G M Auto & Smog

Reviews

Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.

  Nina Martin
3 weeks ago
I went into this auto shop with the most random little issue. I honestly wasn't sure where to start or who to go to. I called my car dealership who told me they had no openings for two weeks. After finishing a coffee at Handlebar, I decided to check out G M auto across the street. I felt really uncomfortable approaching them with so little idea of what my car's problem was, but the woman at the front desk was welcoming and genuine. Miguel was nearby and heard the conversation, and came out to diagnose my issue. I expected what would have happened at a dealership: checking in with someone who wouldn't give a straight answer, then being pushed around for hours, with no answers. Miguel fixed my issue in 2 minutes. It wasn't a difficult fix, but elsewhere, they would have found a way to make it difficult. I'm forever grateful for the humanity both employees showed me today at G and M.

  Drew McClure
a month ago
Family-owned small business feel. Love the waiting room. Friendly staff

  Rick Dunkley
5 months ago
Mary and crew are so knowledgeable about all automotive questions and problems, Miguel is a excellent mechanic and are great for anything you need smog ,brakes, ect.

  Rob Davis
a year ago
I went in for a smog certificate and I told them that to please do it with the VIN # as I couldn't find the registration .They said fine no problem, the truck passed and they handed me my smog certificate. However, I failed to notice that they had mistakenly stapled another cars registration to my smog certifcate. I took this paperwork to AAA and said specifically said I would like to pay for a current registration on the provided smog certificate. They said that would be $161, then I paid that amount in cash. I walked out with my new registration with a 2024 expiration date and put it on my truck.Two days later the city of Santa Barbara had my truck for an expired registration. It turns out I had paid the registration of the one stapled to my smog certificate. So, the city of Santa Barbara said they didn't care and that I owed them $170 for ticket. 805 towing then told me it was $985 to tow my truck from Haley street to their yard by the airport. I went to the next morning to the smog place and they said it wasn't there a problem because I should've read the paperwork before I left. And they refused to pay for anything. And to top it off AAA said they would not give me the name of the person whose registration I did pay. So I am out the $161 for that deal also. So subsequently I am out $1500 for a stapled registration to my smog certificate by GM Automotive.Service: Emissions testing

  Courtney Schatzman
a year ago
I trust these guys! How often can you say they about a mechanic? Mary is great to plan my maintenence and easy to work with. The team there is honest and kind and the rates are reasonable. They show you the work done and give you the print outs and talk over the CPU codes with you. They are always upfront about the work they plan to do. I frequently have them do oil, smog, brakes, filter, most items except the car computer work on my cars and my work vehicles.

  stacey hamer
8 months ago
Mary is amazing. So are the crew. Pulled up with no appointment and was done in 20 minutes! This is the place I've been going to for decades!

  Kelsie Munroe
4 months ago
Fast and friendly service. Thank you GM Auto & Smog

  Tiffany Koed
a year ago
Best smog place in town hands down. Honest and family vibe plus you can spend the whole time they work on your vehicle reading all the fun quotes and signs in the office.

  Rachel Ortega
5 years ago
These guys are amazing! My car battery died and I jump started it several times, but each time I would turn the car off it wouldn t start again. I called them on such short notice and they told me I could bring it in and they would take a look at it. They replaced the battery and, since I was there, I asked if they could do an oil change too. While I was waiting they recommended a great restaurant and a park that was nearby after to take the dog. All in all, a great experience with their service and their pricing is fair. I will definitely be coming back!!

  Hung Tran
6 years ago
I went there for smog checks of my vehicles the last three or four years. The owner couple is always pleasant and courteous with the customers. The service was often faster than I expected. I will definitely continue to return in the future.

  Brandon Robinson
7 years ago
I called them because my car was making a strange noise, and Alex diagnosed the problem over the phone. Their prices are great and the whole experience of taking the car in and picking it up was delightfully peaceful. I hate dealing with car repairs but with these guys its was hassle free. They clearly know a lot about cars and treat their customers fairly. This is my new go-to mechanic.

  Daryl Abrams
10 years ago
This is the best smog test station in Santa Barbara. I have lived in Santa Barbara for 35 years, doing regular smog checks on our many vehicles. GM Auto is excellent, and the best one I have used yet. We have already taken three of our cars there this year, and each time we were completely satisfied with their performance. They set appointments and do the work quickly, on schedule as promised.This is in stark contrast to the horrible experience I recently had at another Santa Barbara smog station, Star-Tech Automotive.DO NOT GO TO STAR-TECH!!!They said I needed to spend $1,100 to pass my car. They first charged me $85 additional services after failing the first smog check and quoted the additional $1,100 work required to pass. I had the work done at my regular for $350 and returned for the "free re-test", but they refused, saying that the $85 additional spent did not count as a repair for the free retest. Star-Tech said I needed to do an additional $600 work in order to pass. I immediately took my car to GM Auto and it passed on the first try.

  Kristin Dahlen
7 years ago
I called at 8:15 am to see about a smog. The gentleman who answered said he could do it morning or afternoon and that it would take 10 minutes. I had an appointment at 9 so said I'd be there shortly after 8:30. Got there around 8:40, pulled it into the bay, gave him my paperwork and went inside to pay. While inside had a very pleasant conversation with the lady behind the counter as well as a fellow customer. The gentleman doing the smog came in about 5 minutes later with my finished smog paperwork...I hadn't even paid yet!! Was in and out of there is less than 10 minutes!! Highly recommend this place and will come here for all my cars! Thank you for making my rainy Friday morning!!

