This is a little late, but I wanted to share my experience with Gary's Auto Service when they helped me out in a real jam. My passenger-side brake assembly would not come off no matter what I tried. I called for a quote, and the rest is history! They did a fantastic job getting everything taken care of quickly and professionally. On top of that, they noticed my serpentine belt was cracking and fixed it as well, saving me from a bigger issue down the road. If you're looking for a GREAT mobile mechanic service, call Jose at Gary's Auto Service. Highly recommend! read more

When others shops had a large wait time to look at my car, i was recommended to Garys. Jose was great, he was able to come out right away to diognose my car. He was very thorough, and his quote for repair was also lower than expected. Also Jose bieng a mobile service and able to come to me was very convenient. read more

FYI: Gary sold the business. Ownership under Gary 5. Ownership under Jose 0. It saddens me that this repair shop service, communication, turnaround, honesty, and decent value has been lost. I cannot continue to support this small business going forward. Perhaps feedback of multiple customer failed services from José will allow them to grow, improve, and gain customer satisfaction in the future. read more

The repair was done properly, and the staff explained the problem clearly. Prices were fair compared to other shops I've tried. The only thing I'd improve is faster communication about when the car would be ready. read more

I've been going to Gary's Auto service for years. I keep going back because they are fair and they go out of their way to do right by their customers. read more

The most honest mechanic I have ever been to. Gary and his team set the standard. Very thankful to have such an honest shop in East County!

I just wanted to make the best recommendations for these guys! I Had my Step side ramp installed from them and they did an Amazing job, and plus the price for the quality of work and customer service they put in is beyond comparable. I will definitely be coming back for more projects I would like to do for my 2022 Toyota Hignlander XLE Hybrid. Jose, Opened up early to accommodate my appointment installation and did an amazing job on top of it! Thank you read more

I brought my car in for brake repairs, and they got it done the same day, which was great. The price was reasonable, and the guy at the counter explained exactly what they replaced. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars is because they forgot to call me when the car was ready, so I had to check myself. read more

Still livid over the thousands of dollars we spent. Nothing but constant excuses as to why it wasn't fixed. They refused to stand by their work. Don't take your car here!! read more

It's hard to find a honest mechanic and Gary is one. I brought in my son's car and Gary told me he actually didn't need anything done instead of saying I needed like a new mystery part. Very reasonable and recommend read more

A very well ran shop. Owners are trustworthy and heavily involved in making sure you are taken care of. I take my truck and my wife's car to them for any service. read more

Sincerely disappointed. Thought that I had found a new auto shop that I could trust, and instead caught them trying to lie to me about costly services. I have been going there to get oil changes and regular maintenance, which for the most part has been smooth and worry free. On my third time in, I was told I needed new brakes on my front tires that would cost all in around $550. This felt like a high estimate, and they didn't show pictures of the low brakes when I asked them for it, so I went to get second and third opinions. Both other shops told me my brakes were fine and had another 20,000 miles left, and provided pictures. Then I had to recheck again with another company after these guys told me they were dangerously low, and the other company said they were still very fresh. The third opinion told me the same thing and that these guys were trying to pull a fast one. The two other companies also told me that the service should cost half as much. Not sure why these guys would lie to me, maybe they felt I wouldn't have realized, but now that I have sent friends to them, I feel obligated to tell people to not go here for anything other than an oil change. Sad that I trusted them as a family owned and operated store, gave them the benefit of the doubt, and would've given them my business for the future, and instead they tried to pull a fast one on me and lost multiple customers. :/ read more

There should be an option for no stars. I have a 1972 GMC pickup truck that Gary has worked on before. I was a little worried that Gary wasn't there. I thought I would give the new owner a try. I brought my truck in for an oil leak. It turned out to be the rear main seal. They suggested a few other things to seal the engine. They said I needed a new oil pan, they couldn't find one & never informed me they didn't replace it. They had the truck for , 2.5 weeks. I went to pick it up & paid $1456 for the repais. I got into the truck & it barely started. The steering was very hard, I thought a tire was flat. Turns out they forgot to refill the power steering fluid. Also, I was informed they broke my vintage mirror pulling it in to the lift. The worker claimed he took it for a test drive, no way he could have steered it. He also stated it didn't start for him. They drove it around back, popping the clutch & grinding the gears. They replaced the starter under warranty. This was on Tuesday August 26th. They cashed my check that day even though I didn't get my truck that day. I returned on Friday August 29th to get the truck. I drove it home, I live in Santee. I drove it to recycle cans at the landfill on Saturday morning, when I got home I noticed it was still leaking oil. I took the truck back on Tuesday September 2nd. I asked for my money back. They said they needed to look at it. I said why would I let you look at it, you didn't fix it the first time & I don't trust them, they don't know how to drive it & broke something. I took it to another shop & they have to redo everything Gary's did. Gary won't refund my money. I told him I would take him to court & he said fine , you won't win. They should have informed me they have no idea how to work on an old truck. It's been a month & even though Gary promised to pay for replacement mirrord I have seen no money! DO NOT GO TO THIS SHOP!! read more

