Tuesday after Labor Day, 100 degrees, Expertec is two technicians short ( what??? people calling in sick after a holiday??‍) And 19 appointments. My oil and air in tires are low.! Gary, the manager, personally added oil and had a lovely young man who was, of course, sweating, added air to my tires. This is the great service this location of Expertec provides. Normally, it's preferable to make an appointment and Mike will drive you home or to the office AND pick you up when your car is ready. I have never had such good service anywhere! Of course, I highly recommend Expertec Costa Mesa! read more

I've come here twice and have been happy with the service. Mostly because my car is returned to me within a decent timeframe. I was going somewhere else prior and they would keep my car the entire day for a basic oil change. The first time I came after having my car serviced elsewhere and heard an odd sound when I got it back. I asked ExperTec if they could get my car back to me by the end of the day and they weren't sure, however I did get my car back within a few hours. I think they're priced fairly compared to other places in the area. I like that they're open on weekends too. I'm not a mechanic by any means but I'm also super wary of being taken advantage of which happens almost every where I go. I will say they did tell me my car passed their inspection then tried to recommend a bunch of services I'd had done recently. They didn't push me to get them or try to scare me into thinking my car was going to explode if I didn't do the recommended services lol. I've recommended this place to a couple people and they've been happy too so I think they're pretty good overall. read more

Came here to drop off my Jetta -- been coming here for years, they are HONEST. In the age of AI and all the bells and whistles , you yearn for authenticity and old school environment where word is your bond This is that place. I've known Gary for over a decade - the culture in this company is one that fosters long term Employees like Gary who love to work there I'll only service my cars here read more

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Located steps from 19th St on the northbound side of Newport Blvd, you cannot miss the ExperTec Automotive building in blue. My car registered was due and I saw a great deal on an ExperTec mailer for a smog check for under $54 with electronic certificate to the DMV. Since I had such a wonderful experience with the ExperTec in HB for my mom's 1989 Toyota Camry, I decided to give CM a chance. My appointment call was always answered by Jose. He was professional, informative & took all three of my calls either making/moving my smog appointments. He was accommodating and patient with my schedule changes, which I appreciated. This time, I was 20 mins late right before lunch so I asked if I could just leave my car. He said it was fine. The parking lot was full when I arrived which is a testament of how busy the shop is. I was able to grab a spot as a customer left. I was immediately greeted by Mike who was impressed with my reverse parking skills. He also super sweet to my dog, Finn. The waiting room is large and clean. It has a nice peaceful feeling with a nice sofa, coffee table, refreshments such as coffee, bottled water & Keurig coffee. They even offer popcorn with a variety of popcorn salt. Today, Jose checked me in. Not sure if it was those schedule changes, but he wasn't as friendly. He was definitely accommodating so I honestly cannot complain. I was late & he was professional all the way through. Mike offered courtesy shuttle for drop off/pickup, but I wanted to enjoy the sun and get some exercise with my dog. I left my car and was called back within an impressive 80 minutes. Did the mechanics take a lunch? That was so fast! My dog Finn and I walked back to the shop. We waited a bit before being attended to by Gary. He had an awesome upbeat energy as he checked me out. He let me know the smog certificate was already electronically transmitted to the DMV. I noticed there was a steady stream of customers, so this shop seemed to be well loved and I can see why. The value of this smog check is unbeatable with that Value-Pak coupon. Highly recommended for Smog Checks. read more

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I've had my car's oil change from here twice now! Costs around $40 for a oil change Based on findings from their detailed inspection, I decided to also get my car's engine and cabin air filters replaced. Both times I was able to drop my car off and pick it up a couple hours later. I appreciate the coupons they send in the mail...that might have been how I found them in the first place! read more

I brought my car in today for both a scheduled service and an electrical repair. I appreciate that the repair was completed on time, and overall I am satisfied with the quality of the work performed by the technicians. However, I would like to provide some feedback regarding my experience at the front desk. When I spoke with one of the receptionists, Jose (if I recall his name correctly), I felt that he was not as courteous and welcoming as I expected. He appeared very stressed and overly serious during our interaction, which made me feel somewhat uncomfortable as a customer. I understand that the workplace can be busy and demanding, and I do not intend this as a personal criticism. I simply wanted to share my experience in the hope that customer service interactions can be more friendly and approachable in the future. Thank you for your attention and for the work done on my vehicle. read more

