Water Star Motors has a great online systems to provide details on repairs. They did a great job listening to my priorities when I brought in an older vehicle that had a long list of deferred maintenance after sitting for 2 years and offered expert advice to help guide my choices to stay in budget.

This was one of the best experiences I have ever had at an auto shop. They were super friendly and paid very close attention to detail, they explained everything over the phone very thoroughly and made sure I understood everything. The cost was perfectly reasonable and their work was done with great care! Ill definitely be coming back.

I’m a new customer, and will not hesitate to return when needed. Extremely professional. To making an appointment, to the clarity of the estimate to get my car working right. Got my car back the same day. I’m one happy customer. . I recommend this business

We have found a new home for repairs for our cars. Water Star Motors was so professional and kind, working with us and insurance. Pictures were provided to show just what needed to be done and Kristen was so helpful. Thank you.

A wonderful greeting, front desk,(Christine) and the mechanics friendly. I felt welcomed, there is a family vibe here. They are well known in community, and I felt zero uncomfortableness. They want there reputation to stand, and they go out of there way to keep it that way.My car unfortunately had numerous issues, and cost quite a bit, yet I left feeling my car was running great, I felt safe, and my car troubles are gone. = worth the spendingTook my car in today, I had to save before I could get work needed finished. Jaya, the new head mechanic was brilliant! His team fixed what was needed, and he thought a bit old school, to resolve an ongoing issue, that others could not fix, and made me uncomfortable to drive far. Not any more, I’m so thankful!Top class work all round, the young lad who picked me up, super pleasant, and the work done. 👌👍🤙🏽Highly recommend.I feel safe, and great about my car. ⭐️

Water Star Motors gouged me, acted like Keystone Kops, and ruined my vacation. AAA towed my car there when it wouldnt start. Water Star said my starter and my 6 month old battery needed replacing, total cost $775. I called my mechanic in Sunnyvale and he just laughed at that price, said hed do it for $250. So then, after Schlepping my family and myself home BY BUS (this was on the weekend), and coming backing Monday from Sunnyvale BY BUS, Water Star hit me with a $100 charge for doing a lot of diagnostics I didnt ask for. THEN, after waiting TWO HOURS for the tow truck to arrive, the Water Star person DROVE MY CAR OUT TO MEET THE TRUCK. You read that right... they had GOTTEN THE CAR TO START after AAA initially towed it there, and NOT BOTHERED TO TELL ME on Friday, causing me a complete nightmare over the weekend. An absolutely disastrous experience, complete with price gouging and gross incompetence. Stay away at all costs.

From my initial phone call, until I picked up my expertly repaired car, everything was expedient, professional, and perfect. I was especially impressed by the way every detail of the needed repair was explained carefully, and thoroughly. I’m confident that my BMW will always be repaired and serviced properly at Water Star Motors!

I had an appointment at the VA Clinic in Marina and because of Covid, I had to stop at the checkpoint to answer some brief questions, and when I rolled down my window, it wouldnt roll back up. Water Star Motors stepped up to the plate, and even though they couldnt get it repaired the same day I brought it to them, they were able to lock the car inside where it would be safe from the elements as well as safe from theft or vandalism. Water Star has a great group of qualified technicians and the repair was accomplished quickly and professionally. The technician demonstrated that the window was once again in working order and Kristen accompanied me to make sure I was satisfied with the work performed. I have a long history with Water Star Motors and they always exceed my expectations.

