Finding a mechanic who genuinely understands vintage cars is incredibly rare, but the team here at Rudys automotive is absolutely I brought our 1965 Volkswagen van in for brakes, tuning and general engine maintenance and they exceeded every expectation highly recommend. read more

Rudys Auto - 1965 Volkswagen van camper - Auto Repair Near Me - Oceanside, California

I normally go to a trusted mechanic I've used for over 10 years, but based upon an associate's recommendation, I took my vehicle to this shop instead (which was closer to my home). Unfortunately, this turned out to be one of the worst and most unsettling, unprofessional, and unethical auto repair experiences I've ever had. My car initially had a serious issue on the freeway where it started losing speed, slowed to a crawl, and began smoking from the rear tire area, necessitating having to pull off at the nearest exit. I took my car to this shop, and after about a week, I was billed for all new rotors, front brake pads, and calipers. They claimed the master brake cylinder was inspected and had no issues. Less than a week later, the exact same issue happened again--losing speed, slowing down to a crawl, smoke, and burning smell while on the freeway. I had the car towed back to this shop, where it sat for nearly a month with almost no updates unless I followed up with them. When I finally got the car back, I was told the brake issue was "fixed," but they had discovered the master brake cylinder had a leak. Instead of replacing it properly, I was told the mechanic just "screwed the line very hard" into the cylinder to stop the leak. That does not sound like a safe or professional repair. It gets worse. When I got home, I noticed about 500 additional miles on my odometer--far beyond what any test drive would require. This raised serious red flags. Then, while cleaning out my car, I found a marijuana vape pen in the driver side door pocket. I don't vape or use marijuana at all. That discovery was alarming and makes me believe my car may have been used for unauthorized personal use while in their possession. Not only is this completely unprofessional, but it could have put me at legal risk had I been pulled over or searched. I also later learned that new rear brake pads had been installed during the second repair job, even though they were never mentioned on the invoice. Why was this hidden? What else was done to my car that I don't know about? When my car slowed down again the second time, it could have resulted in a very bad accident. To top it off, one of the mechanics at the shop that was friendly to me during the first visit, refused to make eye contact when I picked up the car the second time--avoiding me entirely--which only added to the feeling that something wasn't right. I truly regret trusting this shop based on a personal recommendation. What should have been a routine repair turned into a stressful, drawn-out ordeal that left me questioning the integrity and safety of their work. I strongly recommend you avoid this place and stick with a mechanic you know and trust. read more

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Absolutely best experience I've ever had taking a vehicle to a mechanic. Rudy and the crew came highly recommended and now I see why. They got my out-of-state truck running at the right temps and smog ready for California, the communication was excellent and effortless, it felt like an old friend was helping me get my truck right. Huge thanks to Rudy and the fellas at Rudy's Automotive!!!!!!! read more

I took my Honda fit by Rudy's to see if they could do anything with the body damage I had done. Yellow streak all down side, headlight broken etc. they got rid of the yellow that day . Fixed rest of damage week after. Even took of fender to pound out dent at no charge. I was beyond happy with the work and price.a place that didn't take advantage of a senior citizen. I can certainly see why my neighbor likes them so much. read more

Honest, upfront and great quality work is what you want from a mechanic! Quoted the work for my car and gave me options to choose from for my breaks. Friendly service. Did not try and offer extra services I didn't need. I will be coming back here for my car needs and recommending this place as well! If u need an honest mechanic this your guy! Very happy with my new breaks won't be squeaking all over Oceanside anymore read more

Today was my first time getting repairs done at Rudy's and I can gladly say they'll be my new go to repair shop! They've got great deals, very knowledgeable, and great customer service. They were able to replace my brakes, fix my AC and replace my transmission filter in a timely manner. They're transparent about their prices and what repairs should be done asap. Thank you Rudy's! :D read more

Our daughter lives in Carlsbad and needed a new transmission. Rudy did a great job with her car and was a great guy to work with. Highly recommend! read more