Gary is the best! He does honest work with honest prices. One of the very few good mechanic shops around. He genuinely cares and takes good care of your vehicle. Highly recommend Gary at expertec. read more

I have been going to ExperTec Automotive in Costa Mesa the last 5 years for my Toyota Corolla. I have usually been very satisfied with their service which had provided fair rates and reasonable recommendations. Recently, I had some concerns about some services I had gotten on my car. I decided to follow up on a follow up message I had received from Gary McMann, I believe the manager there. I explained my concerns to him. He responded quickly with a very agreeable and satisfactory outcome! I find this kind of personal customer assistance, given by a manager, to be very rare in this day and age. I continue to be one of their loyal and satisfied customers. read more

I cannot recommend ExperTec Automotive highly enough. Anna and Gary are just great people who are trustworthy and amazing. From start to finish, they were professional, reliable, and thorough. They took the time to explain the issues with my vehicle clearly and provided honest recommendations without ever making me feel pressured. Their attention to detail and commitment to quality work are unmatched. Every repair was done efficiently and correctly the first time, giving me complete confidence in my vehicle's safety and performance. Beyond their technical expertise, the team is friendly, responsive, and genuinely cares about their customers. Overall, ExperTec Automotive delivers exceptional service with integrity and skill. I will continue to trust them with all my automotive needs and highly recommend them to anyone seeking a dependable and honest mechanic. read more

The over charge and had questionable work done on my car where I have to question if they actually did the work. Had to take car to dealership to fix what they didn't fix and got charged for. Will never come here again especially for oil changes read more

The gang at Expertec approach my car repair as if the car belonged to there son or daughter... find the problem (s), fix so that safety and reliability is critical, and charge a fair price. Thank you Gary! read more

Neither Expert, Nor Tec. On November3,2025, I brought my 2010 Toyota Prius to ExperTec Automotive to remove a spinning lug nut on the driver's front wheel. After spending approximately four hours on the job, the shop was unable to remove the lug nut. They charged me $222.18 for labor despite the fact that the issue was not resolved. The invoice clearly states: "One lug is spinning on the driver front. Spent 4 hours on it trying to remove it. Customer was informed that he could pay additional labor to keep at it, or pay for time already and pick it up." When I asked what it would take for completion the sales person said it could be $600-$800 more. After retrieving my vehicle, I was forced to solve the issue myself. Following advice to use cobalt drill bits, I was able to remove the lug nut completely in under 20 minutes. This proves that the shop's failure and exorbitant time spent was due to improper tooling and technique, not the inherent difficulty of the job. The mechanic, a nice young man named Scott, acknowledged to me that his bits were dull and that new cobalt bits would have made the job successful. I felt for him and gave him the cobalt drill bits I bought wishing him future success. Details of Interaction with Management: After completing the repair myself, I returned to ExperTec to request a refund. The front‑office staff initially attempted to process one but their POS system failed. I then spoke with GaryMcMann, the General Manager. Mr.McMann stated that he had to pay his mechanic for the three hours worked and that "the progress [his mechanic] made was what made it possible for you to drill through in 19minutes." He went on further to say that they "had to get my car off their rack, it was taking too much time." I disagreed with that assertion -- their work did not help me. The lug nut issue was completely unresolved when I began. My own work and tooling, not theirs, achieved the result. Mr.McMann offered a 50% refund ($111.09) as a compromise. I declined, as I believe paying any amount for an uncompleted and improperly executed repair is unjust. Basis of Complaint I was charged for non‑performance -- the service I paid for (removal of the lug nut) was not completed. ExperTec failed to use appropriate tools or techniques and the mechanic admitted their drill bits were too dull. No value was provided; I had to research the problem, purchase the correct tools (cobalt drill bits), spend my own time, and complete the job myself. The manager's justification ("I have to pay my mechanic") is not a valid reason to bill the customer for a failed attempt. No written disclosure or estimate was provided stating that I would be charged full labor for an unsuccessful repair attempt. Desired Resolution I am requesting a full refund of $222.18 for non‑performance of work. Alternatively, I request that the BAR review this shop's billing and repair practices to ensure compliance with California's standards of competent workmanship and fair dealing. read more

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I will never come here again nor will I ever recommend anybody to this place They must be under the false impression that people that live in the area have money coming out of their ass and would agree to pay $371 for a DIAGNOSTIC!!!!!!!!!! Gary was nice enough to take half off but still felt taken advantage of Horrible!!!!!!!!!! read more

