I meant to leave this review a while ago. My 1985 Suburban' transmission blew up after I took it to a shop in SF for a reseal (they couldn't figure out how to reconnect the central diff locker...). So I did quite a bit of research and asking around before taking my truck to Ray. It's an owner-operated shop (as in the owner gets his hands dirty as opposed to seating at a desk all day), and that makes all the difference when the owner knows his stuff and has high standards. There were a number of quirks in my 40 years old truck, but Ray stuck to it until he got it back on the road. It's been 2 years and I added 10k miles since then. read more

Fixed my hard shifting van transmission quick and efficiently. Great service. I have used them many times in the past and they are always consistent and reliable. read more

United Transmission - Great service and quick turn around on my transmission rebuild - Transmission Repair Near Me - Albany, California

I have had United Transmission take care of all my transmission needs for many years now, and even though I have moved out of the area, I still trust them to take care of our automotive needs. Our recently purchased diesel truck developed several issues, but Ray and his team got everything working just like new and right on schedule. Highly recommended!!!' read more

Based on their service recommendations I took my Nissan Juke into Nissan for warranty work and indeed needed a CVT transmission.

OK... This whole shop is full of wonderful people!!! How often do you find mechanics with integrity that really care? I was recommended to them by Don's Tires in Berkeley when my Dodge Caravan's transmission went out, and I could not be happier with the result. Michelle and Ray really took care of me throughout the process, and I never felt like I was being overlooked or oversold. (And they really know their stuff.) We need more people in the world like them!!! read more

My truck started making some noises that sounded like a cracked flex plate. I mentioned this to a friend who has an auto repair shop and he highly recommend that I take it to United Transmission. I am so glad I did. From my initial conversation with Ray through picking up my truck with work completed, I felt comfortable with the decision to bring my truck to United. Ray took the time to clearly explain exactly what they would do, he was able to hear the noise, gave me an estimate of what he thought it could cost and we set a date to bring the truck back in. Once they had a chance to take a deeper look at the truck, they found the problem to be less than anticipated and Ray took the time to call me and give me the good news and that my truck was ready to go home at a fraction of the initial estimate. Honest, friendly, professional quality service. Does not get any better than this and they will be my go to shop for trans work in the future read more

I had an issue with my Subaru slipping when it was cold. Steve explained what was causing problem and explained repairs. I am holding off doing repairs for moment but when I repair my transmission United Transmission will definitely get the job. read more

This shop is AWESOME! Called them on a Friday, trying to sort out various road noises and vibrations that I'm worried is transmission related on an '09 manual Tacoma. The person on the phone advises me there will be a test drive, and a flat fee if the vehicle has to be put onto the lift to diagnose. I'm like aight, when can I schedule this (since my normal mechanic books about 3 weeks out at this point)? She's like "oh anytime except lunchtime." I'm like "TODAY???" Dude. So I bring the truck down, and this place is legit - they've got several vintage American-made classic muscle cars strewn about, and about a half-dozen old Ford pickups on the racks. You can tell immediately it's a shop that's run by folks who like to keep old cars running, which I appreciate. One of the two older gentlemen who I take to be the proprietors crawls out from under a rack, talks to me for maybe 2 minutes about the problem, asks for my keys, and blasts off in my truck. He must have taken it for a solid 20-minute test drive, got all the way out on the freeway (because I described a problem at 60mpg). He comes back and informs me that I need a new wheel bearing, my clutch feels fine, and says he can't sell me anything today with a chuckle. Hands me my keys back. That's it. Tell me where else you're gonna find a shop in 2022 that will give you a free assessment and book you on the same day. When it does come time to get that new clutch or maybe my syncro gear replaced, I'll tell you where it will be done: United Transmission. read more

Friendly staff, easy communication, and fast service. Ray got my Detroit Truetrac installed in my differential the same day. Highly recommended! read more

Was referred y our mechanic to United Transmission they were able to see us quickly and resolve our issue!

