I am doing a VSS inspection, around an hour, price is fair, to my surprise, they secretly filled the windshield fluid to full capacity and didn't tell me and charge me lol. read more

They have an email posted for contact. However they do not respond. A little unprofessional. Just post the phone number if you have no intention on answering an email. read more

This place is so amazing, I was greeted so warmly and the office is so beautiful and relaxin, not what I was expecting. I was helped by Jonathan and he was so kind and fast. I was done within 10 min! definitely recommend! read more

Amazing shop with friendly experienced staff. So far they are swapping a motor in my Jeep, keeping my DeSoto reliable, keeping my wife's Ford Escape maintained and anything else that comes up. Highly reccommend them! read more

CSAI Auto Service - Mu 49 Desoto - Smog Check Stations Near Me - Riverside, California

I came in for a complimentary inspection through triple A (AAA) knowing my car does not have any problems. I made the appointment for 1 pm I arrived at 1:15pm I did not receive my vehicle back until 3:57pm. That's nearly 3 hours of my time when the window was 1-1.5 hours. Service is really slow and inconsiderate of your time. Very thorough inspection. I would not recommend this place if you value your time. I received the report for recommended services and I'm taking my business elsewhere read more

Would never return here again. The rating speaks for itself, but AAA should not be referring clients to this location. I had my car transported to this shop via AAA and was given and estimate of $4000 to fix a variety of issues. Wanting to get a second opinion, I had AAA transport it to a different shop and it turns out, my car is TOTALED!! I have no idea how a car goes from a few thousand dollars to a total loss, but I can only suspect that the repair prices would have severely inflated once they had begun repairs. I'm so glad I trusted my gut when they asked me to make a claim initially and I didn't. I don't always trust shops that want me to go through insurance right away. Anyway, I'm glad I'm going through someone else and I'll actually be taken care of. Definitely dodged a bullet here. Keep in mind I also paid the inspection fee for CSAI to thoroughly assess the damage and they told me they took my car apart completely to compile my estimate. read more

Brought my 2014 Honda Accord v6 to get a sensor changed that was causing my smog to fail. Since the sensor was deep in the engine it required a lot of work. While they were working on it I asked them to change the spark plugs and replace a belt. I had applied for the government assistance to fix smog. I was approved but only two places accepted the voucher, CSAI and some other sketchy looking place. So I came here. When I got my car back I noticed a whole bunch of little problems. A lot of them were things that had shown up in small way before but now they were really noticeable. Here's a list: Dashboard lights had come up ONCE before I took it in. After I got it back they were on most of the time. (ABS issue I found out) Breaks screech now when hitting dips while braking. Happened rarely before. Something (transmission?) now clanks when I first put it in drive. Engine vibrates noticeably now. Before there was a slight vibration every once in a while. Slight screeching/squeaking when I start my car (new) Car started overheating soon after (new) My car now has constant trouble starting (had this issue once before, changed the battery and had fixed it) My suspicion is that they took my car for a joy ride and ran it hard. It was there for a week and a weekend before I got it back. When I did, it had about an extra 45 miles on it. Idk why it would need to be ran that many miles just for testing. Before this my car ran great. I always took it to the dealer and one other trusted shop. I kept my car up as an investment so I could sell it higher. I can't now. The only redeeming factors were that Ryan at the front desk was great and had great customer service. When I called back and told him what was going on he said they'd take a look at it and double check their work. But honestly I just took it somewhere else, I didn't trust them anymore. I would have rather just took it to the dealer and paid dealer prices for reliable work. I do not recommend and would not go back. read more

CSAI is amazing and professional! Great and honest people with fair prices. The owners are nice and do not take advantage of you, unlike other places that have considering that I'm a college student and I'm a girl. I came here twice for my car's scheduled maintenance, and both times I only waited about 30-40 minutes. Their lounge is clean, comfy, and they have restrooms available. I came here after getting several quotes including my dealership giving me a way higher and unreasonable estimate for a simple oil/air filter change. CSAI quoted me a good price (more than half of that I received from other places), and assured me that my car didn't need all that additional stuff because it was still fairly new and in good condition. I trust their work and their customer service is great. Will recommend to anyone in the area needing a car checkup or service done. read more

