Super incredible service. I found these guys through Reddit and needed to get my brakes replaced last minute. I called in today, and they asked me to come by first so they could properly diagnose the issue. They inspected both my front and rear brakes and confirmed that the grinding noise was coming from the rear pads. They were completely honest and let me know my front pads still had plenty of life left, instead of trying to upsell me on parts I didn't need. After confirming the issue, they ordered the parts, which arrived within about an hour. Once the parts came in, they knocked out the brake job in just 30-40 minutes. Super fast, transparent, and professional from start to finish. They also topped off my fluids and filled my tires, which I really appreciated. They walked me through everything and showed me exactly what was going on, which made me feel like I could truly trust their honesty--unlike some other shops that might try to say you definitely need new rotors or extra work done. Very fair pricing as well. I couldn't have asked for better service. If you're looking for a trustworthy shop, come support this small business--they clearly know what they're doing. I'll definitely be coming back here 100%. Thanks again. read more

I always pass by since I work near and always notice the AE86 since that was my childhood dream car, but since I got to do smog checks on my cars, I found out they do it too and ever since then, I took multiple cars here for smog check for reasonable prices. I also did Differential Fluid on my GT86 since I don't want to deal with lifting up lowered cars and they finish it before quote time! Wally also a great guy and know what he's doing for sure, coming from someone in automotive schools. Keep in mind if your older than 2000's or lack OB2, you might need to take to different places but other than that, I would recommend coming here for quick smog checks or other basic maintenance. read more

I came in for a smoke test and the experience was very smooth. My appointment was at 11:00 AM and I was back on the road by 11:20. They didn't rush the work--just efficient and professional. While waiting, I watched them work on multiple cars. Oil changes were done carefully, tires were checked and aired properly, and they even sprayed protection on the underbody. You can tell they follow a thorough inspection process and take pride in their work. The pricing is very reasonable, and they have plenty of parking, which makes the visit much easier. Based on this visit, I plan to come back here for future repairs and oil changes. read more

Norfolk Auto Service - Auto Repair Near Me - San Mateo, California

Wally and friend (forgot his name) are top shelf mechanics and run an honest high quality auto shop. I always go to Wally because he educates me on the issue(s), shows me, fixes it, shows me, charges a fair price, and runs a very honest business. Norfolk Auto is a gem. read more

A genuine mom and pop garage with integrity and fair prices. Super nice and responsive guys who literally walk you through your entire service, step by step. When I was recently there for a belt issue, they also tested my battery and showed a good one vs a good one. They do a safety inspection with every service it seems and I've been to get my oil changed, too. Highly recommend this place for the service and price. I would recommend a drop off cause there really isnt anywhere to sit, no coffee, wifi, etc.. read more

This man Wally is really nice. Honest too. He's worked on my car in the past. I just took another car for a smog, it wouldn't pass as I took it to the dealer the day before and had an oil change. He explained that I had to do a hard reset before he could get it to pass. It kept coming up inconclusive. I will definitely bring my cars to him in the future. There's just something about him that is very trustworthy to me. read more

An honest and efficient autoshop. Got my brake pads replaced for my Audi A3 2016. Dropped off at noon and ready by 4 PM.

Called for smog check quote and asked if appointment was needed. Made appointment for same day within 30 minutes. Quoted $49.95 + $8.25 certificate transmission fee and done within 25 minutes. The service was done within 10 minutes with a pass and the results already sent to the DMV. Discussed other service offered and pricing and may return for my oil change soon. I'd happily return here as they're fast, friendly, knowledgeable, experienced, efficient, and have fair pricing. read more

Wally was great. He is an old school mechanic. We talked about cars and shared pictures of our cars. Wally told me what parts and what I should expect with the water pump and timing belt. We both agreed on only Japanese oem parts for the Miata. The quality parts from Japanese will last 80000 miles. The job took only 7 hours. I got my car back on the same day. I felt very happy with the service. read more

Wally at Norfolk Auto is a wonderful mechanic and business owner. He's straightforward, fair with pricing and provides timely status on your service. read more

This was my first time coming to this shop for my Minicooper oil change. Wally and his mechanic are awesome. I was able to get the oil change done pretty quick. Wally gave me the approximate time of when it would be done, 2hrs, which was spot on. He gave me a reasonable price and also gave me a breakdown of the oil change and what it entailed. There was no funny business, just very straight to the point. Wally also took a couple of photos of my car that it's ready for me to come by for pick up, which I also appreciate. He's quick to respond both phone and text. I had called the shop first, but no one picked. I hung up, but he texted me back within 15 min to follow up, which was actually nice. I also asked about oil changes for Subarus for my husband, which they also do. We'll be coming back for our Forester! Thanks Wally! read more

Norfolk Auto Service - My minicooper 2013 - Auto Repair Near Me - San Mateo, California

I've been going here for years, mainly for oil changes but I've also recently had my brakes and battery replaced. They are very helpful, skilled, knowledgeable and seem honest as well with reasonable prices. I also love that they are often available on short notice. Highly recommend! read more

Helped me out in a pinch when something under car was dragging. Didn't even charge me. Also identified the nail in my tire.