I came to this shop based on a trusted referral from a good friend. Since 2020, I've been going to the same reliable mechanic, but after moving, the long distance made regular maintenance and emergency repairs difficult. I started looking for a trustworthy shop closer to home. While I did come across some honest mechanics, the prices were often too high, or the shops were too busy to take on a new customer. It was frustrating to face a car emergency--where my vehicle wouldn't even start--and be told the next available appointment was three weeks out. That's when I found ExperTec, thanks to my friend's recommendation. My car's issue had gotten worse by then, but I was relieved the moment I arrived. The location is convenient, and I was warmly welcomed by Ann, who immediately listened to my concerns and made me feel at ease. I was impressed to learn that they offer shuttle service to and from your home while your car is in the shop--and even provide a loaner car if needed. The level of customer service truly goes above and beyond. I want to thank Ann and Mike (the shuttle driver) for their patience and positivity during what was a pretty stressful experience. They helped soften the blow of the repair bill. As a woman, I've unfortunately had too many experiences where I felt taken advantage of at auto shops, so I was understandably hesitant. But Ann made sure I was informed every step of the way--explaining the repairs thoroughly, getting me the best price on parts, and even helping apply a discount. All charges were discussed and approved before anything was done, and I truly felt like my car was in honest, capable hands. I'll definitely be back--hopefully just for oil changes! Thank you, ExperTec, for your outstanding service and for serving the Costa Mesa community. You've earned a new loyal customer. - Renee (Mercedes 2018 GLA 250 54k miles.) read more

If you have anxiety... this isn't the place for you. I got the $40 oil change coupon in the mail. I know it's going to cost more because my car uses synthetic blend but it won't be that much more, maybe $20-25. So I drive over and pull into the driveway and there is no place to park. So I sit in my car and try to look for signs on where to park or what to do really. There are no signs. I'm looking to the two technicians to say something and they don't so I get out and they tell me to go to the office. They have no idea if they're busy or anything. I have to go and ask. I bring in my coupon and let him know my car is probably more since it's synthetic and he says "Yup $80 bucks." And doesn't wanna give me a deal or anything so I drove to Midas next door and paid $60 for Full Synthetic. read more

Booked an appointment for and oil change and smog check, about 10 minutes after checking in at the front counter a commercial van shows up, skips the line forcing everybody else to have to wait. when I asked Gary about it he straight lied to my face. Have been coming here for years, will not be returning and will recommend everyone I've sent here to do the same. read more

I have been taking my 2015 Kia Optima to Expertech in Costa Mesa area for years -- mostly for oil changes. Today, I had an appointment scheduled, only to receive a text message from their manager, Gary, canceling my appointment and informing me they would no longer accept any future requests for service. His reason? Because after they performed their inspection reports, I sometimes chose to have other repairs done elsewhere. Let's be clear: It is not my responsibility as a customer to blindly accept overpriced repair quotes, especially when I can find the same work done at significantly lower rates. That's called smart consumer behavior. Instead of valuing my repeat business for routine maintenance, they punished me for exercising my right to shop around. This kind of "all-or-nothing" customer policy is petty, short-sighted, and unprofessional. A good business earns your trust and loyalty -- it doesn't demand it as a condition of service. If you value fair pricing, professionalism, and basic customer respect, I suggest taking your business elsewhere. In my experience, there are far better options nearby who won't hold your spending choices against you. Final thought: Any shop that can't compete on price or value will eventually lose customers -- cutting them off for going elsewhere only speeds up that process. read more

ExperTec Automotive - message from manager - Auto Repair Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Needed tire pressure sensors and was quoted $800, but $400 if I purchased 4 new tires. Tires were several years old with only 25K on them and were purchased from Expertec. Car is garage kept and clearly did not need new tires. I took car to another shop which did the sensors for $400 without new tires. They literally laughed out loud when I told them Expertec wanted to sell me 4 new tires. Before this episode I had been a regular customer and pretty satisfied with Expertec, but this time the service rep (a younger guy) was clearly trying to rip me off. Never going back. read more

I had a difficult vehicle to find parts for and to work on. Jose and team worked to find all of the parts and installed them expertly in a very short amount of time. I greatly appreciated the communication, professionalism, and the honesty and integrity of this business. I would highly recommend them to anyone with any type of vehicle foreign or domestic. read more

Good service and honest people especially the manager. I'm highly satisfied with the service they provide to me.. read more

Professional. Thorough. Great people. Expensive. Knowledgeable. I need 85 charactes so....