I called Friday 1/8 and schedule an appointment for today 1/11 to have my car A/C checked out. I had a great experience today. Ryan, the Service Advisor, was very professional and thorough. It took about an hour to diagnose my car, I received an inspection report via text once the inspection was completed, Ryan then explained what I needed fixed and the price. He made me aware of their finance options. I opted to just pay upfront. They had a clean waiting room, where you could see the cars being worked on via camera. I felt very comfortable leaving my car there to get repairs. My appointment was at 10:30am and my car was complete and ready for pickup by 4pm. So far, my A/C is working great. If anyone needs car repairs, check them out! read more

Our first mistake was thinking they could fix a VW The car was stalling while in driving motion would leave us stranded, put $2200.00 first visit timing belt ext... pick up car, first week starts to do the same thing leaving us stranded, round two car was towed to shop replaced O2 sensors another $2300. Fixed, pick it up now the car only starts sometimes when it feels like it, now this is new, never had an issues with it starting. Our car has been sitting at the shop for a few days and they haven't had time to see "there problem". We trusted this shop because it was a AAA certified and we take care of our cars, nobody has time to be renting cars every week just to get to work, mean while this shop can't do it's JOB! Think twice before coming to this shop! read more

I went there by chance for a break and light certification. They were so kind and professional. They helped me understand my car better and were so very patient. Their waiting room was also very comfortable. They even took pictures and took the time to explain what they were looking at and why to me. Thank you!!!! read more

I agree with one other review. AAA should not be referring people to this business. I went in to see why my brake lights would not turn off. CSAI claimed they changed a rubber piece that was missing but the lights still wouldnt shut off and they would need another $216 (after already charging $250) I knew right off the bat that they could not have this much trouble diagnosing a minor electrical issue. I took the car to another mechanic who replaced the rubber piece CSAI claimed to have changed and paid the same price to fix the car that CSAI charged to do nothing! shame on CSAI and AAA. Furthermore, I may not know much about cars but everyone knows that minor electrical issues cannot be that hard to diagnose and repair. read more

Now I see why it's always empty. I was fully charged for my test, failed me for a couple of bulbs. They tried to charge a couple hundred to replace them or that I replace them myself and come back to get re-tested and charged the same price again smh. They will not help at all nor give you a heads up of what's expected before testing. read more

Great place. Reasonable prices. Customer Service superb. Honesty and Integrity. I left my phone in the waiting room and they returned it. Greatly appreciated!! read more

They called before working on the car and said what they need to do before they fix it and if I wanted to go ahead and get it fixed. They told me the amount up front for all services being done. They also waited for the tow truck and me to get there as my car arrived 10 minutes after they closed. read more

We were in a very serious situation with a used truck that we had just bought. Check engine light on and only had it 2days. CSAI went above and beyond to help us out. We needed them to run the codes and diagnose the situation. They provided us with all we needed to confront the dealership and we were able to get all the money back. Thank you to Ryan and the technicians at CSAI for all the wonderful help and professionalism We will definitely be back for all our future car needs. Thank you very much read more

Honest, affordable, clean and quick car service. So glad I was recommended this mechanic shop. CSAI fixed the A/C in my truck 2 weeks ago and so far so good! The dealership gave me an estimate that was 4 times more than what I ended up paying at CSAI. I also did not have an appt. and the A/C was fixed same day. The mechanic even took the time to show me the car part that was causing the problem. Highly recommend! 5 stars!!! read more

My wife found out about this facility a few years back. We absolutely love the owners and there employees. They are honest and customer service oriented. This one of the few shops that we completely trust with our automotive needs. We highly recommend bringing your business here. read more

Great service and a hospitable staff. The service was efficient - I came in during the afternoon and was out by evening. Waiting room was comfortable with a couch, chairs and a big TV. I will be back here if I ever need car repairs in the Riverside area. Highly recommended. read more

