Alvin's Auto Center in
South San Jose Hills (CA)

Took great care of my 14 year old Honda Civic including a small mystery cover that fell off from somewhere in the engine

The manager, Anthony, was great. He truly listens to his customers and makes an effort to do what’s right. That level of care and accountability goes a long way, and it really shows that he values his customers. Thank you, Anthony!

It has been a month now and I would say Alvin did some good work. I just needed an oil change, a wheel alignment, and transmission fluid. They offered to change wipers and the battery to my car keys. Of course, I am a lazy person and I had the supplies already. They installed the wipers I had in my trunk. I went home and put my own batteries, but they were kind enough to offer. Otherwise, I did not get a call as it was approaching the end of the day and unfortunately, I needed a new battery for the car. I found out as soon as I questioned what was happening to my car. Luckily they were able to pick a manufacturer battery from the dealership he same day and sent me on my way. It was a busy place, but thanks for having me on short notice. Warm regards from the Chicago traveler that stopped by.

These guys are the best! They are always thorough but never pushy. Their prices are reasonable. They go above and beyond to make sure we can get our family car back and running before we have time to miss it.

Good and quick work on replacing our front window washer sprayers/nozzles on our Lexus. Price was fair, and Sam was great about staying in touch during parts order and during repair. Will definitely come back!

Tony Gueco was able to resolve the issue on the parasitic battery drain. Service has always been excellent. I've been a customer since it first opened in Milpitas location in 1992. Good Job.

I went here for a prepurchase inspection before buying a used car. They were so great! I booked it last minute and thankfully they were able to fit me in. They did a very thorough job and it was well worth the money. The peace of mind was well worth it. Nothing major wrong with the truck, but there were some things that I wouldn't have know and would have cost me a lot of money down the road. It gave me negotiating power too and they were super helpful with that. I highly recommend them and Always get a pre purchase inspection before buying a used car.

I've been using Alvin's for a few years now and am always very happy with their service. It's a super nice family-owned business.

Routine maintenance on a Chrysler300. Overall a good experience. Met expectations of time and cost….. team was informative and good communication on activities.

I have used Alvin's Auto Center twice in the last two months. Both times I have been greeted by friendly and professional people. I've only been there twice and I completely trust them with my vehicles. They keep you updated through the entire time they have your vehicle. I highly recommend this company for any and all vehicle repairs.

First, both Tony and Sam are very courteous and polite. They explain everything, they identify the issues and go over it in detail, including sending online photos of affected parts before any work is done. And then they answer any questions. And they also asked me to look up previous work done elseware to make sure they aren't duplicating. And, of course, their work is excellent.

Brought my Lexus 250 and Honda Civic here for engine oil and filter changes, tire rotations, AC repair, etc. Have been going here for years for basically any car maintenance needed. Tony and staff are extremely helpful. Also huge plus you can schedule appointments online!

I have been going to Alvin's to get my oil changed and issues diagnosed for two years now - after doing research and finding Alvin's! The team was very detailed and knowledgeable, and the manager was able to describe all of their findings in detail to me. I’ve met multiple employees at the shop and have been so impressed by their customer service and knowledge! This time around they replaced some large parts that needed servicing and my car has been running great so far!! 10/10 recommend!!

Taking my car to Alvin's was a total stress reliever! I had some work done by a mobile mechanic and my car was worse off than before. The next day I went to Alvin's and they resolved everything quickly and painlessly. Great service! I am really grateful to Anthony and his team!!

Alvin's Auto Center is great. The staff are kind, helpful and good communicators. I brought my recently purchased used Subaru for an oil change and diagnostic. Fortunately, there wasn't much that needed to be done. Mike did share a lot of useful information about owning the car and provided advice on how to take care of it. I will be returning to Alvin's in 5,000 miles.

Very upfront, honest and responsive to cost inquiries and great service. They even washed the car before picking it up! Tony is great to work with.