I was referred to this place by somebody who had a great reputation for honesty but they couldn't work on my car. I lucked out. Larry was straightforward,clear and concise. It was a relief to work with someone who did the extra leg work to find out what my specific type of car needed. Car has been running great. So grateful! I was charged close to estimated price. read more

Came in because my transmission was whining. Ray drove it around for quite a while with me, trying to hear the sound, but only experienced a bit of a shudder during shifting. Without sufficient info to recommend a course of action, he suggested a transmission check up as that might tell them more. I made an appointment and drive away only to hear the whining just a couple of blocks away. I came back and this time Larry drove the car around trying to hear it. He didn't. I hate that feeling when you go to the mechanic and the car won't show it's symptoms. They proceeded with the check up and found metal shavings and bits of transmission in the fluid. I needed a rebuild. They quoted me a fair price and and made sure to finish before my weekend trip, a tighter turnaround than usual. My transmission now shifts smoothly and doesn't whine a bit. Throughout the process I felt respected and listened to. Never did I feel like they were talking down to me or treating me like I couldn't understand. To the contrary, as I demonstrated understanding, or the lack thereof, they shifted their explanation to match my understanding level. Many shops can do good work. These guys pair it with excellent customer service. Everyone has been friendly and helpful even if they normally have RGF (resting grumpy face). I came in today for my 15 day warranty check. Without an appointment, I was helped immediately; in and out in record time. I spoke with a guy who has RGF and he was also super friendly and helpful. Thank you all! I was referred by Albany Tire next door who also does great, reliable work. read more

I've been hearing this disconcerting rattling sound in my 2005 Subaru Forester for several months now. It's gotten worse in the past month. My mechanic/friend said he thought it was the rear differential. I went to another repair shop who was "80% sure" it was the rear differential. I decided to get another opinion from Ron's Muffler Shop (who I also give a 5 star rating to) who gave me a recommendation to Larry with United Drive Line Service. I drove to Albany and asked for Larry. He went with me on a drive and immediately said he thought it was the transfer case, NOT the rear differential. He did a test by disabling my AWD and the noise went away. Bad news is that I need a new transmission ($3000). Good news is I saved the $700 I was about to spend on an unneeded rear differential repair. We left my AWD drive off and Larry said that lots of times people can continue to drive their cars for a long time with a bad transfer case without a problem as long as the AWD is not engaged (thank God, the ski season is over!!!) For all you Subaru owners out there, if you are looking for an accurate diagnosis of a car problem, bring it to United Drive Line Service and have Larry look at it. I'm eternally grateful to him! THANK YOU, LARRY!!!! read more

I originally was referred to them by a company that sells me my tires who also do mechanical work. They have worked on my vehicles at least twice & I think three times. They also have test driven my cars at least 3 additional times saying that they were fine. The maintenance work was done fast. The repair work was done good. I trust them & their judgement. read more

Larry at United got us out of a huge bind. Our car broke down and he allowed us to get it towed directly to the shop. He looked at the car and was able too let us know what we needed done within ten minutes. There were some other issues that came up and United Transmission communicated them quickly so we could get everything fixed. Every time I called to check the status someone answered right away and www able to give us updates. Cars running smooth so far. Highly recommend this shop for any transmission issues. read more

I have been a customer of United Transmission service for over a decade. I am a firm believer that your transmission should be serviced, especially when you come into a new(er) car and want to make sure it has recent fluids. The staff there are friendly; I always say that a business that has consistent staff and management is a sign of good administration. They also, on occasion - perform general automotive repairs confidently and have extensive on-site capabilities. Finding any "expert" these days is hard I know... if you are having transmission problems or you just want to have it maintenance, I would "milk it all the way" (or just tow it) to United Transmission service in Albany, CA. read more

Thank you for rebuilding the transmission on my 1967 Mustang. It was the only remaining part of my car not rebuilt and now it truly runs well. Crisp, positive, and ready to lay some rubber (ha! It's a straight 6) read more

I brought my 81' Chevy C10 in. After being promptly greeted, I met with the owner (I think?) and after a quick test drive he advised me on my best options. I admire an honest, old school type of shop like this. Nice job all. Keep up the great service and knowledge! read more