I went for a free AAA 40-point inspection yesterday. After scanning the list of nearby AAA-approved facilities and good ol' Yelp reviews, I decided to check this place out, and I'm glad I did! Super-friendly, quick, knowledgeable, and professional service. I happened to be the only one being serviced there, so I suppose I picked the right day and time! Unlike most other packed shops with long waiting period, it was nice and quiet there that I thought I was marooned in a ghost town because I didn't see anyone around when I first arrived! (LOL!) I was told the inspection would run for 1-1 1/2 hours, but the wait itself was only about 15 minutes and the actual inspection was just about 30 minutes, so it was pretty much less than an hour total. The waiting room had that homey feel (with the couch and all). Refreshments were served and I was told to feel free to change the cable channels if I wanted to while waiting. :) I'm considering going back here at least for maintenance because of the quality service and the prices are right. As for grading, I'd say I'd give three A's (yep, AAA) for this shop. :) read more

They did a good job with my car. Brittany was very helpful and informative throughout the experience.

I brought my vehicle to CSAI because Carmax could not get my vehicle in for a week. My A/C was blowing hot air so I really could not wait. It was suggested that I look on repairpal.com for a shop that would accept my Extended Warranty. CSAI has the best reviews so I decided to give them a try. They were able to get me in the next day and my car was ready one day later. The staff, especially Brittney have been so kind and accommodating. They also did an oil change which included a full inspection and tire rotation. As soon as completed I received text with a link to the inspection results including pictures of each part in the report!!! I can say I have never received this quality of service anywhere else. Thank you CSAI for your amazing service!! read more

CSAI has to be the most honest and reliable shop in Riverside. Not only are they AAA approved but they have been rewarded by AAA of having 100% satisfied customers for several years. Their shop is clean and very welcoming, offering drinks and snacks and a very comfortable waiting area. Their technicians thoroughly explain and even physically show you what's wrong with your car and what is needed exactly to repair it. Even if you can't afford to get everything done at once, they will prioritize all the repairs in order of safety and importance first. There is even financing available for those who qualify. One of the most impressive things I found was that CSAI also is approved by the bureau of automotive repair (BAR) to teach people to be certified smog technicians. Their school is completely separate from the repair shop so it's not like students are working on your car. So they definitely know what they are talking about when you go to them if you're having trouble passing smog. I can't say enough good things about this shop. They genuinely care about their customers and treat them like family, they go above and beyond to make sure their guests get their vehicles back as soon as possible and fixed right he first time. Being in the automotive industry myself for over 10 years, I would highly recommend them to anyone I know. I don't recommend this shop if you "already know what wrong with your car and just need it fixed" or if you "can get the parts cheaper on eBay" lol they are professionals and are in business for over 10 years and have tons of happy customers for a reason. If that's not what you're looking for then have your uncle fix your car in the driveway for $40 and a 6 pack of beers read more

So glad I found this place! Fast, friendly, honest, and inexpensive compared to other smog tests. They are STAR certified and also do repairs. Patricia, at the desk, is really nice, too, which is refreshing :-) I'll definitely be back and highly recommend you! read more

Finally able to speak with owner/operator, Jonathan, about following through with initial repairs that were never fixed properly. He claimed that each job is a whole separate issue as well as whole other charge. So I have to she'll out additional monies for jobs that should have been properly fixed to begin with and were not. Already spent $3,000 on repairs, not even a year ago; and Jonathan wants me to give him more money. Really!? Unfortunately I am forced to take this matter to court to settle amicably. All he did was argue each repair job, and made excuses on why he won't "finish" the jobs completely. Good luck with this auto shop! God bless read more

