Called in to make an appointment about 3 times but ended up not getting an answer so I drove up anyways. I told them that I needed a brake and light inspection for the DMV and luckily I found them after searching and calling other certified mechanics. Even with COVID, they still took my car to preform the inspection. Prices rise since there website update but it ended up being cheaper than one in Murrieta. About $150 with the labor and the certificates for both brakes and lights. Make sure you call and make an appointment before you go in. I was lucky because I was able to just drop off my car for maybe 2-3 hours before it was done. read more

Richard's Automotive - Receipt of the brake and light inspection prices as of Dec 14, 2020 - Auto Repair Near Me - Vista, California

Great service! I brought in my 2004 Toyota Tundra and was able to make the necessary repairs to get it smogged. Very experienced and honest team of mechanics! read more

Do NOT take your car here. You will be an unassuming victim as I was. The power steering cable was repaired on my car however, the next time I drove the car the speedometer was jumping up and down and the digital gages reading different numbers at the same time. Also, damaged the rear driver side door. There are raised bumps infused with dark brown stains on my immaculately clean WHITE Cadillac. Refusing to take responsibility for the damage he caused as I even have photos of the car prior to being dropped off. Of course, a company like this would not have a BBB listing so I have filed a complaint against the business license. My car had NO physical damage prior to taking it here. Dishonset, disrepectful, and lacks any integrity. read more

Do not go here. They are liars. I dropped my car off this morning at 8:30 after calling the day before to ask about their service fee and how long it'll take to diagnose. They told me it would take no more than 2 hours and that they would call me once they figured out the problem. After dropping off my car at 8:30 I called at 3:50 then again at 4:15 because nobody answered the first time and they said " oh we found the problem and it's going to cost a lot but I know a guy and I'll make sure it's cheaper. But you can't pick up your car today because you close at 4:00. So you can pick it up tomorrow" I knew for a fact they closed at five based off google so I had said okay but then called back and said "hey I see here close at 5:00 and I need my car tomorrow." Then he said I could pick it up. They lied, didn't call me when they found out, and wouldn't have called me until the next day." DO NOT GO HERE. read more

I went to Richard's for a smog check. I went there because I used to go to AJ smog who retired recently. I unfortunately did not look at the prices. My car is a 2005 vibe. He charged me a rip off price of 90.00!! When I left I had called another smog check in Vista and for the same make and year he quoted me 58.00 out the door. I just got totally ripped off by Richard's automotive!! My husband and I will never go there again!!!! read more

Toke my 89 bronco to smog it over all it was a good experience, now it's my go to place

Was a great place in the beginning but being a long time customers means nothing now. Having spent thousands with Richard only to be not acknowledged with an estimate after calling back several times with promises of a call back. We live 55 miles away but always took to him but no more! read more

I've been using Richard's for 6 years for all my vehicles. I won't go anywhere else. Unfortunately Richard passed away last year, but his family still runs the place with the same attention to fine service at a fair price. Believe me, you will appreciate their integrity and quality. read more

Simply an honest, reliable and dependable mechanic; locally owned and an established part of the community for years. Richard's is the only place we truly trust to service and repair our vehicles. read more

Came in for a state required brake and light check on a vehicle for registering a salvage title. Friendly, got in me in same day. Completed the inspection quickly, repaired one bad bulb for a very fair price and sent me on my way. Overall they were professional, nice, responsive and took care of my truck in a timely manner. Everything you'd want from a repair facility. read more

Richard is very helpful and patient ! My dad was in a car accident and he was more than willing to help him out with the endless insurance calls back and forth ! Highly recommend him ! He will help you ! read more

pbean Aug 02, 2015 Richard is honest, reliable, reasonable, highly competent and informative. My wife and I have been taking our Acura Integra, Toyota Sienna, and Honda Fit to him since he opened his shop in 2009. He has over 35 years experience. He has definitely gone above and beyond for us before. He looks out for our wallet-- If it doesn't need repair for immediate safety, he tells us for how long we could put it off safely. read more

I have been going to Richards since he first open his shop there on South Santa Fe. He was always been fair and honest and a pleasure to deal with regarding any one of my cars. They would even drive me to the movie theater since I live in Carlsbad to watch a movie while my car was being worked on. I was very saddened to learn Richard had passed on last year, far too young. Rip Richard. I hear they are still open but in all honesty Richard was the catalyst of knowledge and honesty. read more

