J & P Garage

Best mechanic in town! Seriously, I have never experienced the serenity of having a trusted neighborhood mechanic before J&P. Andy is the nicest and most genuine guy to ever run an auto shop. They always do solid work in a extremely reasonable timeframe and for a great price. I can’t stress enough how reliable this place and its employees are!

In the past 20 years I’ve owned a total of 12 cars. As you can probably guess, they’ve all been used cars, and not the best ones at that. Owning a used car means that you go to the mechanic a lot, and so I have.
I always work on my cars too for simple things, I just haven’t had the ability to buy a car-​lift for the complicated ones. In all these years, this is what you always need to look-​out for when visiting a mechanic for the first time (or what we’re all worried about):
1. Does the mechanic know what they’re doing
2. Do they try to overcharge/​misquote
3. Do they use good parts
4. Are they as cheap as they are good (efficiency)
5. Do they stand by their work
After going around multiple shops and receiving estimates (I always do that), I visited J&P Garage knowing what was wrong with my car (for a long while). I had a bad wheel bearing, but I only described to Andy what the car was doing, because I wanted to see what kind of place they are. As I walked in, I was immediately sure they were the ONE. Photos of their families on the wall, awards, old car photos, and a warm welcome (none of that perfect lounge/​tv/​coffee bs at the chain shops).
Andy (the owner I suppose) took my car for a spin, put it on the lift, and after about half an hour came back with exactly what was wrong with it. Only the left/​front wheel bearing was bad (it’s difficult to tell which one when it hums like mine did, but I knew that was the one through a series of tests), NOT both like others had quoted me.
They didn’t try to overcharge/​upsell me for a complete wheel bearing and hub kit, like the others, either! After I signed off, they had the car ready within an hour (fast, if you factor that oil changes takes some people 30 minutes). After the job was done, the mechanic took me for a spin, verified the problem was gone, and I went my merry way.
So let’s recap:
1. Clearly they know what they are doing;
2. Clearly they don’t try to upsell you (this was my first time there!);
3. They used OEM supplier parts (I verified:)), not the cheap ones everyone else wanted to use;
4. I didn’t talk about this, but I was quoted $ 400 from everyone else (nevermind what the dealer wanted). J&P did it for $ 280 (a whopping 30% lower than EVERYONE else);
5. It is a year later, my car is in top shape. **Another hint for a good shop: Do they have photos on the wall (of kids/​family/​friends/​past)? If so, they treat their business like a family and value its past and future.** That alone tells me they care and stand-​by their work!
The PERFECT place! If you love your car, go there!

Awesome. Andy is great. He is such an honest guy. He had my car for a full week, couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it so he suggested I drive it around a bit until it made the noise again and bring it back. He didn’t even charge me a service fee. When something else came up with the car he had my in the shop and full repaired in less than 24 hours. Love these guys.

They were very polite on the phone when I called to inquire about state inspection. I was able to drop in and get it done right away. The owner is very friendly and no b.s. kind of a guy.

After getting various quotes around Boston, Cambridge, and Watertown, I finally got one less than $ 1,000 at J&P. No one wanted to just throw my bumper back on the car. They all wanted it to be «perfect» and order and paint a new one. I do not care, at all, how my car looks. I just want it to be street legal. J&P recommended the other work, but they understood that it wasn’t necessary or a priority for me. They did not pressure me into doing more than I needed to, like other garages I visited. I appreciate that, A LOT!
Work was pretty quick, straight forward, and I got what I was expecting. Can I ask for anything else? I don’t think so.

I’ve brought my car to J&P about a dozen times now over the past few years and have always had a fantastic experience. Andy is always obliging to my requests. I recently drove over a screw and got a flat tire, I called him at 5:45PM on a Thursday and he offered to take in my car next day. It sounded like his Friday was full but he fit it in his schedule as well as an oil change. I was really grateful for that so I wasn’t stuck without a car for the weekend.
He doesn’t charge labor on my oil changes, and always finishes his jobs when he says he will. If he needs more time on more extensive jobs, he gives me a heads up. Andy and his team are very honest and hard workers, and I’ll continue to take my car to J&P. I can’t sing enough praises about my experiences here.

