Car Nerds in
Santa Monica (CA)

Have used for years and great service at great price.

Had a fantastic experience at Car Nerds (worked with Matt). I called multiple bodyshops and auto shops and no-one was able to assist with what I needed. I had a broken sunroof button that was making it so I was unable to close my sunroof all the way. I was able to come in same day for them to look at the car, and they called me within hours with a solution. They even found a used car part that was less than half the price I was quoted from the dealership. They completed the work in under two hours. Would certainly go back for any future needs, and highly recommend them!

Matt is extremely knowledgeable, helpful and honest. The auto repair industry is littered with charlatans ripping off unknowing customers. Car Nerds is a notable exception. A gem in the repair world. Thanks guys!

Matt was awesome and got my jeep in and out within a day and for less than he quoted. Great place!

These guys are the best after having been defrauded by a local shop these guys found the shoddy work and pointed me in the right direction I can't recommend them enough. They didn't even charge me for the inspection.

These guys are masters of their craft. Took my 2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid for repair and they discovered immediately what was wrong with it and by doing so saved me lots of money. I had previously had it checked out by another mechanic and they had misdiagnosed my car issue and quoted me double what I paid at Car Nerds. Thankfully they denied the repair due to the inability of equipment to do so for the high voltage system and I found Car Nerds. Thanks to Matt and crew for the fast, friendly and cost saving service! Would definitely recommend to my friends, family and anyone else for their hybrid repairs.

I am so happy I found a good local mechanic for my Volkswagen EV! I am an engineer, and I always want to talk directly to the mechanic, which I can't do at the dealer. These guys are honest, knowledgeable, and take pride in their work.

Great experience, may have just found my new hybrid mechanic! Was given some unclear instructions at a national chain that wasn't able to handle what my car needed, so I was nervous going into a mechanic saying, "I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do here..." I called Car Nerds because I liked the location, reviews and name. Matt told me to come by, I did, they topped up fluids so fast I didn't even notice, and sent me on my way, no charge. Seem like good, smart guys. Will be back!

I go to Car Nerds for all my car servicing—and I wouldn’t go anywhere else. This is the kind of local neighborhood shop that’s hard to find these days: honest, personable, and truly looking out for their customers. You can really trust them. They take the time to explain things clearly (no upselling or scare tactics), and they always make sure I understand what’s going on with my car. Their prices are super fair, and the quality of care they give is top-notch. They are friendly and down-to-earth, and you can tell they genuinely care about what they do. It’s refreshing to walk into a shop and feel like a person, not just a transaction. If you’re looking for reliable, no-BS car care with a personal touch—Car Nerds is it.

Car nerds , Matt and Rory always has not only got to my car pretty immediately but today they went above and beyond by replacing my battery free. For ever greatful. And I've always and will continue to recommend. They are superb .

I've been coming here for years because it is truly the only place I trust to give me an honest diagnosis and an honest price. Matt is always willing to answer my questions no matter how dumb they may seem. I wouldn't spend my money any where else.

Having recently moved from the Bay Area, I was sad to leave a very reliable and honest shop that specialized in Hybrids. I had overpriced and underwhelming encounters with another SaMo auto repair shop. In that context, when my low beam headlight gave way, I decided to shop around. Car Nerds was my first call. Matt answered on the first ring and give me a reasonable quote. He confirmed I can drop in same day and get my car within an hour. Getting 2 low beam bulbs replaced for under $99 is a deal. They also had a SaMo resident special. I called another shop and got a quote that was 2X the quote, and that too they said was an estimate. Talk about price gouging. I had done my research and knew exactly what the parts would cost, how much time it would take to replace it and what exactly they would be doing. I wanted a third quote, but got to the voicemail of 2 other shops. I confirmed online that a reasonable quote is under $100, including parts, labor, taxes. Car Nerds is honest, reliable, fast and no BS. They did not try to upsell me, or change their estimate. Matt was a class act, very cordial and patiently answered my questions about maintenance services. You cannot do better than Car Nerds. Solid shop. HONEST - and believe me, having burned myself a couple times, this is a big deal. They have easy appointment availability, wifi, coffee, courtesy shuttle, relationships with local car rental companies if you need one. If you’re looking for a trustworthy, no-nonsense auto repair shop, look no further. They’ve earned my trust, and I’ll definitely be back. Highly recommended!

