Dealer Alternative Auto Care

Excellent experience. Just what I hope for, but only occasionally get out there. They were able to make an appointment, keep it, diagnose the issue in hours, provide a detailed estimate delivered through email and text, a few hours later, my car was ready. Friendly, professional, and most importantly, competent. I will certainly hire them again, well done!
Mar 22nd, 2024

Appreciate all you do!
Mar 16th, 2024

The best mechanic Ive ever found, gave me a timeline on repairs and was finished before that, great price, beyond knowledgeable. Puts any brand dealership to shame with their amazing customer service. I tell anyone whose looking for a mechanic to go here.
Mar 4th, 2024

Dealer Alternative is a great San Marcos business. My family uses their services, and they do great work. Its nice to have a mechanic that I can trust.
Feb 24th, 2024

1 star due to a shady business practice of overcharging customers. I suggest everyone to be very cautious. I originally was told the diagnostic fee is $100. Came in, they diagnosed it and told me there is 3 small issues: car battery ground terminal had an aluminum piece that prevented a good connection, blinker connector needed to be cleaned and alternator bolt needed to be tightened. Received a phone call a few hours later to be told the total with fixes will be $330, diagnostic and an hour of labor. Math wasnt mathing, 100 diagnostic + 150 for a full labor hour + tax isnt 330. I called and tried to understand how the numbers came up and the manager wasnt able to explain it and later told me he gave me a discount and came down to 280. After I received my car I asked again how the original $330 price came up, and was told that he charged me 2 labor hours which comes out to $150 each. Essentially playing it off as if it was a mistake and hes just following what the system says. I then asked if the 100 diagnostic fee is standard across the board and was told it was. So there is no mistaking the total here. Reading through some of the replies to other bad reviews of other people feeling being overcharged allows you to give them the benefit of doubt. In this case there is none. They didnt volunteer to tell me how the price breaks down either, and no initial explanation to the total until I advocated for myself. In response to owner: sorry you didnt understand our billing process. The owners response is trying to shift my review towards a misunderstanding on my part when in reality there is none. 100 for diagnostic and 150 for an hour of labor yet you were trying to charge me over 330. Not only are you lucky to charge someone 150 for a simple fix, to tighten a bolt and clean a connection but you tried to overcharge by 80 dollars. All together the repairs take 15 minutes even with repair verification.
Jan 27th, 2024