Portola Auto Service

been a resident of Portola for almost 24 years… from a Bronco to a Honda and
now a Subaru… Paul has taken good care of us…

This place totally rules. My boyfriend and I moved to the area a little over a year ago and have been getting our cars serviced here since. Paul is absoutely wonderful. Not only is he just an all around great, trustworthy guy, he is knowledgable and diligent. I have come in for routine services along with bigger services like new breaks etc. and have never left with out having been completely satisfied with the work they have done and at a reasonable price. I am so happy to have found a local place that I can trust and feel great about leaving my car with them. Paul and his wife run a great business and I recommend their work to the highest degree.
Thank you Paul!

This is my first time Unilocaling, but I just felt so compelled to after my visit to Portola Auto. I first came in last week for an oil change, and chose this spot because it is close to the school where I teach. Paul was so helpful and informative! On top of that, he dropped my car off for me while I was working and allowed me to pay over the phone. I had also asked for his opinion on my squeaky brakes, and he told me I should probably take care of them in the next week. So I brought my car in during a prep period this week, and he drove me back to work. He called a little later to let me know that I would need to get new rotors for the front two brakes, but that he could get me a discounted rate. He then picked me up from work so I could come to the office and pay, at which point he gave me another discount! And THEN, when I told him I am planning a cross-​country roadtrip over the summer, he told me to bring my car in and he would do a 24-​point inspection and replace any fluids FOR FREE. This is the greatest car maintenance experience I have ever had by far! Everyone should go to Portola Auto!

Late yesterday in Mill Valley my car all of a sudden stopped running. The next day I started to look for auto repair shops, after calling a few places I found Paul at Portola Auto Service. Now at this point I have 3 crazy ideas as to why my car kaputt on me. He checked it out and it turned out to be the simplest idea ever! I was stunned, he saved my life and a whole lot of bus rides. In the end it was a 350 fix, much better than what I had in mind. Paul is an old soul that has a whole lot kick, he is sarcastic, witty, and won’t jerk you around. The shop has a home town feel and as clean as an auto body shop will get. If you live in the San Francisco area or break down here, come to this shop. I’m coming next weekend for tires.

Best auto-​service experience I’ve ever had. Paul is energetic and enthusiastic about getting your car fixed and back on the road. He didn’t charge me for some of his labor (which was extremely helpful financially) and even offered to pick me up from the bus stop after work. You can not expect anything more from an auto-​service shop, I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. Save yourself a headache and just go to Portola Auto.

Afte researching several mechanics in the Bay Area and only after talking to Paul I knew this would be where we would take my sons truck. Paul is very professional and quoted us one price and stuck with it. He kept us informed of everything that he was doing. When we had the truck towed there the driver let me know tht he has known Paul for 30 years nd he was a honest and fir mechanic. He was right! Definetley will be going back and I highly recommend Portola Auto Service.

Paul and Ferdinand professionally diagnosed and repaired my van’s alternator and rewired bad battery wiring (improperly spliced together by another mechanic after battery was stolen) for a fair price. Very accommodating, storing my van while awaiting factory part to arrive. They were pleasant to talk with and gave good advice.
I plan to take my other van here for the same great service. Thanks!

Exceptional customer service. Paul goes the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction. Not only do they deliver as promised (including completion time), in one experience the estimate (which was extremely fair), actually came in under the quoted cost! I am a fairly new customer — but based on my recent experiences, they have a customer for life! Paul and Ferd are great!
Update 12÷9÷14: every time I bring in my car for routine service and/​or repair, Paul, the owner, and his staff, have provided me with exceptional service. They always go the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction. Am very happy with my overall experience. Portola Auto Service is the only place I will entrust my car… I highly recommend his business to anyone.

I have been taking my Honda Accord 2001 into the same mechanic for it’s entire life span, but upon moving to San Francisco last year I had no choice to test out the water for a new, highly skilled, and trustworthy mechanic.
I found all of these in Paul at Portola Auto Service. Paul and his wife, Lorainne provide quality care for their patrons, as well as provide outstanding auto care with the customer in mind. Not only did Paul find me a discount for installing new brake pads and rotors, but completed the job in a very timely manner and at a low cost.
If you are hesitant to take your car to any other shop in this neighborhood, I urge you to choose Portola Auto Service.

Car: 2006 BMW 325i
Problem: Right passenger window did not roll up; came off its track
BMWs almost seem to be engineered so that little issues and problems arise only after the end of their service/​maintenance term. These «little issues» also have a way of costing a lot to fix. I’ve had several BMWs, and I’ve had this window track problem happen before. I knew what was wrong with the window.
Lately, I’ve been trying to fix things, by myself, through directions on the internet. There are even several YouTube videos on how to fix this issue, on this model car. However, I decided that such a project would be a bit too much for me to do.
Living in the area, I try to support local businesses whenever I can. I found this place on a quick Unilocal search. I called them to ask if this car window issue would be something they do. The gentleman on the phone said they ‘fix everything’. I drove my car down there the next day.
When I got there, I was a bit weary that there were no other cars like mine there. Not only were most of the cars there not from the same continent, most weren’t even from the same decade!
However, everything else about the place, including the appearance and cleanliness of the shop, the professionalism of the staff, etc. gave was confidence these people knew their stuff

Ferdinand was the name of the gentleman who I had spoken to on the phone. He was also the person who was there and who wrote me up.
He was very direct:
$ 100/​hr labor + cost of parts
They’d call me after a look at problem.
Later that day, they had identified the problem and scope of work required on my car. Paul called me and, very clearly, broke-​down the problem in detail, my options, as well as, the timeframe and cost estimates of everything involved with the repair. With my approval, he set at it. I got a call about 24 hours later to pickup my baby.
The FINAL COST was right WITHIN THE ESTIMATE previously said to me. Very refreshing.
You can tell that this place has been in business for a while, and that’s because this is an honest shop with a highly-​skilled professionals.
BTW: There’s no enclosed waiting room playing rainforest sounds with wifi and a Nespresso machine (like those places that charge $ 200 for oil changes)!