Highly recommend. These guys were quick and honest about my car work, I will definitely be back. Matt was very helpful and I appreciated his advice. My check engine light came on and shopped around Santa Monica for an auto shop to get it looked at. While some other shops were trying to charge $250 (SM Smog/Motors) the CarNerd guys diagnosed the engine light for free, called manufacturer to see if I was still under warranty and sent me on my way. Very helpful and will be back next time I need work.

This is the only body shop I will ever recommend, and I couldn't be happier I found them (recommended through a friend.) Body shops can be tricky because sadly often times they match their reputation of overcharging and maybe lacking true transparency. Car Nerds is the opposite. They are very honest and transparent and will only do the required work. I even had a situation where my car showed brake pads needed to be replaced but upon Car Nerds checking everything, they told me I still had a good minimum 5k miles, even 10k to go. They are also very fair with their pricing and the work they do is unmatched. It's really nice to know there is a transparent and honest body shop to take your car to. Rony, the owner, is a true professional and very knowledgeable and a pleasure to deal with. Matt who always picks up the calls and sets up the appointments and takes care of everything is also a pleasure and communicates timely and efficiently. This really is the best body shop.

The authorized dealer repair shop told me that I needed $3200 of repairs and I wanted to get a second opinion. Matt at Car Nerds checked it out and said the car was fine and didn't even charge me for the diagnostic. I'm going to take my car there in the future for service.

These guys and my cars go way back, since I used to teach ballet in front of their shop and the dance studio was already there when they opened back in the mid 2010s, if I remember right. I used to have a cool yet very troubled convertible Mazda (stick shift) that required a lot of maintenance and they were always honest, realistic and helpful in the diagnostic process and in discussing the most convenient solutions with me. As of now I drive a LS 460 and I also own a Fiat 500 that - knocking on wood - run flawlessly so I stop by just for routine maintenance (light stop change, oil change, etc.) and I am still encountered with the same old friendliness and reliability. Plus, they play great music at the shop! Thank you so much for everything, guys!

I came in for an inspection and the staff made time to do it late in the day and were very reassuring and had informed me that my vehicle was fine. Was honestly probably the easiest, quickest and best car service I have ever received.

I've been going to Car Nerds for nearly 8 years! Ronnie has been so good to me over the years and always giving me his honest input on how to best handle situations with my aging car. It's nice having all my info in one place and having someone I can really trust to take care of my car and not take advantage of me. Thank you Ronnie! And Matt who handles the front desk is super nice too :)

2nd time here and always a great experience. First time was after VW dealership recommended $3k worth of things my dad was skeptical about, but too far away to check out himself. Came here and they took good care of me, were honest about what I actually needed, what could wait another 10k miles, and what wasn’t needed at all. Very honest and certainly has won my repeat business. Had 60k service today, and was an easy, honest and friendly experience again.

I had a fantastic service experience getting my Tesla Model S serviced at Card Nerd. The technicians Rony and Matt were extremely knowledgeable about Tesla vehicles and took great care of me and my car. I brought my Model S in for a sensor issue I was having. Rony and Matt were very friendly, personable, and detail-oriented. They took the time to explain what was going on, answered all my questions, and made sure I fully understood the repair process. The service was fast yet thorough. They got my car diagnosis quickly and had the parts needed to fix it in stock. The repair only took a few hours and my Tesla drives like brand new again. I really appreciated the personalized care from Rony and Matt. They treat every customer like family. It's clear they genuinely care about providing the best possible service. Card Nerd lives up to its excellent reputation for Tesla service. I wouldn't trust my car to anyone else now. The technicians are Tesla experts who take pride in their work. If you're a Tesla owner, Card Nerd is the place to go for friendly, knowledgeable service. I'll be back next time I need maintenance or repairs.

