I took my car in and was told it had the wrong type of injectors in it. They replaced my injectors with OEM parts and my car runs great now. They are easy to talk to and they explain everything to you beforehand. They do not upsell you on things which I really appreciated. I felt they were honest and very knowledgeable. I definitely would recommend Hilltop to anyone. Thank you! Casey Faren read more

Total waste of time. These guys are incompetent and overpriced and they couldn't care less about helping people with their automotive problems. Avoid them and go somewhere else. read more

If you're a AAA member, come here for your smog test. We needed a smog test and a quick check on the CA website listed this as a business near us. I called to check if we needed an appointment and they said walk ins are welcome from 8AM-4PM. There's a few parking spots in front of their shop, but there is street parking available as well. The waiting room has a tall table and four chairs while there's also a couch. They had this small shop fan on the floor but it was strong and kept us very cool. We got checked in and were informed it would be $70 for a 10 minute smog check. I had my Nintendo switch with me and I hadn't even finished one Pokémon battle when they informed us everything was complete. They also advised us that we could pick up our tags at the AAA office since they were a certified partner. The whole ordeal took us less than 2 hours we got our car smogged and the tags for it within the same day. No need to worry about it getting lost in the mail. read more

Trustworthy and available! We have been coming to them for years, and I refer everyone to them. Niko owns it, and his wife runs it. Lol, just kidding, Niko! Every time I have a crisis or need help, they are there. They let me know when I need to replace something or when I don't. It's so nice to know a mechanic who you can trust and does a great job! I can't say enough about this place. Try it and you won't be sorry. They are good people!! Here are photos of my last catastrophe they helped me fix! read more

See all

This was my first time to HillTop for an oil change for my Mazda CX 5. Nico noticed the front engine timing cover was leaking oil. He said the leak may be covered under the Mazda Powertrain Warranty, and I should check with Mazda before the oil change. Yes, I checked and it is covered ... major work ... 3.6 hours of warranty labor. A real pro does a brief check looking for major issues before stating work. . I am very pleased with HillTop and Nico. Yes, TillTop is on my return list. read more

This place deserves no stars! It sucks! First, it took 1/2 hr to check in with no one in front of us. Check-in girl was busy talking about everything under the sun. They called saying the car was ready. When we arrived we were informed the parts had not arrived. Then, they said there was an oil gasket leak. They were informed of this when we arrived. Major reason we took the car in. AAA approved, what s flipping joke! We give this business an F -!!!!!!!? Run and run faster! Beth B. read more

WOW! What FANTASTIC service. The staff at Hilltop went above and beyond and I can't thank them enough. Would give them 5x5 starts if I could. Highly recommend. read more

After looking at old negative reviews from 2017-2020, I have to say, Hilltop is not the same place it was. After my previous mechanic closed his shop over a year ago, Hilltop was recommended as a replacement. I have taken my car for service and/or repairs three times since changing and the service has been excellent each time. Nicolas (Nico) is very personable and knows customer service. There is no upselling, and the service is done promptly and efficiently. I will continue to take my vehicle to Hilltop without hesitation, and would recommend them if you're looking for a new mechanic. read more

Being female I have a knee jerk reaction to mechanics because I have been taken advantage of so many times by these SOB's. They see us as fair game and an opportunity to siphon lots of money. They typically make up things that need to be fixed and I just can't stand them. I saw the negative yelp review but this place was closest to me so I went. Not happily but I went. I needed to get a smog certificate for my '87 VW Vanagon. 'Who works on your car?' I was asked by the really big man. Now can you imagine taking a speciality car like I have to any old shop?! Been there done that. The question should have been 'how do I gain access to your bank account?'. Sorry Charley- let's just stick to smog testing. He sensed my trepidation about having them work on the car and it became a verbal tug of war. No vs. yes..."Big boy - I'm not letting you work on my car. Your heart is not in it, only your greed'. Well, guess what? Yup - they failed me- I failed by a smidge!! I called my mechanics in Santa Barbara and they told me the car needs to be hot to pass. Well, I only drove about 10 minutes to get over there and they let it sit for a while before they got to it. Guaranteed, if my car was warm and they did it right then and there - I would have passed. Big Boy told me the wait would be 30-45 minutes and it took an hour. That's because they had to let the car cool down so he could fail me. I should have gone with the review of Palm Desert Smog where they are nice and I don't feel like they are taking advantage of me. A couple of things to keep in mind- 1. Do not go according to AAA recommendations. I had a classic Benz several years ago and took it to a AAA approved garage. They couldn't find the problem and after thousands of dollars, I was in the same boat. 2. Don't take your car to a smog check/auto repair place for obvious reasons. 3. Under no circumstances take your car to Hilltop. European motors is the reputable place in the desert. read more

Hilltop Automotive & Performance - Smog Check Stations Near Me - Indio, California

I took my Mitsubishi Raider into their shop for an oil change. I also asked if they could reseal the weather stripping for my tailgate. They also recommended a tire rotation. The bill was $247 which I thought was a little pricey. It is a well maintained shop and the waiting room was immaculate. I also thought their service was efficient. The problem is I visited another shop in town a month afterwards. My tires were manufactured in 2005 and a new law requires all shops to advise that the tires could be a liability. Especially in extreme conditions like here in the desert. If that is true they didn't perform to what their shop represents. read more

DO NOT TAKE YOUR CAR HERE!!!! My 2000 Cheverolet corvette needed a smog, they took 5 minutes to say my car failed smog because I did not run it long enough and if I paid $180.00 they could do it for me. Trying to make a quick buck! Stay away from this place!!!!!! read more

If you're looking for to replace the Dealer HillTop is the place. Not only Honest and Fair they know cars. Old or New they got you covered.

