My family and I have received excellent customer and auto repair service from Sonny and the Central Auto Service team for YEARS. My dad is who recommended I take my car into their shop many years ago. They take their time with our auto service needs and communicate the auto service repairs clearly with us. We trust their team, as they are not the type of auto service workers who are out to get your money and tell you this and that are wrong with your car when this isn't the case. Each service charge has been very fair and affordable. Sonny took care of my Honda Accord for years, including break repair and smog tests. The Central Auto Service team has serviced my parents' Honda CR-V for many years also. I have recommended their auto shop to my friends, so it's now time to give my 5-star rating on Yelp too! Thank you, Central Auto Service team! read more

I can't thank everyone at Central Auto Service enough. These gentlemen are truly some of the kindest people I've met. Long story short, my car suddenly had an issue and I really needed it fixed as soon as possible. Today was my only day off, and I only had a few hours to get everything done before I had to pick up my child from summer camp and run a few errands. They understood how stressed I was, got my car fixed quickly, and had me back on the road in no time. I'm so grateful for their kindness, honesty, and outstanding service. Thank you for helping me when I needed it most. I highly recommend Central Auto Service! read more

Central Auto Service - Auto Repair Near Me - Alameda, California

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Great experience! The staff was friendly, professional, and efficient. The smog check was quick and easy, with no unnecessary waiting. Very reasonable service and a hassle-free experience. I would definitely recommend this place and will come back again! read more

Excellent service prompt service Very Friendly People they make me feel like family and not like a customer read more

Central Auto Service - Central autos Have - Auto Repair Near Me - Alameda, California

My regular gas station/service repair station was closed after 30 years and torn down, so after using their services and getting gas there for 25 years I was looking for a similar alternative. I found it at Central Auto Service. For gas & for auto repair I have now determined that Central Auto Repair is my place to go, with confidence that my car will be safe for the road. 100% knowledgeable, competent, extremely polite and communicative about just what the car needs or letting me know it is fine for the road. I'm thrilled to have found a new location for excellent service to make me feel secure when driving. Highly recommend. read more

I just finished my smog test and the owner was so professional and approachable at the same time. He knew I was in a hurry and got me in right away. Very knowledgeable, top notch service. I am recommending all of my friends to this auto service. read more

Very good service, Good work, will come back many times, works quickly. highly recommended. speak Vietnamese also.

My brother recommended this auto shop for repairing my Camry. Sunny was patient and professional. Unfortunately my car needed more repairs than expected. He gave me the estimate and explained each repair in detail. Hard to find honest and reliable mechanics, but good vibes with this place. read more

They gave me a higher bill once the job was done. They also charged me $190 to check an engine code that O'Reilly did for free. Not to Mention the fact that they did not fill the transmission with a proper level of oil. read more

The mechanics there (specifically Sunny) are really excellent at diagnosing and repairing my late model Mercedes. They source parts quickly, and install them accurately and economicallyl. Also, they are super fun and sincere! Peter, Paul & Sonny cater to our Alameda neighborhoods with enduring friendship, loyalty and outstanding service. read more

Sunny was very honest and goes straight to the point on what the problem was on my car. He made me feel welcome being there my first time visit. I highly recommend going to this place in Alameda read more

Loved it LOT THEY ARE AMAZING. I RECOMMEND. TO GO. And they do such a good job they are so kind and they gave us a discount read more

Central Auto Service - Auto Repair Near Me - Alameda, California

Fast friendly and very efficient. Been going here the last 5 years even though I no longer live in alameda I remain loyal.

Excellent experience here! Brought my car in for service and they had it done ahead of schedule. The communication was clear from start to finish, and the staff was professional and friendly. The car runs perfectly now. I will definitely be bringing my vehicle back here for future maintenance! read more

I had my dreaded smog check on my vehicle today. This place was adjacent to mobile gas station. At first, I didn't know where the entrance was for the smog test. I got in and out within 30 min. I waited at Jays Cafe down the street while getting my car tested. The transaction was straightforward and painless. I showed coupon from their website and paid $50. read more

I used Central Auto Service today to complete my California auto emissions certification to renew my annual registration. Not only do they provide speedy service, but also a good price compared to other locations in Alameda. With the quick turnaround time, I had 20 minutes to walk a block away for an afternoon coffee and return with the certification already completed. With a convenient location in Central Alameda, they are a good choice and I will return again. read more

