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Don's Auto Service
Rating Details »
Categories: Auto Repair, Smog Check Stations [Edit]
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights899 San Jose Ave
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 282-0800
57 reviews for Don's Auto Service
wow. Here's how it went: 20 minutes ago, I called Don's, and said :"I have a nail in my tire, and i'd like to see if I can get it patched?"
Him: "sure, come on down."
Me: "Now?"
Him: "sure, anytime."
20 minutes later, and only $20 lighter, I'm back home with a patched tire. can I say wow again?
I took my car here to get service for an oil change/typical maintenance plus to check my brakes checked out. Normally I take my car in to get fixed at my cousin's shop but since Don's is closer to my house (and lately I've been REALLY busy) I decided to come here to get my car serviced for an oil change/maintenance and to get my brakes replaced.
I've come to Don's previously to get a smog check and was satisfied with their work. Based on the reviews here I decided to give them a go. Don and his wife are very nice and friendly people. They definitely give off a friendly neighborhood vibe and are honest people. They charged me a reasonable price for the work they performed.
Unfortunately for me, the work they performed on my car was sub-par. I knew I needed to get my brakes replaced and Don replaced the back pair. I noticed that after I picked up my car, my brakes were still squeaking and my parking brake was making weird noises. After replacing my brakes they should not be making such noises at all.
I took my car back into my cousin to assess the work that had been done to see what was wrong. It turns out they used generic brakes instead of specifically using my car brand's brakes (which is why they were squeaking). My cousin went to the car dealership to buy the brakes needed for my car and replaced them. Also they did not do a good job sawing off my hand brake and did not align it property when putting it back on (which was why it was making weird noises).
Basically it would have been better to bring it to my cousin's shop in the first place b/c all of the work had to be re-done. I spend around $250.00 for my work at Don's and had to spend another $275.00 at my cousin's shop to re-do all of the mediocre work done by this shop. Lesson learned... I'm not bringing my car here again.
They get 1-star b/c they were really nice people. .
Sitting next to me as I write this is a receipt for under $200.00 bucks for a repair that was previously quoted at just under $4000.00 bucks. What a great place, really! They fit me in a busy day twice and worked while I waited and worked out a way to fix my problem that was in my means.
They're like an old school neighborhood shop, the kind I grew up around. I like them and will never, ever go to anyone else if I can help it.
Excellent service. No nosense. Appeared knowledge and efficient. I would go back and I recommend them to anyone.
C
excellent service! these guys know what they are doing i drove up waited 5 minutes and they helped me get a smog check. didn't have any waiting area and that bugged me but the smog was fast and efficient.
I used to work at a bodyshop and we took all the cars here to get smogged.
This was not because of some sort of obligation or special treatment...
It was just because they are rad.
Honest, reliable, personable, friendly, funny, genuine, good, hard-working people.
Exactly what you want from someone you trust to work on your vehicle.
Now my father takes his cars here and I do, too.
And today they alerted me to a potentially dangerous and/or expensive mistake that a Southern California shop made on my car and they are completely ruling for that!
Thanks, you rock!
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Took my shop to Don's for an oil change. They were super friendly, which in my experience is rare for mechanics. The only reason I give 4 instead of 5 is because it was a little pricier than I normally pay - although honestly I don't mind paying a little more for great service.
My girlfriend had been using Don's for many years, and many vehicles, so I thought I'd give them a try. At this point, they've worked on my truck several times, and have always done a good job. I have to admit that it is easy to be put off by the absolutely dumpy appearance of the business, the poor lighting, the seeming lack of any modern technology (like computers). However, they do seem to get the job done, with integrity, and at a reasonable price.
Most recently, they installed a component that had an issue that compromised another component (components anonymized to protect the innocent!). When I brought this to their attention, they took care of the first problem, replaced the collateral damage, and sent me on my way, with a smile. Of course, everyone should do this, but since everyone doesn't, I'm that much more grateful for this odd little hole-in-the-wall of a shop.
So, yes, I'd recommend them heartily!
Drove by here needing a smog check, didn't have an appointment. I was in and out within a half hour. Good price at $32 plus certificate. Looks like they do good work, too. (place by my house charges $35 and that's allegedly cheap for SF).
I've been coming to Don's on and off for 10 years. It's true there are some jobs that they don't want to do - and will tell you to go somewhere else, but I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I probably wouldn't want to work on my volkswagon transmission either!
My father was also a mechanic, so I have been around shops quite a bit, and the great thing about Don and his shop is that they are not trying to take you for a ride. They diagnose problems quickly and only suggest the relevant repairs unlike dealers who would sooner replace 4 parts than 1. I have often gone in sure that I would owe hundreds of dollars and come out with a 72$ bill. They have been especially good with brakes and engine check-up items for me.