I came in today to service my Dodge Challenger and get a multi-inspection, and the team at Alvin’s Auto Center did an outstanding job in diagnosing my vehicle, with detailed reports including pictures and suggestions. I highly recommend this place as their quality is top tier

I had a great experience at Alvin’s Auto Center. From the moment I walked in, the staff was friendly, professional, and transparent about what needed to be done. They took the time to explain the issues with my vehicle and didn’t try to upsell unnecessary repairs—something that’s hard to find these days. The work was completed on time and within the quoted price. My car is running better than ever, and I feel confident knowing it was handled by a team that truly cares about quality and customer satisfaction. Highly recommend Alvin’s Auto Center to anyone looking for reliable, honest, and skilled auto repair. I’ll definitely be returning for future maintenance and repairs.

I brought my 2014 Scion xB to Alvin’s Auto Center in Milpitas, where I initially worked with Mike. After weeks of delays and no clear progress, they towed my car to their San Jose location, where Tony took over. It’s now been over four months, and despite paying $5,000 plus approving an additional $1,500 for engine mount replacement, my car is still not fixed. Communication throughout this entire process has been abysmal. Both Mike and Tony have provided vague, inconsistent updates, with no real explanations or timelines. I have repeatedly requested detailed information about what work has been completed, but I’m met with excuses and silence. They’ve had my vehicle for over 120 days, charged me $6,500 in total, and I’m left with a broken car and zero answers. This level of disorganization and lack of accountability is beyond unacceptable. If you value your time, money, and sanity, do not trust Alvin’s Auto Center—especially their Milpitas and San Jose locations. This experience has been nothing short of a nightmare.

Poor Communication and Repeated Delays I brought my car in for service with an initial 2-day turnaround, but that quickly turned into a string of delays and missed commitments. Unfortunately, this became a pattern, and my car ended up being at the shop for 13 days. While I understand that unexpected issues can come up during repairs, the repeated delays, shifting timelines, and lack of timely communication were frustrating. I left the experience with little confidence in the shop's process or follow-through.

Alvin’s did a fantastic job with my car. They inspected my vehicle, made reasonable recommendations, and got it back to me all in the same day. Cannot recommend them more highly to anyone looking for honest, solid work.

The staff is really kind and helpful. We worked with Michael and very satisfied with the service, the information and the knowledge we were given. Alvin's will be our new go-to for all of our future car issues.

Tony, Michael, and the entire staff went above and beyond to get my SUV working in proper order for my upcoming trip and for the next decade. Their customer service made my family and I feel heard and supported. Highly recommend them for all your vehicle’s needs.

Finally decided to cut the cord from dealership service on my Acura RDX. Very happy I did. Friendly and attentive at the front desk and reasonable prices. Got A1 service (oil change & tire rot.), brake fluid flush and 4 wheel alignment. Car drives like new again.

Look no further. Alvin's Auto Center takes FIRST place in Quality, Service, Knowledge, and Price. Michael is knowledgeable, efficient, & honest. He communicates quickly and will go above and beyond to get the parts needed for your car—now, you can't get much better than that. And Anthony is one of a kind. He will assist in getting your car repaired if it's having extreme technical issues (like mine was) and take measures that exceed expectations! Thank you for this wonderful place. We know mechanics typically have a "dishonest" reputation, but Alvin's exceeds in every category. They are simply the best auto center in San Jose. Thank you!!

I've been a loyal customer of Alvin's in Milpitas for over a decade, consistently impressed by their honest and dependable service. Recently, I had a special project for their San Jose location. My 2006 Honda S2000 had been sitting idle on a driveway for years. I decided to have it towed to Alvin's in San Jose to see if they could restore it to its former glory. Time wasn't a concern, as I wasn't in immediate need of the vehicle. Anthony and his team went above and beyond in their diagnosis and repair work. They performed a major tune-up, replacement of the wire harness and battery, installation of the convertible top, new tires, a thorough detailing, and a successful smog test. I'm thrilled with the results. The care and attention Anthony and his team put into reviving this sentimental car are truly appreciated. What's more, the final cost was lower than I had anticipated! Thanks to Alvin's, I once again have a fully functional S2000 that holds great personal value. Their exceptional service has not only restored my car but also reinforced my trust in their expertise.

Alvins Auto Center always does a very professional and on time job ! I gave both my cars(a BMW and a Toyota) to this shop and they inspected the cars and pointed out issues and also fixed them in a day. They send you a SMS with a link which has their findings & inspection report which I really like. Calvin is also super nice!