Disrespectful of a customers time and property! I made an appointment to have the coil over shocks adjusted and front end aligned. I talked to the mechanic and explained what had to be done. The shop had installed the coil over shocks and springs in 2019 and had done a very good job. The springs had settled since 2019 and the tires were now rubbing when turning a corner. I kept my appointment arriving early. Michelle was at the front counter . The mechanic was at the counter also. the mechanic asked if I had a spanner wrench to adjust the coil over springs. I did not and told him he better get one . At about 2 PM Gary, the owner called me. They had ordered a spanner wrench from Snap On and it would not be delivered until 3 PM. My car would have to be left overnight and the work done the following day. I had appointments all day the next day so I would come get my car. I would have the work done elsewhere. My car was still parked in the public parking lot out front of the shop. I had asked that the car be taken care of as I had a lot of money and time invested in my 1940 Ford Coupe show car. I understand Gary has sold the business and clearly his interests are no longer with his customers. I do not recommend this business. read more

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I took my 2016 Prius to Gary's for coolant disappearing. After two leak down tests a faulty head gasket was found to be the culprit. With 254k on the odometer the car had a good life and I came to collect the car and pay for the diagnoses and their time spent with it. Gary looked at me with a straight face and told me "no charge, I've given you enough bad news" and wouldn't take payment even though I insisted. Stand up guy and the new owner is equally as honest. Will be back for any future repair needs I have! read more

So glad I found Gary's auto shop on Yelp! I needed my engine air filters changed out. The dealership was going to charge an arm and leg. I YouTube how to do it myself but it looked a little time consuming and I was being very optimistic! Decided, nah! I'll call Gary and see what he charges to put new ones in. Thank god I did! He charged half the price and I was in and out less 30 mins! Again, always love supporting my local businesses! Thanks again Gary and his team! You guys are awesome! read more

I just came from Gary's. It was my first time there. They offer the three things everyone looks for in a repair shop: 1. The service was fast. My small repair was same-day, while I waited. 2. The service was cost-friendly. 3. The staff is even friendlier. That is probably the most friendly service I have ever had. thank you, Gary's you may be my new go-to shop. read more

Had to take my car back 3 times for them to fix my brakes correctly, which is 3 times more than I should of had to. Without a doubt would NOT recommend to anyone. EDIT: Owner replied, saying they have no record of my visit. This comment is false. read more

Not sure what happened to my first review, but I'll write another, I was coming here for years, then this place went to hell. It would take several visits and trips to figure out what was wrong with my truck, often returning my truck unfixed. He'd tell me "we don't chase noises" then wtf you have a shop for. Then I'd ask about getting an oil change, they'd never have any time for those and excuse after excuse. Spent good money there to get half ass service and truck not fixed. FOH with this place. read more

I've owned 7 cars. I've run into problems and dealt with mechanics like we all do. I'm SO impressed with Gary. My boyfriend has brought his car a few times, and he's quick and honest and has very fair prices. Today my son took his car in because he thought the brakes were bad. Turns out it's the nature of the type of brakes that are on the jetta to make the noise he was hearing. No charge. I'm sure we will be coming back from chula vista whenever we need a fantastic mechanic!!!! read more

