VIP Smog Center

VIP Smog is great! Best price (even better with coupon) and VERY fast! They even offered me a slice of their pizza they had delivered for lunch… Good people!

We have been using VIP smog for smog checks for years now, but today I was impressed enough to leave a review. We’ve always been able to drive right in and get our smog checks in a very reasonable time, but our car failed the this time, and we really had to get the registration completed. We had the car repaired and VIP took us right away. Then Adel said he noticed a leak in our coolant, and very patiently explained what was wrong. Funny, we just had the car fully serviced at another car shop (all fluid check) and no one seemed to notice the leak there. He’s very helpful and friendly, and I’m pretty sure we’ll start using them for repairs.

I’ve been coming here for years, and I wouldn’t trust anyone but Jack and his son Adel with my truck. They are both so friendly, knowledgable, and welcoming. As a woman, it’s difficult to find a mechanic you can trust, but I’ve found that at VIP Auto Smog. Always friendly and quick service. Bring your car by, you won’t be disappointed :)

That’s a –1 star. I actually have been here once before and liked their service. However, I just called this place to make an appt and the lady who answered the phone was so RUDE. She had the audacity to hurry me and clearly doesn’t know how to greet a customer over the phone. She said there’s another customer there, so she would talk to her and then me. She could’ve easily said «may I put you on hold while I assist a customer.» Instead, she goes «ok, what date? What time? (huffs and puffs).» Someone needs to teach this lady phone and customer service etiquette. If she was rude over the phone, can you imagine how she will be in person? What a disappointment. She sounded older, too. I’m sure she’s had plenty of work experience. Lady, if you’re reading this, please cancel my appointment. I do not plan on keeping it and certainly do not plan on seeing your face and talking to you again. Please learn how to treat future customers. Whatever caused you to be such a B**** over the phone with me is not my problem.

Jack is a good man, he does not rip you off like some car shops, took my car there he fixed it no
took 8 hours, but he was busy working on cars that came in before me.

If I could put 0 stars I would. I have called 4 times to try and make an appointment to have my car serviced, to no avail. The have the hours posted and they say they are open but no one answers the phone. WTH!!!

Talked to them on the phone about coming in, able to use my own oil and filter for oil change and just pay for labor.

I ve been there customer for a while now, amazing service and I believe the most important thing that u need to have when u are having somebody fix your vehicle is trust. I trust Adel and Jack blindly these people know their business I always go with their recommendations and I never had a problem. It is like they are prescribing medication they will tell you all about it the side effects and every thing. I recommend this place hight add to their prices are uncompetable with any other place I ve been in east bay for nearly 10 years and truly this place is the winner

They worked really really slow. Just had a smog check and I was told that it would be done in 15 mins, but I waited 90 mins to get it done. No customer was in front of me, I made an appointment. They just worked really slow.

Thanks Unilocalers! Fast and good service. You even get discount on multiple vehicles. This will be my new shop for smog.

I just took my vehicle in to be smogged. I was worried about parking because it is just a driveway that you pull in to. As soon as I pulled up someone came out to assist me. They were able to work me in right away. I want to the crescent drive shopping area just a block away and by the time I came back, my vehicle was all done. They parked it next door at the bank parking lot so it was really easy to get out. The price was good. The only thing that I didn’t like was the waiting room was so small and it was so cluttered. I didn’t feel comfortable in there so it was nice I didn’t wait long in there at all.