Water Star Motors is superb!! I 100% recommend them and will be taking all my auto needs there in the future! My Jeep randomly powered off while I was at a stoplight which of course was concerning, yet despite a check engine light coming on and off, the hand held scanners I tired didnt show any malfunction code...was a bit of a mystery. Then it happened again, this time while driving and no check engine light! It was time to take it in though I didnt yet know of a trusted mechanic here in Santa Cruz so was really feeling the stress! After calling a couple shops in town, I chose to go with Water Star Motors based on their customer service over the phone, great reviews I read, the fact that they are a AAA rated and green biz practicing sustainability, how quickly they could get my Jeep in for a diagnostic, and assurance of working with my third party warranty company. I also love that they are a family owned business here in Santa Cruz for over 26 years!I really appreciated the manager, Kristen, who I spoke with a couple of times before even bringing my Jeep in as I had heaps of questions- which she kindly and respectfully answered. When I choose somewhere to take my car how Im treated as the customer is so important, and Kristen was wonderful...kind, knowledgeable, informative, helpful in explaining the process, friendly and funny! She had a way of putting me at ease in a stressful situation which I am so grateful for!I also spoke with Jaya, one of the mechanics, after the diagnostic who was equally kind, helpful, patient with my questions, and explained all my options so well. What an amazing team! They received my Jeep from the tow truck driver without me there, and the diagnostic, repair and oil change were done in a day. The third party warranty coverage was sorted with no problems, and I was greeted with genuine smiles and care when I arrived to pick up my Jeep. All is well on the road again and I have Water Star Motors to thank! OH, and did you know they offer a 3 year/36K mile warranty on their work?! Do yourself a favor and make them your trusted auto shop too! They really do care about their customers! Much gratitude :)

Extremely satisfied with the service and quality of work at Water Star Motors. They’ve been taking care of my cars for over 5 years now and have kept them in excellent shape. They go above and beyond to get you the diagnosis quickly and then complete the work as soon as possible. It’s like having a family doctor for your car who’s trustworthy, reliable and caring. I very highly recommend them.

Fast and friendly service! Really easy to schedule the appointment online. Highly recommended!

Great service and affordable with no surprises

Kristen and all staff I have worked with, for my 2013 Hyundai Elantra, have all been very professional, honest, and thorough.I especially like all the detailed notes I have been provided with each repair, and all my questions have been answered when I call. I have used Water Star Motors three times now and each time I continue to have a consistently good experience.

Great work, great parts, little high on costs. Wanted $295.00 for new battery, next day got new battery w/ 6 year warranty - total cost = $ 143.00. So everything O.K. - little high on cost.

Absolutely great service - cant be happier.After getting a used vehicle I needed a local service and based on reviews and a hunch I tried WSM. I figured a family business that had been servicing the same community for decades would be a good bet, and they were. Ive worked with them three times - getting diagnostics, getting repairs and getting a smog check - and each time has been a totally positive experience.My first time in I was a little frustrated that things took longer than expected - not a huge deal, but it had me waiting. Turns out they offer a shuttle service so you can get where youre going and get back to the shop without a hassle.I took them up up on it the second time in and it was effortless - I got on with my day and when my car was ready to go they picked me up. Easy.My third time in was a last minute smog check. I needed it done in a hurry and they made it happen like I was a VIP. The thing is, Im not a VIP. Im just another customer, which means thats what they consider everyday customer service.My car runs great and I have a mechanic I can trust - what more could I want?

I have a Honda Odyssey 2000 that has served me well for many years. It has ~295,000 miles on it and I finally hit my first major repair on the van. I went to another local mechanic, they misdiagnosed the problem and said they couldnt do the repair so I went to Water Star Motors. They were AWESOME, especially Kirsten who went over the details with me. Water Star was super professional and you can tell they do quality work. They did an entire diagnostic of my van with labor and parts estimates as well as an assessment of the status of all major vehicle components and provided a detailed report with notes. I have never gotten such an excellent report from a mechanic in the 15 years Ive owned cars. It was transparent and I felt confident that they truly knew what they were doing. When it came time to figure out if I should repair the van or get rid of it, Kirsten gave me very honest and thoughtful feedback and in the end saved me over $3000 dollars (at their expense!) but have gained a loyal customer for years to come. If youre in doubt, go to Water Star Motors. You can be sure that they are honest humans and will do quality work. I just got a new car and I know who Im going to next week.

I brought in my Prius because of a dead battery. Brought it in with AAA towing and got the car ready quickly. Amazing customer service and would recommend it to other hybrid users (:

Great communication. Price is fair not cheap. Reviews are good and I can see why. Had 60,000 maintenance done plus new brakes for my 2015 SUV. Will go back again for 75,000 maintenance.