I just got all new brakes and bearings done on my Toyota Corolla and I couldn't be happier with my choice to go to Rudy's Automotive. Johnny, Rudy, and Victor were all amazing and so helpful and kind, offering rides back and forth to my house when needed. Communication was so easy and made me feel like the guys really did care. Johnny was wonderful and gave me several different price options to fit my budget. I felt like I knew these guys for years after just several interactions with them. I'm so happy I've found a new place to get my car worked on where I don't feel like I'm going to get ripped off or scammed. Thanks guys! I will be recommending friends and family your way :) read more

Great service and great skills. My daughters truck had several things that needed to be done. He did a great job and the bill was reasonable. It can be hard to find automotive repair shops that are good and trustworthy, so I'm really glad we found Rudy's. I highly recommend Rudy's. read more

Rudys Auto - Auto Repair Near Me - Oceanside, California

Rudy is a fantastic mechanic, I can't tell you how many times I have just shown up without an appointment & he has fixed any issue I've had with my car. I have been ripped off by many mechanics throughout the years and Rudy has always been fair, thorough and gets the job done right. I took my car to his shop yesterday unannounced, Rudy was actually out of town. I called him told him the issues I was having, he called his team and had it fixed in 20 min. No joke. Something had popped out of my drive shaft. Most places would have charged me for a new drive shaft $500 and he had the problem fixed for $125. My mother in law has also started taking her car to him and he has actually delivered her car to her on a couple of occasions. Rudy is just a good guy & takes care of his customers. Do not take your car anywhere else than RUDYS AUTOMOTIVE! read more

I've a had problem with my car lately and I took it to several different mechanics and they always gave me some other kind of BS answer and told me something different, one guy didn't even look at the problem I was talking to him about and went straight to another "issue", but I got recommended to Rudy's by a family friend and I have to say this man is the most honest person that will ever work on your car! I told him what was happening with my car we took it for a test drive and he told me instantly what it was and didn't give me the run around! Pricing was good and he doesn't try to gouge you like these other mechanics, def bring your car here! read more

The only shop I will take my car! I had a tripe planned and last minute some issues started happening with my car that the dealership couldn't squeeze me in for. Rudy took care of it and we were able to take our trip with no issue! Rudy is honest and very fair/reasonable with his prices! read more

I was having trouble with my 7.3 van and I called up Rudy to see if he could take me in ... I explained to Rudy what was going on and that I tried to fix it on my own but needed help at this point...Rudy took time out of his day to help me and stayed on the phone to help me troubleshoot what was going on also gave me his number if had any questions ...he was sure I could figure it out my own with out having to spending unnecessary extra money in this day and age. Sure enough his advice got my Van running again and he didn't charge me a dime for his knowledge and time! If I was to have something more serious happen I wouldn't hesitate to bring my diesel van here to be worked on! Being a mechanic in this day and age is truly a dying art, only few are left that really are dedicated to there craft and helping people get back on the road and that is something that should be respected! THANK YOU RUDY ! read more

I am a car guy and have dealt with many mechanics through the years. Sadly to say most of them are dishonest and many of them do not know what they are doing. So we moved here in Oceanside about six years ago And honestly I have tried to find a good mechanic ever since I've been here but have been pretty much disappointed. I have my own business and I know that honesty is the best policy but skill and expertise is equally important. So I asked one of my clients if they could recommend A repair shop with an honest mechanic who knows what he's doing. I was recommended to try Rudy's auto. So I need work done on my car but my wife needed her car air conditioning fixed before the weather got too hot. So she went to Rudy's and when I picked her up I was able to meet Rudy and was very impressed with how he handled himself and was very professional. The work he did was excellent and my wife is very happy with the results of her air conditioning now working perfectly. So I am convinced that he will do a great job on my car next when a set up an appointment with him in the very near future. Thank you Rudy and team for your your great work. read more