Excellent service and fast turnaround on short notice. The problem was quickly confirmed and fixed, faster than anyone else could do while being of comparable price. They even found a separate issue for me and, knowing I'd just had some post-accident body repair done elsewhere, encouraged me to take pictures and go back to that shop rather than just immediately try to upsell me to have it fixed here. read more

Came here for an oil change and liked that it included a safety inspection. Ended up finding out one of my tires was in bad shape. It could've been dangerous if they hadn't caught it. They don't sell or replace tires here, but Big O's is nearby. My brakes were also worn down, so I got those replaced too. The staff were honest about pricing and never pushy. They respond fast, call back if they miss a call, and it's nice that you can text them too. Super convenient and definitely feels like a place you can trust. read more

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Went here to get my regular car maintenance. Simple, fast, trustworthy staff, and fair price. I'll be coming here again.

I visited Norfolk Auto Service to change my brake pads. I called to inquire about squeaking whenever I stepped on the brakes. Wally advised that I needed to change my front brake pads. I dropped off my car in the morning and picked it up later that afternoon. When picking it up, he showed me my front brake pads had worn down to 10%. Would recommend read more

Its a humble garage, but they do good work and fair pricing. I would take my car into these guys any day , over these corporate business that over charge with add ons and additional surprise costs. read more

Wally is simply the best! As honest as they come. We have been going to him for over 20 years. I wish more business owners were like him.

Exceeded my expectations Fast and efficient service! Overall, a top-notch experience. read more

Honest and quality work. I had a windshield wiper that would not work properly and they fixed it at a decent price. He was upfront with the cost and even lowered the hourly rate for me. Highly recommend! read more

I'm pretty sure I've reviewed this place before but I guess a 3-year-old review is obsolete. Anyway, I first came here in 2020 during Covid. The mechanic helped get my car ready for a long drive to SoCal. Fast-forward 3 years and we haven't driven a lot because of Covid, but we needed to replace the break pads. The mechanic was very helpful and thorough. He only replaced the ones that needed to and informed me the percentages for the others. Just like before, I think that he was honest and offered fair prices. My dad wanted to take my car to some other mechanic and I say, "No thanks, I have a mechanic. " read more

Norfolk Auto Service - Seating area - Auto Repair Near Me - San Mateo, California

Wally is the most honest and genuine mechanic I've ever encountered. I called him to schedule an appointment, very straightforward and asked what day/time works for me. He said the wait for an oil change is 30 minutes. Finding his shop was a bit tricky but luckily I saw the sign (pictured below). You pull into the back gravel area and park in the back. Wally or his mechanic will approach your car to then service you. Had a clean waiting area outside with plastic chairs underneath an umbrella. The oil change ended up taking only 15 minutes! Aside from doing an oil change, Wally does a wellness check of your vehicle. He takes notes of the following: the service he performed, tire pressure, brake life, tire tread life, and vehicle fluids he topped off. If I wasn't knowledgeable with cars, Wally does a great job on explaining things to the customer. I've found myself a new mechanic! read more

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Great work at a great price, done quickly with excellent, clear, explanations and very fast turnaround. It was done in a few hours and for the lowest price I could find in the area. Top notch. Well done. read more

Have squeaky brakes but Wally said they were safe and had 80% brake pads left. We're going there from now on. We like honesty. read more

I recently had my brake pads replaced here and was very impressed with the service. The team finished the job quicker than the original ETA, which was a pleasant surprise. Throughout the process I received photo updates via iMessage showing the progress and then final photos once everything was done. That was really cool and gave me extra confidence in the work being done. On top of that, the price was very reasonable. Not the kind that makes you hesitate. And as a bonus, there's a great café nearby where you can spend some time if you come in the morning while your car is being worked on. Highly recommend this shop for both quality and customer care! Thanks, Wally! read more

Did a routine smog check and was in and out super quick! Great service. Would recommend.

