This is Tom. He is the proprietor of German Auto Repair in Arcata CA. He is one of those people who really know what their trade. 2005 Sprinter van suffered loss of turbo boost a long way from home. He had the failed plastic box on engine air intake line and delivered overnight and fixed the next morning. Bless people like this! read more

German Motors - Tom proprietor. - Auto Repair Near Me - Arcata, California

Moving my kid to school and needed to find him a trustworthy mechanic that I could feel comfortable with since he's away from home. We had experience some minor problems with his vehicle and I found German Motors on yelp and read some good reviews so I gave them a shot and I was happy I did. Jon and Mike treated my wife and I like old friends and helped us get our son's car repaired and feeling comfortable with using them as his mechanics while he's at school. The guys were really nice and helpful throughout our process and made it covenant for us to take care of his vehicle. read more

German Motors of Arcata is awesome! My daughter is a student at Cal Poly Humboldt and was having some issues with her car. From the moment I called the shop and spoke to Cameron I had a strong sense of trust and professionalism. They are professional, honest, and very knowledgeable. They explained everything clearly and didn't try to upsell me on things I didn't need. The repair was done quickly, the price was fair, and her car runs perfectly now. It's hard to find an auto shop you can truly trust, but this one definitely earned my confidence. I'll be coming back for any future service and highly recommend them to anyone looking for reliable auto repair. Thank you! read more

Reading the reviews I'm not the first to be scammed by the $300 diagnostic resulting in a "we can't fix it". Mine was a "You need to take it to a dealership service center, it's your only option." Fortunately for me it wasn't, they had misdiagnosed the problem entirely. When I had it repaired at a different local mechanic and returned with evidence of the actual problem and tried to get a refund, I was refused. I will never trust a car to these technicians again or trust the owner. read more

I've been taking my cars to German motors for many years and I've always been impressed with the great work they do. I also have so appreciated the friendliness and helpfulness of Tom and Jon. I would unreservedly recommend this shop. Today I called them because the key for my car had broken off from the electronic fob. Tom said bring it in and Jon would see if he could help. Jon painstakingly took the whole thing apart and with a great deal of patience fixed it for me. My car is a 2013 VW GTI so the fobs have changed since mine was made. This was a tricky process, but I now have a working key again. Thank you so much for your help Jon!! read more

I took my Mercedes 2500 sprinter to two different places and they couldn't smog it. German motors. Did it in an hour highly recommend

My fiancé and I came into town for our wedding and the first day our check engine light came on in my Mercedes! We called around and John got us in right away, diagnosed, and fixed it all within 24 hours. We were able to enjoy our wedding knowing we could get around. We highly HIGHLY recommend German Motors of Arcata. read more

I just wanted to thank John and his team at German Motors. My 19 year old daughter was on a road trip from Seattle to Indio, CA in her 2004 Jetti TDI. The car died at a near by gas station and we had it towed to German Motors and despite being booked out for several weeks they dropped everything and diagnosed the problem and got her back on the road. They did even charge her for the diagnosis. Thanks again!!!!!! read more

This is an accomplished business with expert mechanics who have integrity and service as their guiding principles. Had I known they service cars that are not German I would have been a long term customer by now. My hat is off to everyone who is a part of this garage. read more

Oil change $180. Small pick up truck. Thought they said $100 or $80 when I dropped it off. Nope $180. My bad for not clarifying.

Excellent service. Had a suspect battery in a VW GTI, and despite a 2 week wait for proper appointments, Jon told me to bring it by to check out. As soon as I walked in, he grabbed his diagnostics and went through a whole check. Turned out the battery was still healthy, and Jon refused to take any payment. Very nice, very professional; we will definitely be returning if/when we need real service. read more

Wrong diagnostic for $300, and $300 for new parts that didn't fix the problem... thanks a lot. And now Northbay Auto won't take me in to fix it because the owners/mechanics are buddies. But hey, maybe I dodged a bullet there. Thanks a lot John and Chad (Northbay Auto) read more

I have a 2010 Honda Pilot that has had ongoing problems and German Motors has been a godsend! They are so fast, patient and do amazing work that they fully back up! Wonderful place. I've posted a review before but, they deserve one every time they save me! read more

Absolutely great group of guys working here. Knowledgeable, hard working, friendly and great customer service. You feel like everyone takes pride in their work and wants you to be informed on everything they are doing and recommend. All my cars future needs will be done here for sure read more

