Stopped by today to have my battery checked out after AAA had to get me started this morning. The employees were all very friendly and professional. I then asked about replacing the lic plate bulb (at last shop, I was told to replace it would require the technician to take the back apart...)....turns out, this was bs. I am not surprised as I have had bad experience before w car repair places...as a woman, I have been quoted a bunch of times "the special menu" prices. Long story short, nice mechanic just replaced it right then and there in a minute. I chatted w another customer, who happened to be German as well and she told me she has been coming here for years and has always felt she got fair prices and great service. I will be back! read more

I took my car here to investigate a grating squeaking noise in my car, and they definitely treated me right. They even showed me the broken part (a ready to fail ball joint) and what was wrong with it. PLUS, if you're a AAA member you get a discount (mine was $50 on a 500+ bill). If I lived in the area I'd go again without hesitation. read more

I found this business on Yelp, It turns out a few later I found out that two of my neighbors have been going here for many years and they are satisfied. I have a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002 Mercury Mountaineer and most recently 2015 Nissan NV200. I am completely satisfied with Preferred Auto and Anthony has always been very helpful with scheduling, Mark the owner once worked on my vehicle doing a service on it and I had two people that pulled on my automatic rear hatch that it no longer opens and closes automaticly. I was expecting bad news but Mark did research on the internet and found it just need to be reset, I think they didn't charge me or if they did it was nominal. I feel very comfortable leaving my vehicles there, they call you and keep you in the loop, another nice thing is they are open 1 saturday per month, so for me I was sold going to this shop. When I have waited either to drop off or pick up my vehicle I have observed the employees interact with customers and they are always very professional. My wife doesn't like to go into shops like this but she has shuttled me and have met Mark and Anthony and feels compfortable going to them if I wasn't available. I highly recomend and give it 5 stars... read more

Best place I have ever taken my car to. Very honest, helpful and customer friendly. Only problem is they are closed on weekends.

I have been coming here for the past 3 years and have NEVER had a bad experience. Mark, Anthony and Nikita are always so incredibly helpful and never try to upsell you or tell you that you need something done to your car when you really don't. I trust these guys 100% and even started bringing my new car a year ago cause they are so great! Highly recommend bringing your car here for all your service needs! You will not be disappointed! read more

This place is great! They really helped me out when my car was really messed up and they kept me updated every step of the way and we're so helpful. I get my oil changed there every few months now and they always get it done quickly and at a good price. Such friendly people I would definitely recommend!! read more

I just went there for the first time and was HIGHLY impressed! My battery had died and the AAA guy tried to sell me some cables (and some BS)...but he also said to go here and they could help me and were AAA approved. So, I went. I called first and Nikita was so helpful. When I arrived she continued to be helpful. They took my car very quickly and ran a test for 30 min. The battery was found to be dead. Luckily it was under AAA warranty and they replaced my battery for free and gave me new parts that attached to the pos/neg part of the battery...I paid nothing. I did not need new cables. Mad at AAA guy for tell me I needed to buy cables...but happy he also suggested going to Preferred. I will consider going back, if needed. Thank you Nikita and company! Always great to find people and places who do their job and do it well! read more

Okay, so while I didn't get my car fixed here, I've been promising myself for a few weeks to do this review. I had a rod knock in my engine--or, at least, I was pretty sure. The guys over here offered to listen to it for me for free--to drive it around, look under the hood, and give it their best guess. I wasn't looking to get a new engine on the car, or put any more money into it, so the fact that these guys offered to at least give it a shot is awesome. I'm paying them in a 5 star Yelp Review, but I'm not sure that's enough. There are too few places like this these days. These guys are honest, which is rare in most industries, but especially this one. I can tell you one thing and that's the next time I have a problem with my car, I'll be going here. I recommend everyone else does as well. read more

The most fair, honest place I've ever taken my cars. You can trust them implicitly. Their customer service is the friendliest and best as well! Mark and his team will always take great care of you. read more

Unfortunately, it is not easy to find a place that will fix your car and be honest about the work that needs to be done. Preferred Auto Center is amazing! They told me exactly what needed to be done, how much it would cost, what needed to be done soon, and what could wait for a few thousand more miles. Every employee was friendly and knowledgeable, and they answered all my questions and concerns. I highly recommend that you call them if you need auto repairs, or even of you need a maintenance check up for your car. read more