I've had a great experience every time I've taken my car here. I've had smog checks, oil changes, and basic repairs done so far. Service is fast and always reasonably priced. I feel like they're always being honest about the services required and completed. It can be difficult to find an auto shop you trust, which is why I'll be going here every time. The location is also conveniently located next to a coffee shop, making waiting for repairs much nicer than typical shops. read more

Wally is a very good communicator. Our 2017 Toyota Prius had a dead battery, I was able to provide the car information to Wally via text messages and was able to arrange an appointment very quickly. We are very happy with the fast service to replace the battery and the price was very reasonable. We will return to this place for future car services. read more

I have been getting my cars serviced here for the past few years. Quality service, reasonable pricing and Wally is transparent with his work. read more

I'm so happy I found Norfolk Auto! Moved to the area a year ago after a cross-country drive in my 2013 Highlander. Wally & his crew have provided outstanding, high quality service, at a fair price! Wally explains everything carefully and clearly. He recommends replacement or repairs when needed, and I never feel like I'm being upsold. Getting ready for another XC drive, and I know our car will be in good shape thanks to Wally's professionalism and integrity. read more

The car trouble in my life lately has been unusually frequent: we have two cars and both have been acting up. For one of them, we needed an oil change and I finally got around to taking the car to Norfolk. Wally was responsive when I called, helped me out right when I got there with his partner, and they did a full vehicle safety check. He was quick, thorough and helped explain/teach me what I needed to know about oil changes. He showed me how neglected the car oil was (color, depth) and even lectured me a bit (in a good way) about how essential it is to deal with it on time. I was reassured that he did the whole diagnostic because a week before I'd had to get my brakes replaced and Wally was able to double check for me that the other shop had done everything correctly. Added bonus to a simple oil change. He also warned me that my battery was no good and I opted to not do anything about it at that time but sure enough it totally died a few days later. Yesterday I finally went back even though it was a risk to drive 25 minutes on a dead battery that had only just been jumped- but I really knew I could trust him so I wanted to take the risk. He changed the battery in under 20 minutes and charged a very fair price. Like dentists, mechanics need to be trustworthy if you're like me: clueless about anything car-related. read more

The two mechanics who work there know their stuff and are honest. They don't tell you to fix this and that so that they can charge more. They tell you what needs to be fixed for safety. I've been taking our 2007 Odyssey for a couple of years and it's been good so far. read more

Excellent service! Everything was fast and efficient. The oil change for my Lexus was also affordable.

Wally did a great job with my repair - he was upfront with the costs, and walked me through the repairs before actually doing it. He also did a complementary inspection to reassure me that everything was in good shape. On top of it, he discovered that one of my tail lights were out, and replaced it free of charge. Highly recommended! read more

A good honest mechanic is hard to find, and that's why Wally is a treasure! He did a brake job on my Camaro a couple of years ago and today did a complete safety check so that I can drive to Arizona next month without worries. His prices are totally fair (compared to most car repair shops, he undercharges), and he is thorough and explains everything. I really appreciate that he was looking out for me, such as by telling me to be sure to check if my oil is low when I get to Tucson since apparently a long sustained freeway drive can burn oil even if your car normally does not. I heartily recommend his business! read more

I called to see when his next opening was. Wally replied within the hour. I arrived and Wally was fast, efficient, and courteous. I think I got the oil change, fluid top off, and some other various checks in like 20 minutes! Great 1st experience. I'll be back. read more

So glad we found this place. The guy was super nice. We were a walk in and was checking for availability but he got my mom in and did her oil change. Super easy to get in and out of the area. They have a waiting area in the back and it's outdoors. Probably not ideal for a long repair and when it's cold/raining. There is a really good breakfast place next door. You can walk to a little strip mall with a pet store and smart and final but be careful crossing those streets. people do not care. Oil change was $95. Totally worth it. We will be back and bring our other cars here. read more

Wally is great! This shop is everything you want in a mechanic--honest, quick, and reasonably priced. They don't oversell or overcharge, just get the job done right. Super easy to work with and incredibly efficient. Highly recommend! read more

I found this via Yelp and the reviews are true. They were very honest and transparent with pricing. Mazda wanted to charge me $470 just for diagnosis. Wally told me it was the battery problem based on my description of the issue, changed the battery, only charged me for the battery price and $65 labor. They were quick, and were able to fit me into their busy schedule. He has a Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86 (from Initial D), pretty cool! read more