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Auto repair shop - Discount Smog - in Thousand Oaks

27 reviews

Location: 3111 E Thousand Oaks Blvd # 5A, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362

Office phone

+1 (805) 778-9119

4.8

27 total

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11/03/2016

Ok so who would think that I would be doing a review on a car shop and here I am doing so.
I love this place for my car as the customer service is amazing! They are honest about service and will work with you in doing repairs. They ask for your email address so you can log on and see all your repairs, photos (yes they take photos to show you what's wrong) and then it's logged on your profile.
If you need a simple oil change or any service they can and will accommodate you.

Patty T.

Source: YELP

01/06/2016

Great everything. They were awesome and friendly on the phone. Extremely accommodating to get me in. When there they asked if I wanted to wait and took care of me right away. Price - amazing!! This is a no risk experience.
I'm only giving them a 4 star beuase in my mind that means AMAZING. This is really a great business and I highly recommend them.

Kevin R.

Source: YELP

16/12/2015

I found this business on Yelp, It turns out a few later I found out that two of my neighbors have been going here for many years and they are satisfied. I have a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002 Mercury Mountaineer and most recently 2015 Nissan NV200.
I am completely satisfied with Preferred Auto and Anthony has always been very helpful with scheduling, Mark the owner once worked on my vehicle doing a service on it and I had two people that pulled on my automatic rear hatch that it no longer opens and closes automaticly. I was expecting bad news but Mark did research on the internet and found it just need to be reset, I think they didn't charge me or if they did it was nominal.
I feel very comfortable leaving my vehicles there, they call you and keep you in the loop, another nice thing is they are open 1 saturday per month, so for me I was sold going to this shop. When I have waited either to drop off or pick up my vehicle I have observed the employees interact with customers and they are always very professional. My wife doesn't like to go into shops like this but she has shuttled me and have met Mark and Anthony and feels compfortable going to them if I wasn't available. I highly recomend and give it 5 stars...

Kim T.

Source: YELP

29/06/2016

Very relaxed and honest approach to providing service. They document everything very well and spend time letting you know exactly what needs done and why. I spent more than I wanted to, but I know feel more comfortable about taking a road trip in the summer heat with a car load of kids. I would recommend Mark and his team.

John C.

Source: YELP

16/10/2015

Stopped by today to have my battery checked out after AAA had to get me started this morning.
The employees were all very friendly and professional.
I then asked about replacing the lic plate bulb (at last shop, I was told to replace it would require the technician to take the back apart...)....turns out, this was bs. I am not surprised as I have had bad experience before w car repair places...as a woman, I have been quoted a bunch of times "the special menu" prices. Long story short, nice mechanic just replaced it right then and there in a minute.
I chatted w another customer, who happened to be German as well and she told me she has been coming here for years and has always felt she got fair prices and great service.
I will be back!

Claudia B.

Source: YELP

17/11/2015

I called them first thing in the morning (at 8:00am, when they open) because an engine light was on and the car was having trouble starting, and the man with whom I spoke, Mark, said to bring in the car and he'd take a look. He ended up swiftly refilling the tire air pressure and replacing the battery, after having run a full diagnostic test. He was polite, knowledgeable, efficient, and even called Honda directly to see if their battery price was better. It is also great that their shop is AAA-affiliated because he just sold me a AAA battery.
We will definitely be taking our cars here moving forward, without fail. Excellent experience.

Liz I.

Source: YELP

30/06/2015

Referred to Mark by a close friend. Needed help with what to do after a transmission gone wrong job. Mark gave his time, advice, recommendations and a referral. He saved my son from being stuck in the desert with his expert knowledge. His referral to an out of state auto shop helped us to prove the transmission job was not done correctly. I highly recommend Mark and Preferred Auto. Thank you for being our Hero, I really do not know what we would have done without your help!

Dawn T.

Source: YELP

02/06/2013

My check engine light had been on for a week before I dropped off my car at Preferred. My family had been going to them for years so I thought it would be a good idea to go to somewhere they trust.
Anthony & team fixed up my car like it was new! I got my car back at the end of the day and my engine was purring. I even noticed that they washed & cleaned my car!
SWEET!
That's 5 Stars in my book!
Thanks Preferred Auto!!!

Naomi H.

Source: YELP

21/11/2014

These guys are great. Anthony took the time to explain to me about my transmission flush and walked me through the steps on what they were going to do to the car.
Their service is fast and professional. They squeezed me in without an appointment as a new customer.
The other reviews don't lie - they are highly recommended and well worth a trip to see them.

Drew P.

