Sometimes in life, you are lucky to be in the presence of real deep expertise, experience, and knowhow that you're actually a little starstruck. This is Mike and Matt. Keeping these vans going is clearly a passion for them. Honest, straightforward, and great communication. It was a real joy to have them going over our 85 Weekender and talking through it. I came in needing a new clutch but also really was hoping to find out more (we've only had the van for a year). They indeed went above and beyond and it felt so good driving away knowing that some safety issues, leaks, and other improvements got taken care of. The piece of mind I get from bringing our Westy here is priceless. read more

The best decision I made after buying my Eurovan was working with Mike and Matt at Valley Wagonworks. Their experience and expertise with these quirky vans sets them apart from other VW shops -- but their commitment to helping their customers is what makes them truly exceptional. This last weekend, Matt helped me troubleshoot a TPS error which hobbled my van in the middle of a roadtrip. He coached me on the right questions to ask local shops to ensure they'd be able to perform the right diagnostics and even took the time to communicate directly with the local shop to point them in the right direction to perform an adaptation to attempt to resolve the issue. Thank you Matt and Mike! read more

I was stranded in Sonoma. 4p on July 3 called up Michael, who guided me on what to do. I rolled into his shop at 4:44. one hour, and a new alternator was installed and I was on my way. Micheal is a one of a kind human. his knowledge and expertise and kindness are refreshing in our current climate. heal fast MZ and enjoy the Wild West. sincerely tami, roberto, and Stella Blue II. read more

See all

Michael and team are the VW van whisperers. This is the spot to go if you have a VW van. We have had two visits to this shop for our Eurovan and the service has been fantastic. They hone in on the issue right away and get it done. We have also appreciated the suggestions and tips for things to look out for going forward. Aside from the fantastic skill level, these are just nice people who truly love these vans and want to keep them going. Highly recommended. read more

I cannot recommend this shop enough. After a bad experience at another well known shop in Berkeley, Mike & Matt were able to quickly guide me through the process needed to get my van back on the road. They answered all of my questions, and were patient while I got my finances in order. At no point did I feel like I was being "up-sold" on unnecessary additions to my 85 gl vanagon. Having a rebuilt engine installed was a huge decision for my partner & I. Matt did a really clean install, and had the van ready in the time frame discussed. Mike (owner)walked me through the work performed (Matt was out that day) and has always taken time to address my concerns. Since the engine was installed they have stood by their work 100%. I'm so glad we took our vanagon to these professionals at Valley Wagon Works. Shops like this are few & far between. read more

Valley Wagonworks - Auto Repair Near Me - San Rafael, California

See all

Mike recently restored a 2002 EuroVan Weekender for us, we couldn't be more satisfied. I was referred to him when looking at a Vanagon in Fairfax - word of mouth. Right off the bat, he demonstrated deep knowledge and expertise about these vehicles. He listened to my list of concerns and he basically knew exactly what was happening with each of them before I could finish. He documented all issues that he found in his estimate (which he dropped the transmission to do) and he walked me through each suggested repair in detail in person. He's extremely thorough and will go to lengths to do a proper long-lasting repair that most people won't. If you're interested, he'll show you the parts that he replaced. Since our job was on the larger side he offered some services at cost as a value-add. It's pretty lucky to find someone who is as passionate about their work as Mike is. There are never less than 20 vans in sight around his shop, so I guess the word is out. read more

Valley Wagonworks - Auto Repair Near Me - San Rafael, California

I can't recommend this business enough. It's hard to find a mechanic you trust with your old westy but these guys are the real deal. They are diagnostic wizards - thorough, timely, and their prices are reasonable! They got my Westy is tip top daily driver condition while I was in SF. I moved to LA - wish they were closer! Thanks Valley Wagonworks! read more

Since Michael has taken over I have taken my car to him twice. He was very kind to fix a broken Excelerator cable and had the car ready the next day without an appointment. The second time I had an appointment to replace a faulty clutch slave . It was ready the next day and the car is not a dailey driver. Truly a very skilled and competent mechanic. Thanks, Michael read more

Not much more to be said. Michael knows these vans inside and out. Not the cheapest, but neither are these old vans. He spends the time explaining what is happening with the van and making suggestions. Never a hard sale, just allowing you to make an informed decision. Thank you! read more

Mike was fantastic as was Matt. They did a pre purchase inspection for me. Mike was very thorough and patient going over his findings. His experience and knowledge and his innate integrity made me feel very confident in my decision. read more

Matt and Mike are fantastic. Solved my Vanagon smog problem. Did exactly what they said they would do and in the time frame promised. Couldn't ask for any better service. Thanks! read more

