McCarthy Automotive

Sal is a life saver! My car was literally on its last breathe. I’m a student and I was really tight on cash and he took that into consideration. Sal was extremely helpful and took a look at my car and fixed everything up for me within a day! All I can say is that my car is like brand new. I couldn’t be more thankful for Sal and the guys at McCarthy! They are amazing! Everyone in Burbank! Go to McCarthy!!! Fast! Clean! Efficient! Ask for Sal!

Sal and the staff have been servicing my vehicles for the past 6 years now and the only type of service I have received has been an EXCEPTIONAL one. I’ve taken my personal and company trucks which have both been running in excellent condition since their repairs. My father’s friend referred both of us to McCarthy Automotive and my vehicles have been extremely grateful. Thank you guys for the excellent service throughout the years.

Wow! McCarthy Automotive. Where to begin? So being from New York, I hadn’t really had to look for a mechanic/​body shop because taxi’s and the subway were my daily form of transportation. When I recently moved to Los Angeles for a job promotion I had received through my company, I realized subway systems were not reliable. So, long story short, had to buy a used car (2006 Range Rover HSE) to get around the city.
Two weeks ago, my car broke down and it ended up being a head gasket issue. I spoke to a few co-​workers who recommended me to take it in to McCarthy Automotive. I couldn’t be happier with the service I received from my time in to the time my car was fixed. Sal and the staff are great. They kept me in the loop every step of the way with no surprises or unexpected issues/​expenses.
I was truly blown away by the care they offered me and my car. Two weeks after the car was fixed, sal called to follow up with all the services and made sure that“everything was working in perfect order.” About 85% of my coworkers and their families bring their cars in for any issues.
These guys are truly the best. No wonder they are voted best in Burbank for consecutive years. Thank you guys for everything. Hopefully won’t need to be back for unexpected issues, but if any were to arise, there is only one place I will bring my baby.

BEWARE!!! I took my car here because I had a coupon for an oil change… the guy tried to tell me that both of my belts needed to be changed ASAP and that it was going to be a $ 300 repair… took my car to my regular mechanic and asked him to check out the belts and give me an estimate… he told me my belts were 100% fine and weren’t going to need to be changed for at LEAST another 60,000 miles and that when they DID need to be changed, it would only be a $ 100-​$ 150 repair. McCarthy tried to SCAM me, hardcore. my mechanic told me, «becareful who you take you car to, to get an oil change…» lesson learned.

2014 Update —
Sal /​McCarthy Automotive earned my business after my 2010 introduction and I have referred everyone I know to him.
Sal is the type of person that gives you the worst case scenario and then always comes up cheaper than his original estimate. My wife even likes him and she does not like any mechanics.
He is not the cheapest but his prices are fair and I will take fair with quality work over cheap & shoddy any day.

People wouldn’t be so upset about their car problems if all auto shops were like this one!
A friend recommend me to this shop because she is related to the owner. I was reluctant to mix business and friendship, but eventually gave in. I had seen TWO other mechanics 24 hours before coming here. I left the other mechanics before even handing my keys over! The other mechanics made me feel ignored, cheated and like I wasn’t taken seriously. Imagine that… mechanics not taking women seriously! Ha. (insert sarcasm)
Sal was incredibly friendly, before he even knew who had referred me. I knew right away that I had finally met the mechanic that I was actually going to leave my car with. He listened to each of my concerns. He even had me write them down (there were a lot) so he could do an inspection and address each one.
I was beyond impressed with the level of service that I received here. Sal is friendly, HONEST and provides excellent customer service. I would take my car to him again for any future repairs and regret not taking my car to him sooner! I would send my own friends and family here and recommend that you do the same.
Finally! An auto shop with integrity!

@Erin M. — I can safely say there has got to be a whole lot more to this story then what you wrote about. I can’t wait to hear Sal’s side of this story! As you can see from the other «5» Star ratings for Sal and his team, this is not what McCarthy Auto is about. I have known Sal for many years and have never dealt with a more honest, reliable and, ethical shop in my 56 years. I have been in a number of scenarios where Sal could have easily told me I needed extra work or come up with additional things needing repair but he has NEVER even come close to doing this. Matter of fact almost every time I have asked Sal about Brakes or anything that requires annual maintenance, Sal has always been truthful and never told me I needed something fixed that didn’t need it. That’s not in his DNA. I truly hate it when one person has to write such a horrible review for such a nice, honest person like Sal. But I also spent 4 years in the military defending everyone’s rights to say what they want, as long as it don’t harm someone. This is borderline harmful.
For those of you reading this and trying to make an honest decision, simply look at ALL of the reviews and notice the consistent high accolades and ratings for Sal and his staff.
Nuff said!

This morning I shot a video segment for TV at McCarthy Automotive. I was impressed with all of the people we interviewed. They all had nothing but excellent things to say about Sal and McCarthy Automotive.
I’ve been shooting video segments for almost seven years and know when someone is sincere or just playing favorites. I truly believe everyone we spoke with had used Sal and has been thoroughly satisfied with the work Sal and his team had done.
His garage was organized and kept very clean, which is an important indication of the type of work they provide. I will have no problem bringing my own car over to McCarthy Automotive next time it needs anything… and will feel 100% confident in their work.
— Kevin

Sal was very friendly, and he got my car in for an oil change right away, and also took care of my rear blinker which had issues. The work was fast and done well, and I will definitely go back.