Wonderful shop. Our wagon broke down on a road trip in Arcata and the gentlemen at German motors made it a priority to get us back out on the road. We were entirely at their mercy and they treated us with complete respect kindness. They were completely reasonable on the price always professional. Would always recommend German Motors of Arcata. Wish I had a shop this good in my neighborhood! read more

Easy, hassle-free experience and the people who work there are nice people. Got my smog test done there and will definitely be coming back for any future matenience. read more

First I did have a few experiences that were not all that stellar with these guys. And its really easy to just write off a business. But as a business owner myself I would appreciate to know why I was loosing a customer. See if I could fix it. Ely is one of the owners there and I had a honest heart to heart with him and he stepped up to the plate humbly and honestly felt bad for what I had been experiencing. I have always known them to be speedy, and forthright. While Mechanics can be shady. I feel Ely and his crew are a honest group of individuals trying to be the best they can. Its up to us as consumers to sometimes point out where we are not satisfied. I think sometimes we forget to have a honest conversation with business owners. I did not find their prices unreasonable. Just wanted what I paid for. And Ely made sure I got exactly that when I showed him my problem. Cheers to a good outcome and maintaining a relationship I had grown to respect, and mostly just for how awesome I felt it all went. I could not of had a better experience. I heart the crew at Arcata German Motors. read more

Thanks to German Motors, our N. Cal to Oregon trip was spared. They were the only shop we called that was open the Monday after the 4th of July. They were able to squeeze us into an already busy schedule and identified the issue quickly for our Touareg. In chatting with them, it was obvious they knew VWs. I've been to my share of "German repair" shops, but these guys were truly knowledgeable & went the extra mile for us. Extra stars given because even though they fit me in, they did not neglect their previously scheduled customers. read more

Three stars is too kind. I was a taught a few lessons from this place. I hope the place is as good now as these reviews say it is; my experience in the 1990s says otherwise. I'll skip the details to save time. Lessons? Ask around before visiting any local mechanic, especially when you're new in town and avoid potential threats or poor service like all the others before you. If you're a student on a budget and your car dies, save money: walk, bus, or bicycle. Don't expect apologies from an unprofessional business. read more

Unprofessional and uncool. My Honda Civic 2000 didn't sound good. My regular mechanic was unavailable so I took a chance on German Motors of Arcata. Their diagnosis cost $52, and the "repair" $291.85. The mechanic adjusted the valves, replaced the valve cover gasket, and said the spark plugs were worn out and so he replaced them. When I picked up the car, it still sounded the same: bad. But the mechanic said it was now fine and that he had uncanny hearing for car troubles. I drove it to my regular mechanic who took a quick look. The muffler had disconnected from the exhaust pipe. (The repair order, when I took the car to Leon's, read, "The rear muffler unit inlet pipe has rusted away and is broken.") Yes, I should have caught this myself, but am not a mechanic. I asked my mechanic his opinion. He said, "I'd call that a miss." I got it repaired at Leon's for $234.80. Then I checked my records. It had been less than 25,000 miles--and had been 19 or 20 months--since my regular mechanic had replaced the spark plugs, and tuned the motor, including adjusting the valves. German Motors' mechanic did redundant and unnecessary work (although I understand there are differences of opinion regarding mileage with spark plugs). Again, I should have checked on all this before taking the car to German Motors. I went back to German Motors to let them know about the muffler "miss." The man in the office apologized and said they'd try to help me out next time, give some sort of discount. It took me three years to go back again, waiting for a significant repair job, and skeptical of their work. Now I needed a new timing belt and water pump, PCV valve, fuel filter, and air filter. My regular mechanic had retired. North Bay Auto, across the street from German Motors, quoted me $700. German Motors quoted me $1,227 for the same work, and this was with a $50 "discount" offered by the owner when he had learned my story. (The original mechanic was no longer working there, so we didn't need to worry about his new bogus repairs.) I asked the man in the office about the huge price difference. He said they buy expensive parts. Everyone there was nice enough, but . . . Obviously, I got the work done at North Bay Auto. Had I received a comparable quote, I would have had German Motors do the job and wouldn't have written this review, and might have given them more work in the future. You decide where to take your car. read more