This is like the apple of auto shops. They are knowledgeable, efficient, and professional. They were able to email me reports on the tests they did on my car and explain them to me. I had a complicated situation and the manager was incredible at taking care of my needs. Jose also extremely kind and helpful. I will be returning here. read more

I called to make an appointment for an oil change, but unfortunately they don't do oil changes with your own oil and filter anymore. I was planning to do all my maintenance and repairs here, but now I have to look for another place. read more

There's a reason these guys are always rated number 1 in the area. They do great work and are always fairly priced. Gary is the man, and will take care of you, regardless of what you need and he won't sell you something you don't need. I take business and personal cars to them, and have not yet been disappointed. read more

In phoning this establishment my husband was told they were a "Porsche" shop. When he got to premises he was told they service all cars. By phone he was promised oil change would be complete in 2 hrs if he got there by 8 a.m. When he arrived before 8 a.m. he was told he could pick up car some time in the afternoon. He demanded better and got better timing. When he picked up car, the mechanic inadvertently left car key in his pocket - my husband had to go back to get key. Further, mechanic didn't turn off "service needed" indicator so my husband had to return another day for that service. First mechanic did not know how to do it; a second mechanic on premises had to be sought out to turn off "service needed" indicator. They are not what they say they are. read more

So disappointing! We have been bringing our cars here for years and referring friends since they first opened. Not anymore! My daughter took her car in because the maintenance required light was on. They told her it needed a new battery at a cost of almost $700! BTW...battery is not dead...still has 30% left...according to Gary. We advised her to say "no thank you" to this ridiculous estimate and to go get her car. He then charged her $177 for the diagnosis. Such a ripoff! He prayed on a young girl who didn't know the cost of things. (Costco guys had a good laugh) What happened to you Gary? When did you guys get like this...when did it change? I should have known last year when you tried to charge my other daughter a ridiculous price for breaks. She left and got a better price at the dealer!!! When does that happen?!?! I have recommended your shop to so many people. Regrets! I now have some calls to make. Never again! read more

Best service In HB . My Transmission went out on my 1995 C4 feels like a brand new car .Krista Van Dyke Hands down Best Service writer in the OC !! read more

ExperTec Automotive - Auto Repair Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I got an oil change that included brake inspection and tire rotation. They not only did that, but included a list of maintenance items to look after. They have the best price for this service and they don't hard sell you anything. The appointment system works well and they are prompt to check your car in. If they need to keep your car for awhile, they can drop you off and pick you up at your house. The staff is very helpful and pleasant! read more

Fast & efficient with friendly service. I've used Expertec twice and both times had great experiences. Staff is easy to talk to and make sure to explain things to the customer so that they understand the work being done and things to think about for the future. Also appreciated they threw in a couple little extras that took them only a few minutes but would have taken me much longer! Definitely coming back again. read more

The folks at Expertec are probably the most trusted service people I've ever worked with - and with as much as we all drive and as expensive as cars are getting, it's one of the most valuable relationships we can all have. This is my second time writing a review for Expertec in Costa Mesa, and I've been a customer for nearly 7 years. I have since left the area and now live inland, and I have struggled with trying to find a new mechanic - the reality is, Gary and the owner of Expertec, along with their excellent staff and technicians, are a Diamond in the ruff repair shop - I know, because I have looked elsewhere! Now living deeper into OC, I make the commute and make sure I come to Costa Mesa for both of our Japanese cars (2006 Infiniti and 2009 Acura MDX), which are both TIP TOP and drive wonderfully. This morning we found some oil on our driveway due to another botched franchise fast oil change job on our Acura SUV (I would blame my wife, but this is a public review, not sure who took the car elsewhere... ), and without making an appointment I came into see Gary and Rodger (quite frustrated) - Gary immediately grabbed my keys, took the car outback, made a fix within 45 minutes, called me to tell me to pick it back up (I was as the gym, couldn't believe he was finished), and he didn't even charge me for the fix!!! He was able to save my aluminum oil pan and fix a stripped oil drain bolt, in less than an hour (with some very clever thinking). This is why I keep coming back every time to Expertec over the years - I've had shops tell me everything, "I need a new tranny, rear seal leak", I've even had the dealer replace spark plugs only to find out from Expertec that they were never changed. This is an honest, reputable, and high end neighborhood shop that we love, and they prove it every time I take it in. I have even brought in estimates and recommendations from other shops, where they prove the fixes weren't needed, or, have a more logical and technical solution for what the car needs. So friends, today, If I took this to anyone else, I am SURE I would have had to pay for an oil discovery fee, oil die, new gaskets, new pan, new oil drain plug bolt, and probably would have been in the hole for $1800. If you need an amazing shop, who offer warranties on their work, do an amazing shop, who you can TRUST to just take care of your vehicles over the years, this is it! Thanks so much to the Expertec folks for always saving my behind, my time, and my money! read more

