Alan's Auto

Reviews

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

  James Gutierrez
3 months ago
If you're reading these reviews, you're smarter than I. I've waited a few weeks so I could leave a fair review. I knew I needed a new heater core, and Alan gave a much better quote than my go-to place. Three hours after drop-off he called me to say that he broke a nozzle off my radiator. He would charge $1500 to replace the radiator, or $240 just for the diagnostic, in which he broke the nozzle. He refused to inspect/address the issue I brought it in for. It cost me $1100 to fix his diagnostic. I leave 2 stars, not 1, because he was honest about breaking the nozzle, which I verified myself when opening it up. Maybe he's fine to get a sticker, but I'll never go back for a repair. He's gruff, but that didn't bother me.

  Drew DeLillo
4 years ago
They have a cozy waiting room. The guy appears to have done this for many years. Trustworthy service. Opens at 7:30am for inspections, even though it says they open at 9:00am. Gets the job done fast.

  Mattie Jean Roberson
a year ago
If you see a beautiful Jaguar riding around in the Melrose with a big black R on the windshield it came from Al. I needed a $92 part he tried to charge me $800. I gave him $100 that he asked for for the deposit for the part. When I told him how much the part was after calling the dealership, he got really mad. I asked for the money back. He is rude , a liar, disrespectful, dishonest. Shame on you Al .Do not waste your time or money .if I could ve given him a zero*I would have. Will make a report with BB I hope the hundred dollars take you a long ways in life. You re welcome.Service: Vehicle Inspection

  David A Fink
10 months ago
Had one ABS wheel sensor replaced on 2010 VW TDI Cup Edition Jetta. Quickly diagnosed with computer to right rear wheel and installed new sensor in less than 1 hr. Also got inspection sticker day before. Good work at reasonable price.

  Brian Cabral
8 months ago
They are complete scumbags. The put rejection sticker on cars and when the issue is repaired they won't give u a new sticker because they already got paid . Don't go here scammers

  Lauren Berry
4 months ago
I get my car inspected here. Quick and easy

  Eric Lambert
9 years ago
I came and had a good experience with Alan doing an inspection. He went through my car thoroughly and promptly, interrupting what he was doing to accommodate. It was less than ten minutes after I walked in the door that the sticker was on my car. This place seemed to me like an honest family run business with very nice employees who were all in good spirits and didn't mind smiling and saying hello. I did not have anyone try to tell me that my car needed things it didn't like some of the other reviews (and it's a ten year old vehicle).

  Christine Hughes
2 years ago
Do not take you car here! I asked him if he could fix my son's air conditioning and he said he could take a look at it. He called me an hour later saying he could not fix it I need to take it to the dealership and he charged me $90. How can you charge someone for not doing anything? He said it was for a "diagnostic fee" he did not diagnosis it or tell me what was wrong just that it is not an electrical problem.Service: Air conditioning

  Cheralyn McKee
6 years ago
DO NOT GO HERE FOR STATE INSPECTION! Not a big public reviewer, but this was the worst customer service experience I've ever had. I felt threatened, verbally abused, and patronized.Got yelled at by an older white haired man, who, according to other reviewers, may be the owner. He took all his frustration out on me that the state inspection sticker system is down. He spoke with an angry tone of voice, which rose as I prepared to leave upon learning I would not be able to get a sticker today. He was adamant that I should leave my name and phone number so he could call once the system was up and running again. I did not feel comfortable doing so given his behavior. I said thank you, cordially let him know I'd be trying somewhere else later, but he followed me out of his office to my car yelling, "Don't walk away when I'm talking to you! Do you have any idea what it's like to turn away customers because of [the system being down]?" He blamed me, saying "It's your fault you didn't come in on Friday [before the system was down]." Calmly, I let him know I'm sure it's very frustrating, but it's not okay to take it out on a customer (which he definitely lost), and that he was being perceived to be very rude. He kept yelling, but I was too uncomfortable to stick around for anymore and got in my car and left. I will never take my car here for anything, ever.He seems like a very angry man. I hope he can find peace someday for the deep anger and hurt in him that is evidently out of control and overflowing toward other people who have never done anything to him.

  Antonio
a year ago
Went in for sticker. Guy was super rude and dirtied the inside of my brand new car. Definitely unpleasant.

  Alwin Cayas
3 years ago
Alan is a very honest and caring mechanic. Took my mercedes there and treated like hi own, he updated me all the way of what the issue was and what he can do and how he can save money on stuff that really did not need to be fixed or maintained for now.A very honest person... A+++ shop and person.Services: Air & cabin filter replacement, General repairs & maintenance, Auto engine tuning, Oil change

  Brian McDonough
8 years ago
I've never had any work done at Alan's but I've gotten inspection stickers there many times. I always get right in and out very quickly. No hassles or games and he's never tried to sell me anything extra or talk me into a repair I didn't need.