Source: YELP

06/05/2015

Yelp hid my 5-star review of this company. Yelp is an unethical scamming organization.

Chris R.

Source: YELP

21/11/2012

I took my car here to investigate a grating squeaking noise in my car, and they definitely treated me right. They even showed me the broken part (a ready to fail ball joint) and what was wrong with it.
PLUS, if you're a AAA member you get a discount (mine was $50 on a 500+ bill).
If I lived in the area I'd go again without hesitation.

Andrew W.

Source: YELP

16/06/2012

My starter blew out just before I was ready to head out for work. I found them via yelp and the AAA driver recommended them. I talked to Anthony and he accommodated my request to fix the car by lunch.
Car has been working fine since then. In addition, they also conducted a courtesy inspection on the vehicle.
In summary, fast service and honest price.

Deep K.

Source: YELP

17/05/2014

If you are looking for honest, professional, and friendly mechanics... look no further!!!!!
My stepson's car was towed here after breaking down on the road. What amazingly good luck! Turns out it not only needed the current problem (crack in radiator +++) fixed but a whole host of other fiascoes were waiting to happen (old car!). Most other mechanics would have gotten it running again by fixing the problems at hand, but Anthony did a complete check on the car and found thousands of dollars in problems soon to surface. We decided the car was not at all worth it to fix. We would have ended up putting FAR more into it than it was worth! So we ended up spending $100 for diagnostics instead of $1200 ish for just the initial fix to get it running. REALLY honest guys! Not many people would talk someone out of spending that much at their shop!
They are also just nice guys. We will take our cars here for maintenance and repairs now!

Bonnie B.

Source: YELP

08/09/2013

These guys were fantastic. My car is older and I had an issue with my engine. I thought the problem was going to be really expensive and that I probably wouldn't get my car back in less than a weeks time. I was REALLY surprised. They had the problem figured out, parts ordered and engine repaired within a day. Mark was communicative with me throughout the process and saved all the parts to explain the defect. This is one of the most professional mechanic shops I have ever worked with. I was fortunate enough to be referred to them though AAA. If you are looking for a good shop to maintain you car .. this is the place!

Shari G.

Source: YELP

12/03/2014

Anthony, Mark & Team are great to work with! Straightforward, honest, reasonably priced and excellent customer service! I was referred to Preferred Auto about 6 years ago by a co-worker who had been using them for years. They kept my original car in great working shape until it was time to trade-in, and now I trust them with my new car. They provide excellent clear communication throughout the process, give you options that work in your budget and are one of the most professional mechanic shops I've worked with. Added bonus: AAA discount and shuttle ride to/from your home/office, making having your car in the shop a breeze.

Beverly B.

Source: YELP

26/02/2014

Very attentive to what I needed and called me a few days later to be sure everything was okay. Gave me advice about things that could/should be done in the future. All within a very reasonable price range. I will be back, I will bring other family members cars and will recommend to others!

Jan W.

Source: YELP

20/01/2012

This review goes out to all the other women out there who dread going to auto shops! I dealt with Anthony there and he was honest, straight-forward and made sure my car was fixed as promised. Also, he thouroughly explained my car issue and found the best deal on the part I needed. What more could you ask for?? I will definitely refer my family and friends to Preferred!

Alison F.

Source: YELP

09/10/2011

My mom has been going to Mark for over 10 years. My warranty on my Nissan finally expired and I needed a mechanic. I dropped my car off after talking to Anthony on the phone. Both Anthony and Mark called me to keep me apprised of my car's status and they found all the same issues that the dealer had recommended. They were super-thorough, very honest about what needed to be done and what could wait and Mark did his best to save me money. The dealer had mentioned that I had a bent wheel and that it would cost $600 to replace. Crazy!! Mark found a used wheel for $60. So, wow!! As long as I live in Thousand Oaks (and maybe even when I move) I'm going to always take my car to Mark. Oh, he also had my car washed before returning it!! Who does that anymore other than the dealership (sometimes)??
Last, just 2 days after I picked up my car he mailed a thank you card and gift to my mom as a thank you for referring me. So talk about nice guy and above and beyond customer service, it really just doesn't get any better. I highly recommend Preferred Auto Centre. This place is a gem!

Suzanne C.

Source: YELP

06/02/2013

Unbelievable service. I just called to get an second opinion when I needed a new air compressor on my relatively new car that was just out of warranty. Anthony suggested that since it was so new out of warranty that I contact GM directly to see if they could offer some cost assistance. I did just that and he saved me roughly $1350 in cost to fix the compressor and another issue that I wasn't going to address because it wasn't worth the cost. Unfortunately, I had to do the work through the dealer instead of somewhere else to get the assistance. I just can't believe that he would make a suggestion to me that made him no profit and the dealership should have made themselves. Amazing and would definitely bring my car here if I had another issue based on the fact that apparently they operate on the idea of looking out for and doing best by their customers! Imagine that in an auto shop!!!