Gary is a great guy and I believe tries hard to accommodate all his customers. The service is pretty good and the price is very reasonable! I've only had one issue in the years of service he has provided, but he rectified that issue. He recently has helped ease the stress on my husband by helping him these last 3 weeks with multiple car issues. I greatly appreciate his help with costs and service provided. We have recommended several people to him and will continue to do so. read more

Another example of the price blowing up for no good reason. Took in my Mercedes C240 in limp mode due to electronic throttle failure, and also needed smog. After replacing the electronic gas pedal ($600), they ran the smog test and it "failed due to monitors (errors) left over from the throttle failure". "If you want us to clear the errors it will be another $170". Those errors should have been cleared as part of the repair. Don't trust this place. read more

My beloved Ford Focus 2008, was constantly overheating after taking it to different repair shops, including the dealer it here at Hilltop Automotive, where they found the issue. It no longer overheats, and I can now enjoy driving my beloved car again. Their diagnostic are great! Very thankful to Hilltop Automotive. Highly recommend! read more

By far the best auto repair spot we have ever used. They are reasonable with their prices, patient when explaining the repairs needed, never pushy, and very quick on getting the job done. My mom and brother in law go here as well and we are all in agreement, we found our repair shop, no need to go anywhere else... read more

Quality shop. very approachable people with a clean and organized reception area. Im sure there will come a day when they give me bad news, but I already feel better knowing how reasonable the ownership is. I also like that they have such a large indoor shop. I feel better knowing that i can leave my vehicle there without any issues. I would recommend this shop to anyone looking for a good place to do business. I am happy to have been referred to it. read more

This is the best auto repair shop in town. From the initial visit to the end of the repair, the experience at Hilltop Automotive is phenominal. If youre waiting for your vehicle to be repaired, they have comfortable couches and a TV in the waiting area. Gary and his employees are professional, courteous and meticulous in their work. They are quick to find the problem you describe to them and inform you immediately upon their discovery. Once they've diagnosed the problem, they fix it. They fix right the first time. Everytime. Ive been taking my vehicles to them for the past three years and have been extremely pleased with their work. I will continue to take my vehicles to them and have them do all of my repairs. I recommend this auto repair shop to anyone who wants great service and repair. read more

I recently moved to Coachella Valley in California and joined AAA. I found "Hilltop Automotive" approved by the AAA, and took my 2005 Ford Taurus in to diagnose a rough idle. I was charged $100 for an estimate of $750 (more). I told them I was leaving, and they said that more than half of the estimate was "preventive" only. I approved spark plugs and wires for $360, although that seemed very high. After installing the six spark plugs, they told me that now the car needed a coil, for $276 more. I didn't believe them and said no. Later, I looked into a coil and found they cost between $30 and $70, and attach with three bolts on top of the motor, a very easy job. I spent $465 for six spark plugs and wires, and feel ripped off. I won't go back to them. By the way, I'm really sorry I didn't read the other (negative) reviews of Hilltop in "yelp" before I went! read more

Went in for smog check without looking at reviews based on CA dmv website and AAA approvals. What a MISTAKE. Of course the smog failed, but, it was the expensive diagnosis ($150, paid in advance, does not go towards repairs) recommending I replace ALL smog equipment on the car!! Left the shop immediately as i felt there was a major conflict of interest that allowed them to use the failed smog test to up their repair bill to the max( $1,200). Went to my regular auto mechanic, he fixed 4 items- $300. Went to a test only smog station and VOILA! it passed. Do not go to these people, they will leverage you to death. For smog, start with a test only station, and then decide what to do. read more

As a favor my boyfriend and I were asked to Smog his grandfathers Benz while in town for the weekend. Two other places we tried were closed. But we found this joint had Friendly customer service. Nice waiting area with massage chairs. Fairly quick service. Boyfriend was completely satisfied. read more

High priced. avg.to below avg.quality of work.I would not recomend to any one.if you have to pay top price you should get top work.

My car had been to the Cadillac dealer 2 times, Pep Boys, Firestone. All of them never got it right with my vehicle. I kept saying it has this sound and it is doing this. "its fine or lets charge you money for something that we will do wrong" that's all they did. I found these guys on Yelp and I am SO GLAD I DID. They listened to me. Fixed the car RIGHT. They were beyond reasonable in their prices. They kept in contact. I honestly could not have had a better experience. read more

These folks are always great to work with. Great service and reasonable prices. Replaced my fuel filters on my RAM 3500.