We were on a road trip and had broken down. Thanks to the amazing and efficient service at German Motors, our car was back on the road within three days. The fair pricing and friendly service was above anything we could have asked for. HIGHLY recommend this shop. read more

Beware! They charge way to much! I paid 6500.00 for a new longblock motor and not even 24 hours after leaving their shop it overheated and had to be towed. Car runs worse than when it first went to their shop. Tried to get a refund or at least a partial or even repair the damages they refused and claimed my car was just old and unrepairable. read more

I brought my car with the wiring harness chewed through by rodents. It was going to be a costly repair as the harness needed replacement as per insurance adjuster. However, these truly great folks were able to repair the harness!! nowadays mechanics just replace parts, but at German motors they went out of their way and made a high quality repair to my harness considerably lowering the bill. Their mechanic who did the work did a fantastic job. Needless to say I am a very very happy customer. Awesome service. read more

This business provides friendly and professional service with excellent customer care. I'll recommend German Motors to friends, and I'll be back again with my own vehicle. On top of everything else, when I picked up my vehicle I was pleasantly surprised that the bill was $50 less than anticipated. read more

I have been a customer here for about 9 years and have had major servie work as well as oil changes done. While the cost of an oil chage seems high, I really find that the little things that are inspected at the time of the oil change have saved me trouble down the road. I recommend this place to anyone with a VW. They even found an OEM hubcap for me. SIX STARS read more

This shop is very helpful. They have fixed my 81 diesel rabbit a couple times now and they have done so quickly and although it is $$$, it seems that they are honest and do a good job without "finding" extra things mechanics add to raise the bill. I appreciate the notes about the car on what they notice need to be fixed in the near future. The guys that work there are all REALLY nice...they have a clean and organized shop and sometimes there is good candy in the candy bowl. One thing I suggest is a drop box for keys so the tow truck driver can drop the key off with the car when the Rabbit stops hopping. read more

These guys do superior work, highly recommended. However, expect to wait a couple of weeks for an appointment as they have a loyal following and good reputation. Since there is no longer a VW dealer in Humboldt, this is probably your best option if you've got a newer German car. I had two newer TDI's over the course of 6 years, I pretty much had them do all the maintenance and repairs. read more

As a long time customer of 9 years I have lost all faith in German motors' abilities and professionalism. 4 sets of breaks in last year all because they could not determine (until the forth set) that one or more of the calipers was not releasing due to a failing break line. I told them time and again that the brakes felt terrible just after fixed but they said they were fine. Said it was the way I drove!!!! So this refusal to fix is the last time for these guys to waste my money and time. Unfortunately Humboldt is full of very unskilled tradesmen and this is just another dismal demonstration of this phenomenon. Take to North Bay Auto, more friendly, knowledgable, and speedy repair. Don't waste your money or time at this place. Shame on you German Motors! Worthless business ethic. read more

was driving down the highway,, something came up under my car and knocked something around... i was on my way out of town..on my way out of town i went to german auto,,, they looked under the car and something had been knocked loose.. they tightened it up,, said it was no major damage,, didn't charge me at all,,,, i tipped them $20 for hooking me up.. this place is not a scam!!!! automatic 5/5 star... read more

The Tom and the guys at German Motors provided excellent, honest and friendly service to us. We have a 2016 MB Sprinter and while on a road trip we had some ASB warning lights come on. We were close to Arcata Ca and found them. They provided an assessment and then we ordered the parts needed. They got us on the road again the next day. Thank you guys !!! read more

Update: The attendant over at Cahill Patriot 2 blocks down screwed up the lock nut for my car and claimed it wouldn't fit. German Motors was the last place to take the wheels off my ride so I went back furious that they'd given me the wrong lock nut. Turns out it was stripped/screwed up by Cahill Patriot, but German Motors filed it/ hit it with a hammer or whatever they did and fixed it for me no questiones asked. Would recommend going here now if you need to. read more

I'v had several VWs, and shops like this are few and far in between. As VW specialists, and anything German, they are highly experienced, reliable and honest as can be. They take in a lot of vans like my old Vanagon and I always see Westfalias there. All the work they have done on my vans over the last almost 5 years has been excellent. read more