Had them check out a car before buying it. They are pleasant to deal with, in a convenient location and the price was reasonable. For other services I noticed they got a lot of good reviews - so thats why I chose them. I have no comment on their car repair skills because I didnt use them for that

From the time I phoned with car trouble 1 cylinder not working I was told I could come right in. Before I got off the phone details about my car were taken and they were ready to get started quick.Problem was solved per quoted estimate on time.Other services performed within the quote was an overall diagnostic of entire car much was confirmation of items I had suspected.I left the shop car running and drove right to work as planned.Email was sent regarding other issues and cost of future repairs.I would use this shop again.

I had my old Camry towed there when it broke down. The people that I worked with were very helpful and friendly, and the tow truck driver sang their praise. Id be happy to go there again.

The woman at the front desk, Kristen, is super nice!! She was helpful and understanding of my situation, and did what she could to make things easier on me. Their services are definitely on the pricier side of things, though.

I called last minute for smog certificate and they gladly told me to come in when I could. Upon arriving I saw two others waiting for service also and they apologized for the wait. I was soon helped and was told it would take less then 30min. 35 min later the car was done and they even offered me AAA discount of 10percent. Was a pleasure doing business with them and will see them again when I need service.

I was referred to Star Motors in Santa Cruz by another Prius owner. They did a great job installing a “Cat Screen” that would deter any theft or damage to my catalytic converter. It was finished on time and priced fairly. I would recommend thisFamily owned business to anyone in need of autoRepairs or service. Nice people.

Water Star Motors has always provided me with great service during theseveral occasions they have worked on my truck. They are personableprofessional and very competent in repairing even the mostchallenging problem. I will not hesitate to use them any time mytruck or auto has a problem or needs routine servicing. They are verydependable and kept me informed of the progress in repairing mytruck or if they found new unsuspected problems.

I left my 44-mpg car with them with 0.9 gallons in the tank (so it could go about 40 miles before I needed to fill it) and without consulting me, they decided that wasnt enough gas for their test driver to drive my car and charged me for 2.5 gallons of gas. Then they told me that the gas gauge was broken because the needs gas indicator was still blinking. When I got the car, it indicated it had 0.3 gallons left. I drove home and stopped at the gas station near my house (0.2 gallons at that point) and filled up, and the gas gauge works FINE. Somebody there told the front desk they had put gas in, but they clearly didnt, but charged me for it anyway. Pretty frustrating.

What a pleasure it was working with Water Star Motors! Kristen was amazing and they were able to work with me to get my automotive going in the right direction! Can’t wait to use them again!!

Courteous, trustworthy, timely, fair. You want Water Star Motors to be your go to place for your auto maintenance, and repair needs. Much thanks to Kristen, and Jaya.

Water Star--Henry, the lead mechanic, and Kristen, who runs the office--have been caring for our cars--Volvo, Cadillac, BMW, Lexus--for many years. They are honest, responsive, knowledgeable, and very good at all elements of car care. In the few instances in which they arent the best choice--like certain Cadillac specialty treatments--they say so. We are entirely pleased with them over the years. Highly recommended.

Very prompt service. i needed a smog to sell a vehicle the next day & they got me in within the hour. Thorough and by the book. And nice people too.

As always, great service. 100% trust worthy

So friendly and professional! Car was spotless and all work was timely!

Terrific customer service. Way better than jiffy lube!

Did a very thorough pre purchase inspection and were amenable to a phone call and sitting within the vehicle to test certain electronics out for their function and quality.

Great people. Expert knowledge. Very accommodating. I like the complete inspection, repair and recommendation report at the end. This is good for my records and the next buyers records.

I had done a smog check for my car which is recommended by the Firestone of Santa Cruz at this place. I would highly recommend to everyone to use their services. I am more than happy to tell that because of Water Star Motors, Firestone will loose business from me. The receptionist is very good at everything. I will definitely see you soon. They are very honest and extremely helpful.

Great experience having my car smogged! Kristen has an awesome attitude and was a pleasure to do business with. I will definitely be taking my car back for anything that comes up - they were fantastic!

Excellent customer service and so much experience fixing vehicles AC. Good job!

