Alba Auto Repair

My husband and I have been going to Alba for 25 years. All I can say is I trust them, they always do great work, and they treat me with a lot of courtesy and never try to sell unneeded repairs. In fact, the one time I didn’t listen to Dimitri about replacing my clutch cable, it broke a few weeks later at 2 AM in Park Slope. Now I always follow their guidelines. Carlos is also excellent; highly recommended!

Alba auto repair «replaced» the rear brakes, rotors, and the front wheel bearings on my car. Exactly 6,413 miles later they told me that I would need new front wheel bearings and rear brakes, I told them that was impossible because they had been previously changed and I hadn’t even driven 10,000 miles. The man then told me the parts were the originals that came with the car. I went to the shop and gave him the service receipts signed by him and he said he was incorrect, it wasn’t the original parts, but they still needed to be replaced. There is a sign on their wall guaranteeing all work done under 13,000 miles but this guy still wants to charge me? Nah, I already reported this scammer to the BBB.
An average sealed wheel bearing lasts 85,000 to 100,000 miles although some can last as long as 150,000 miles. The average rear brakes should last approximately 20,000 to 30,000 miles. I guess because I’m a female they thought I wouldn’t know this.

Good experience here. They were very nice and quick, honest and fairly priced. Everything you want from a good mechanic. They don’t try to oversell you on repairs and in fact if you don’t need something they will tell you straight up. I mostly dealt with Carlos and it was great. Thanks guys, I will be back.
99′ Honda CRV

I’ve used Alba for over 15 years. It sounds corny but I won’t take my car to anyone else. I know Dimitri and Carlos and I trust them because they have demonstrated their integrity time and time again. I’ve had three cars over the years and they’re the only ones who I’ll take my car to. I highly recommend.

Totally agree with the other reviews. These guys are super friendly, honest and do great work.

They have moved locations and the spot at Nevins and Union is even better. Another great sign you’ve found the right auto mechanics — year after year, after different cars they continue to offer amazing, honest and reasonable service. They explain everything to you without patronizing, but to inform, as one intelligent person to another. And best of all they are decent people. The whole team! Dimitrios and his crew helmed by Carlos know what they are doing, and they care.

We took our 1987 «classic» Volvo wagon to Alba all the time, back when they were on 4^th Ave. They kept her running into her 27^th year. Great outfit, great guys.

True professionals! Alba has been my go-​to for as long as I’ve lived in NYC. I’ve taken my 96 Corolla in several times, for fixes big and small, and have always walked away having paid much less than I expected. They will try to fix first before replacing something, which is really appreciated. Don’t consider going anywhere else.

Wow! Not sure where the one star review is coming from but I highly doubt Carlos would lie to a customer about brake pads being worn. Aside from being truly honest guys, they are busy enough that they would not risk putting their reputation on the line for something as cheap to replace as brake pads. Maybe he accidentally confused your car with another vehicle, and mistakenly told you something about another persons car. That’s really the only situation I could imagine where Carlos or ANYONE at Alba would tell one of their customers something that wasn’t true. My father and I have had Alba service our vehicles for over 10 years now. They have always been upfront and honest about their labor, and prices have always been MORE than reasonable. I have trusted them for everything from oil changes to clutch replacement, and as someone who doesn’t let anyone work on my car (as I do all my own labor) Alba is one of the only shops that I would trust with any of my vehicles. I have double and triple checked their work over the years (Not because I needed to, it’s just habit when you are a mechanic yourself) and have always been very happy with the quality.
Another thing… if they tell you to take it to the dealer because it’s still under warranty, it’s because it is saving you money. They are not trying to blow you off, but save you the cost of the repairs. They are as disgusted with dealer prices as the average consumer is, and for this reason they’re prices are the best in the business.
GO TO THEM. They really do deserve 5 stars all around.

