Half Moon Bay Auto Repair

Dave and his crew at Half Moon Bay Auto are the most wonderful mechanics and they are totally honest. Excellent work, always sooooo nice and friendly.
I know I will get the best work done on my car, and they are always there to help assist me when I have any sort of car trouble or questions.
They rock!!!

What a relief it is to find an honest auto mechanic. And a friendly and accommodating front office environment which is so comforting in what could be a very stressful situation. I loved doing business with them and will continue to take my car there — forever. My repair was done on time and within the estimate they gave me. I’m brand new in town and I’m a very happy camper.

This is where you take your vehicle if you care about your car. They treat every vehicle like its there own. If you’re having an emergency or routine maintenance You will be taken care of.

If you are bringing your auto the HMB Auto for a Smog test (that you know you will pass) then you will perhaps get out without problems. My auto unfortunately had its OBD 2 (On Board Diag) driving cycles wiped out due to a batter disconnect. It was in great shape as far as I could detect as my OBD 2 drag and my tester equipment registered no problems. I had run fleet maintenance for a major airline for 5 years and know the ground equipment business quite well. When I failed the first test at HMB Auto (which I wasn’t notified of until I tried to internet register the vehicle). I found the OBD monitors ‘not ready’ test was the reason… this does not mean the auto won’t pass, it just needs new driving cycles established (which had been erased by a battery disconnect). I returned to get rectified and as I had not put enough driving cycles on my engine I was left with monitors ‘not ready’. I left my auto to get it certified When I got a call form the HMB Auto clerk, she informed me I needed a new smog air pump. You can buy these devises for anywhere for $ 150.00-approx, or a certified Bosch part can be found for $ 250.00 to $ 350). I was told I was getting an ‘after market’ part. If I had done my homework, I would not have been taken for $ 760.00 plus tax and $ 210.00 labor cost which ran over $ 1060.00 for parts and labor (not including my original $ 50 smog test charge). My Mercedes never had any engine failure lights before the battery was disconnected. I was told by the parts clerk that their part markup was double the cost to them to cover their 12 mo warranty! (Parts typically come with their own warranty, so this is a specious claim!). If done honestly the cost should have been under $ 500.00. I protested to the two Daves (father & son) but was first told a new Bosh part would run over $ 1000.00. I found many suppliers who sold the part new for $ 200 to $ 350. I apparently got an aftermarket smog pump! The clerk refused to give me the parts bill. The part is easily installed from the top of the engine air intake by 3 torque screws and is extremely easy to do, so their labor costs were already too high.
The various answers I got the week after getting my car back ranged from «a real Bosch Smog Air Pump will cost over $ 1000» to the claim that I got a «real Bosch part.» I checked the part and found no Bosch markings. I am hoping it is not a China knockoff! I will likely buy a real Bosch pump for $ 175.00 and reinstall it to make certain it will not fail in the future.
Up until I had some questionable work done on my auto, I thought these guys were reputable and trustworthy. In my opinion, If you want to keep your money go to a dealer before getting anything done by HMB Auto. I’ve heard other stories but never have I been so «ripped off.» As noted, I have extensive knowledge in automotive and aircraft Maintenance (I hold an FAA AandP license). I also have an avionics license so I am not typically baffled by electrical explanations that don’t ‘jive’ with the info my onboard drag represented. I’m sorry these guys find it necessary to make money by double pricing a repair part and claiming it’s an original but even if it were an original ‘aftermarket, $ 760.00 plus 9% tax and over $ 200 labor is excessive.
These guys had my business for most all my autos for the past few years (minor work). I have lived on the ‘coast’ since 1984 so I think I am a Coastsider! In my opinion, do not ever authorize any work from this place (that is over $ 250) unless you have a second opinion. I was told directly by the parts secretary that the x2 markup for the part was to cover their 1 year warranty. How many people go back for a re-​smog without a state notice?

Driving on the 92 regularly after about a year and I know its time to get new brake pads.
Scheduled a quick free brake check and sure enough I need a set. The front desk was helpful in explaining the estimate and the type of brake pads they recommend and the price was cheaper than any dealership I have been to in the past. Scheduled the change for the end of the week and within 2 hours they were done.
Highly recommend this place for service!

I just moved to the area and of course I have car trouble, but Dave was awesome he made sure my car was running in no time. I will be a returning customer and the front desk staff is also amazing! I have nothing but nice things to say about this place.

I drive for a living, so it’s very important to me that when my car needs work, it’s done quickly and well. I’ve taken two cars to Half Moon Bay Auto, and am always greeted warmly at the front desk. The mechanics are polite, professional, and knowledgeable. On more than one occasion when money was tight, they were able to diagnose the problem for me so I could do the repairs myself; which saved me from replacing the wrong part and spending money needlessly. On these occasions, they only charged a small fee for the time it took to make the diagnosis, which was well worth it for the peace of mind I got from knowing exactly what needed to be done.