I wish I could have posted a better review of Rudy's auto dismantling but unfortunately I never got a chance to do business with them because even though their office was open they were not around. I went in and stood at their counter for over 15 minutes and yelled for someone to come up to the front to assist me and no one showed up. I subsequently called and got no answer on a couple of tries. Maybe some type of loud buzzer should be used to get someone's attention if there's only one person around. Sorry about the bad review read more

rudy and his crew are the best they explain any kind of problems and get it fixed asap i highly recommend this shop thank u guy's so much for ur hard work read more

I was referred to Rudy and go to him for every car problem now. He's always so detailed in his explanations and always gives me a breakdown of what he thinks can wait to get fixed and what is crucial to fix right away. He never pressures you to make a decision and gives you time to think about what you want to do. Awesome customer service and always so friendly!!!! Rudy's Auto is the best!!! read more

Always go to Rudy. Honest, good prices and most important a great mechanic! I would never go anywhere else. Considering I'm not "a car guy". He breaks it down so I understand what I'm paying for. I send everyone I know to Rudy's. read more

Brett next door at Richard's Tires said he'd get me fixed up with Rudy and get my car repaired. Brett made it seem like the issue could be handled quickly. They've had the car since 8AM. It is now 3:40. I have not received an estimate yet. I've called both places a few times today and was promised that an estimate was coming soon. Nothing. When I called at 3:30 to ask again about an estimate, Rudy was rude to me (actually raised his voice), saying I hadn't made an appointment and they were very busy and he wouldn't be able to get to my car until tomorrow. He was also surprised that I would need my car back before they closed at the end of the day. There was an utter lack of communication between Brett and Rudy, who supposedly work together often. Furthermore, Rudy could've told me during the first call of the day that he might not get to my car due to business. I was not led to believe I needed an appointment. Nobody told me they were busy until the end of the day. I will not come back to either establishment, nor do I recommend anyone else go there. read more

Rudy did an amazing job fixing my car. I loved the service that he provided and more. When my wife dropped my car off he provided her a ride home since she had our infant daughter with her. He stayed open past working hours to ensure I got my car back the day I needed it. He's a very cool and chill person. I truly loved the great work he did on my car. Feels like my car is running like new. Will definitely be bringing my car here for any other services needed and have already recommended his shop to my friends. read more

Rudy is fantastic. I had a freeway tire blowout and by chance, saw his sign and pulled in for help. He was able to find a comparable tires and installed them and I was on my way. I found he also offered all car repairs. I had just had a previous mechanic shop clutch repair and my car didn't perform well. He looked at the problems, quoted me a fair price, and now my 1992 Mazda Miata is running well. I find his honesty and fairness refreshing. Thanks Rudy! read more

This is the place! I was in a jam with my R.V. and they helped me like i was family. They have exceptional customer service and they take pride in that. If you want a fair and amazing price go here. Hands down go here! I havnt experienced great customer service in years and if you want it go here! read more

I went to rudys because i had a suspension problem. Rudy showed me exactly what was wrong and told me he would have it done in no time. 30 minutes later he tells me hes finished and he pointed out another tiny issue i might want to be aware of which I liked. Told me he could change it today but i said i was okay. He didn't charge very much which i appreciated! I will be going back to Rudys for any other future repair! Thank you Rudy and Raul! read more

Rudy is the best mechanic I have ever had in my 53years, being a female often you are taken advantage for not knowing timing belts and etc... Rudy has always been honest and he loved my car so much that I sold it to him for pennies because I knew he had done a lot of work on it to appreciate my Land Rover! He re built my Volkswagen from ground 0. Took a long time but he did a great job. He also worked on my daughters Volvo and she noticed the difference before Rudy and after Rudy's care. I am a true believer of honest people and he is one of them. Very detail oriented. read more

In May this year...thank GOODNESS...someone referred me to Rudy!!!! In short, funds were not only LIMITED, but hardly there. Comparative to ~FOUR other estimates, "Rudy's" was the LOWEST from them ALL by @least....now, thaz b/w us...hahahaha...but, juz let me say this: Rudy/"Rudy's" is, (not was) a GodSend; pure & HONEST; not try'n or doing shaky business. This guy LOVES cars - -knows them inside/out; does repairs compassionately & keeps his customers' concerns w/PASSION. Thx, Rudy/Rudy's! read more