I have taken my VW Golf to every major auto shop in Arcata/Eureka/Mckinleyville with the same issue every time, and received different, inaccurate answers from each auto shop. I received and paid for 5 different engine diagnostics that were false and inaccurate. After receiving my 5th engine diagnostic, I was quoted a $2000 fix that would only possibly cure the problem, and they suggested I just sell the car to their shop for parts. Naturally, I lost faith after spending hundreds of dollars that I, a college student, did not have. I let the car sit for 1 year and relied on public transit. A few days ago, I pushed the VW down to German Motors. Even though they were extremely backed up, they were able to get to my car before the 4th of July weekend, run diagnostics, FIX the problem I had been having for 2 years, and it cost me 1/6th the prices I was quoted elsewhere. My VW now runs stronger than ever. The mechanics were all very friendly both over the phone and in person. They were very thorough in their inspection report, straightforward about the issues found in the vehicle, and the transaction felt very honest. I will continue to get my vehicle serviced with them for as long as I reside in Arcata. read more

Haven't had any major work done with these guys but of all the little things they helped me with they were awesome!

I can not say enough kind words about German Motors and specifically, Tom, who helped us get our 2005 Sprinter van back on the road. Honest prices and honest work. Tom was as helpful as they get, I can not thank him and the rest of German Motors enough! read more

Oh! This is the BEST place in Humboldt to get your car or VW van fixed. They really know the german engines and all parts of the car or VW. They are straightforward with estimates on time and money. They only use the best parts and have great communication skills. They are also VERY nice. read more

I was visting Trinidad, CA from Redding, CA when my 2003 Jetta TDI Wagon showed a alternator failure. German Motors couldn't promise an immediate repair due to an internet failure but was able to get it repaired the next day! They were attentive to my situation with a rental car. Two days later as I was leaving the area, the light for the battery blinked for a moment. I returned to German Motors and they found a problem with the battery cable. Fixed it at no charge and all is well! Very good service. read more

They overcharge, are dishonest, take WAY too long for a simple job and do not know their stuff. You would think a German Motors place would know what to do for each model....they were so baffled by my old Mercedes it was like they never saw one before. I took my car in to have the power steering mechanism straightened out. It was simply a bolt that was missing but I had to way to get under the car myself. And I asked them to look at a wobbly back wheel and investigate why my turn signals weren't working. They gave me an estimate of 192 dollars, and when I got it out of there it ended up costing me 450 dollars. They charge 85 bucks an hour and don't even know where the parts are on an old Mercedes. It looked like they were banging around my alternator that is on the other side of the engine. They fixed my power steering, but called me to say the bracket was broken and had to weld it, then when i went to pick my car up they found it out really wasn't ever broken but charged me for the time it took them to discover their mistake. They never even looked at my back wheel yet charged me for an "inspection." Then when I asked them to look at it, they claimed it was the entire rear axle when I KNOW it was something simple like a bearing. And the electrical work is where I get really angry. They spend HOURS working on it without fixing it at all. There is a problem with the dash board wiring that I told them about, they never even looked at that. They claimed the part I provided them was broken and the one they have in stock was "wrong" because it was getting hot. Which is what was happening to me, and why I wanted it fixed! They acted like it was fixed and all I had to do was order the right part on my own. The part is universal and works for all models. And what really irks me, they insulted my car! I have put so much work into ut, but I am a college student and don't have the tools I had at home to get it off the ground and work on it for myself. They told me that my car had seen better days and I might be better off getting a new one. My car is beautiful for being 35 years old and besides a few worn parts is in better condition than many newer cars. If you are in Arcata, look for Star Machine in Eureka to work on your Mercedes. Steer clear of these guys. read more

I've done business with many different mechanics over the years, both at dealerships and independent, and I am consistently impressed with the quality of service and the value that I receive from the team at German Motors. They have done major and minor work on both of my BMW's and also on my Jeep. The work is always done right and timely. I find their pricing to be reasonable and very high value given the caliber of service. The work performed is always explained to me. Their recommendations are always helpful. Ely and Fisher actively manage and diligently oversee a great business. Tom is simply the best, most experienced customer service manager at any shop. read more

Stopped through this shop on a recent road trip. I found their service was friendly, knowledgeable and prompt. The shop was clean and well equipped. They had quite a few cars in the shop showing me that the locals obviously trusted the shop with their cars. They knew my car well and quickly diagnosed the problem. I would highly recommend the shop. In addition the customer service reps knew their stuff, were very helpful. Overall a great experience. read more