe that's the price of great work, and the peace of mind knowing you'll be cared for. I still highly recommend Berkeley Minicar, but I keep thinking somewhere out there (in a parallel dimension?), there's a mechanic that's reliable, honest, and cheap. Regardless I'll keep going here for my oil changes. Definitely trust Minicar more than Honda dealerships. read more

Excellent service, nice and friendly people I wish I could give six stars!! Thank you always Berkeley Mini Car!!

I love Berkeley Minicar so much. I have had many long conversations with other Berkeley Minicar patrons while I waited for my oil change. "I've come here for 15 years. I live in Pinole now and still come here." " I won't buy another brand of car, so I can keep coming here" etc. etc. Also they are really nice, and remember my name and don't treat me like an idiot because I'm a woman. The biggest rave I have though, for Berkeley Minicar, is that they'll do little things for your car and not charge you. They fixed my gas cap for free, and once, I ran over a box that fell off a truck on the freeway. I was totally shaken up and drove to the mechanic to make sure my car wasn't leaking fluids or damaged in any way. They took a look, made sure I had calmed down and sent me on my way, no charge. read more

These guys are the best! So honest and fair. They've actually told me I didn't need work done that other places said I did when they could have easily told me it was needed and made more money off of me, but that's not how they do things. Their prices are usually lower than most places, though some of their services average a wee bit higher. It all balances out in the end to where you're getting a better deal with BMC. They have even done work on my car for free for stuff like changing fuses because they didn't feel fair charging me for it. I bought a second Honda just so I could keep Berkeley Minicar as my mechanics. Seriously. Trust me, if you have a Honda, this is the place to bring it. They're a straight-forward, honest, no BS shop and the people who work there are great! read more

After finding this place by rating, I decided to make an appointment and give it a try to fix my Honda Passport. I dropped it off first thing. By 2PM, I didn't get a call back to I called them. They told me the mechanic was just getting to it. ??? I told them I'd be by around closing to pick up my car since they told me they'd have it ready by the end of the day. When I arrived, the mechanic told me he couldn't find anything wrong with it. However he did hand me a report with three trouble codes he found. Bottom line, he didn't fix anything. They charged me $50 for connecting a code reader and jotting down the codes, then asked me to bring it back the next day. Sorry, I'm never bringing it back. This place maybe good for routine or schedule maintenance work on a running car but not troubleshooting and fixing problems. read more

As always, I received excellent excellent courteous service at reasonable prices from people I have completely trusted with my cars for going on 25 years now. read more

Fixed Transmission Issue by installing a pressure switch. It runs great. Thank you. Jim, Ebony and everyone who works there. Great work.

All Hondas all the time at Berkeley Minicar! This is where I go to get my 98 Honda Civic serviced. Great place, great service. read more

I used to use this shop years ago when I had a 1998 Honda Accord. They always did a great job. Very professional, never overcharged for anything. They came back into my life yesterday when my regular mechanic (Ackerman's Servicing in Berkeley) could not diagnose an electrical issue I was having. My 2007 Honda CRV had been broken into over the weekend and my navigation unit was ripped out of my dashboard. As a result of this, there was something shorting out behind the dashboard causing fuses to blow, preventing me from operating my car. On Tuesday, I took my car to Ackerman's Servicing. After 2 hours of work on my car, the owner of Ackerman's Volvo called me and said his mechanic couldn't figure out what was causing the short. He then said he would have a "electrical expert" look at my car but he couldn't do it until Friday. I then had my car towed to Berkeley Mini Car. They were able to quickly isolate the issue (a bare rear license plate camera wire was causing the short). A couple of hours later I was back on the road. Not only did they expertly (and rather inexpensively) diagnose and fix the problem, the staff (especially Nancy) was incredibly friendly, funny and supportive. I will never take my car anywhere else other than Berkeley Minicar in the future. read more

I love my Berkeley Minicar! I was tempted to switch mechanics to someone closer a few months back, but I'm glad I didn't. My timing belt didn't take as long as estimated and came in $100 under the dollar estimate too! An honest mechanic: you can't beat that. Plus, they have this cool little laptop to lend while you wait and free-wifi. read more

These folks take good care of you, and they're thorough. But I couldn't help but feel like I was paying premium prices. With a Honda, not much you can do about that, I guess. But I was initially pointed to this place because they're honest, thorough, and cheap. Too good to be totally true! This place isn't cheap, but they're honest and thorough, and the folks running the front office are nice, smiley, and will wait the extra 15 minutes if you're running late to pick up the car. There's a yummy mediterranean all-you-can-eat right across the street. That's a plus in my book. read more