DMV required a smog certification for registration. I asked around and a coworker suggested CSAI. I am so glad that I went with his recommendation. First I was so happy to support a agency that does education. Our society is loosing so many skilled workers. Schools don't provide provide in the High School level any longer. I am so dissatisfied with our educational system. Not everyone is college bound or should be. Find and do what you love. This agency was immaculate the gentleman at the desk was professional and educated in his skills and what this agency does. His confidence was encouraging and refreshing. My work was done quickly at a fair price he even asked if I had my AAA card for discount. My car was left clean. I was treated with kindness and respect. I had brought my dog with me. He was welcomed. He is a well mannered 4 legged friend. I will return for other automotive needs and will refer my foamily and friends read more

It's very difficult to find a shop that will shoot you straight and not cut any corners, and it's even more difficult to find a shop that will accommodate you and what's best for you. As a 20 year old college student driving a '97 BMW 97, it's extremely easy for a shop to take advantage of me and complete expensive unnecessary work, and when I came to college finding a reliable shop proved increasingly difficult. After trying 4-5 other similar mechanics in riverside, there is absolutely nowhere else I would take my vehicle. I had my car towed there from another shop, after my vehicle had been "all done" yet broke down 2 miles from said other shop. When deciding whether or not to get my work done there, Brittany at the front desk was so friendly and genuinely interested In helping me get back on the road. They did the work for me in a MUCH more affordable manner than anybody else would have, helping me financially knowing I'm a financially independent college student. While Evan, Gilbert, and the other amazing team of mechanics worked on my car, Brittney was texting me every day updating me on what progress had been made with the car, and she was extremely punctual. After getting the majority of my work done, the owners came and introduced themselves to me. Very down to earth people whose genuine interest was to assist me in getting back on the road. When other auto issues arose for me in the future, they were more than conscientious of the financial strain I was in and went out of their way to make sure I was taken care of. Amazing shop. If you want genuine work done by hardworking diligent mechanics and staff, you should find yourself in CSAI Auto. read more

I must say that Patricia and Johnathan are the best! Great customer service. If I could rate them higher, I would. My dealership messed up my cooling system and refused to take care of it after I reached out to them several times. I went to CSAI in Riverside, CA to get a vehicle inspection done so I can have proof that the car was damaged so I can sue the dealership. I explained my situation to them and Johnathan took it upon himself to call the dealership on my behalf to see if he could get some results. Well, it worked because they asked me to bring my vehicle in the same day to be repaired! Now, my cooling system is fully operational and Johnathan worked it out to have them reimburse me for the inspection fee! I said all that to say that CSAI went above and beyond for me, without my asking, and I am very grateful that I walked into their shop! read more

Everyone here is so nice and professional! They got my car fixed and me back on the road quickly. The waiting area was comfortable. Thank you! read more

Good service good people. Definitely my go to spot in Riverside for smog checks. I was able to ask questions about the exact work that was being put in my car and they were more than happy to walk me through the process and show me what and how they do. I can only talk about the smog test though. read more

Jonathan and Mrs. Patricia are great, their service is beyond anything that I have received in a very long time. I got in and out in record time, which is fantastic when you have little kids with you. read more

See all

Cant brag enough about this place where I take my car to visit with the most friendly staff that takes excellent care of my car. They do an awesome job, time after time. Glad to know there are a handful of honest people in this planet and they are here at this automotive repair shop. Jen the receptionist is a very knowledgeable gal and a pleasure to meet everytime. read more

I'm so impressed with the customer service of this automotive repair shop! Jonathan and Patricia make you feel like family! The mechanics are superior and the work they did on my Buick Enclave made it feel like a new car! Their diagnosis was thorough and not confusing at all. The prices were reasonable, and when they needed more time then promised to complete the work, they provided a rental car free of charge! This business is doing things right! It is so hard to find reliable, trustworthy mechanics. Look no further and have confidence leaving your vehicle at CSAI!! read more

This place is great I always get my Benz serviced here instead of Benz dealer. The owners are great people I know them personally. I also went to school here for my smog license. I recommend this place to everyone I know read more

CSAI Auto Service - The cars on lifts - Smog Check Stations Near Me - Riverside, California