Brought my car in to get a transmission leak repaired, got a call exactly a week later saying they would not be able to work on the car because it was too low to the ground. Seemed odd that they took a week to tell me that but whatever. I go to pick up the car and the mechanic stalled the car about 3 times while pulling it up. I think nothing of it and say thank you for their time. Soon as I hop in the car I see that it has a new code displayed. I attempt to drive it out of their shop drive way and the car stalls on me as well, I try a couple times but same result. So had to call AAA and get a tow back to the house. When i dropped off the car it was running fine no issues no code, after I leave it in their hands I get it back worse than it was when I dropped it off. 1 star for lack of communication, no work done, and left with another problem to fix on my car. Thanks. read more

Did excellent repair on my car Larry was very kind the repair wAs quick and they called me to come for the repair only when they had the parts super recommended read more

Lary and Ray have always given me great service. The decades of experience these guys have really shows. I always get accurate advice and prompt to quality repairs. They build and balance custom drive shaft and have helped me find u- joints without knowing the part number and application. This is beyond valuable when working on old hot rods. read more

I have the same complaint as another helper about my Nissan/datsun. I just bought the car and knew the transmission was grenaded. Larry the owner assured me he could get a quality transmission from his distributor. A week later I received a call sa in the work was complete. Two days later I noticed transmission fluid leaking and a huge oil spot. I called Larry and told him what was going on. He asked me to bring the car back in. A day later I got it back and all he did was tighten bolt on the fluid pan?!?! I recently been going to Brian at Auto Row smog he is amazing!! Off too he could tell the faulty job Larry and his team did. The transmission isn't position correctly and now I'm looking first gear. Larry will be hearing from me to repai his shit work. I will not take a $1000 loss easily. Seen you soon. read more

I wouldn't normally consider 5 stars for auto repair, but these guys went so above and beyond my expectations. They were careful in their diagnosis, didn't charge me for diagnostic, and didn't suggest anything extra. When they purchased a part that didn't fix the problem, they recognized this before they returned the car to me, took out the part, and charged me nothing. When Toyota told me I needed a refurbished transmission, they rebuilt it for 25% less; I saved over $1000 and got a 1 year warranty. As a single woman walking into an auto repair business, I worry about being taken advantage of--these men were as trustworthy as they come. Larry Jr and Larry Sr run a really efficient and honest business. read more

2007 RANGE ROVER has had a sporadic hard shift between 25 and 30 mph for quite a while. Had it checked by a English car specialist garage and paid over $800.00 to have the fluid and filter replaced. No improvement but at least the oil was clear with no metal shavings. I live with it and 2 years later finally get a transmission fault message. Drives okay but the diagnostic tool confirms problem with a solenoid. New oem transmission is close to 5K for parts alone, Larry hunts down a set of solenoids, makes the repair and the bill is under $1500.00 A month later things are syncing nicely and transmission is doing great. This could easily have been twice as expensive at the other garage and even more at the dealer. read more

I took my newly painted rear end from a '64 Chevy Nova that I've been painstakingly restoring. Larry was fair to work with, explained my options and completed the work in a timely manner. After I picked up the newly geared differential, returned home and began to put the axels back in I noticed an odd pattern on the ring gear. Not knowing much about the standards I gave Larry a call to inquire. He told me to bring it back in and he would take a look. When I did, he explained that it was an acceptable pattern (which matched a specification chart he had) but kindly agreed that he would set it up again for me if that would make me happy. Over the next couple weeks (I was in no rush and told them so) they redid all their work. It did slightly improve the pattern, but not by much. They invited me to approve the setup before they installed a new differential cover I had supplied and they agreed to install my axles as well. I was impressed with how willing Larry was to accommodate my somewhat picky request. As a business owner, I know what that can be like. I think Larry and his team rose to the occasion and I would be happy to work with them again. read more

Communication was not good. Did not return phone calls. They did not fix the car the first time, paid a lot. Second time they fixed the car (sort of) but again paid a lot. It seemed to me that the guy who runs the shop did not have the time to go over any of the issues I was having with the car. Not satisfied. Also if you look at their reviews they are all 5 stars, however that was 2 years ago. Perhaps customer service and repair services have declined. read more

I had my transmission rebuilt on my 2002 Tacoma with 216K and I'm super impressed. After a free road test / assessment, Larry gave me reasonable estimate for a new clutch and rebuilding my transmission. The truck now runs great! 10K miles later and still as good as new. The real big surprise is that I experienced a 22% increase in MPG. It's actually better than new. I would highly recommend United Transmission. Thanks again. read more

UT did a great job, provided information, and the job was under the original estimate!

