They're honest, they are fair, don't overcharge, and it's the only place I take my car!
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7 Reviews
I didn't end up getting work done... the 5 stars is for honesty. I just bought my 2006 corolla from a used dealership and everything was recently changed/fixed/looked at. However, my brakes have been squealing. I don't know much about cars and was really worried about going to the mechanic's, but Yao (I assume he was "Yao) was very honest and didn't try to make me pay for unnecessary changes. He took a quick look and told me the squealing was from cheap brake pads. Other than an annoying squeal, there's no harm in keeping them. He showed me where he was looking and sent me on my merry way. If the squealing really gets annoying, I can go back and get better brake pads for $150. Anyway, I just LOOK like I know nothing about cars and am easy to mess with. Thanks for not doing that :)
Rated for quick and economical smog service and certificate, March 2009.
I hate doing anything when it comes to car stuff. I always feel like I'm getting suckered cuz I'm a chick. But this place is cool. My husband and I have brought our cars here and they are really honest. Had to get brake light fixed and I was able to stay in the car with my dog while they did it. It was super quick and inexpensive.
I was more than pleasantly surprised by the quick and amazing service at this place. I recently got into an accident and my car was deemed a total loss. After learning that I needed to obtain a salvage certificate, I also learned that I needed to have a brake and light certification so that I could re-register my car. I called Yao's at 1:00pm and they told me to bring the car in. After observing the damage to the front end of my car (including the front head light), Calvin advised me that I would need to have the light replaced. I had been told by another auto body shop that the only way they could replace the light was if I completely replaced my front bumper (costing $700 minimum). I was skeptical, but I left my car with Calvin to replace the front light. I returned at 5pm to find my light replaced, AND most of the front bumper hammered back into shape. I was amazed! (and very thankful). All in all, my bill came to $140-- $80 for the certifications and $50 for parts and labor. An amazing deal, compared my prior quote of at least $700.Yao's gets 5 stars for taking my car immediately, fixing it super-quick, and for wayyy cheaper than I thought was possible.
-So I go in.. --I ask the amount.. ---He tells me ----I tell him thanks and leave -----I go other places ------I call other places -------They all quote at min. $100+ more than Yaos.. -I come back to Yaos Auto, because Calvin is no joke.Happened 3 times now - Smog Check, Major tune up & now, fresh, new brakes. No mishaps, no rip offs. Just an entertaining charade about how 'my new blakes go shaky shake if I no change rota'. Thanks Mr. Yao.. you are my car's hero!
So, I made an appointment to the DMV at 3pm. I thought I'd take a look at the DMV site again, see if I forgot anything on the checklist for re-registering a reconstructed salvage vehicle (some backstory: my car was declared a total loss though all the damage was superficial - no engine damage, just replaced the hood, grill, and some other stuff. Not reconstructing the car would have seemed a total waste). And, apparently, I missed the line about "Brake and Light Inspection Certificates". Scrambling, I started thumbing through the Oakland yellow pages trying to find a certified brake and light inspection shop. It's harder than you think! (apparently these guys have to recertify every 4 years). You have to look for two shield icons that indicate the shop is certified, and it was really hard to find those icons on any ads. The first shop I checked "Inca Services" wanted to charge $137 and would need at least 2 hrs to fix. Ick... overcharge much? I tried the internet, and there was a big listing of shops on http://local.sanfranci.... However, apparently 90+% of those shops listed as able to do brake and light inspections actually don't. It was easier to call a place, and if they didn't do it, then ask "well, who do you know who does?" The next shop I found "Auto Plus" would charge $80 but couldn't help on the same day. After calling 10+ places, I finally got to Yao's Auto. It was actually a Brake and Light Inspection shop! Eureka! He offered to do it for $70, and I could just drop-in and wouldn't have to wait. This place was actually only 4 blocks from where I work! Albeit, on the dangerous San Pablo Ave. But it was daylight. So, I took it in at around 10:30am. Quickly, he started inspecting my car's lights and found that the cracked headlight glass needed to at least be taped (which he did for free - and replacing it would be $50-60), and my right front headlamp was dead, and would be $5 to replace the bulb. Then he told me it would be another 30 minutes for the brake inspection. So, I walked back to work (how often can you just walk back to work?), got some work done, and came back in 30 minutes, and they were done. All passed, bingo, ready to go. Final tab was $88. I basically got the certification done in under an hour. And for all intents and purposes, I was still at work. This was Most Excellent! Later that day, I finished off my out-of-state salvage-to-reconstructed vehicle registration. Not too shabby...