  Art M
4 years ago
Avoid this place. Visited for the inspection but ended up paying several hundreds of dollars in repairs. They 'identified' problems in the car and put a big red "R" on the windshield (without warning me) so that I was unable to drive it, and had no choice but ask them do the repairs. Other reviewers reported similar scenarios so this a regular trap that I fell into.

  Michael O
a year ago
Went in for an inspection sticker , don t go on the first of the month because the owner was pretty grumpy, muttering under his breath multiple times well these people can wait all day . I called a week in advance too for an oil change but I decided to go elsewhere after I watched him berate people (2 left because of it)Service: Vehicle InspectionService: Vehicle Inspection

  Melissa Cannon
10 years ago
Went in for a state inspection and they failed me because they said my headlights were dirty and needed to be rebuffed and glossed. He also said I needed new windshield wipers which I had JUST replaced. Took it to another place without changing anything and even mentioned to them what he had said and they said my lights looked perfectly fine and passed my car. Wasted $30 at this place!

  Ryan Wenzel
10 years ago
I have been going here for several years for my inspection on all my vehicles.Bottom line: if the younger guy is there he will give you a proper inspection in a timely manner and he is a pleasant person.If the old guy (owner) is there, there is a good chance he will fail you for something petty. I saw him fail three people in a row including me. Each one he aggressively tried to convince to come back to get the work done at his shop. He told me a hole in my exhaust pipe (which did need to get fixed but was not a big deal) was a "major problem" and that it was a "serious safety concern" and there was no way he could give me even an approximate estimate until it was "up on the lift". I am not as concerned about his high failure rate as his high pressure sales tactics afterwards. I fixed it myself and got it re-inspected when the kid was in.I still go when the young guy is working because I want him to have a job, but feel bad because I know that criminal of a boss still gets some of the money.

  Dan D
4 years ago
I took my M3 there for an inspection last week. As i watched from outside, about 100ft from where they were doing the inspection down in the bay, i thought to myself wow he's fast at finding that jack pads as he jacked it up. As i watched him do the other side i was like, no way he's on the jackpoints. Sure enough, he carelessly just threw the jack under and proceeded to dent inward the underside of the car. You can feel the bumps under the carpet on each side of the floor boards. If i can't trust them to jack up a car, i surely won't trust them to do anything else.

  James Smith
6 years ago
Awful. Took my car to get it inspected, needed a new e-brake cable an O2 sensor. Fair.This guy throws a red R on the car, making it illegal to drive on the road. He rings me up $1400 for the repairs, said you aren t going to find anywhere cheaper for that work , took my chances with the red sticker, brought it to another local mechanic. Same work done for $700, new sticker.He then did same thing with my mother s car. All it needed was an O2 sensor. Red R again. Took the chance again with the red sticker, luckily got it to another local mechanic who, again, was able to do the work for almost half the price.Two episodes with this guy throwing on an unnecessary red R . It seems his model is to trap customers into his services with that. Do not go here, huge rip off!

  A M
4 years ago
Bad customer service. No one was in the lobby area to answer questions. Due to time constraints I went to ask how long the line and where I am in queue and was yelled at for going into restricted working area. If they had someone in the lobby, then I wouldn't have to go in the no customer area.Waiting area is old and dirty.Service is fast.

  James Morrison
5 years ago
Go here for my inspection sticker. Never had a problem. Always fast and efficient. I've heard the stories, but never experienced it myself

  Daniel Goodhue
6 years ago
Never had a problem with the service or staff. Alan is just an old school guy. Clearly some of these one star people are softer than a cloud.

  Boris Degtev
4 years ago
Alan is nice and intelligent guy. I did inspection and it was so quick I didn't even finish complementary coffee they offer. Great service.

  Mike McDermott
3 years ago
I've been going to Alan's Auto for over 15 years. Great service and great people.Will be bringing my cars back there for their oil change shortly.Services: Transmission, Engine repair, Oil changeServices: Transmission, Engine repair, Oil change

  Alex Rey
2 years ago
Wow don t know where to start the owner is very rude I took my car in my wife s car for expection sticker and he overcharged me and say that the price went up and I always paid 35 for a special sticker and I told him that the car have seven days for expection sticker and he still put the rejection sticker on even though I could ve drive 100 miles in the car would ve been all set I wouldn t recommend this place to nobody hopefully nobody will go through what I went through

  Tom Lin
10 years ago
I took my car for an inspection and left with a suspicious clicking in my tire. Next morning on the way to work I finally found the problem, a one inch screw in the front right tire. When I called he said "what do you want me to do?" I'll never go back here again.

  Adoni V
7 years ago
I went there for inspection sticker and everything was great! Very fast service and they talked to me very nice. I was there for 10 mins top!

  Krista Shapton
9 months ago
Came here for a super quick and easy state inspection.

  Phil Goveia
3 years ago
The owner Alan has the worst attitude I've ever delt with you definitely don't want to use them!

  J Garg
4 years ago
Consistent experience and good work. The place is nothing to look at but Alan and his staff are pros and know what they're doing!

  Toyah G
2 years ago
They were my last resort after driving around looking for a place . No line and speedy service.