12/02/2015

I went to tehachapi automotive to get my cars 50k service they were very competitive with pricing and completed the service in one day. very clean shop and restrooms. staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, would definitely recommend this shop to family and friends.

Jon B.

Source: YELP

30/01/2015

I have never met a bigger bunch of crooks in my life! As I'm waiting to get ripped off and price gouged myself, they're ripping a guy off right in front of me for a failed smog because of a check engine light. Anyone that has had a vehicle smogged before knows that a smog shop will normally warn you if you have a check engine light, your vehicle will not pass smog, NOT TEHACHAPI AUTOMOTIVE! They'll just take you for every dime they can.
I was quoted over the phone $550 to replace a $45 sensor on my truck. Since I didn't have the time to make the repair myself or take it to another shop and it was a $94 diagnosis fee, I told them to go on and do the work. When they finished my truck they tried to get me for $650. I argued with the mechanic and made them honor the $550 I was originally quoted. Needless to say these guys think they have the Midas touch and apparently charge $100 per hour for their work (higher than any shop I have ever been to). Not only do they charge and extremely high price per hour, they do everything they can to up-charge and tell you things are wrong with your vehicle that may or may not be. They tried to tell me I had bad batteries. You don't have to be a genius to know that when you have a vehicle that won't start because of a bad sensor, that it will run your batteries down trying to start it. Of course my batteries had a low charge, it hasn't been starting right and hasn't had time on the road to recharge.
Also, they do not have an hourly labor rate posted in their office, so who knows how much they're charging others. Take your vehicle ANYWHERE else to be repaired!
*UPDATE 2/9/15
I received a letter in the mail today for my complaint, from Tehachapi Auto. They claim in their letter that they do a complete inspection on all vehicles. This is why they told me about my "charging system being low" and that the batteries needed replaced. Funny thing about this so called "complete inspection" they do. 1) My batteries are still working just fine. I have had no issues with them. 2) They didn't mention that I had an oil leak or a bad power steering pump on my truck. I knew about both of these but they didn't know that. If they really did a "complete inspection" like they say they do, these things should have been easily caught.
They also claimed no one waves the diagnosis fee when you have your vehicle worked on at their shop. If you've ever had your vehicle to a shop, you know better. If no one waved that fee a lot of people would take their vehicle elsewhere, after finding out what's wrong with it.
They also claim their hourly labor rates are posted and cheaper than the other shops around. If they are, I sure didn't see them and I had to sit in that waiting room for quite some time. So I had the time to look around and did not see anything. I guess at every shop you should ask the rates and if they mark the parts up 100% because that is what these crooks in Tehachapi do (Crankshaft position sensor at Autozone - $44, Tehachapi Auto - $88 - 100% mark up). I don't know what the other shops around Tehachapi charge but I do know I've been to specialty shops in Bakersfield that charge $85 per hour. At a specialty shop, you would expect higher prices because they are experts in their field.
One more thing. What I originaly brought my truck to the shop for, is not fixed (intermittent stalling and not starting). All they did was pull a code and replace a sensor. My truck is still doing the same thing. They obviously don't have real mechanics there. They are parts replacers with fancy tools and lifts, nothing more than that.
I hope, through my terrible experience, I save someone the time and trouble of going to these thieves. It's so sad that you cannot just simply trust people anymore.

Chris T.

Source: YELP

18/08/2012

Took my VW in for a tune up and it came back running like it was worked on by a blind man. Their excuse was "We dont know how to work on VW's" They know how to overcharge for shitty work though.
My dad took his Jeep in for it's 100k maintenance and they didn't change the timing belt, so it blew out on the highway trashing the internal mechanism of his engine causing $1600 worth of damage. Fuck Tehachapi Automotive

Rusty S.

Source: YELP

07/06/2016

Went in for a Smog Check and was charged $80+ for smog check because vehicle was older than 1995. That is nearly double the cost over the newer vehicle smog test when it is the same test. Why? Also, Charged me $14.99 for a new fuel cap, and threatened that if I didn't buy it, he would fail the smog test. Fuel Cap actual cost all over town is $4.00. Said if I didn't pay for the cap, he would fail the test and I would have to pay for another test after the cap was replaced. I felt trapped. In California, the fuel cap test is a separate static test from the dynamic smog test. Charging me four times actual cost of the fuel cap was wrong. I have been a loyal customer for over 6 years, but now I feel ripped off, I will never go back. Buyer beware.

Gary P.

Source: YPAGE

08/07/2014

Horrible

I brought in my car for a simple oil change. I was driving it home and it over heated, all of the oil was everywhere. The "genius" auto tech forget to close it up. I believe his name was Nicholas, young male. Whatever you do, make sure you get a different tech! I have been here multiple times and this is the first time this has happened.

Victoria S.

Source: YPAGE

14/02/2013

My vehicle was towed here on a Sunday afternoon. Monday morning at 8 am when they opened I told them what was happening with my pick-up. By 9:30 the problem was diagnosed (in between lots of other customers). They called a rental agency for me so I could reach a destination on time. The part was ordered, and installed the next day by noon when I returned. Great staff and very accurate with their estimate. I drove another 600 miles without a problem. Couldn't have done it without them.

julie.blaha.9

Source: YPAGE

17/11/2012

This top quality workmanship, ...