They are absolutely awesome. I have been using them since 2000. Thats when a few people I worked with told me to go. Many people in Park Slope use them. they get the job done, and at a great price. I have total trust and faith in them. I Always have older cars such as late model Volvos, and an array of others over the years — these guys keep me rolling down the road. I have been living in nyc for almost 13 years, and driving since the early 80’s. I am glad I came to Brooklyn, and found my favorite mechanics. And they are sooo cute too. Brad Brown —

I received a response, however your response had nothing to do with the problem. Yes you recommended brake work – I was told by Carlos not to take my child in my car, specifically because the brake pads were as Carlos put it «metal to metal»! My problem was that this was a LIE and when I looked at the brake pads with another mechanic, myself they were OVER half left. My problem is not that you recommended brake work but that your policy was to frighten me and LIE in the first place.
It is my belief that your mechanic saw a woman and tried to dupe her into more work than was necessary for her car. The reason I was granted a 10 extension was because the computer of the car was not ready. My problem is with your fear mongering and your attempt to get me to pay for work that was NOT NEEDED.

Dimitri, Carlos and the rest of the gang care greatly about their customers and hold themselves to the highest service possible. They won’t charge for things that aren’t needed and won’t try to sell you on services you won’t need. They are personable, thorough, stand by their service and are reasonable priced.
I’ve been going to Alba for nearly 10 years and never once did I feel like I’ve been taken advantage of, overcharged or anything else common to auto repair shops. In fact, my car recently needed so much repair that Alba stopped charging me for labor (they also had to send me to a Nissan service center for a specific part where I got unbelievable ripped off. Alba also felt horrific about this).

First time I wanted to have any work done on my Acura in Brooklyn. I decided to try Alba since it was nearby, and since they gave me by far the cheapest quote on the work I wanted done (replacing all four struts). After talking with them, they mentioned that they would install parts if I wanted to buy them and bring them along, which a lot of shops don’t allow. I decided to have a new set of rotors and pads (that I purchased) installed at the same time as the shock replacement.
Both items were done at an excellent price for the area, and took less than a day. Everything was done right the first time, which is refreshing. Alignment was spot on after the shock replacement, no squeaks or squeals from the brakes or suspension components. Will definitely go back for future repairs.

I’ve been coming here since i started driving (20 years). They stand by their work which is excellent. They don’t overcharge you and they open at 7am. You can usually get your car back the same day. Carlos is the best. Wouldn’t dream of taking my car any place else.

this place is
1. run by good people
2. who do work fast and
3. charge as low as i have ever come across (especially in NYC!)
4. and who do not do more than what needs to get done
i will never go anywhere else.

This may be the first time in the ten years I have lived here that I truly like a mechanic. They are so helpful, and more importantly honest. It really is like a breath of fresh air when you feel like you are being treated the way a customer should.
Oh and by the way someone said they paid $ 19 for service here, one time I wasn’t even charged as they found nothing wrong with it. Ummm, so does that ever happen anywhere else?

I had a great experience here. I needed a bunch of stuff done to my car and I don’t know anything about cars and I was afraid of getting unnecessary work done, so I went here based on reviews. They were great! I consulted with my dad about what they were doing and he told me their price was great and much less than he could have gotten done at his mechanic in Cleveland. They were also friendly and super fast. Thanks for keeping my car in great condition! I wish I hadn’t moved away or I’d never go to another mechanic again.

$ 19. No, seriously. That’s what Alba charged us to fix a flat and replace a spare tire. Instead of rooking us for two new tires, they patched the nail hole in the Pirelli, and told us the spare just needed to be properly inflated. Which they did. Then they told my man it would be twenty bucks if he paid cash. But he only had $ 19, so they took it. SCORE.

I found Alba Auto on Unilocal when my boyfriend called me from Propect Park West where his Jeep had stalled. They installed a new battery. Complete cost for parts and labor? $ 120. And it’s worked great since. They are nice guys and super reasonably priced.

I feel compelled to review because I went to Alba based on Unilocal reviews. I needed an oil change and a few things checked out. They were fast, efficient, courteous and found a problem — that they then asked if I was under warranty (I am) and told me to take back to Dodge.
I have limited experience with auto places in NY but so far the best.