UPDATE: after i posted my original review, Gary reached out to me and offered to refund the brake and rotor replacement. I very much appreciated his taking this step to remedy a bad experience! Do not bring your luxury car here for any sort of repairs or service! I have a fairly new Lexus RC350 that needed new front brakes. Gary assured my husband he could do the work so we brought the car to him. He replaced them but within three days, the brakes were screeching and squealing like metal on metal. I took it back to Gary's as he said he would replace them again. Exact same thing happened. At that point, Gary essentially shrugged and said he couldn't do anything more. The noise from the brakes was so bad that my car was practically un-drivable. I ended up taking my car to a certified Lexus repair shop and they had to replace the brakes and rotors. They told me Gary had installed cheap, Chinese rotors that were not appropriate for my car and actually could have caused damage if I had continued driving with them. They were able to replace them with appropriate parts and my car is now great, but no thanks to Gary's. Maybe I should have looked for a Lexus auto shop to begin with, but we trusted Gary when he said he could do the work properly. I spent more than $700 at his shop and ended up worse off than when I brought my car in. Do not trust this shop with any sort of high end car. This would have been one star but previously, they did an okay job replacing sensors on my husband's 10-year old Mazda, but that in no way makes up for the fact that they did such a horrible job with my car. read more

1st visit: I brought my truck in because of a rumble in the front end, after the mechanic drove it he insisted it needed a new hub. $800 later...still rumbles 2nd visit: Was told It was the other hub as well. $1100 later....still a rumble and the problem got worst 3rd visit: Insisted after a test drive and shake down that it was all the joints in the front end and steering ...estimate $2800 While the truck was in possession of Gary all-of-a sudden they say the truck is having multiple transmission issues and pouring fluid everywhere. Every time I bring my truck in it becomes worse then the last The truck stayed with Gary 1 week and when it was time for pickup ...on the test drive the truck rode horribly worst than ever with violent shaking. Rightfully so I was upset I'm about to be $5,000 in the hole for a truck not fixed ... Gary at every turn made excuses for all inconsistencies and concerns throughout this process, and after he was caught in a bad spot and after telling me the tires were the problem he Finally owned up to the multiple and costly mistake and waved the $2700 and let us have all the parts....That was not the intention of us and if he had spoke to us instead of literally running to the back getting in a car and driving away after we made it known we wanted to speak further ,my spouse and I would have liked to pay for all the parts If Gary would have taken responsibly for the labor loss from his mechanics mistakes.... With the truck pouring transmission fluid we took the shaking truck to a place more equipped..... Garys at one time may have been a trustworthy business but, after talking with someone else that had the same problems with the same mechanic it's very clear Gary has some people working for him that are giving his business a bad name...I think Gary is a good guy and was put in a bad spot because of subpar employees. read more

Was looking for a place to get the mufflers on my Charger replaced with some aftermarket ones. Found Gary's on Yelp and I can see now why this place is rated so highly. I explained what I needed done and he said it wouldn't be a problem and to come in. Went in the next day and he outlined what would need to be done to the car before they could install the new mufflers, which I knew. Was there for about maybe 2 hours which was more than reasonable. Worked out great and the car sounds absolutely fantastic! His price for labor and parts (needed some small custom pipe extensions) was on the higher end of what I was quoted at other places but the work he did was fantastic. I for sure will be coming back if I need more exhaust work done, or pretty much anything else for that matter! read more

Never disappoints, direct and to the point and focuses on the the solution and the best financial approach to ensure all major issues get tended to first. Been here several times and trust Gary as well as his crew to keep my car in good health. :-) read more

SO STOKED: Best mechanic ever for any car, including classics! Totally honest, fair, reasonable, and friendly. I am so thankful to Mike at Gary's Auto for fixing my rebuilt 1971 Ford Maverick. It had been sitting for a while and wouldn't start, but he got it purring better than ever at no time at all and little cost. Other shops said I needed a full engine rebuild and wouldn't work on it otherwise, but Mike got it screaming by using his expert mechanic/engine skills to uncover simple issues. Prior to this shop, I couldn't find anyone who could help, so I'm stoked on finally finding my lifelong mechanic. Mike also takes the time to talk to you and explain everything, so you never feel rushed or overlooked. I was so depressed walking by my broken-down Maverick, and now I am stoked. No leaks--not even a drip. THANK YOU!!! read more

I can't speak highly enough of Gary's AS. This shop was recommended to me by another auto vendor that was also very highly respected. I've had three vehicles serviced and repaired here and they always talk straight and give great result's. If you want peace of mind that your vehicle is taken care of and you're being treated fairly this is the place. read more

The people here are absolutely amazing! I've never felt so cared for in an auto shop! Not only have my needs been met, but I feel like I now have a lifelong mechanic I can trust! read more

Gary does a good job and you can tell he cares for his customers. He doesn't over recommend things that don't need to be done.