Great customer service, very kind and understanding people. Special thank you to Kristen and Jya!

We are quite discerning about who works on our cars and Water Star Motors has made the grade with us. They are thorough and thoughtful. The garage and office are clean. Their website works for scheduling. They are honest. Their rates are fair and clear. What can we say? We feel like they treat us very well, and one cant say that about every shade tree garage, Import Specialist or Corporate organization.

This was a first visit for me, since I needed to find a local service & repair shop. It was such a pleasant, efficient, and speedy experience. I highly recommend their superior service, and many thanks!

Water Star did a diagnostic of our Volvo to determine the issue. They were prompt and courteous, and provided good information on the issue. It turned out to require recall service by a dealer, so we did not have the service performed at Water Star, but they did helped us get the car towed the dealer, and charged us only for the diagnostic. We would return to them for service in the future.

Thanks to Larrys Auto Care for the referral, I experienced the finest service, full circle.

Excellent service: helpful, efficient and worth the modest expense,

I limped in the other day expecting to have a much worse issue than it actually was. In an out in about 24 hours with half of the expected bill I have my little speedster back with more zip than when I bought it. Staff is always friendly, helpful and professional. I will always be a faithful customer. Thanks guys

These people went so far above and beyond the call of duty I can’t say enough good things about them—the best service I have received in 25 years of owning a car. They were unfailingly polite, positive and didn’t give up until they found the root of the (rodent) problem without charging me an arm and a leg. Kristen was a pleasure to deal with every step of the way, I can’t recommend this family run business more highly.

They are very friendly and very good at what they do. Would recommend them to anyone looking for a mechanic.

Did a great job on everything. Great scheduling and communication. Great service, and the most detailed courtesy evaluation I’ve ever seen!Thank you!

Check-in was easy. Updates via text. Great experience!

Always happy with Water Star. They are fully transparent, offering clear pictures and explanations of service needed. Value is good and always professional customer service. Wouldnt take my car any other place in SC!

Water Star and its people are always professional and courteous.

They were great in and out fast great service I came back to ask about something and they went above and beyond to take care of my needs

Kristen is so great! She takes her time to explain things, is up front and transparent about costs, and cares about her customers!

This place was trying to overcharge me for things they said need fixing. I am a Woman, and my father who was a mechanic told me some mechanics will take advantage and over charge females because they assume female is clueless about cars. This is what they did here. Totally tried to give me estimates of things that were somewhat reasonable prices but still over the top. One thing they were trying to tell me needed fixing that it would cost me almost $600 dollars. I researched it and was also told by my father and boyfriend it was way over priced by a few hundreds. I will never go back to this place they lost my business and I assume more will not go there after reading this. If you are a female who knows noting about cars do not go here. Why mechanics do this when they will lose more business than they would gain money from overcharging I do not understand it makes 0 sense.

A very pleasant experience. Their shop is very clean and they do something I have mnot seen in a while...they have a meeting at the beginning of their day to discuss progress on current work and what to expect later in the day.

They were super nice, patient, and good about answering all of my questions

I regularly have my car serviced at Waterstar. The service is friendly, efficient and excellent in every way.

Kristen and the team at Water Star are exceptional. they are highly skilled, courteous, and committed to serving each customer. highly recommend!

Love Water Star!Super friendly staff and they are very good about walking you through what you need and why, rather than trying to sell you on unnecessary repairs. Kristen is super helpful and I’ve never had a bad experience here.

Fast and friendly, great service! Highly recommend.

The staff at the family owned business are friendly, funny and professional

Excellent service, as usual, from longtime pros Henry and Lisa. The best. For years.

They were on it, I was informed and updated, detailed and understandable paper work. great location for those who live in Santa Cruz.

Lisa, Henry and Kristen are wonderful. They are kind, prompt, trustworthy, and run the best mechanics I’ve ever brought my car to. Just when I thought they couldn’t get any better, they recently introduced an app that alerts you in real time of your cars progress, how it has passed the checks the techs put it through, includes pictures, recommendations, and allows you to approve or decline services. It’s awesome. I’ll never take a car anywhere else.