Had extremely good experience at preferred auto with the changing of my timing belt valve adjustment other minor items pricing was good service and craftsmanship excellent they will have my business for the rest of the life of my car and me read more

Fantastic service! Especially appreciate dealing with Anthony - clearly communicated the estimate, services, and timing for my auto service/repairs. read more

My mom has been going to Mark for over 10 years. My warranty on my Nissan finally expired and I needed a mechanic. I dropped my car off after talking to Anthony on the phone. Both Anthony and Mark called me to keep me apprised of my car's status and they found all the same issues that the dealer had recommended. They were super-thorough, very honest about what needed to be done and what could wait and Mark did his best to save me money. The dealer had mentioned that I had a bent wheel and that it would cost $600 to replace. Crazy!! Mark found a used wheel for $60. So, wow!! As long as I live in Thousand Oaks (and maybe even when I move) I'm going to always take my car to Mark. Oh, he also had my car washed before returning it!! Who does that anymore other than the dealership (sometimes)?? Last, just 2 days after I picked up my car he mailed a thank you card and gift to my mom as a thank you for referring me. So talk about nice guy and above and beyond customer service, it really just doesn't get any better. I highly recommend Preferred Auto Centre. This place is a gem! read more

This review goes out to all the other women out there who dread going to auto shops! I dealt with Anthony there and he was honest, straight-forward and made sure my car was fixed as promised. Also, he thouroughly explained my car issue and found the best deal on the part I needed. What more could you ask for?? I will definitely refer my family and friends to Preferred! read more

Everyone I worked with was VERY friendly and accommodating (Anthony, Mark and Nikita). They serviced my car in a timely fashion and they even provided me with a ride back to my house after dropping my car off at their shop. I felt they were honest and fair. I will definitely continue to use them as well as refer them to others. read more

Called these guys for help with a project and their knowledge was humbling and they were super personable. I cant thank them enough and look forward to working with them in the future read more

These guys were fantastic. My car is older and I had an issue with my engine. I thought the problem was going to be really expensive and that I probably wouldn't get my car back in less than a weeks time. I was REALLY surprised. They had the problem figured out, parts ordered and engine repaired within a day. Mark was communicative with me throughout the process and saved all the parts to explain the defect. This is one of the most professional mechanic shops I have ever worked with. I was fortunate enough to be referred to them though AAA. If you are looking for a good shop to maintain you car .. this is the place! read more

Best customer service I have ever experienced, they fixed my cars transmission in a timely manner. Mark helped me threw this process he's very knowledgeable and doesn't bs you, I would go back here 100% read more

I called them first thing in the morning (at 8:00am, when they open) because an engine light was on and the car was having trouble starting, and the man with whom I spoke, Mark, said to bring in the car and he'd take a look. He ended up swiftly refilling the tire air pressure and replacing the battery, after having run a full diagnostic test. He was polite, knowledgeable, efficient, and even called Honda directly to see if their battery price was better. It is also great that their shop is AAA-affiliated because he just sold me a AAA battery. We will definitely be taking our cars here moving forward, without fail. Excellent experience. read more

This was my first experience with preferred auto. My car was towed by AAA after not starting. I was advised that it needed a new battery which was purchased through AAA 2 years ago. It was under warranty and therefore didn't cost me a penny. I very much appreciate the honesty of this business and will use them again. read more

I called AAA for a battery replacement under warranty. They told me that the battery was OK but that the negative battery clamp was corroded and needed replacement for which they referred me to Preferred Auto Center. I took our car there and left it with them. They subsequently told me that AAA were wrong and that it was the battery that needed replacement. Then they called AAA themselves and had a new battery installed on their premises. Also, they came to our house and drove me back to their shop. Despite going to all this trouble they charged me NOTHING. Incredible service! read more

Referred to Mark by a close friend. Needed help with what to do after a transmission gone wrong job. Mark gave his time, advice, recommendations and a referral. He saved my son from being stuck in the desert with his expert knowledge. His referral to an out of state auto shop helped us to prove the transmission job was not done correctly. I highly recommend Mark and Preferred Auto. Thank you for being our Hero, I really do not know what we would have done without your help! read more