Amazing work! Michael did an outstanding job overhauling a mothballed Westy from the City back into roadworthy condition. Just look at his garage--the volume speaks for itself. Proactively took care of known fire hazards, cleaned up some sloppy battery work from a former mechanic, new suspension, cooling, the list goes on. I couldn't be happier and he has my business going forward. Remember, Yelp is an extortion racket. It's important to leave legitimate reviews for local businesses who deserve them. Support you local shop owners. read more

Mike is clearly knowledgeable. We took in our 1997 VW Eurovan Camper and he checked it out bumper to bumper. He answered all our questions without hesitation and gave a clear sense of mechanical priorities. Thank you Valley Wagonworks. Highly recommend. read more

I brought my 82 Westy to Paul for a post-purchase inspection (I know, probably should have done a pre-purchase instead...). Paul and his assistant let me stay in the bay with them and watch them work, as well as show me various how to do various things while the bus was up on lifts. Very knowledgable in aircooleds (and apparently watercooleds as his daily driver at the time was an 85 Westy). They gave my bus their blessing after fixing what needed to be fixed (i.e. Paul noticed that my rear lights/turn signals were mounted upsidedown, I would have NEVER known, got the stove/fridge working, etc.). I know bring my bus there once a year for a once over and highly recommend them to anyone else. Tell him the guy who had the microwave installed in his Westy sent you, he'll know who you're talking about. read more

Fabulous, old school VW repair shop. Plain spoken, mellow, super knowledgable, owner/mechanic and his crew make you feel like you're going over to a good friend's garage to get help with your VW. I've been to good VW shops all over the Western United States and I'm glad this shop is close to home so I can keep my '78 Westy happy and healthy. read more

Valley Wagonworks - Auto Repair Near Me - San Rafael, California

See all

Love these guys. They keep my '85 Vanagon running smoothly and do a great job holding in their laughter when I come in with the most ridiculous problems. And, as I'm sure most of you vanagon/westy/bus owners know, the car projects are pretty much never ending. From tiny interior things to major engine work. Thanks to this team my van projects are getting done! read more

I wish I could give Valley Wagonworks 6+ stars! Mike is the best in town - a masterful mechanic and all around great guy. He's worked on our 1990 Westy (Isaac) over the past few years and we genuinely love going to his shop to catch up, swap stories, and troubleshoot together. Trusting, fair, and incredibly skilled - your VW would be lucky to hang with Mike and his crew! read more

My van has found its home at Valley Wagonworks and Michael is the van whisperer. As Vanagon owners know, most of the pieces of my car are a ticking time bomb. Michael's 26 years of working in VW buses shows in his deep understanding and ability to troubleshoot any issue I've ever had. Knowledge and excellence of service aside however, it's his thoughtful, pragmatic approach that sets him apart from any other mechanic I've ever worked with. He understands what to replace when and why, and also what might not be worth the money but worth keeping an eye on. He's kept me on the road and ready for adventures but always with sensitivity to my budget so I feel knowledgeable and in control of parts, fixes and decisions. He's the best! read more

See all

These guys really saved my a** today! I use my bus for work and so when it conked out on me today...I was panicking. I called up Valley Wagon Works and Mike told me to bring it in right away. Paul, the owner, and Mike did an amazing job at getting me fixed up and back on the road in no time! I can't say enough how special this shop is. Paul and his guys were super friendly and hospitable even though this was the first time they had serviced my bus. I will be back here for ALL of my work in the future!! My wife says Paul is a big teddy bear! :-) p.s. They are very fair and reasonably priced! read more

Paul is the man. He brought back to life my '70 Type 3. The man knows what he's doing. This is seriously the most honest and reliable shop i've ever seen. Stop wasting your money and time, go to Valley Works! read more

This place is a sham rip off. They are rude and arrogant. Completely unprofessional and con artists. Avoid this place at all costs. I witnessed them swapping out parts from one Wagoneer to another. These were people's own cars. Disgusting and the whole shop should be shut down. read more

Mike is honest, straightforward, and attentive to your mechanical needs as requests. Can't say that about many mechanics.

Wow! Best auto mechanic experience ever! I've found my new VW shop!! Mike really went out of his way to help me out at 8pm on a Saturday night when my alternator died on my '90 Westy. He was knowledgeable, fast and just the friendliest, sweetest man!! Definitely check them out! read more

Valley Wagonworks - Auto Repair Near Me - San Rafael, California

Valley Wagonworks is outstanding. Mike is a pro at fixing anything Eurovan related. He is very detailed and takes his time explaining the necessary repairs. Thorough and trustworthy, Mike always does an exceptional job. Thrilled have him in the Bay Area! read more

I found Paul by looking at the GoWesty site for local VW Vanagon repair garages, and then going to the reviews on Yelp to see what others have said about him. Based on those two things, I decided to bring my newly purchased 1990 VW Vanagaon camper to his shop for a check up. Paul is a great guy. He is so relaxed and confident, friendly and totally chilled out. I trust him completely, and he has not let me down. He clearly loves his job, and is also very good at what he does. He did a fantastic job on my camper. What I love about him is that he is honest, reliable, professional and inexpensive. If you live around here and have a VW camper, he is the best. Thank you Paul! read more