You really have to trust your car repair shop, which I've not done since the former GM of the dealership where I bought the car retired. When I called for my annual checkup/tune-up, I was told it was due for a major service--more money than I wanted to pay. I drive the 16-year old car very rarely so have incredibly low mileage and it runs great. I wasn't having any issues to I asked if I might get away with a minor service. I was told that was fine and that I'd be alerted if anything major was found. WHen I picked up the car, I learned my tires are getting worn and will soon need to be replaced. So, you gotta trust a garage that doesn't make up issues to charge you a lot of money. And I do! Thank you Berkeley Minicar for excellent, reliable and honest service! read more

The people at Berkeley Minicar are Pure Professionals. I find the people at Berkeley Minicar are friendly, honest and listening to you. A couple of weeks ago AAA dropped me off at the shop and I was pretty frustrated because my transmission broke down. Jim understood directly how to handle this and convince me that they took care of me and they did. Normal price with a TOP service, I highly recommend Berkeley to my friends and family. read more

I have been going to Berkeley Minicar for as many years as I can remember. I love how they treat each person so kindly and efficiently. I have always been happy with the work they do. I wouldn't go anywhere else. read more

Great service, I trust these people. Eboni Love is so easy to work with on the frontlines and everyone was so helpful.

I love these guys. They're really solid and dependable. And I've known a lot of mechanics - been driving since 1963 - PH

If you own a Honda, well... let me think about that for a sec. If you own a newer Honda, you don't need to do much but change the oil and rotate the tires. If, however, you like to get regular maintenance for your Honda, this is the place to go. As far as I'm concerned, they're honest and fair. And they cost less than going to a dealership! read more

I can always trust the folks at Berkeley Minicar to provide great service and give excellent advice.

Always great service and honest advice with fair prices.

I don't know if I'll ever give five stars to a car repair place. I get annoyed spending so much money on a car when I probably put more miles on my bike.... But as far as car shop experiences go, they are great. Actually took the time to explain what needed to be done, showed me before hand the problems, and didn't try to sell me anything else. Very nice people all around, even helped me get my bike into the trunk when I can to pick up my car. Highly recommend. For a car place. :) read more

Had my 195k minor service done here, and I was very impressed. Professional service, super reasonable prices, and the work was done in less time than anticipated. Awesome. I'll definitely be back here for future services. Thanks guys! read more

Wonderful...as usual. Best Place for Toyota and Honda repairs. Honest and cost effect.

It was highly recommended by one of my patients. She was a customer for more than 20years and I can tell why. People here are very friendly and professional. A couple of weeks ago my Acura TL had the check engine light on right after passing the smog check. It was quick and they were able to fix the problem. Gave me recommendation but not to pushy about selling anything trying to get your car fixed ASAP !!! Jim was very nice and very accommodating. In a little over an hour i was out driving my car again. Prices are very reasonable too. Will definitely go back here again for my car maintenance. Forget the dealership they just suck the money out of you. A+++ Highly Recommended read more

Brought my 15 year old Odyssey to repair the electric sliding door. The repair was completed on time and for the estimated amount. The shop communicated well. I have been using this shop for my Honda since it was new, and have always felt fairly treated. All repairs I've had done seemed to be done in a good and workmanlike manner had have held up over time. For years I think they only worked on Hondas but have now expanded to other Japanese cars -- I've always felt that specialization has been a good thing. I wish this small business continuing success! read more

There is no other place I will take my '08 Honda and soon to be new Honda. I live over 20 miles from them, but it's worth it. These guys are honest, professional, friendly and will take great care of your vehicle for the appropriate price. It's refreshing to know there are still businesses like these that aren't out to screw you. I am always confident that I'm getting the best service and products. They are also able to get work done in a reasonable time and will work with you on your appointment time. A couple of times I had to have my car back before a certain time and they were accommodating. My only wish is that they were open on Saturdays or after 5PM on weekdays so I wouldn't have to take time off work. Do yourself a favor and never use the dealership for your car. Berkeley Minicar is truly exceptional and I always recommend them to others. read more

Best mechanic I've ever had. Reliable and trustworthy, as well as efficient. Fast turnaround times and good communication. I drive over two hours from out of town to have my car serviced here. I recommend to anyone who has a Honda. read more

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