Top quality, knowledgeable and total professionalism. I had blown my rear diff and I went to UT to get it rebuilt for me. They did a great job in the rebuild and upgrades I request. Nice and friend place. Will be going back to have more work done soon. read more

I've often going to United transmission And drive Lines for work Larry senior and Larry junior has always taken care of meWith great service above and beyond read more

Larry is really great, he replaced my flex plate and starter motor on my 1995 GMC Van with OEM parts. When the new OEM starter motor crapped out Larry replaced it at no charge even though it wasn't his fault. Larry has routinely helped me with minor transmission issues (caused by a backyard mechanic - me...) at a moment's notice with a welcoming smile and cheery what's up? I highly recommend him if you need honest, fairly priced, local transmission repair. /Sam read more

About approximately a year ago I had the good fortune of being referred to Larry by my mechanic at Plaza Auto (Angelo). I made an appointment, went there and was treated very courteously and very professionally from the beginning and duration of the visits. Larry could have charged me much more but was honest with me and gave me an option of just a quick fix that would work fine from his spare parts, or I could order the right part. So, we did. He put it in. It has been working great ever since. Larry is a great mechanic, very honest, very, very professional and I will go to him for all my transmission, drive train and rear end work when necessary. He's great Thanks Larry, Hank..... read more

Brought in my old truck because it was shifting hard. I didn't have to wait long before Larry gave it a test drive (no charge) with me in it to see what was going on (and see output from a diagnostic tool he attached). Apparently the truck a bad speed control module. Larry told me he would order one, and that I should come back after the weekend when the part should have arrived. He would install it for only $100. Since my truck is over 20 years old, I wasn't even sure they would be able to get the part. Came back Monday, and fortunately they were able to get the part. Larry installed it, and went for a test drive. The look on his face when he came back told me a problem had occurred. Apparently, my old truck has an onboard computer that I didn't even know about, but which isn't properly working. Larry found that out by taking the time to call and consult with another independent contractor. Since the truck is old, it seems like it still functions without depending on the computer. However, Larry told me that unless I get a new / properly functioning computer, it's going to shift hard. He doesn't want to hunt for one and then charge me for that (and I could save money doing that myself on ebay). Larry suggests I try putting a new computer in it and see if that doesn't fix the problem; otherwise come back after that. At this point, Larry has test driven my truck 2 times. Plus a phone call to another mechanic who specializes in old trucks / electronics. It's not working, but Larry has spent around 40 minutes on it, and money for a part (he left the new speed control module in the truck). Of course, I'm not happy, but I realize that it's not necessarily Larry's fault that my truck isn't working. I ask, how much is it? Larry says, "For what? I didn't get your truck running. It's nothing." I'm shocked. I even offered to just hand him $20 cash for trying. He refused. I know that every repair shop (like all humans) over time sometimes makes mistakes or has stuff go wrong. But to me, Larry has been a true professional. When or if my old truck needs a new transmission, I want to bring it to Larry at United Transmission. read more

This place really helped me out on short notice. I called and was seen that day. The people extremely nice and very professional and didn't charge me extra for such expedited service. I am very grateful to have been referred to Larry by another well reviewed auto shop. Will most likely always come here. read more

Larry and his technicians are the best in the business. I have been bringing my vehicles to him for at least 10 yrs. Rebuilt drivelines, CVs, two transmissions and a custom 1 ton axle install. Nothing phases them. Believe me when I say, these guys are true masters of their craft. If you want it repaired right (i.e. only what the vehicle needs) the first time, for a fair price (not an inflated one at a dealership or fancy franchise) then GO HERE! I wouldn't bring my rigs anywhere else since they get me to the back country where AAA isn't going to come get me. Lastly, don't just believe me, believe all the business they get from locals, and businesses with vehicles. The shop is typically full. That little metric, just like it is at a great place to eat, is a good thing. read more