Walked in today without an appointment for a smog check. Friendly staff took my truck right in and was out in no time. What great service! I highly recommend Hill Top. read more

Hilltop Automotive has some of the best service I've ever experienced! I called to make an appointment about an amazing deal I found online, and the girl who answered the phone was incredibly nice. The day i went in everyone was so helpful and friendly. I recommend this place! read more

Do not go to this place. They straight up lie and make stuff up to charge you extra when nothing is wrong with the parts they claim has issues. Bait and switch!!!!!! Stay away read more

Terrific! Great service, kind, and knowledgeable techs. I highly recommend this company, which I rarely do.

Staff are very friendly and service was quick. Called in first thing in the morning and vehicle was done same day a few hours later. Massage chairs were nice touch while we waited & coffee & water available. read more

EEE GADZ! I'm terminaly ill, so r my folks, and this poor excuse of a human being, void of even the slightest notion of any compassionate feelings charged me double the price of any online parts store and returned the car to me in an undrivable condition. never go here. heed this warning read more

Gary and his employees provided the epitome of excellence in quality in their service and the value they have for a great customer relationship. Van went in for non working air conditioner and was returned (after a lot of hard work of removing rusting parts) to a working air conditioner. They provided transportation to and from work for me which is virtually unheard of. THANKS just doesn't seem to cover the gratitude I feel in entrusting my car to Hilltop for an excellent workmanship. Definitely recommending to friends and colleagues!! read more

We are all in the same boat we hate to spend money by goverment dictation. After failing my smoge inspedtion it needed repair but could not be performed by a smog station in fear that they would have a monitary reason to fail and get the repair. I went to an independent shop to see about the repair to make it pass the smog but the irony of that is the shops cant do the repair in that they dont have the testing equipt to see if the fix would correct the failed smog. Finally I found Hilltop Automotive that the state allows them to smog and repair whats not working. I made one mistake in telling them I was in no hurry so its been a week and still not repaired. I have asked them to stop and I am taking the car to NM and giving to one of my family. I am not saying that the job was fair or not fair since I have not picked up the vehicle yet. I did find that my bill is $482.00 and I originally spent $60.00 for the smog. They could be one of the best in the country but the tests performed may have not been necdessary but whem the labor rate is approx 90.00 they like all are motivated by money. HERE I AM AFTER $540.00 A VEHICLE NOT SMOGED ALL BECAUSE WE LET THE STATE DICTATE UNWORKABLE PROCEDURES. iT WII COST ANOTHER 400.00 TO TRANSPORT THE TRUCK TO NM. HOMER read more

I will be a customer for life Gary,Craig & the crew are the best I got great customer service they really went above and beyond to help me get everything done to my 2010 Kia Soul with in my budget my car runs like new again thank you so much I will recommend you to all read more

Radiator blew up in the church youth van on our way to indio. Called around to 4 different shops and Gary at Hilltop was the most helpful, easiest to work with, and his price was the best of the bunch. He got it done as promised and we made it back home safely. Wouldn't hesitate to go back! read more

My friend Cezar is an amazing mechanic and when he said he was working at hilltop I decided to give them a try and I'm so glad I did . I was having an issue with my ac and from the minute I waked in I knew I was in good hands . Gary the owner was so nice a super professional, I thought I was going to be paying a arm and a leg but they found it to be a super minor thing and any other place would have probably milked it because I was using my insurance !! I run a local business myself so I know how important it is to take care of people and that's just what they did ! I can not say enough good things about them and I will be referring everyone there ! Thanks again guys ! read more

I highly recommend Hilltop Automotive. Gary, the owner, is very knowledgeable and straight forward with you. I had my 1967 Mustangs' engine and transmission rebuilt. Gary kept me informed of the various steps the work would go through with sub contractors. All costs were explained and agreed upon before hand and were within reason. I have been very happy with the results. I also want to put in a good word for Michelle, the receptionist, who always has a smile and a positive outlook. D. read more

I can't say the best or worst but they do however do great work and get you back on the road people are friendly but man are the prices crazy :( and they also try to get you to get other things done. I called them up and asked how much to replace my return hose on my BMW and they said they have to see what the problem was after I just told them what my problem was. They are good people but it's like playing an annoying game with them at times. read more

They are very nice and friendly but are very busy. They had my RV for a week before they were able to look at it and I was getting concerned that it wouldn't be fixed in time for our trip. Luckily they had good news today and had gotten it running. They could be better at communication, I felt like I was in the dark all week but I'm happy that it is getting fixed and looks like it will be ready for our trip. read more

These guys will rip you off in a heartbeat! Do not take your car there. Their motto is: we do not work for free, but we will get paid for ripping you off. They got me for over $1,000.00. They got a couple of my friends for outrageous amounts too. We will never go back there and do not recommend anyone else to go there either. read more

Gary and Dana are as good as it gets helpfull and honest and a great waiting room.