I've been taking my car (a 2010 Scion xD) to Car Nerds for years and they have consistently been patient, honest, and have provided great service at a reasonable cost. I have very little knowledge of how the different parts of my car work but my dad and a few friends are mechanics so whenever I get a summary of what's wrong with my car and a quote from Car Nerds, I always check in with my dad and friends to confirm if I'm understanding the scope of the issue and whether the quoted amount is within an average range. Every time, the responses I've gotten from my dad and friends have been in line with the suggestions that Car Nerds gave me and in a few cases, my dad actually anticipated a higher cost than what Car Nerds quoted (and what I ultimately paid). After I got my engine mounts replaced and a transmission service, I noticed the engine was making a weird squeaking noise when I turned it on so I called and was able to bring it in the next day and they were able to diagnose and fix the issue within a few minutes. The shop is also very conveniently located because it's in between two heavily residential areas so I can drop off my car for service and have an easy 5 minute walk back home. One of my friends lives in Silverlake and she trusts their workmanship so much that when her prius needs service, she comes all the way over to Santa Monica to bring it into Car Nerds. In LA, I don't know if there's a higher testament to the excellent quality of a mechanic's shop than someone being willing to come to Santa Monica from Silverlake to get their car serviced.

I have been a loyal car, nerds customer for a couple years now, and I can say that every experience I’ve had with them has been amazing! I even found car nerds because it was the best reviewed auto repair shop in the area and after being there this long, I now get it! Matt often remembers me by name, and now my husband has made them his primary shop as well! They are super personable and kind, and I have always felt I’ve gotten the best value through them. they have been incredibly honest when it comes to pricing and really do care about quality at a fair price. I recently thought I had to get my starter replaced in my 2015 Nissan versa because when I tested it at O’Reillys auto shop, they told me that I should buy a new starter and have it replaced. I called Car Nerds and asked if they could get me in last minute and they did! They figured out what the problem was and turns out I was almost ripped off by O’Reilly’s and ended up needing a much cheaper repair. I live in the downtown LA area and I come all the way to Santa Monica because they have the best and most reliable service. It’s the best oil change price you’ll find anywhere in the best service for your car! Cannot recommend them enough!

This place provides best service with great customer care. I trust them more time i come and it’s best in town. My car engine light was constantly on because it was old mini cooper and had lot of issue. They took good care of my car and gave me good advice thank you so much!

Came here twice based on the excellent reviews. Both times my car was ready later than estimated, with no warning. Felt like my time was not respected. Second visit, they didn't get all the work done that we discussed when I brought the car in — they then offered to do this additional work another time at a "discounted" price which wasn't actually a discount

I couldn't be happier that I found this place! I had to replace the transmission for my 2008 BMW and was getting a bit desperate, seeing how expensive it is. These guys did a fantastic job for a very competitive price, explaining the process step by step and always keeping me posted on the car's status. They were transparent about the price from the very beginning. I'd totally recommend their shop!

Car Nerds provides excellent auto service at very reasonable rates. They helped get my VW to excellent condition after having problems with another repair shop and did so at a very fair price. The employees are kind, knowledgeable, and honest. Despite taking longer than expected to diagnose and fix my car, I was updated regularly, and the labor costs were generously discounted (rather than marked up for the time, something I've certainly experienced at other shops). The car was having serious issues with an axle when I brought it in, and now I've driven cross-country in it, stable and smooth. I would definitely recommend going here for car service--I know I'll think of them first next time I have car troubles!

I started taking my old Prius to them years ago, and now I take my Ford C-Max Hybrid. They are extremely nice and polite. Ronnie is extremely competent. He ran a dealership service department, and took all that knowledge and talent to open a shop. They are top level guys with plenty experience to back it up. I had an odd noise, and they were willing to take time and every effort to figure it out; not even the Ford dealership could figure it out. I highly recommend them; make sure to ask for Ronnie.