I live on the peninsula. I walk Dogs and go over to half moon bay 3 times a week to walk a group on the beach. On 2 separate occasions I’ve had an emergency and needed immediate repairs to get home. Half Moon Bay Auto pushed me thru got me in and out both times. They do quality work at a fair price. Everyone there seems truly happy in their work. They are very helpful and good to me and my dogs.
S Creech
Portola Valley

Pretty cheap. Really nice people. Gave me a doughnut and showed how to work the coffee machine. Service was quick and Plus they have an adorable office dog that I’m pretty sure is a Whippet.

I will keep this short.
I was in a dire situation (hint, jeep bought off craigslist, broken frame, welding, not much money and a previously blown up daily driver).
David Eck and his lovely crew have totally taken care off me.
That’s the really short version.
10 stars for Half Moon Bay Auto Repair

Just had a smog check, and had great service. Everyone was friendly, and professional.
Definitely will return and get service. Will recommend, too.

These guys rescued me while I was stuck on Main Street. They diagnosed the problem quickly and were able to fix it right away. If I was local I would use them as my regular mechanic. Pleasant, courteous and efficient.

Fabulous service. Very helpful.
I got stuck in Half Moon Bay for a bit while traveling, unruly coolant system. I was towed to Half Moon Bay Auto Repair. Jr. looked over my coolant system, taught me all about it, and got me back on my way home super fast. It was a pleasure to be stuck there for a moment. Thank you. :)

I found myself stuck in Half Moon Bay on my way back to SF with a warning bell going off in my car telling me my tires were under inflated. I’m ashamed to say I had no idea how to inflate my own tires and after visiting four gas stations (none could help) I was directed to a couple auto shops (all were closed).
Luckily I stumbled on Half Moon Bay Auto Repair, which was closed too. But the owner Dave just happened to be there doing some work. He was rushing out but he saw the desperate look on my face, told me to pull my car around, inflated my tires, showed me what to do when it happens again, and then refused to accept any money. It’s always nice to encounter kind people willing to go out of the way. Makes you feel good about the world. I drove back to San Francisco worry-​free and confident that I could figure it out on my own next time around.

I’m really happy with the service I’ve gotten from these guys lately.
I have a 1991 Buick Reatta, a very unique little car with some weird quirks… and a long to-​do list as I’m starting to work on getting it restored little by little. When I first contacted Dave about it, my wee Reatta was in pieces in my garage. A friend and I had attempted a head gasket change on our own, but schedule issues and other life crap got in the way and a year later, my husband was getting pissed at the «oversize paperweight in the garage.» I talked to Dave when I was in getting work done to our other cars, and he actually offered to come over to my house and take a look at the car to let me know if he could help (and so I wouldn’t need to waste a tow if he couldn’t). So he stopped by, said hell yes he can help, and I had the car towed in the next day.
Within a week, my heads were re-​machined and my baby was reassembled and running very well. I’m so happy to have that little thing back on the road!
Shit got rather expensive but that’s just the way things are with mechanic work. But Dave is very knowledgeable and experienced with restorations, so I’ll keep coming back each time I butter my husband up enough to allow it… the car isn’t worth the money I’m putting into it so I’m getting a little bit of static on that end! Oh well. ;)

I have always brought my car to HMB Auto for smog checks and oil changes, I have a newer VW Jetta so I have been lucky in not needing too much work done on my car. A few weeks ago my check engine light came on so I listened to a friend and brought it into the dealership, which was a huge mistake. With out getting into boring details, the dealership quoted me 2,000 to repair my car! I called HMB Auto freaking out about the huge price tag and asked if they thought they could give me a better quote. They said they were sure they could get me a better price and to bring the car in. So I paid the dealership their 200 diagnostic fee (ouch!) and brought the car to HMB Auto. The same day I brought the car in and 600 dollars later my car was as good as new! They told me when I picked up the car that the dealership wanted to replace parts that were perfectly good but needed to be taken apart and cleaned. I thanked them profusely and promised never to take my car anywhere else.

Installed trailer hitch on Honda Pilot.
Wired incorrectly which caused electrical system to fail 4 hours from home.
Spent 3 times installation cost of hitch to restore electrical.
Note many photos of mechanic/​owners private airplanes on wall.

What auto repair shop, takes a new customer that is skittish of mechanics on a Friday afternoon and gives you back your vehicle with the extra stuff done (the stuff on the «if you have time» list); and charges you a fair price and treats you like a queen?
Wait for it… Half Moon Bay Auto Repair.
OK, so it was just a starter that needed replacing — but still, they got it done and my 270,000 mile Jeep is purring once again.
Do NOT hesitate to take your car here!

Awesome. Friendly people. Will be a repeat customer. After putting a clutch in my truck I could hear a rattling noise. It turned out to having nothing to do with the work they did, but Dave jr. being a perfectionist figured it out and got it fixed. Great customer service.

My family has been taking their cars here my entire life.
The staff has always been very friendly, never once have I felt my car or requests were being ignored or a bother to the staff.
Their after hours drop service is a much added plus in service, and the following morning they promptly call to get clarification on the notes I leave with my keys.
Their repair work is top notch, prompt, and fairly priced. They always call often and quickly to keep my in the loop as to the condition of my car and the progress of the repairs.
And they are even there after the repairs if you have questions about the work they did, and they stand by their guarantee on their work. I’ve never had an issue.
You can’t go wrong with these guys!