Went to get my smog done and had a coupon. Sure! They said, come back in 25 minutes, so off I trot to the cafe down the street (which was great, btw) and voila - all done! They were friendly, and efficient, and I would definitely come back for anything else I need. (They also said, keep the coupon and give it to someone else - sweet!) read more

I'll give them all the stars, they take care of your vehicles like no one, very honest and prices are very afflordable, I've been bringing my vehicles for over 10 years, I highly recommend this shop. "Central Auto service". read more

These folks have always given me exactly what I asked for, given me very good quality service for a reasonable price. Recently, I had Tripple AAA tow my 2015 plug-in Prius in with a blow tire late in the day. He put my car inside the shop that night for safe keeping. Then called me early the next day, that the car was ready to pick up. Very reasonable fee, no B.S. That is very refreshing. Forrest Reed, Alameda read more

They had really good, fast service and were super easy to work with. Everything was done quickly and smoothly, I'd definitely recommend them. read more

I went to see Sunny at Central auto service for a smog check and he was excellent. He set up a time on the same day for me. He was very courteous. I would recommend I'm 100% and I'm going back for an oil my car is very old and he was able to take care of the situation. There wasn't any problem at all and I recommend them highly for everyone to go there and he's very respectful. I wish you guys the very best because he is thank you so very much, Francesca. read more

These guys are legit. I had work done on both my Tacoma and Ram here. Unbeatable rates for a shop also. Give em' a try. Tough to beat.

Quickly smogged my car! I was in and out faster than I expected, and the staff made everything easy and stress-free. Highly recommend this place for quick and reliable service! Peter is the best read more

This review is for the STAR Test and Repair Station for smog tests. Thank You very much for helping me get my car to pass Smog! It's always best to seek the help of a professional who knows what they're doing! I have a small car I drive around on weekends. Awhile ago it needed a new battery, so I went ahead and replaced it. I didn't know my next DMV registration renewal would require a smog test. Opps! Disconnecting that battery erased the driving history in the on-board computer, which is needed to pass a smog test. First, I took it to a "Test Only" Smog Station, and the O2 sensor failed the test. The tech suggested I drive it around 100-200 miles and perform the "drive cycles." I did it and the O2 sensor still failed to go "green." So I was thinking that the O2 sensor was bad and needed to be replaced. So I decided to go to Central Auto Repair. They said I had two choices, continue to drive it around or pay them to do the drive cycles in their garage. You ever go in a smog station and see those huge rollers on the floor? They can "drive" your car without going anywhere. They said if it fails, I don't pay. Almost like saying they guarantee success. So I agreed to the service, and they put 20 miles on my car without leaving the station. O2 sensor went to green, and I passed the Smog Test! Great service, and they clearly communicate with me the choices and options. Was this review too technical? Not if you're going thru this problem right now. Performing drive cycles can be frustrating, maybe have a pro do it and just get it done right! Central Auto Repair is at the gas station at Central Ave x Sherman. Good Luck, and Support Local Business! read more

Central Auto Service - Auto Repair Near Me - Alameda, California

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These guys are the best! Came to get my car smogged but had several engine codes that kept me from conducting the test. They took the time to walk me through replacing all the necessary hardware to get the car to pass and over the course of several weeks checked my cars computer repeatedly until I had successfully completed all repairs! I really can't overstate how above and beyond they went to help me get a simple smog check done. Great people and very knowledgeable. read more

Service with courtesy and humor. Smog check performed quickly for a reasonable fee. Recommended!

Cool guy. Smog check. Kind of a weird location, so less foot traffic then you expect. But pretty quick for the times I've been. read more

Central Auto Service - A tree - Auto Repair Near Me - Alameda, California

Awesome service Quick to help Friendly This is my 2nd time here and the it was the best. Thanks read more

It's great to know that there is a locally owned small business where the Alameda community can get honest car service. Suny at Central Auto provided my car with an oil change and smog check. I value my experience at Central Auto because of the respect and professionalism with which my appointment and car service was provided. Thanks for valuing me as a customer in our community! read more

The customer services is the best in Alameda they go above and beyond for their customers. I wouldn't choose another place to take my car. Extremely friendly and helpful! read more