I was towed to this repair shop when my car broke down in Thousand Oaks. I found out that AAA had made an error, as this shop specializes in Japanese cars (I have a Volvo). So I had to re-arrange towing remotely. The staff in this shop (especially Mark the Manager) were very helpful. Because I was so remote, they moved my car for me to avoid issues and even offered to sign the AAA slip when it was re-towed. They are a very nice, professional shop! read more

1st time--New customer. Taken without an appointment. Mark/Anthony took great care of the car, even washed it. You can trust a mechanic that actually saves the parts that were replaced and shows them to you without having to ask. Return time was slightly delayed/adjusted because tires/alignment had to be sub-contracted but still worth a 5/5. Will definitely use again in the future. read more

While I was looking under the hood of my 97 Camry at a T.O. gas station, this guy came to my aid, checked things out and determined that everything was fine. All i knew about this nice guy was that his name was Mark and that he owned a auto repair shop across the street from the gas station. Fast forward a year later, my Camry didn't pass the 'get your old car off the road test' aka the Smog Test. Recalling my impression of Mark Miller, I figured out which shop was his and brought my car in. I dealt directly with Anthony who I found to be very responsive and courteous. Anthony identified what needed to be done to pass smog and gave me really good advice about what I needed to do regarding my future transportation needs. I felt that he was honest and really looked out for my wallet. I also found Nikita, the receptionist, to be very helpful and kind. Would I recommend this shop to others?? I already have. The brother is taking in his Nissan next week. read more

They were pleasant and courteous and they honored my warranty on my AAA battery gave me a new one with a new warranty. I would definitely go back to this place read more

Preferred Rocks! Mark, Anthony and the guys there really care. From our old 1967 Firebird to our 2000 Trooper, we have always received great service. Its a real neighborhood shop we can trust! read more

I can't say enough about these guys, they are honest, reliable, and very competitive. Used them a couple of times so far and am very happy. Trusted them with some services for our jeep with 120K miles, They were less than 1/2 of what the dealership quoted, and about $200 less than another reliable mechanic in the Thousand Oaks area. They are my first stop shop for all of our vehicles. read more

If you are looking for honest, professional, and friendly mechanics... look no further!!!!! My stepson's car was towed here after breaking down on the road. What amazingly good luck! Turns out it not only needed the current problem (crack in radiator +++) fixed but a whole host of other fiascoes were waiting to happen (old car!). Most other mechanics would have gotten it running again by fixing the problems at hand, but Anthony did a complete check on the car and found thousands of dollars in problems soon to surface. We decided the car was not at all worth it to fix. We would have ended up putting FAR more into it than it was worth! So we ended up spending $100 for diagnostics instead of $1200 ish for just the initial fix to get it running. REALLY honest guys! Not many people would talk someone out of spending that much at their shop! They are also just nice guys. We will take our cars here for maintenance and repairs now! read more

They were the best. Kept me informed of the time and cost. No surprises. Left me with a print out of items to keep an eye on and photos to back it up. Cleaned my engine compartment without even asking for it. read more

My car was towed there by AAA when it wouldn't start. My son who called AAA signed a form stating Estmate at the top. He did not get an explanation of what he was signing. In fine print it said he was agreeing to pay for the work $120, in fact he was led to believe that was the cost of the entire repair bill. There was no work done on the car. The $120 charge was for a diagnosis of why the car wouldn't start. We were quoted $530 to replace a $56 starter. Repair estimates for this service range from $350 to $530. We decided to have the car towed by AAA to have the car repaired by a different shop. They will not release the car until we pay the $120 "diagnosis fee". This is not what I consider a free estimate. I have extensive experience with car repairs unfortunately. Never has any mechanic charged for running a two minute diagnosis scan on my car. And never have they refused to release my car for towing when I decided to have the car taken elsewhere. Customer beware! read more

I chose Preferred Auto Centre because they were on the list of AAA approved auto repair places. I called ahead and they told me that they give free estimates, so I took my car in. Unfortunately, they did not stick to their word and charged me almost $60 to get my car out of their garage so I could take it somewhere else for the repair job. At minimum, it's false advertising, and at worst, it's fraud. I won't be recommending this place to anyone I know. read more