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My truck starter motor died last week but luckily I have a stick shift so I could still roll start it and I'm an eternal procrastinator so it took me about 2 weeks to get up the nerve to send my little baby in for a new starter motor. 2 weeks of hunting for downhill-facing parking (actually not so hard in SF) and fear of stalling my truck somewhere flat finally brought me to my senses. Some guys at work recommended Don's. I roll in at 7:30am (they open at 7am) after calling the night before.
Amazing moment #1: they said come right in.
I get out my bike to ride the rest of the way to work and it has flat tires, the mechanic doesn't skip a beat, he says bring it in, cuts a piece of fuel hose, rigs a way to put air in my tires and off I go.
Amazing moment #2: they call one and a half hours later- not only is my truck done, it's done for $100 less than everyone else I talked to.
Sweet fuel injected happiness!!! I can turn off my truck at the fuel pump once again and in all other flat areas!
Don's Auto Service gets a big 5 stars and I should probably thank all ya'll good people on Divisidero who gave a push when needed from time to time- thanks for doing the right thing.
PS- don't even think of turning off San Jose St. if you are southbound- Google is egregiously wrong here, turn off Mission St. Also, try to pick up your rig immediately, there is almost no parking here. Finally- sure you can save a buck or two by bringing in your own parts but you get no warranty action so factor that in...Happy Trails
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Who likes having to have their car repaired? No one. Duh. And I think its especially stressful and intimidating when you are in a new city where you don't know a good mechanic and have the added fear of being ripped off. Also, go ahead and multiply that by three when you're a woman.
So needless to say I was dismayed when the Service Engine Soon light came on as I was leaving work on Wednesday. NOOOO I thought. Not now! I just paid to have my crown replaced- I don't need this! Not now!! Please go off, please go off. I promise I'll be better to you... I'm sure you guys have been there. And anyone who has knows you're just S.O.L and its time to go in.
But since I live in todays world, I had to go and google it first! Once I realized there really wasnt a way around a diagnostic, I came to Yelp. Double DUH! :) Well I called a number of places, the highest of the most reviewed of course, and prices ranged from $90-160!!! Ouch! Just to find out whats wrong. Thats just wrong, IMHO.
Well just when I was ready to settle and drive out to the $90 spot, I decided to ask a city savvy coworker if she had a recommendation. She did, and thats where Don's Auto comes in to save the day. And they did. Not only were they the cheapest diagnostic at $70, they are the most friendly, helpful, timely, explanatory mechanics I have ever come across.
I brought my car in around 7:30am and went to a lovely little coffee shop(Nervous Dog) around the corner to wait for the diagnosis. He called shortly to say that I needed an oxygen sensor replaced. He said that he had called to have the part delivered and that he could have me on my way by 9am. The part was ~$30 and the labor was ~$90 and so for $200 and a two hour wait I was fixed and ready to go. He was honest, he showed me where the part was and explained what it did. There were no surprises, no extra charges and no BS.
It's a family business and they were very friendly and provided excellent, honest, reasonable and quick service. I was at work by 10 and ready to hit the road for Easter weekend without engine lights or worries.
My heroes! *Sigh*
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The service here is unbelievable. And by that, I mean good.
The moment I drove up, Dave approached me like an old friend and kindly asked how he could help. You don't get this at the dealer. Now that I think about it... the dealer sucks.
I came here for a smog check and it was done within 15 minutes. Outstanding. There was a credit card machine issue, but waiting while he had it fixed wasn't a problem because there are letters from happy customers stapled to the walls of the waiting area for you to read.
I just sold my car, but when I get another one sometime in the future, I'll be sure to bring it here.
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The reviews were right. Honest repair shop, quick, friendly and competent service for the right price. They fix what is broken and that's all. I'll go back.
I just bought a used Subaru Outback and had it for a month before I noticed an oil leak. I was worried I might have bought a lemon, so I took it to Don's expecting bleak news. Turns out it was just a leaky oil-filter adapter. They diagnosed the problem lickety split and called my attention to a few hoses I might want replaced. They were honest and courteous--everything you want from a mechanic. I'll be sure to use Don's again.
Seriously, why are these people so nice? First of all I called four places to find out how much a 90,000 mile tune-up on my Saab 9-3 would be. Don's came in at $400 (the lowest of the four quotes). Then they only charged me $290. Huh? They were done with everything in one day. Have recommended a hose replacement on my cooling system (which I was expecting) but said I don't need to do it right away. They called me in the middle of the day to tell me everything they were doing and to give me an updated quote (lower than the original by $110). And they made me laugh at 7:00 AM (My husband didn't think that was possible). And now my car isn't doing that herky thing between first and second gear.