I was trying to sell a 2003 Toyota Corolla in pretty good condition today and, as requested by the potential buyer, decided to have J&P check it out to get the complete picture.
While I had already disclosed in my ad that the alignment had been adjusted and maxed out due to a weather-​related «slide onto the curb» and that the left wheel axle had been replaced, the owner looking at it perseverated ad nauseam on how one of the metal rods in the area was bent and how that was a major problem. I have to say, I have had this car fixed and checked by Alewife Automotive for the last two years. Alewife Automotive gets over 50 reviews on Unilocal that place it at the 4.5 star level. That is extremely rare for any auto shop to obtain in customer satisfaction, so it must mean that Alewife Automotive knows what they’re doing, are honest, and reasonable when it comes to what is actually outside of the safety zone in driving a car. Alewife Automotive assured me that the car was completely driveable as it was, regardless of the bent rod. What J&P told me was that we had to get the rod replaced, but in doing so, it would shift the alignment, and using very careless language given the context (selling a car), said that this could «open a can of worms.» There WAS no «can of worms» to be opened, dear J&P. If there had been one, Alewife Automotive would have loved to have told me that since they are also in the business of doing money and the same people who fixed the car in the first place. The car has been completely fine to drive numerous times to NY and back. It has also passed the safety inspection post-​slide. I am not sure what J&P was trying to achieve. Perhaps because the potential buyer lived a bloc away and his roommate had history with the garage, J&P was trying to come across as a trustworthy source? The bonus would have been that if the guy decided to buy the car, he would also have the little things (air filer, lights for the plates, a timing chain, new tires) fixed at the garage. In the end, when I asked you what the bottom line for safety issues with the car this would mean, you never gave a straight answer and flip flopped around the functional impact a bent rod would have on car driveability.
If you are trying to sell your car and need a mechanic to review it, this is not the place to go to.

My father started going to J&P back when Mike owned it in the late 1960s. Andy took it over about… 20 years ago? Either way, my whole family has been taking all of our cars that time — since before my parents met! I’ve bought all but two of my cars from Andy (one was used, and Andy thoroughly checked it out before I bought it; the other I just bought brand new and with Andy’s advice).
Andy is the absolute best. He’s never once lead me astray. Andy will tell you when something can be fixed, and when it can’t. If you ask him to, he’ll tell you what it takes to fix everything vs. what it takes to do it on the cheap, but he always keeps safety in mind. Rather than get you in the short run, Andy wants his customers to return, knowing that honesty is what keeps customers coming back. I recently brought my old car to him and he told me it was beyond repair. While he had a car he could sell me, he admitted it wasn’t the best, and that if I had the money, I’d be better off buying new. Andy checks out cars I’m thinking of buying for free. Andy looks at cars I’m thinking of getting rid of for free. Andy’s partner, Tim, has given me pointers on my old motorcycles for free. Andy is also the nicest, most respectful mechanic I’ve ever met — all my girlfriends and now my fiancé take cars to him, and he treats them like anyone else; no talking down to women like you see at other shops.
If you want a mechanic who does the job well, fast, affordably and with integrity, Andy is your guy. I cannot speak more highly of a mechanic. GO SEE ANDY!!!

I came to J&P because of the amazing reviews on Unilocal.I left shortly thereafter, when I realized how far I would stray from the experiences of fellow Unilocalers.
The radiator hose in my car had become disconnected, so I took it in to have it re-​attached. Easy job that I could’ve probably done myself had I had the right tools, but figured it wouldn’t cost much to have it done by a professional. I found this place on Unilocal,and thought JACKPOT; efficient and honest mechanics located minutes from where I live! I gave them a call and spoke with Andrew, who was very polite. I had no qualms about bringing my car in to him. In fact, you could even say I was excited; getting my car fixed was great, but dealing with honest and friendly mechanics was the real rarity.
I brought my car in and was immediately greeted by a friendly gentleman (Andrew) with – get this! – a smile! I don’t know about you, but car mechanics I’ve dealt with in the past can barely muster a smirk. So I’m thinking, I’m gonna like this place.
Andrew listened intently as I explained what was up with my car. He drove my car into the garage and confirmed the disconnected hose. I asked him what it will cost, and that’s when things went downhill. He quoted me one hour’s labor ($ 80) and a gallon of coolant ($ 20), for a whopping total of $ 100. Tag on tax and gratuity, I was looking at a $ 130 bill to get one piece of plastic to fit into another piece of plastic! I told Andrew I’d have to call my father because the price is so steep and Pops knows much more about cars than I do. I’ve found that auto mechanics tend to be less brazen about their thievery when dealing with men. As sure as the sun rises in the east, he began to offer explanations to try and justify the outlandish estimate. He had planned on including superfluous tasks I did not ask for without informing me, and then charging me for it! I asked him to ONLY re-​attach the hose because my car had warranty through another auto shop that would become void if I got work done elsewhere (truth). No amount of persuasion on my part could sway his stance. The most offensive part of the conversation was when he asked in a rather condescending tone of voice, «What are you gonna ask me next? How much it will cost?» Oh, I’m sorry; I forgot that at auto shops, I’m just supposed to put on a blind-​fold and hand over my wallet.
Andrew proceeded to tell me he felt uncomfortable with doing what I was asking of him without the add-​ons, so I told him that was okay and that I’d take my car elsewhere. He flip-​flopped on this for a while, took a look under my car (at what, I don’t know), and then told me he would «let me take it somewhere else.» When handing me my keys, he made a last-​ditch effort to get me to stay by telling me he was quoting me at a higher price because he didn’t want to «have problems» if the actual cost was higher than the estimate. He said he could probably do the job for $ 20 or $ 40, but didn’t want to under-​quote. I said that it was okay and thanked him for his time.
I gave J&P two stars instead of one because Andrew was very friendly and polite… you know, before talk of money came up.
How this story ends: I called Midas, who quoted me 30 minutes’ labor ($ 47.50) with one gallon of coolant ($ 20). Womp womp. Sorry, J&P, but I rate you as fail.