My husband had issues with his car not starting. Auto club recommended this shop. So glad we decided to go to this shop. It was a pleasure meeting Brittany. She was friendly and professional. Since we didn't have an appointment and it's Friday, she said our car may not be done until Monday. Brittany informed us later in the day and said we may have our repair completed by the end of the day. Awesome!! Upon pick up we meet one of the owners. She was so friendly and offered Italian ice to me and my kids. My kids were happy campers. I would recommend this shop for any car services. If I ever need car services, i would definitely come back. Prompt, professional, good prices, friendly staff!! read more

I took my car in to be repaired. I was told that I needed an alternator belt a pulley and a mount for my 2006 Mini Cooper. I received a bill and they marked up the price of the pulley which initially was $236 they marked it up to $490. I was able to see the actual price they paid because they included it on the invoice that was sent to me. So when I called him out on doubling the price of what they pay for the part they took off $90. Ultimately I ended up paying 700 plus dollars to repair those parts. Non the less a few days later I hear this noise on the same side of the car that they repaired, so I took the car back to CSAI. I was then told that the strut mount on my car was broken and that they would fix it for $1,200 but when I took my car there initially it was never the strut mount. The owner told me when I asked him how come that sound is coming from the same side of the car that you made the repairs on and I questioned the manner in which they replaced the alternator and the other parts on my car initially. I was told by the owner that they did not have to remove the tire in order to put the pulley on the mount on and the alternator belt and that they just had to turn the tire as far as they could turn it. Subsequently resulting in CSAI breaking my strut mount. I spoke with the owner of the shop regarding my concerns and his nonchalant attitude told me that he didn't care either way and denied any liability in causing further damage to my car. I just want to put it out there that I was referred to and towed to CSAI by AAA, and I have also be filing a claim with AAA regarding the questionable work ethics of CSAI auto shop. I would never recommend that anyone goes to this auto body shop because you definitely will be getting ripped off blatantly. read more

What a great place. Finally some good people with good intentions in the automotive repair industry! Patricia is fantastic, they stayed opened over an hour after closing to fix my van so I could work the next day. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this place, love the positive attitude and honesty here!! read more

Really nice service. All mechanics are super friendly and helpful :) I am in love with the receptionists and the mechanics here :)

Very bad. They found one problem then charged for it. Before they repaired it, they found another problem and charged again, then they found a third problem and wanted to charge for it. I said stop, no more money for this bottomless hole. read more

These people did something to my husband's truck to cause it to run worse than what it did when brought here. A lady in charge by the name of Patricia told my husband to have the truck towed back down here being that when we got the truck home last night and it wouldn't start. This Patricia lady assured my husband that she would pay for the towing and make sure the truck was in working order. Before bringing the truck back down my husband called Patricia who in turn assured my husband that she would be responsible for the towing fees. Well when we get here with the truck another man by the name of well he said he was the owner and he didn't agree to what Patricia had originally told him. To make a long story short they don't want to pay for the towing nor do they want to fix their f,,,k up as what was originally stated. I am getting an attorney and reporting these scam artist to the better business Bureau for their shady dealings. I do not recommend this place to no one. As far as your comment Jonathan, you never inspected my husband's starter so it looks like you still lying. You are an excellent liar but you can't get out of the horrible service you provided, you guys screwed up my husband's starter deliberately in hopes to get more money out of him for something you guys screwed up. You screwed up the bolts on the starter and you refuse to take responsibility for it.My husband stated to you he replaces his own starters he's good at that, your workers broke the bolt off on his srarter, then you throw out a scenario that someone may have come by in the night to steal the starter and broke the bolt...how absurd is that. You're a liar and a crook just face the facts. But guess what? God don't like ugly and He's watching. As far as the tow you should have paid for it because lying ass Patricia said that the towing would be paid by your facility. The truck was there for 4 days with no issue with the starter. There's nothing you can say because you are a liar and a cook and you give horrible service. Again I would not recommend these crooks. read more

CSAI Auto Service - Upon completion of repairs my husband's truck running worse than it was when it was brought here. - Smog Check Stations Near Me - Riverside, California