Paul is a soft spoken but supremely competent VW wunderkind. He's generally working solo or with one assistant, and has a dedicated following, so he may be booked solid - but will always try to squeeze you in. I have 2 VW Vanagon Syncros - one which is factory the other which is heavily modified. I've tried the guys in Redwood City and Berkeley and didnt have the attention to detail or sensitivity to cost. I've since replaced every major mechanical part once I built the confidence and relationship with Paul. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Paul for anyone looking for a guru and friend to work on their ride. But would steer any overego'ed type A control freak somewhere else.... I don't want you to damage the only mechanic in the Bay Area I trust. read more

Paul is the best guy for your VW! Super cool dude and a very good mechanic. Honest and affordable service:)

I think this should pretty much sum it up: when driving my westfalia home, I looked down and notice I was speeding on the freeway, for the first time since i've owned it! read more

Mike fixed a problem that a dealership could not figure out over the course of a few months. He popped my '99 VW Eurovan van right up on the hydraulic life, moved the drive shaft around and replicated the noise that I'd been hearing for months. Had it fixed in one shot. When I got there, I was shocked at how many VW vans were around the shop - probably 20. It was like an FBI body yard for VW vans. After Mile fixed my van super quickly and figured out the problem when the dealer had no clue, I know why. If you can get your VW van here, there is no reason to go anywhere else. I would NEVER take my van anywhere else ever again. Mike's the best. This may be the first thing I ever wrote on Yelp after using Yelp for years. This guys is that good that I just felt compelled to spread the word. read more

Wow, I can not agree with the other two reviews more. I've had my '73 Westy for 12 years now. Being new to Marin, I didn't have a clue on where I could take this member of the family. I followed the reviews and went down and met with Paul. What a nice guy!. He was happy to look over the van and told me all of the issues that it has... being 36 years old that was to be expected. I told Paul I wanted to spend no more than $500, so that I could take it out for the weekend to Napa. He got me to Napa and back and now I am wondering where to go next. Thanks again Paul..... read more

I can't give enough stars for the service, kindness and help that Paul and Michael provided us when we were on a road trip and our 67 VW Bus was acting up!! They are truly great people and helped fix our bus and we were on our way!! They are honest, fair and very generous!! read more

Paul is Amazing. We were looking for a Westy, and he ended up selling us his granddaughter's who wasnt using it anymore. He's been an amazing friend and generously gives his time and advice. He's extremely knowledgeable, knows Westys completely, and his rates have always been fair and affordable. We LOVE Paul. read more

Helped me out in a real pinch. Passing through from out of town and they got me fixed up in no time!! Great stop if you need good service

Paul and Michael are just outstanding! We just brought our 84 Westy in for a check up and review before taking our first camping trip. These gentlemen are patient, fully aware of everything in a Westy, and treated up to a primer as to what to do, what works, how it works, for what to be careful and attentive, and even provided us an education as to the way in which the top extends! These are super good folks; and, we are glad that we have found such professionals. We look forward to lots of years with these folks. read more

Look at all of the five star reviews! These guys deserve 6. All I have to say is that in addition to all of the timely, quality work they did on my 87 vannagon, they also resecured my hula doll to the dash as an added touch. read more

Paul and Coby rock! We take our '84 Westy here and she gets treated right every time. They're so knowledgeable and are great about helping you understand the issues and finding the best solution. They're very accommodating too, always doing whatever they can to get your vehicle running right. They are true VW enthusiasts; it's such a relief to leave our van in such good hands! read more

I dropped by one morning with a whining noise coming from my Syncro amidships and asked Paul, Coby, and Michael if they could help me track it down. Even though they had three vans already in the garage, they took time out of their day to throw mine on the hoist and help diagnose. Everyone there was good-humored, patient, and helpful. I wouldn't hesitate to bring my van back for any repairs I needed done. Thanks guys! read more

Coby and Paul make this place amazing. I wanted a difficult modification. There's no money in those time consuming "figure-it-out-as-we-go" tasks. But they jumped in to help and pointed me to other craftsman when if fell outside of their fields (shout out to welder Gino Mira next door!). Now I have an amazing one-of-a-kind car AND I know it's safe and expertly done. I'm grateful to live in Marin where conscientious businesses like Valley Wagonworks still exist. read more

Amazing, long-standing Volkswagen repair shop that will take care of all of your needs. I have been a customer for many years, and always leave the shop feeling completely satisfied. The guys are all extremely friendly, helpful, and dedicated. Thanks Valley Wagonworks! read more

Great guys that have helped me out on my 1979 VW Transporter a couple times. Very knowledgeable and fair.