Changed review to one star, due to complete lack of responsibility. Previous paint damage yes, but bumper was not completely hanging off on sides when brought into this shop. Nor was it split down the middle. I guess what we're saying now is that a bumper can have a one inch gap from fender, hanging from screws and crack down the middle- just because it decided to. read more

Been taking our vehicles here for ten years. Gary is honest and a great mechanic. He worked at a Honda dealership as a certified mechanic for years before opening his own shop. Always good prices and always fixed right the first time. Being a one man shop means he's not the fastest... Being excellent and well priced makes it worth the wait. read more

I love this place. As a woman who knows absolutely nothing about cars I often worry that I'm being taken advantage of when I take my car somewhere. After being here multiple times now I feel like they are always being completely honest and giving me fair good prices unlike other places I've been to in the past. I'm very happy I found this place and will be taking my car here for everything. read more

I have been taking my SUV to Gary's Auto Service for almost 2 years now. I could not be more grateful that I found a mechanic I can trust! Gary has always communicated with me regarding how long it will take to get my car back, his prices are fair, and most importantly he is an expert at what he does. I have a 2008 Toyota Rav4 with 130,000 miles on it. My vehicle is in wonderful shape because of Gary. I have so much peace of mind when it comes to taking my car in because I know Gary will be honest with me and I do not need to worry about being taken advantage of. I highly recommend using Gary's Auto Service as your mechanic - best decision you can make if you want to keep your vehicle in tip top shape. read more

Garys auto service is honest and thorough. The only thing he charge me was the hook up the computer to the pick up. Which is definitely a fair trade. I highly recommend and for any service that you need. read more

**Updated**Long story short I had asked him to replace 3 ignition coils in the back of my engine due to the amount of work required to replace them even though only one was broken (let it be known that at an earlier time he had recommended/agreed that we should replace all three) After all that when he returned the car to me he said he had only replace one and didn't bother replacing the others, even though I specifically stated that I wanted to replace all three. He also did some other work: replacing motor mounts, replacing power steering return line, as it was leaking, replacing valve cover gasket and an oil change (which was unsolicited but he did not charge me which was awesome) Gary himself was a nice friendly guy and very welcoming. The day after posting the review, Gary called and apologized about the situation and offered to put the ignition coils in for the price of parts and take a look at the missing bolt. read more

I hate going to the mechanic. I don't know anybody who says "i just love going to the mechanic" because that just means there is always something wrong with your car. I know nothing about cars and most mechanics I've been to know this and proceed to charge me way too much money for too little results. Gary's auto service is not like that. The few times I've been there, Gary was very friendly, very efficient, and explained what was wrong with my car in terms I can understand (think simple English). Prices are reasonable as well for the work I received on my car. I always hope my car makes it from point A to point B, but if anything untoward occurs, I know Gary will get my car fixed with honesty and integrity. Thank you Gary for restoring my faith in mechanics. read more

5 stars. An old pro. Just like I like five stars and with very fair prices Gary is the best read more

I went for an alignment and the car pulls to the left right away. Gary said there is no warranty on his work. I am out a hundred bucks.I think I rather look somewhere else not worth my time. read more

This place is amazing! After my old mechanic retired and closed its doors I was looking for a new reliable mechanic. In a world where words like trustworthy and reliable dont belong in the same sentence as the word mechanic, Gary and his team break the mould. Gary and his team were able to do all kinds of work on my truck. They got it done in a very short period of time and for a heck of a great price. Gary himself was very transparent about prices and what work needed to be done. On top of all of this, he called me every day to give me an update on the progress! Yes! If you love chaos, liars and high prices, dont go here. You wont be happy. If you love truthfulness, honest prices and a smile, this place is for you. read more

Very pleasant to work with. Gary was very upfront and even went so far as to print out documents and have me take them to the Ford dealership as the fix would be covered under warranty. Came back for wheel alignment + oil change and very reasonably priced. I will use Gary's auto for all my future needs. read more

Can't say enough nice things about Gary. He was patient and kind to a very uninformed car owner like myself and was incredibly accommodating to my work hours and fitting us in the week of Thanksgiving. Honest and fair, thanks Gary! read more