These guys are honest, friendly, and fair. They worked fast to get my car taken care of and were able to resolve a problem that other mechanics I took it to wouldn't touch. I'll definitely be trusting them with my business in the future. read more

I found this repair shop 3 years ago when i moved to Orange County. I was new to the area area didn't know who to trust. They were honest and didn't treat me like a "dumb female". I just recently went to the shop to get my headlights aligned. Gary, the manager is so friendly, he right away took the car in and i waited less than a half hour and the car was done. He was also able to save me $$, which is always appreciated. The entire crew at this shop are wonderful. I will always come to this shop first unless they recommend otherwise. Thank you Gary and the guys, Top Shelf customer service!!! read more

My feedback is all of you guys, Gary, Josh, Roger and the techs that worked on my truck are a great, hard working polite team. I stayed in the lobby the whole time my truck was worked on and I have to say I felt comfortable, safe with the trust from Gary and Rodger who kept me updated throughout. They are a little pricey but nevertheless great and well worth it. I do want to also thank you for adjusting my front bumper as well and at N/C! I'll be returning soon, gotta save up Thanks again, Juls read more

These are the greatest mechanics in Orange County!! They've been taking care of my Honda CRV, SUV for 10 years, I won't take it anywhere else! They are like my "doctor mechanics" and they check everything whenever I go in!! My car is a 2013 and it runs great. Race to Expertec, you'll be glad you did!! Thanks Gary for taking such great care of all my automotive needs!! I"m a customer for life!! And great value on pricing, specials, coupons, they do it all!! read more

Was extremely impressed with the professionalism, the fair assessment of what I needed to have done, and the speed at which they completed it for me. It is definitely a place I would recommend. read more

I cannot stress enough how brilliant this company is!!!! I thought I was going to cry all the way home it took me 3 hours to get AAA and when they finally came the guy was so awesome! Also what was even better is I went to my local auto center JC autos who also rocks and when he couldn't fix it he said don't worry I know who can and sent me over to expert tech. Even the AAA Guy new JC and the people at expert tech it was quite literally the best experience I've ever had with a broken vehicle. This is coming from someone who spent all night in the car crying cuz I couldn't change the tire my we have come a long way and I am so happy that these guys are in our neighborhood!!!! read more

ExperTec Automotive - Auto Repair Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I walked in at 10am, and my 2012 Kia Soul was ready at 2:30pm. They fixed the dreaded Electric Power Steering issue, and if you know what a pain that is to fix, you understand. (Remove steering column, etc, etc) Gary and the team are great. First class service. Even got a free shuttle ride home. read more

Needed an oil change and to have my car looked at just to make sure it was in good shape to drive across the county... dropped my car off and asked to discuss pricing before they did ANY work. contacted three hours later and quoted me 2k dollars for a leaking radiator, windshield wipers and air filters and oil change. I declined service and said I'd pick up my car for another opinion. When I picked it up, they had already done the oil change (which I didn't agree to). And somehow the price changed to $1,100 just to do the minimum work necessary (radiator) to make sure it was safe for the long drive... Ummmm... so you charge $900 for air filters and wipers? I took it to another place down the street that was recommended to me. They did a great job and took car of the radiator, wipers and air filters for $850. Everyone here was really nice, but the prices are kind of a joke. read more

As always, ExperTec has provided me with great customer service! Work done on both of my vehicles is top quality along with good value and much appreciated. read more

I've been going to ExperTec Automotive for 3 years. They have always been helpful, reliable and awesome! They take me home and pick me up once my car is ready. They have been a constant for my car and I trust them with it. Thank you guys! read more