I was a little hesitant at first thought of not going to my normal auto shop which is all the way in Hayward. I figured I’d read their reviews and make my decision. Since it is at a very easy location for me and their reviews were 95% good I decided to go check them out. After going here and receiving great customer service first of all, a great price, seeing the Marilyn Monroe poster hanging out the window inside the shop and a bulletin board dedicated to the 49er’s (for me it’s a sense of community) I have to say that I am very pleased. Meeting Paul and his wife Lorraine who works in the front office was really really nice. They’ve been there for 40 years and raised up their family in the area. I highly recommend going here!

I received a call months later and «Paul «said he saw the review I wrote and wanted to make it right by offering me a complimentary oil change, I made an appointment and Paul delivered and made it right! We all make mistakes but not many would make it right now a days. So here“s to you «Portola Auto» you just won back a customer with your excellent service!

Once again I brought my Rav4 to Portola Auto and Paul once again saved us money on our brakes. We thought the front and back brakes needed repair. But he assured us that only the front needed break pads not the back. He once again showed that honesty pays when you bring your car to Portola Auto.

**WARNING** **BILL CRAMMING**
I went in for an oil change and a tire rotation. The tire rotation was free because I had previously purchased new tires, alignment and smog check.
Paul called me around noon to tell me that he had also changed the air filter, cabin filter and was about to change the spark plugs. He insisted the spark plugs were worn and needed to be changed. All the filters and spark plugs were replaced by myself 8 months ago and were in good condition. I protested the charges and he said he’d wave the labor.
I get there around 4:30pm to pickup my vehicle and was handed a bill for $ 122! The big guy told me there was nothing he could do about it and I had to wait for Paul to return. The bill had not been updated and I was still being charged for the unauthorized air filter work.
Seriously, $ 122 for an oil change?
I made it clear to him and (what I believe to be) his wife that those are unauthorized and they eventually took it off. I’m glad he did the right thing in the end or this would have ended a lot uglier for them.
They have lost a customer.
— Jm

I was so worry because I had to get a break and lamp certificate and I have no idea how or where to get It, so I start to research online and I found a couple of shops, I actually call one before I got to talk with Paul (Pablo inside joke), at the other shop they told me that the job will take around 3 to 4 hours, and I was like are you kidding me ?, so I decided to call a second shop and I found Portola Auto Service, first think I like about this place it was the convenience of the location (very close to my house), the when I start reading all the reviews I instantly fall in live with the place, so I call and Paul was very helpful and honest, he gave an estimate by phone and after work I left my car and my car was done in less than an hour.

This is a great place for car repairs! You can be sure that you will be treated honestly, and as far as mechanical expertise, they have succeeded with my car when other mechanics were only giving me bad news.
The owner, Paul, will put you at ease, go over the diagnosis and repairs with you in as much detail as you want. As well as being very experienced in auto repair, he is a an honest, kind person.
BONUS: They are patient in working with you to keep your older car going if you aren’t wanting to buy a new one.
So take your car here, talk to Paul, and put your mind at ease!
I am lucky that I live across the street from this place, but even if I lived elsewhere, I would seek this place out because I don’t ever remember receiving this kind of peace of mind from any other car repair place. It’s not hard to get to. It’s right off of 101. Exit is named Paul. (Name of exit and owner’s name is a coincidence.)

Customer service is top-​notch! Paul was great to talk to. He made me feel welcome the minute I walked. His employees were very friendly as well.
I came in for an oil change and he let me work out of his office while I waited. A short while later he told me I was ready to go. He even gave me helpful directions about how to get to where I was going. Also replaced my brake light that was out for free!

Paul delivered what he promised. He thoroughly explained the problem with my car and got it fixed. Then he called me the following day to make sure I’m satisfied with the repair. That’s great service right there.
This is gonna be my new auto service repair shop.

Basically, I like Paul. He’s intelligent and easy to communicate with, which in our neighborhood is skirting a miracle. I’ve read the other reviews on this page and some are a bit too kind and one other really must have misunderstood what services would cost.
Paul has always been up-​front with both my husband and I about what is involved with any job. My husband has had his car in there much more frequently than mine has been and, like another poster said, Paul has kept it running. The car has half a million miles on it and gets me where I want to go.
Sometimes, however, some small thing might not get put back into place, but that is a very common scenario wherever you go and Paul will happily address the situation. Trust me, I’ve been to auto shops that have taken apart my car’s engine and not known how to reassemble it. Also, I think that his shop might be over-​booked occasionally because it takes longer than many shops take to get the work finished.
Paul is a real community-​minded person and is truly interested in keeping his customers happy. He’s frequently done oil changes on my husband’s car for free, and he hasn’t over-​charged him to make up the cost.

I love Paul! They have kept my husband’s crappy Saturn running and in one piece for longer than we all thought possible. Nice guys, great work, fair price, good neighbors.