DO NOT EVER GIVE YOUR BUSINESS TO THIS RAGING LUNATIC!!!
Would not give any stars, but you have to to leave a review
I have to have some work done on my car which is under warranty. The dealership requested for me to obtain invoices to prove I had gotten regularly scheduled oil changes. In the process of returning to the mechanics I’ve used since 2013 for my oil changes to obtain copies of invoices, I remembered why I stopped going to one in particular. VIP smog center in Pleasant Hill. I kindly asked the owner if I could have copies of the invoices after explaining my situation with Toyota. Mind you I had given my business to this same place for 4 years (since 2010 – 2014)!!! He told me that they only have paper records and it would take too long to go through them all. He then proceeded to tell me «well if you have the time you can look through the thousands of invoices». I replied with «great, when can I come in to do that?» He then started screaming at me telling me his office person isn’t there until the 15^th. I was ok with that, I don’t need these in a rush. He proceeded to scream at me telling me he doesn’t have to give me these receipts!!! I’m completely confused at this point what even upset him. I decide to leave.
I simply asked for copies of invoices of services I had done with his shop. That was it. When I went to other mechanics that I had used it took them 2 seconds and they provided me with copies with no questions asked and no hesitation.
Now what do I do? Toyota will not do the warranty work on my car unless I can provide these invoices so stressed out.
Yes lesson I learned was to keep every receipt even if it’s just for an oil change. However legitimate places of business would have no problem helping their customers out. Who in this day and age keeps business records on paper and doesn’t use a computer???
This guy is horrible with customer service and will try to scam you into spending more money then you have to on your car by telling you your car has all kinds of issues. Even if you have been a loyal customer he will treat you poorly due to his lack of organization & communication. *The only helpful person there is Adell who is a mechanic and I’m not even sure if he is still there.

I went there with a copy of the « Unilocal price» posted front and center on the main page. When I got there, I was told that this was not the price (it was about $ 5 higher), and the photo was not put there by them. However, they were willing to give it to me for that price anyway
At first I was skeptical and didn’t really believe it, but after returning home, I investigated and found out they were telling the truth. It’s posted by some jerk (Jack U) who has one Unilocal review, for VIP, and it’s a one-​star, bad review — so I’m pretty sure it’s not VIP’s photo. I tried to report it to Unilocal as false information, but they say tough, they can’t do anything about what I «think» is false information. So, I posted my own photo, hoping it will also be seen, plus I’m posting this review, even though I didn’t actually have the test done there. But they were as good as they could be, under the circumstances, so I think they deserve a good review.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love this place? I live in San Pablo and I work in Richmond and I STILL drive all out of my way to use them. They may not be the most… punctual… but they are SO honest, and if you show them loyalty they will show you loyalty. How often have I rolled in with some random part of my car hanging off or rattling or whatever and driven away 45 minutes later and not even seen a bill? I have been coming here for so long, and used them for big and small repairs and never, not ever, been unhappy. Even when they sorta winged it a little to save me a few bucks when I was short on funds and the repair didn’t hold, I didn’t mind because at least they tried the cheap solution before going to the expensive one. Anyway, I am a devotee. :)

I’ve had two cars smogged here and I will keep coming back. They are centrally located, which means I can bring my son and walk to Crescent Plaza while we wait, and they are fast.

Shirley, Adele and Jack continue to take care of me and my two cars. I called yesterday late in the day to get an oil change and SMOG on one of my cars. I was told that they were very busy but they could fit me in. They completed my smog test but could not do the oil change which was fine since the smog test was more important.
Today, I called VIP first thing in the morning while on the way to Toyota Walnut Creek (which would’ve been a 2 –3 hour wait) to schedule an oil change and again they got me right in and completed the job in about 45 min. while I waited at the Starbucks across the street. Sweet!
Customer parking is tight but they make it work and have the best prices in town for both oil change and smog tests. I’ve never had a bad experience at VIP Smog and I’ve been taking my cars to them for a few years now. Keep up the good work! — John

Didn’t end up getting my smog here, this review is for the customer service.
I called ahead to check if they had time for me and the woman warned me they were busy but could see me. I show up on time and the woman at the front desk was curt, rude, and made visible cues of annoyance like scoffing at me, clicking her tongue, and rolling her eyes. I normally just deal with it but this time I asked her sternly what her problem was and her attitude got worst. I decided not to do business with this place because no one needs to be talked down to for a simple smog check.

Jack and his crew are the best! they go above and beyond to get my cars running smoothly

Wise ass, zero customer skills, really could care less if you use his service or not. Save yourself the agitation and go somewhere else.

I don’t know how my life would be if i don’t this place, their prices are cheaper than anywhere else these people are so nice and friendly i don’t worry now if any thing happened to my car, jack, adel and the whole crew are very professional