I took my '89 year old vehicle for smog repair. The manager was knowledge about possible reasons why my car did not pass the smog test. I brought the car in the next day. Surprisingly , the shop was able to get the necessary parts that same day and I was able to pick up my vehicle that afternoon! The manager offered a competitive price for both repair and smog retest. I found the service to be quick and efficient. The manager maintained responded promptly to my phone calls and kept me apprised of how the service was progressing. He was very straight forward and easy to relate to. I would highly recommend his shop for smog repair services read more

I've been going to Central Auto Service for smog certification and, occasionally, other repair services for years with great results. Honest and helpful folks work there. read more

Helped me out with smogging a 32 foot RV. So many places turned me down because the vehicle is too big, but they took me with just a days notice and got it done. Thanks! read more

Smogged numerous cars of mine over the years. Great place, friendly and quick. Can't ask for more really. Thank you Central Auto service !

I needed a SMOG Cert. for a car I don't drive every day,... but has become a fun Restoration Hobby.. I always use Sunny for my Smog Certs. and Oil changes. He's never let me down.. Great small independent business, and asset for our community Anthony A. read more

I have been using Central Auto Service for many years now for my auto repair and maintenance needs. No complaints here. They do a thorough job in a timely fashion at a reasonable price. Also over the years I have had my smog inspections done there with no problems. Jeff S read more

This is for the repair shop, not smog. Hate to leave this review but this was an awful experience. Took my 2002 rav4 in for a radiator change because it was leaking coolant. Guy quoted me a fairly low price so I should've seen the red flags there. Told me that he's going to reuse the current hoses since they seem to still be in good condition and that thermostat was too much of a hassle so he wouldn't do that on this job. I trusted him but knew better, both are typical in radiator jobs because they're all regulating the cooling system and should be done together to avoid any future headaches. I asked about both but he said I didn't need it. Ended up taking the car back at least 3 different times because it was still leaking coolant. First, he said it was a loose bolt or clamp and he fixed it. Other times, he said it was coolant that had pooled in the frame of the car and he didn't have time to clean up after himself or test drive but the car was ok. What?! Claimed it was eventually leaking from a hose to the transmission but all of it sounded troubling. No idea how he fixed it after the third trip and beyond. Im not saying he didn't try to fix it every time I went back for coolant leaking but I wasted at least 3 separate weeks trying to get this resolved along with a lot of arguing with the mechanic over why this keeps happening. First and second time, cool, we make mistakes but third or more, it's done. Your quality of work is garbage. The car ended up throwing a code for the thermostat a few weeks later and knew I wouldn't go back here to fix it. The next mechanic shop said this was a sloppy job and he used the wrong coolant so I'd need a flush so it still ended up costing me a bunch of money to fix. Don't go to this shop for your repairs. The work is awful, service is terrible, and not worth the money you think you're saving. read more

I took my disabled friend's Honda Civic in for her to get it smogged on a Thursday afternoon. Peter confirmed my presence & paperwork, so I took a seat in a chair outside in the warm October sunshine. And promptly fell asleep. Next thing I knew, Peter was gently waking me to tell me he was finished. Sunny rang me up. I told him it was great to breeze through, be greeted by friendly staff. He thanked me, and told me to pass on the coupon for $41.25 (?) smog check to a friend. 30 minutes, pleasant folks, good price, relaxed feeling, even a nap -- what's not to like? Best smog check experience I've ever had. Highly recommended. read more

I've been a customer of this auto shop for a few years. I take my old Honda for oil change after 3,000 miles each time and smog check every two years. I pass the smog checks each time but at this time my car didn't pass for the reason "functional check-Fail" I passed all. Maybe I am wrong for assuming that I shouldn't pay if the smog check failed. The mechanic charged me $61.75 for the test. He suggested that I should try to drive my car for at least 100 miles and come back for a re-test for an extra charge of $40 (the smog test certificate included). I feel like I'm being overcharged for a simple smog test. During the pandemic, I needed help in checking my tire pressure. I will not mention a name but I was told to pay $10 for the service. Overall, what I am saying is for a long-time customer, being asked to pay for a tire pressure help is greediness. I am taking my business somewhere else. I don't want a business that nickel and dime their customers and operate by being greedy. I have but all positive experience with Sunny, who is nice and honest. The others.....thumbs down! read more

I am thankful for the prompt service ay Central. Sonny is trustworthy and has been the best for my smog tests as well as general repairs! Friendly and reliable! read more