Problems: I brought a rear differential (diff) from a Nissan/Datsun to United Transmission and contacted Larry (owner of the company) on Sept. 15, 2015. I asked him to completely redo the diff since I have no expertise nor the tools to do it. Larry stated he did not have a source for some of the parts and asked me to find them. He would charge me only for the labor to fix the diff. I asked him if he could finish fixing it before Sept. 26 because I was going to present my car at a car show. I purchased all brand new original factory parts (bearings) for the diff from a local Nissan dealer. I brought all of the parts to Larry and soon he began to work on it. He called me less than a week later and told me I was missing a part. I obtained the information about the missing part from Larry and found one at another local Nissan dealer. The total for the parts I purchased was more than $460. On Sept 24, Larry called me and said the diff was finished and ready to be pick it up. The next day, I drove to United Transmission and again contacted Larry who stated the diff was finished, sealed and ready to go. I use my Visa card and paid $395 for the service. I brought it to my house and installed the diff back into my car. I drove for approx 3 miles when I noted a horrible sound coming from the diff. I immediately stopped the car on the side of the road. I did not know what happened so I requested a tow truck. My car was towed back to my house where I removed the diff. On Sept. 25, I brought it back to Larry at United Transmission and told him what had happen. Larry asked if I put oil in the diff. I told him no, I did not know I had to. Larry NEVER told me to add oil or it needed oil. When I picked it up originally, he told me the diff was ready to go. I thought that meant he had fixed everything and it didn't need any other service. Even the receipt that Larry gave me did not say "no oil inside" or "add oil before using". Larry stated he will open up the sealed unit and see whats going on. On Sept 28, Larry called me and stated all of the new bushings I purchased plus another part (something called a ring and pinion gear) was severely damaged and would need to be completely replaced. I asked him who would be responsible for purchasing the second set of parts for the diff. Larry stated he would not charge me for the labor portion but would not be responsible for the parts. I told him it was unfair that I had to buy a second set of bearings as well as more parts for the repair of the diff because he failed to tell me about not including oil inside the diff. I am disputing the $395 charge because United Transmission failed to complete a service (not replacing the oil) resulting in severe damage to the differential. read more

I called regarding service on my 96 Ford Explorer. The gentleman named Larry tried to tell me that the solenoids in the transmission came as a set and it would be 1000 dollars. Thanks to previous research I already knew that he was ill informed and that the solenoids don't come as a set they are individual. Seems like he was trying to overcharge me before I even got in the door. If I could give you a lower rating I would thanks. read more

Overall I was very pleased with the level of service and quality of repair performed on my van's transmission. They were very knowledgeable and there was no pressure to do anything I didn't want. When my transmission started acting up on our minivan, I took it to the Honda dealership and hoped it wasn't as bad as I suspected. No such luck - the diagnosis came back as a transmission failure and the "fix" was to replace it with a Honda remanufactured transmission at a cost of $5500. I was shocked at the cost and immediately called around. An independent service shop quoted a price of $4400 to replace the transmission with a remanufactured one. Still in sticker shock, I looked on Craigslist and found United Transmission. I called and spoke to Larry. He explained to me that the problem I encountered was common for the van and that there had been a recall. Larry offered an alternative to the dealer - they would rebuilt the transmission at a cost of $3000 (with a two year warranty). I brought the van in on Monday and by Friday it was ready for pickup on Friday. I was very pleased with the repair and the transmission operates very smoothly - as good as new. A note about the warranty - you do have an option between a one year and two years. It costs approximately $250 more for two years - I ended up with a two year warranty because it was cheap insurance given the reliability of the transmission design (which Larry mentioned to me was the issue and I confirmed on the Internet). Also the warranty is honored nationwide by a network of transmission repair shops ( that are ATRA members) so if the transmission does have a problem, you don't have to bring it back to United Transmission if you are not nearby. Other note - the shop is located about a mile from the El Cerrito Plaza (not Del Norte) BART station. It is walkable but you can ask them to drive to and pick you up from the station. read more

no one is ever happy about dropping a couple grand on an unexpected repair - but long face aside....these folks were great. fair, honest, reasonably quick, free tow {wide area range}. they even pulled my window up that had been stuck in the down position. not a huge deal, but a nice gesture :) i have no complaints...would go back! would recommend! read more

This review is a year overdue. I was having clutch problems on my 07 tC and I was flat broke while studying for the bar exam. Larry worked with me to try every possible fix so I would have a working car while I got the cash together for a new clutch. Some people are just good people. I will always be grateful to Larry and United Transmission. read more