This top quality workmanship, there prices are very competitive with the other shops in the area. James and randy are fully certified and give qualitiy service. I have taken all four of my vehicles there over the years and have had no problems what so ever. I am sure there are other shops who claim this but i wouldn't risk it to save a few bucks. I highly recommend these guys. they also gave me a ride home and pick me up.

monroejimmy

Source: YPAGE

07/11/2012

I have been taking my vehicles...

I have been taking my vehicles here for years. They have always been professional and courteous. Their prices are competitive and they make recommendations without it being a hard sell. I do recommend Tehachapi Automotive to my family and friends and will continue doing so!

carlajsm

Source: YPAGE

07/06/2016

Owner threaten to fail my smog test if I didn't purchase a fuel cap for $14.95. This cap sells $4.00 at many automotive retailers. Purely a rip-off because you are held hostage. Also, outrageous price for smog test, $80.00 because car is 1995 or older. Not a good excuse to charge almost double the cost at other test stations. Receptionist was condescending, and the mechanic who greeted me was not pleasing, not a people person. Been a customer for 6 years, but not any more. Sorry Eileen, perhaps you can understand.

Gerard Pearson

Source: FBOOK

07/08/2014

best auto repair in Tehachapi and they do vehicle registrations too. One stop for everything

Eileen Brand

Source: FBOOK

20/08/2013

Paul Smith

Source: FBOOK

21/09/2010

Great work and good prices with nationwide warrenty's on the work done

Wonderfull repair shop. The mechanics are great and know thier stuff. My car runs great and the price was what they quoted. A good mechanic is hard to find but when you do you keep them and I will keep Tehachapi Automotive at the top of my…

Eileen B

Source: INPAG

10/09/2015

I was reading the reviews posted earlier and do not under stand such negativism. Really. I have taken my car to Tehachapi Automotive for repairs for several years. Some were major repairs and others were like smog. Each time a quote was given and explained pretty much in detail what it was for. I have found that Jon is a very good mechanic and knows what he is doing. Yes, to have a car's problem diagnosed there is a diagnostic fee. It has taken time for them to look for the problem, and figure out the solution, for this they need to be paid. Nothing is free. Now to do the actual work will be a separate quote. Now if you go somewhere else and have the work done they will check the car out first, or should, and you will be charged, even if it isn't listed as a diagnostic fee. If they just do the work without checking, only going by your input, then you are responsible if it doesn't cure the problem. Somethings I don't like about life is paying retail for products. Tehachapi Automotive buys NAPA parts for their repairs. Most parts come with a 2 year guarantee. Yes, they buy it (the parts) at wholesale and we the customer pay retail, this is part of life. Every shop, store does this, its part of doing business. If we could do the repair ourselves we would, I used to and enjoyed it, but not today. Cars are too complicated. Jon has special training that we do not have, and the fancy equipment that we could not afford. Am I happy with the work that Jon and the rest of the crew have performed on my car, YES. Will I go back to Tehachapi Automotive again, YES. Keep up the good work, even if some do not appreciate it.

R Snyder

Source: GPLAC

28/08/2015

This place is garbage. DO NOT TAKE YOUR VEHICLE HERE! I repeat. DO NOT TAKE IT HERE. This place did me super dirty. Over price for everything. Long story short, they had my car there for a couple days for a repair that should have took about an hour. Charge me all kinds of money. I picked up my car, and it did the same thing not even an hour after I picked it up. Then they tryed saying it was something else that was gonna cost me over $1000. Talked to some buddies that know a lot about cars and they said the part was maybe $150. No more. Overpriced for their labor work. Aren't even good at what they do. DONT DO IT!

Salvador Contreras

Source: GPLAC

13/09/2015

I took my car to Tehachapi Automotive to get a smog check. The staff were very pleasant, smoged my car in less than 30 minutes. Then I learned that they can also renew my registration tags wow instead of going to DMV and wait in line for hours they took care of it in fifteen minutes . Thank you Tehachapi Automotive for the great service. I will recommend you to all my family and friends .

Laurie Zalfeh

Source: GPLAC

15/09/2015

Very fast smog and registration. Very friendly too! Nice service. Had a pleasant experience.

Payton Jones

Source: GPLAC

19/06/2015

I went there 1 time for a smog check... they had a sign on the street saying $29.99, 2 hours later, they're finally done... wanted to charge me $50 for a diagnostic check that I neither needed or asked for, and wanted to charge me $65 for the smog... the lady said my check engine light was on, when it wasn't, I finally took the smog paper from them, left my $30 on the counter, and left... added fees and totally dishonest crooked liars... GO TO Protech they're honest, and will get you out the door for the exact quoted price for a smog check, with no hidden fees, like $25 to electronically transfer the report to the dmv... that's what these crooks charge... and then try to tell you that they have to cover that cost to send it to the DMV... well according to Protech and every shop I've been to since, shops don't have to pay any fee to transmit smog checks, especially not $25 per smog

Matthew Hutton

Source: GPLAC