I wish these guys did dental work.
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When I needed a smog check for my DMV renewal, I had ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what to do. So I came on Yelp, did some research and selected Don's Auto Service. The staff was extremely nice, even over the phone when I called to confirm the $40 smog check fee. In the phone call, the guy even asked me if I knew how to get there, which I thought was great, not something you typically encounter at auto places.
The lady at the desk was also super nice and chatted to me and the bf for about five minutes -- ALL ABOUT YELP! It was a great experience, and my smog check was done in about 15 minutes. Very efficient, and I'll definitely think of Don's if I ever have any car-related issues.
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Spectacular service, probably the best I've had in SF.
I took my Subaru Outback there a few months ago for an oil change. They noticed water in the oil and diagnosed it as a blown head gasket, an expensive repair that's also been typical for Outbacks of that year. I was steeling myself for the big bill, but they discovered that it was a lesser repair, and charged me way less.
Everybody at the shop, and I mean *everybody* is super-cool and friendly. Even the mechanics chatted with my 9-month-old daughter when I dropped off my car there. Plus the location is very walkable from Glen Park, Bernal, or the Mission.
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This was the last straw after several smaller annoyances.
I went in to get my door handle replaced. The mechanic put the handle on, but it wasn't set into the door properly so it stuck out of the side. I asked him to fix it and he sent me to his boss. The boss said, "The way I see it, if the door handle isn't broken and the door opens, my job is done."
I said, "So you don't care about the quality of your work?"
He turned and walked away. I went to another mechanic.
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What a breath of fresh air. Wait this is an auto shop. Hot damn. These people are awesome. Called down the street (Pacific Heights), "how much for a smog check? $65? Ok, thanks." Called Don's. "$40.25 out the door." Done Jackie.
Not only are these guys and gals 100% above board, they are super nice and friendly. They pulled a car out of the way, put mine up on the machine and had me out of there in under 20 minutes. I almost thought I was in wonderland.
This place is a find.
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I just had another incredibly great experience with Don's Auto. We were sure there was something wrong with the suspension or steering on our car. It just didn't "feel right." Expecting a big painful repair bill. Took it to Don's Auto and they checked it all out, found a nail in our tire, fixed that, and charged a minimal amount because they didn't have to do any repair work to the steering/suspension.
I used to take my car to the dealer because I thought I could rest assured they would fix it right, use all the right parts, etc. What I found, however, is that they would predict an indiscriminate amount based on what they thought might be wrong, and then charge me that much. The dealer once estimated $600 to fix the non-functioning headlights on my car --- I took it to Don's Auto and they changed a couple of fuses, installed a new battery, and I was on my way for only $170. I feel pretty sure I would have paid all $600 to the dealer. Don's Auto actually trouble-shoots your car and then fixes what's wrong with it for a fair price. They don't "fix" something that isn't broken!
Everything has been said........
They are wonderful people and I have trusted my old junkers to Don and Dave for many years... They are extremely knowledgable... and MOST important, they are honest!
The Wonder Dogs thank you for saving the vehicle SO many times!
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For years I took my old car to Don's and they consistently did excellent work. I've never had a complaint and have always been pleased with their work. Don & Dave (and Bruce Tassi - see other review) are undoubtedly the most honest mechanics I've ever dealt with. I wish I still had my car so that I could take it over there and shoot the bull with them for a bit.
* Don's Auto Trivia: Dave pans for gold as a hobby... ask him about it when you're there.
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I was really impressed with the customer service here.
I was going overseas, and I had to renew my car registration before I left. My car had to be smogged, and I foolishly left it to the very last minute. I called the shop, and they said they could get the job done in about 20 minutes. So I raced over there.
When I arrived, they asked for the smog test info I'd gotten with my renewal notice. "What smog test info?" I said. Turns out there are different smog tests, and they needed to know which one my car needed.
I didn't have the info with me, and I have to admit I was a little pissy at the prospect of having to go back home and get it. The woman at the desk was really nice to me anyway. She really wanted to find a way to solve the problem. Then one of the mechanics came over, and he knew what kind of test my car needed. So I didn't have to make a trip home, and they got the test done really quickly. I left a happy customer.
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It's hard to find a trustworthy auto repair shop, but these people are the real deal. I went in because the check engine light was on and there was something leaking under the engine in my Jeep. They diagnosed it as an issue with a power steering hose and a front pinion leak. They fixed the damaged hoses and said we should take care of the pinion leak before any long trips. I took it in for the second repair (front pinion) a few days later and again, they fixed it same day. Each time I went in, they explained the problems to me, showed me the cracked hoses, where the leak was coming from, etc. The prices were totally reasonable.