I was in Burbank to look at a potential new car and pulled in to Sal’s shop for a check. He looked at fluids, brakes and drove the car. Said transmission fluid should be pink and I needed rear brakes.
I bought the car a few days later and went to shop as planned for the work. He called a while into the day and said the front brakes were worse than expected — he could see them better once car was up in the air — and asked if I wanted to do those as well. I did.
When I picked it up after 4 ½ hours I asked if my fluid was now pink as it should be. He said well all cars are different, like yours. That was the red flag.
I continued on my journey as planned to go pick up my new trailer. When I got there I discovered he had not done the wiring as planned for my hitch installation and it took five and a half hours for three other mechanics to correct the hitch issue. Those mechanics also — all three — told me the front brakes had not been touched nor the transmission fluid which I was also informed that by law, Sal was legally obliged to give me my old brakes which he never offered. I now have in writing the Truth and still need to locate trustworthy mechanic. I’ve been told «Deeds» on Burbank is where the olé timers go and trust.
I called Sal and confronted him and asked if he had my old brakes and he said he would have to «see if they kept them and call me back». I called him back before closing and once again confronted him at which time he got angry at me «for being this way». I made sure he knew this was reported to the CA Board at which time he angrily withdrew his offer to send me a check in «good will» for $ 300. I completely Trusted the man or I would never have gone to him for the work.
This place does opposite of what we generally hear. Instead of telling me things I didn’t really need, he charged me for things I did and did not do the work.
I received the $ 300 check in the mail the same day I noticed my new car had been keyed from one end to the other. Ummmm… Curious since I’ve owned 8 vehicles in my life and never had one keyed.
I later found out that he had not even done the rear brakes properly either. He simply put on the pads without fixing the rotars so the brakes would have worn out rather quickly. Especially hauling a trailer around the state.
Beware…stranger danger here!
No one else should ever be bamboozled and Unilocal hopefully will help with that.
Upon filing complaint with Bureau of Automotive Repair, I was told by Private Investigator that this shop purchased the parts for my vehicle but then returned them for refund which is criminal. I was given back another $ 200 for a total of half of what I paid of the $ 1,000 to this scammer.
TRUTH is most important in the entire Universe
Son of Man Loves more than Satan Hates
Don’t allow deceit to steal
LOVE JOY PEACE

Just went here for the first time this morning for an oil change. This is something I usually dread and try to put off because of past experiences. I will usually show up at EZ Lube with a discount advertisement in my hand. At some point they will call me into the garage and invariably try to sell me on new air filters, radiator flushes and the like.
So this time I threw away the discount advertisement and decided to try McCarthy Automotive. I had called them the day before and they told me it would cost about $ 25 to do an oil and filter change on my 2002 Honda Civic. I made an appointment for 9:00 am this morning. When I arrived there was no one else in the waiting room. I was told it would take about 30 minutes. At one point the guy at the desk came out with a dirty air filter from my car and asked if I wanted it changed. I thought, oh no, here it comes. The up selling. I inquired about cost and he said it would be about $ 26 plus tax. I told him that I was on a budget and I did not want that service at this time. He pleasantly said okay, and walked back to the garage with my air filter. He did not try to sell me on any unnecessary services. A few minutes later the service was done. The total service took about 25 minutes. The total out the door cost was $ 25.69.
This may be a couple of bucks more than an oil change at EZ Lube with the discount advertiser, but I will happily pay that to escape the up selling that I have always encountered there. And McCarthy Automotive finished the oil change more quickly that any other place I have been to.

Sal and the mechanics at McCarthy are THE BEST. I always receive the fairest price and the best service. Also, more importantly, Sal has become a great friend. He has been there for me, and my car, in the worst of economic times. He is kind and honorable and generous and I truly don’t know who could be a better mechanic. I am extremely grateful for him and the service he provides. Thank you for EVERYTHING, Sal!
With that, he deserves your business! Don’t think twice: Bring your car to McCarthy Automotive!

It’s so hard to find a trustworthy mechanic in L.A. Or anywhere, really. My dad is a mechanic, but since I don’t live near him anymore, I get really freaked out when I have to take my car in to a shop.
My friend recommended her mechanic, Sal, at McCarthy Automotive. She said he was very reliable, trustworthy, and competitively priced.
I took my car there the other day because it was overheating. Sal instantly made me feel at ease. He explained he’d take a look, give me a call, and let me know what’s up. When I found out I had to replace the thermostat, I got a price estimate. I mentioned that I may have to take it to CarMax, since I have a warranty with them. He said he works with warranties, so I gave him the a-​okay to go ahead. He was always very prompt and communicative with me.
He was SO PATIENT with CarMax’s claims assistants. They were giving him the run-​around. He did all of the footwork for me without ever once showing agitation.
Please, if you ever need to get your car fixed, that is the place to go. It’s an independently run shop, with a comforting feel. A+!