I had taken my 2000 Ford Ranger to North County Ford in Vista, CA for a problem with a rough engine idle and clicking valves. After 1 1/2 days and $325. I was told that I had cracked heads or valve problems and it was recommended that I replace the engine heads for $5000. or, as a second option I could purchase a long block replacement for $7000. in order to solve these problems. In addition I was told that there were problems with the catalytic converter which should be replaced at an additional charge. The North County Ford service department had replaced this engine once in 2010 for the exact same problems with "Ford Quality Rebuilt" parts. I declined all service options and elected to take the pickup elsewhere for repairs. From other peoples reviews I decided to take my pickup to Richards Automotive at 707 S. Santa Fe in Vista , CA. I described the symptoms and was told that it was probably bad valve seats and was given an estimate of $1850. to do a valve job or approximately $2200. to replace the heads if necessary. In the end it was the valve job that was required to solve the rough idle and clicking noise. The cost was $1799. which was under the estimate. In addition there was no problem found with the catalytic converter which was an additional savings. In all I found the Owner and technicians very friendly and professional, the commitment for time was met as agreed and the cost was under the initial estimate. I have been driving the truck now for one thousand plus miles and all is well. I would recommend Richards Automotive to anyone needing auto repairs or service. read more

Richard's Automotive is fair and reasonably priced. Excellent, reliable service that I highly recommend!

I had my car diagnosed at a place in Oceanside. They quoted me $800 to fix the problem, I then checked with Ford and they quoted me $735. I called Richard he quoted me $360. When all was said and done it actually only cost me $164. Richard must be one of the only honest mechanics around. He and his wife are very polite and accommodating. I highly, highly recommend Richards automotive. I will be back and I will send all of my friends and family here. read more

First time here, great service, prompt, prices are great... Trustworthy... Definitely will be back next time I need something taken care of.. read more

Richard has been a great place to take all of our family vehicles. They're honest and in several instances helped me without even charging me! I would recommend him to anyone that needs work to be done on their car. read more

Just went back for my back shocks done, and was very pleasantly surprised with how quickly the work got done, the low price -- and Richard catching something small and fixing that. I swear, there might not be a better mechanic working today. Glad I live so close to this shop. read more

Very knowable, fair priced and fast. All he had to do was listen and he knew what was wrong.

Best price and service you are going to get when it comes to brakes and lights. This guy deserves an award for quality of service. I'd highly recommend him. read more

Great work, very fair prices, and we've been pleased with every experience we've had as Richard has worked on 4 of our cars over the past 4 years. There have been a couple of times when he's gone above and beyond in tracking down a part or making sure we were satisfied. There have been times when he's said we can hold off on certain repairs, so I trust him completely when he says work needs to be done. Like some of the other reviewers have mentioned, Richard and Anna are honest and treat people like valued customers. The best auto shop I've had the pleasure to work with. read more

EXCEPTIONAL customer service and expertise owner and mechanics. Talk about honesty, truly not a business that will lie to you. My father has known Richard for years since he first took a 69 Chevy in ...Richard was in HS and work in his dad's shop. I never believed my dad for years and years and years until recently my car had an issue. Wow, I will forever patronize this establishment and refer people to Richard's... A million Thank You's read more

Very honest and friendly. They go above and beyond for customer service and to make sure you vehicle is fixed and running smoothly!

I have never been to such an honest and courteous mechanic. Great work, timely, and reasonable. I've never felt great about taking my car anywhere until I tried Richard's. Family owned and operated you will be shocked at the bill in the best way. Just pay it and walk away before he changes his mind. You will recommend him to everyone you know, trust me. read more

I fill very Blessed to have found Richard's Auto Repair. He has fixed things that my husband and I have paid other shops to do and they did not fix the problem. He has been my go yo guy for all my cars for years. read more

Integrity in an auto mechanic is hard to find, but look no further because I found it! This review is long over due, Richard is the most honest and helpful mechanic I have ever had the pleasure of doing business with. He has helped me keep my Subaru running like a dream for over 5 years and I would recommend his shop to anyone and everyone. Also, I live in Downtown San Diego and despite the distance, I still have my car serviced in Vista read more

First and for most I would like to start off by saying that I have been in the industry for a long time and seen a lot of shops and worked at quite a few all over. I went and interviewed with Richard and his wife, met his employees and i do have to say that the shop does not have a lot of experience and it is NOT a one stop shop. I talked to Richard and it seemed that I couldn't get his attention during the interview that him and his wife set up. It was like once he saw me his mind was made up. His wife was extremely sneaky when it came to the interview and she asked a lot of personal and unnecessary questions and i caught her in quite a few lies also which is unfortunate because its hard enough to find honest people out there and i would have to say that this shop is not ran by Honest hard working Americans. I would not bring my car to them nor would i want to work for dishonest judgmental people. Good luck with the shop but there are far more shops out there that will be honest and have far better prices and better skill level and service read more