My father always said, "You can judge a repair shop by the cleanliness of the place." That is so true of Preferred Auto. The office and restrooms could be in Architectural Digest. But their professionalism and work ethic surpasses the decor. They have taken care of my car from the first oil change. The car is twelve years old with 145,000 miles and runs like new. They look after everything, from the tires to the window wash fluid. They'll drive you home and pick you up and even wash the car! Absolute perfection. read more

Very relaxed and honest approach to providing service. They document everything very well and spend time letting you know exactly what needs done and why. I spent more than I wanted to, but I know feel more comfortable about taking a road trip in the summer heat with a car load of kids. I would recommend Mark and his team. read more

Unbelievable service. I just called to get an second opinion when I needed a new air compressor on my relatively new car that was just out of warranty. Anthony suggested that since it was so new out of warranty that I contact GM directly to see if they could offer some cost assistance. I did just that and he saved me roughly $1350 in cost to fix the compressor and another issue that I wasn't going to address because it wasn't worth the cost. Unfortunately, I had to do the work through the dealer instead of somewhere else to get the assistance. I just can't believe that he would make a suggestion to me that made him no profit and the dealership should have made themselves. Amazing and would definitely bring my car here if I had another issue based on the fact that apparently they operate on the idea of looking out for and doing best by their customers! Imagine that in an auto shop!!! read more

Anthony, Mark & Team are great to work with! Straightforward, honest, reasonably priced and excellent customer service! I was referred to Preferred Auto about 6 years ago by a co-worker who had been using them for years. They kept my original car in great working shape until it was time to trade-in, and now I trust them with my new car. They provide excellent clear communication throughout the process, give you options that work in your budget and are one of the most professional mechanic shops I've worked with. Added bonus: AAA discount and shuttle ride to/from your home/office, making having your car in the shop a breeze. read more

Outstanding! My son was on his way home to Orange County from Santa Barbara in our 01 Ford Expedition, it barely made it up the hill into Thousand Oaks and was making a noise like "a go-cart." Calling AAA to get a tow, it was too expensive to tow to Orange County, so they referred Preferred Auto. I called, and spoke with Anthony, described my problem and he said to have it towed to their place and he would look at it in the morning (it was nearly 4:00 pm). Based off of my description of the problem, he thought it was a spark plug. Long story short, he diagnosed it and it was a spark plug issue. They fixed it and did a thorough check of the entire car. Its difficult to really know who you are dealing with in this situation, but being it was a AAA referred location and speaking with Anthony - it put my mind at ease. I wish I was closer, as I would definitely take my car back! read more

Very attentive to what I needed and called me a few days later to be sure everything was okay. Gave me advice about things that could/should be done in the future. All within a very reasonable price range. I will be back, I will bring other family members cars and will recommend to others! read more

I had brought my truck to this repair shop to have my gauges fixed. This was in good faith based on reviews from Google. I was terribly misinformed from those reviews. When I dropped off my truck originally, I felt confident that I had found a good repair shop. By the time I had gotten my truck back, I was very disappointed in the service provided. My truck was with them for over a week. My truck still needed work done to repair another issue, the backlighting of the gauges, that should have been fixed during its week long stay. I called them to fix the other issue, and then they gave me the run around, saying they would call me back when they figured out how to fix the backlighting. I have since taken my truck to a dealership and they repaired the issue in two days by just replacing the entire cluster. This is under warranty mind you. So the cluster should have been replaced from the get go. Avoid Preferred Auto. They are incompetent and you could find a much better option for auto repair. I give them two thumbs down and in turn a one star review which is being generous. What a waste of my time. read more

AAA directed us here when our 2008 Camry developed a problem 1500 miles from home. They took us right in, shuttled us to and from a nearby mall, and sent us on our way within a few hours. They truly went above and beyond. When their supplier couldn't/wouldn't deliver the replacement part as originally promised, they went after it so we could get back on the road that afternoon. Most importantly, they didn't hose us over. The total cost was very reasonable... much less than we expected. They are nice honest people, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them or use them again. read more