This place is a life saver ! My car broke down while I was on vacation and they came to my rescue Disney princess status- got fan belt fixed less than a day and was on my way home before I knew it ! Also epic head person there and a great family owned Green business ! Don’t bother elsewhere

My family always comes here and we always get great service! I trust them with my cars and my safety. Highly recommend!

I got my smog check from this place with a $10 discount and it only took 10-15 minutes. The front desk was very nice too. Great service!

Having lost my back brakes without warning (I purchased a used vehicle about one month earlier) I thankfully found myself without brakes going about 5 miles per hour going into a parking spot. The car ahead of me stopped the vehicle no damage to persons or property.Water Star Motors was suggested and as it was an emergency I went ahead with them. Frankly I figured I would go once and then check around for a place compare prices etc.From the start I was treated warmly, tine was taken to explain everything of what to expect and potential costs. Photos and full descriptions of everything needing done -such as the safety checks, fluid levels etc - AND my absent worn out back brakes. with space filled with brake fluid. The price initially seemed expensive however I recalled a different vehicle needing back brakes and getting a quote that actually was higher. Reality ---car repairs and parts are costly and since I knew through the recommendation that the work is really good quality here - I chose to repair. Cannot mess around with brakes.After going through the repair and being provided infirmation of all areas from good to okay to consider repair I find Water Star Motors to be honest, quality work, not pushy about anything and overall really welcoming. I then discovered this is a FAMILY business. I really like that and adding everything together I give then TEN STARS and will remain with them. Trust is crucial and they have my trust 100% plus QUALITY work is always essential. Spread the word this IS a place to have your car repaired.

I am extremely happy with the way they persevered with an OBC problem on my Jaguar, eventually resolving the issue so that my car passed its smog test. Hats off to Henry and Kristen

This has been the best auto shop experience so far, great communication and service!

I went in because I had a malfunction in my intake gasket. A positive note, Kristen was very professional and they “took care” of the issue which was priced at $600. After a few hours of driving my vehicle the same “service engine soon” light came up, after further investigation by water star mechanics, they came to the conclusion that my whole intake must be replaced at a price of $1500. My housemate had the same issue where they diagnose your vehicle and “fix “ it only for the same exact problem to occur a day after. I went to a different mechanic in San Diego who took care of the issue for a fifth of the price, it’s been 3 weeks and my car is functioning better than ever. Moral of the story, these guys are either lazy or finessing. Other than Kristen’s care for customers, I doubt the ability of their mechanics.

Friendly staff with an appointment and receipt system that is more advanced than my local big dealership!

Service was quick, thourough, and staff was very friendly

My experience couldnt have been better under the unfortunate circumstance I was in, complete engine failure, they seamlessly accepted my towed-in car, ran a diagnostic, then kindly and enthusiastically helped me trouble shoot my options. Not only professional, genuinely helpful and patient. And the mechanics were even really generous in explaining to me what happened even though my mechanical knowledge is very limited. On top of that, the Service manager, Kristen, was so warm and made the whole ordeal so much lovelier. Highly recommend, and intend to bring all of my repairs and maintenance to them into the future.

Kirsten was great at the desk and explained everything thoroughly service was great too.

This my local Santa Cruz car repair go to spot! They are always able to fit me in a timely fashion. Friendly fast service, with clear fair pricing. I will continue to be a patron. Thank you!

Prompt, friendly, clean shop! Very efficient!

I had a fantastic experience at Water Star Motors. I found the staff to be professional, kind, considerate and positive. They gave me a great deal on getting the alternator repaired. Kristen is personable and warm. Everyone else who came in was equally glad to be there. Can’t speak highly enough of how I was treated here. Car is working well, too, which is what I went in for. :) Also, the business is very green and waste conscious.

They repaired a cracked radiator and break fluid system on time and on budget and are among the most pleasant people to work with Ive ever met in the automotive industry. Would recommend them to anyone needing car repair service. 27 years of a family owned business that cares about quality and define great service.

Super friendly and accountable with photos and a full description of everything that needed work.

Very professional, quick, and under the original estimate. I highly recommend them.