AL H.

Source: YELP

04/07/2012

My father always said, "You can judge a repair shop by the cleanliness of the place." That is so true of Preferred Auto. The office and restrooms could be in Architectural Digest. But their professionalism and work ethic surpasses the decor. They have taken care of my car from the first oil change. The car is twelve years old with 145,000 miles and runs like new. They look after everything, from the tires to the window wash fluid. They'll drive you home and pick you up and even wash the car! Absolute perfection.

Sharon S.

Source: YELP

28/02/2013

I chose Preferred Auto Centre because they were on the list of AAA approved auto repair places. I called ahead and they told me that they give free estimates, so I took my car in. Unfortunately, they did not stick to their word and charged me almost $60 to get my car out of their garage so I could take it somewhere else for the repair job. At minimum, it's false advertising, and at worst, it's fraud. I won't be recommending this place to anyone I know.

J. J.

Source: YELP

03/06/2015

Best service, honesty & prices. Once you try us, you will come back & tell your friends. For us, customer satisfaction is our priority. We strive hard for perfection. High Tech & courteous service.

Sam Almaoui

Source: FBOOK

05/04/2016

When I was living in simi valley, California, Sam was my trusted source when it comes to my car repair, because he is honest and helpful. I trusted no one but Discount Smog, I, not only went there for smog but also for advise when I needed an honest and good mechanic. I like Sam and his professional way of dealing with people. Thank you Sam for all the help.

Colette Tadi

Source: GPLAC

13/03/2014

I agree with the other positive reviews. It is the only place I will take my cars for smog (we have four, and seem to be taking at least one in each year to have done). They are so good (and fair) that after the first few times going there I stopped nickle and diming them with their coupons. I just go in, and I know it will get done right and quickly. If you do have a problem they will even give you ideas on what to possibly look at. Fantastic honest place.

Dlo Apc

Source: GPLAC

20/08/2010

Sam is really nice and professional. I have found that many smog shops try to take advantage of the fact that women don't typically know much about this type of service and they get overcharged. Sam made me feel 110% comfortable, he was very honest and his prices were really low! I highly recommend Discount Smog to all! Thank you so Sam for taking care of me!! You are the only one that I will use from now on!! Glori

A Google User

Source: GPLAC

31/07/2010

When I was at Discount Smog waiting for my car to be done, I was observing the stores operations and Sams work. As a management consultant, I help organizations streamline their processes and improve their operations. I was impressed with Sams professionalism. He was not only effective, but efficient as well. Sam figured out how to make his process robust and optimize his operations to avoid making me wait and spend unnecessary time at his shop. I wish hospital emergency rooms and doctor offices learn from Sam so we dont have to waste hours waiting for our turns.

A Google User

Source: GPLAC

19/02/2009

I was very skeptical when I called and the person that I spoke with (I think his name was Sam, based by the business card that I took) told me that he can smog check my car in 15 minutes. Well, if its really only for 15 minutes, than I will go on my lunch break. When I got there, I was the only one there (which is good because it started to get busy after I left). The man that took care of my car was very nice and friendly. He literally finished checking my car in 15 minutes, electronically sent the paperwork to the DMV (all I had to do was pay my renewal fee), gave me the paperwork and I was done. Not bad for $58. I had an extra 30 minutes for my lunch break. While I was waiting, there was a chair to sit on, magazines to read, and music in the background. I went to one of the gas station smog checks about 7 years ago and it took about an hour with the same price. There was no where to sit and I was really bored waiting. This was sooo much better and I did not have to waste my weekend doing this. Great and Fast service with a decent price. I highly recommend this place to anyone and a nice local business to support! :o)

A Google User

Source: GPLAC

We work with these brands

Hyundai
Porsche
Volkswagen
Volvo

We perform these services

Diagnostics

  • Computerized vehicle diagnostics
  • Troubleshooting and repair of warning lights

HVAC Services

  • Air conditioning repair and recharge
  • Heating system repair
  • Cabin air filter replacement

Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Services

  • Battery health checks
  • Electric motor service
  • Hybrid-specific components repair

Roadside Assistance and Towing

  • Towing service
  • Emergency roadside assistance

Vehicle Detailing

  • Interior and exterior cleaning
  • Waxing and polishing
  • Engine cleaning