I first went to Don's because they were the cheapest I could find near me. After one visit I was sold and now all of my friends go there too. I have a junk car that requires a lot of attention and I don't want to spend more then I have to on her. Don's understands that. They do a great quick cheap job. On top of that they are friendly and funny! I no longer dread my car breaking down because I know they'll take care of me. Its a family business in all the best ways. Seriously, they are wonderful. I have never had better mechanic and I have had junkers all my life.
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Wow a honest upfront repair shop in san francisco
Took my car in for rear brakes at 745am and it was done
at 915am and at a very fair price. No waiting room but many cafes's
down the street.
The owner and his son are there working as well so I feel I am contributing to the local economy not some chain and Carol who handles the phones and keeps everyone on their toes is awesome to chat with.
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Very friendly, in and out in one day, inexpensive. I plan to visit them for all my service needs for my 2002 Chevy TrailBlazer and 1995 Mazda Miata.
My girlfriend took her ancient Camry in, also had a good experience.
This place is great. I've been here twice now, and these guys are friendly and honest. I've been surprised with how little I had to pay each time. They're a hard-working bunch. I love them!
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It took 4 phone calls and one visit to this shop to learn that they wouldn't work on my 1990 CRX. Why didn't they say that on the first phone call? The shop was untidy, with car parts listing everywhere on the floor. They did not inspire confidence. There's some kind of yelp phenomenon going on here with the 5 stars.
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These guys are way cool and always give the "what's up" nod when I walk by. They have the cheapest smog check around. They're quick and efficent.
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Don's auto has been taking care of my car for 5 years now they are honest, well priced and $40.25 for a smog with certificate wow where else can you get that in the city. They explain everything no gimics or sales pitch and are very patient with me as I know zero about cars I will not go anywhere else for my car needs.
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I went in for my first CA smog test. Everybody that I dealt with at Don's Auto was fantastic. My main person made me feel like I have known him for years. I felt right at home and got a great deal. I passed the smog test (apparently Subaru autos are almost a gimmie for the test), and I was on my way. I did not even have time to sit down before they were finished. Since I recently moved to San Francisco I did not have a repair shop that I could trust. I do now...Don's Auto is my car's new home away from home.
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I was sorely disappointed. I went in for an oil change. Informed them of the maintenance light alert. Got a call that the maintenance light was caused by low brake fluid, which they topped. They also said that my roters were bad and had caused my rear tires to wear out and that it would cost $400. I resigned to pay. Then I got a call that they were fine but that my alignment was bad and that I needed new rear tires. They suggested that I take my car to some tire shop in the Mission.
Because I worked near Wheel Works, I took my car in promptly for the alignment (rather than going to the recommended place). They did the alignment but told me that my tires were fine! WTF?!
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Don's Auto Service is the best place I've ever taken my car to. She loves it and wants to go all the time.
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Excellent service, fast, pleasant. They quoted me $45 to change my Jeep's oil and $20 to check the brake linings and I was in and out in 40 minutes. They rotated my tires, filled them with air and didn't try to charge me any more than the quote or say I needed add'l work done.
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ok so they're good but NOT cheap. so i recommend you ask around. several of the reviews on here are from folks who don't know cars much, so fyi. also if your car needs parts, say brakes, a starter, etc. I recommend that you source them yourself! then bring them to the mechanic. most all of the shops mark them up, sometimes considerably. oh yes, maybe your not sure if it needs that part? well parts places will let you return them.
so try this:
say you THINK your car needs brakes, get the brakes from Kragen or Napa, etc. then go to the place, and say "do I need brakes". And if they say "yes you do" then you say "Great, they're in the trunk, put them on" That way you are only playing for labor. btw. don't labor charges seem to be $150 an hour, though they say it's $90, that's what it turned out to be for me, as I waited around for the work. hm...
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Bottom line, $32+8.25 = 40.25 for smog check with cert. No tricks or games as advertised. Great price, friendly and straight forward people. I will do business with them again in the future. .
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I love these guys. I've been going to Don's auto for almost 5 years and they have never _steered_ me wrong. The price is always reasonable, the service is friendly and my over driven Toyota is a testament to the garage because it just keeps going and going. My truck is very important to my business so I'm really happy to have found Don's Auto. I trust them implicitly.
What can I tell you. My car was due for it's 60k service (actually a bit overdue) I called the dealer and he gave me a price. I called another shop and their quote was about half. I called Don's and they gave me a great price. The thing with garages/mechanics is trust. Well, people of SF, I'd say trust the folks at Don's.
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