I am usually very wary of mechanics, I like to do whatever work I can by myself. I recently got into an accident and needed repairs for my truck. The shops in Carlsbad quoted me at over $2000. A friend of mine referred me to Rudy and upon talking with him, I felt at ease. His quote came in around $800, and he fixed it promptly with parts that were at fair prices. I would recommend Rudy's to anyone. read more

I brought in my vehicle after it broke down on me, Rudy was able to get me a quick estimate and even expedited the repairs for the next day. Quick and honest service! read more

Rudy had done some work on my Honda CrV last summer. I live in the Bay Area now and My Honda was stolen out in front of my house in Oakland late March; my search for a new car was complicated by the need for social distancing during the pandemic. I found a 96 Volvo on Craigslist that looked too good to be true and could not find a mechanic in SF who would be willing to check it out for me on short notice under lockdown. I was able to FaceTime Rudy and at the last minute he took time out off his busy day to walk me through checking it out and advised me that it seemed like a solid purchase. It was something I couldn't have done alone. As always he was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. I have been driving around for a couple week so and couldn't be happier with my purchase. read more

Rudy did repair my ex car and my wife's ex car that gave us more time to search and bought our new cars few years later. He is excellent mechanic. Thank you, Rudy! read more

I trust Rudy to repair my vehicles at reasonable prices. He gets the job done in a reasonable amount of time. He did a great job with my daughters truck and I'm happy to recommend him. read more

Rudy is the best!! I've always loved driving older vehicles and when my 2000 Xterra started having issues I went through 3 different mechanics before I found him! I was actually referred to Rudy by another mechanic who couldn't figure out (after a month of issues) what was wrong. I felt such a sense of ease and the knots in my stomach melted away after talking to Rudy and him reassuring me that he would get to the bottom of it and get me running right again. And he did! In only 2 days I had my rig back! And for a fraction of what other mechanics were trying to charge me. And he threw in a tire rotation for free because he actually CARES and didn't want me ruining my (expensive) tires. This all happened over a year ago and I have called him with questions a few times since then and he always has the answer. Fast forward to last month, I decided to buy a truck because my landscaping business has really taken off, and I hit up Rudy to ask some questions about trucks (he also offers the service of inspecting used vehicles for the buyer) and he ended up buying my Xterra! Saved me the headache of trying to sell a pretty beat up but awesome rig! He sees the value in older cars and knows how to fix them all! GO SEE RUDY! He's friendly, honest, and hard working. Best in the biz! read more

I have a 2003 GMC Sonoma that is my daily driver and i absolutely love driving it and do not want a new vehicle nor pay for a new vehicle. The down falls of owning an old car with a ton of miles is that things are going to start breaking down. My A/C heater core exploded and my truck was stalling and leaking coolant and oil all over the place, i thought thats it! This is going to cost a fortune and the truck is done for. A family friend referred me to Rudys Auto in Oceanside. I went there met Rudy with my head down thinking hes going to tell me something that is going to break my heart. NOT THE CASE! He was super professional and asked me to leave my truck so he can go over it. A call later on in the day and he knew exactly what the problems were and said he would have no problem fixing these issues. Gave me the quote which was literally thousands less then what the GMC dealer told me. The dealer also told me there was no point in fixing it which also made me very angry because i love my mini truck dammit! Rudy also told me my lil mini truck was cool! I now drive a truck with over 200k on the odometer and it drives like a new car and i will be going back to Rudy with any future problems that may occur. Hands down best mechanic! Honest, reliable and most important, knows what hes doing!!! A true professional. read more

I was a used car dealer in Oceanside for 20 years so asked some car dealers in the area where to take my 74 Ford Explorer. They all recommended Rudy's Auto and they were sure right. He is quite accommodating and very experienced all areas of auto repair. Rudy was able to replace a part, which normally takes three days to receive from Ford, in one day. Also,I was very surprised how reasonable the bill was considering the time and effort involved. read more