Kristin was fair and patient with me throughout the process of getting my car repaired. She didnt look down on me even though I am in the lower middle class. She even helped me take care of towing.

Job was completely in a timely manner, parts needed to be ordered an l was apprised of that an given an option to drive back when parts arrived or to leave the car at the shop. The repair was done at 11am that next morning, sooner than l had anticipated!

An overdue review - I want to thank Kristen and the amazing team at Water Star for the great service and always being available when I have a question or need help. It is like calling a good and trusting friend. Communication is always clear, prompt, concise. Service is fast. Covid-19 protocols are in place. I know my beautiful SL400 is in great hands with them for general service and maintenance. I highly recommend Water Star Motors

Unlike many auto repair shops in Santa Cruz, Water Star does a great job of communication. They return phone calls, answer questions, and give realistic estimates on both time and cost. And on top of that they are great mechanics!

Great service, great pricing, one of the best experiences I have ever had with a mechanic! You have a new life long customer!

First time I did business with them. First rate! No complaints.

Good service and communication - very detailed and informative. Highly recommend!

Friendly, efficient service - thank you!

Very prompt considerate did a maintenance check on my car and recommend other work but did not pressure me. I was especially impressed by the receptionist .

Always the best service. They explain the issues found clearly and with a picture. Been a customer for years and will continue to be. Thanks Water Star!

Very thorough and attentive.

Friendly folks, very accessible, reliable work, and most of all honest with pricing. I typically check the blue book hours and part prices when I go to mechanics, and theyve always been reasonable and up front about costs.* Also their inspections are very thorough, and have saved me some heartache, all without a hard sell. All in all highly recommended.(* Please keep in mind what cost of living is when you check billing hours. A shop in rural North Dakota might do a job for $80/hr, but a mechanic here doing a physically demanding and dirty job deserves a living wage.)

Such a high quality experience—both in terms of customer service and the work performed.We were able to book online and get prompt confirmation of our requested appointment time. We were greeted at the front desk by the always competent and welcoming Kristen. Her smile and great sense of humor made my day. The shop performed the work quickly and got the car back to us at the time promised. Some unexpected extra work came up that Water Star discounted very generously. I love the fact that Water Star is owned and operated by a local family that is committed to providing stellar customer service. It feels great to support a business that gives back to the community in so many ways. Thank you, Water Star.

I was very satisfied with WSM. They kept me informed of the work needed and costs, did high quality thorough work, and also went above and beyond to fix extra things. I towed my car in and left with a much better running car. Glad to have such a great business in Santa Cruz.

Great service. Friendly, organized, quick, With good follow-up. Ill definitely go back!

Water Star provides professional service and strong communication. They are very good in servicing warranty issues when necessary. It’s good to have a trustworthy local shop!

While on vacation in Santa Cruz, the alternator on my Highlander went out. I wasnt able to get the vehicle to the shop before they closed, but was able to speak with Kristen before she left. She told me to get the vehicle to the shop and drop the keys in the night box...they would get on it first thing in the morning. She knew I was supposed to drive back to Ventura that day and was determined to get my family back on the road ASAP. This was incredible! Everything worked out like planned and we were on the road by 2pm. They, also, gave the vehicle the once over and told me that everything else was working just fine. I drove out of there confident that all was well! Hopefully, I will have no more problems in Santa Cruz in the future, but if I do...I know where to take my vehicle! Great staff. Great work. Timely repairs.

First time customer. Made appointment online, and received confirmation next day. When I walked in, Kristen greeted me by first name. They did a full vehicle inspection, found the issue I brought the car in for, and I was able to pick up my car the very next morning. Very professional, communication could not of been better, very happy. Will be a repeat customer. Thank you to the whole team.

Charged me for an oil change that was never done. Don’t get ripped off they are gangsters. How is the engine running that you stole? Seriously, this guy stole my Mercedes engine, presumably now installed in his kids vintage Merc. Look at the reviews on YELP they speak volumes, I am not talking about the fake ones from friends and family, the actual real experiences from customers that got screwed over like myself. Shane on you Carters and Gang!