  Brian Etzi
11 years ago
Great people to work with. Always used them for smog but now I'm using them for regular maintenance. Another shop wanted to charge me $100 to check out maintenance light so I decided to go to GM. They did it for free and said it was nothing. Definitely have my business from now on.

  Mary Ortega
a year ago
Great shop, great people, great service. I will take time off of work to bring my vehicles here, as they are the best! Highly recommend.Services: Auto emissions testing, Smog certificationServices: Auto emissions testing, Smog certification

  Melissa Perez
6 years ago
My first visit with them was just to have a car inspected which I was hoping to buy. When the man showed up to drop of his car for inspection he was acting suspiciously to the mechanic & owner, and when they ran a first simple diagnostic they quickly discovered the system had been tampered with. They stopped the full inspection routine, also noticing the car looked as if it had prior accidents.Thankfully they informed me of this, and helped prevent me from buying a lemon.They work on my car when it needs attention, and my grandma has trusted them for years as well.

  Jordan Oakley
5 years ago
My first ever negative google review, yet truly deserving. Miguel and Mary were both rude and inconsiderate. When I first arrived at the shop they ordered me around their shop like I was a dog "You. Come here. Look at this" with no manners whatsoever. They did not pass the smog test because of a TECHNICIAN error, even after speaking with an out of town referee (state of California representative) whom confirmed the technician error Miguel would still not pass the Smog. Be careful as once a smog is not passed (regardless of whom is at fault) other technicians will be hesitant to re-smog. The referee station in santa barbara is currently closed until further notice.When I was in the shop they treated their other customers like dirt.The saying stays true " pay peanuts and you'll get the monkeys". Save yourself the headache and time; pay an extra few dollars and go somewhere with a better reputation.After threatening to report the business because of the technician error, the owner gave me a refund. Time is more valuable than money. Go elsewhere.

  Lance C
10 years ago
Great experience, fast and friendly, would bring my car back to get fixed here. Had to get a smog done to transfer my car from nv to ca, it took 18 minutes, (had a 9am appt and was done at 9:18)wasn't sure who to go to so I read the reviews and this place got excellent reviews. I did notice a complaint about Scott who I met and he did the smog on the vehicle, what a nice guy, super friendly, don't know what people were bitchin about him for, he's super nice & very friendly, great job Scott thank you! Will definitely return for other work to vehicle if needed. .....Lance Caras

  David Rachford
8 years ago
In and out in 15 minutes, without an appointment. Friendly staff, and homey, old school lobby. I didn't even have enough time to read all the hokey signs in the lobby. No surprise on the fee, $43 including the certificate. My FaceBook friends reccomended GM Auto & Smog to me, and I'm glad they did.

  Simon Ryder
7 years ago
AVOID AVOID AVOID. These are incredibly dishonest people, running a sham operation, in which they completely dissolve themselves of anything.I took my perfectly-running car in, for a routine smog test and when I left to take it back to the DMV, it quickly developed a serious problem. I took it back, where they hooked it up to their machine, said nothing was wrong with it, demanded I sign a piece of paper attesting to that, or pay for them to 'properly investigate'. Again, this was a problem that was not present before they touched the car. They also then went on to say I'd driven 40 miles since I'd last seen them (I'd left 30 minutes previous and simply gone to the local DMV and back).When I had a problem with this, the proprietor, who obviously has anger management issues, cussed me out and then racially abused me (attacking me for not being American), before demanding I leave.I have always liked to think that mechanics creating their own problems with cars was a thing from the bad old days...but today it happened, in a small business in Santa Barabara. Don't let it happen to you too!

  lousybreaker
2 years ago
Quick, kind, and reasonably priced. Second time I have been here with my 06 Honda Ridgeline. Highly recommend and will be coming back

  Krista Rhodes
4 years ago
Small and locally owned, I love the attitude and the "here you're family" help. They actually checked the car and said despite the gauge warning, I didn't need an oil change yet.

  Timi Brown
2 years ago
G M Auto & Smog provides fast & affordable smogs. They also have great people working there! The lady behind the counter is sharp

  Roxan Dart
2 years ago
It's an awesome place. They are fast and efficient. Make an apot and they take you right in and in about 15 minutes your smogged

  Matt
11 months ago
Worst service ever. The mechanic doesn t even want to do his own job! If you don t like your job quit.

  Scott chortkoff
a year ago
Mary, Andy, and Miguel are awesome! They do great work at a very fair rate!

  Charles Ray
3 years ago
Mary and Andy are the best. They take great care of every customer and every car and get you in and out quickly and with a smile.

  C P
9 years ago
This is the go to place for efficient and honest auto and smog Services. I have been here many times, and have recommended this place to my family and friends. Great place, great services.

  Rachel Mahler
3 years ago
Small mom n pop shop I'm proud to support. I always go to for mechanical questions. Redid my exhaust manifold on my old van and everytimr I need a smog, this is the place.

  K C.
3 years ago
Everyone here is awesome! I came in right before closing and they helped me with my turn signal .Friendly, helpful and professional.