My friend Sam told me about J & P ten years ago, and I’ve been coming here ever since! I’ve had $ 25 jobs done here, body work, and major break and clutch work. Andy and Tim are the best. They check what needs doing, talk to me about what I want done and what can wait, and then go ahead with the job. They almost always finish when they say they will, and they are HONEST.
You will never get screwed over by these guys and they do awesome work. I’m about to pick up my Sable right now! One clear indicator of their quality is that they are always busy, but never too busy to fit me in within a week.
They’re on Eatonia Street in Allston, right near the public library and on the bus line. Give them a try; you’ll never go back to your old mechanic!

this place is a dream.
my car had a rattle tattle in the engine area. i bring it in on a monday, they look at it FOR FREE and let me know the whole job will cost $ 80– parts and labor (it was my right sway bar for the car peeps out there). then, i got my car back on tuesday afternoon! my mazda is back to ZOOM ZOOMin’.
they charge $ 80 for labor per hour, which is pretty awesome for the boston area. add the fact that they are honest and fast. seriously, give these lovely people some business! andy is as friendly as they come.

I came here off the strong Unilocal recommendations, and b/​c its not a chain. Also liked the recommendation of the public library next door, where I am right now as my car is getting fixed. Free wi-​fi!!!
Just like the reviews Andy, took my car right in, showed me the muffler (and a few other things needing repair in the future), gave me a fair price and a reasonable turn around time.
He also listed off four different places to get lunch near by.
Thanks Unilocal and thanks Andy.

J&P Garage WILL NOT SCREW YOU OVER! Not if you are young, not if you are old. Not if you don’t seem to know much about cars. Not even if you seem like a fool who will easily part with his/​her money.
Honest, thorough, they will fix your car the right way at a good price.
MAJOR PLUS: They are close to public Transport (bus and green line) so you don’t have to worry about being marooned there without your car. Also, right next door to Allston/​Brighton Library. For minor repairs you can sit in the library and read a book while you wait.

Just to echo what the prior review said: J&P Garage are honest, straightforward, nice guys who enjoy what they do. I brought my used Ford car there from ’95 to ’02 or so whenever I needed some work done, and they always did a good job at reasonable rates. One time in particular I took it in thinking I’d need a new transmission, and they found it was just a very large air bubble in the transmission — advised me to just keep riding it out and it’d dissipate in a few days. (And it did.) They charged me only for their time in diagnosing it. That’s the mark of a very honest repair shop.
I’ve just now come back to them with my current car after some disappointing (even alarming) experiences with the VW dealership on Western Ave. I highly recommend J&P, they are just great. The only minor caveat is, being a small shop, sometimes they don’t have time to update you on status of your car repair or let you know it’s ready — you have to be the one to call in and ask. But to me that’s a very small issue compared to the value in having a friendly & honest auto repair shop that i can trust. I repeat, these are good guys. 5 stars, with enthusiasm.

Andy is a nice guy, and I used to get good repairs there, but the last time I took a car there was a disaster. The car needed a lot of unrelated work done, and they screwed up every single piece they touched. It all needed to be done twice, and one repair was never done correctly. Never again.

These guys are the best, most skilled and most honest mechanics I’ve ever dealt with. I was originally referred to J&P by a friend, and now four cars and 15 years later I’m still a loyal customer, send all my friends to them too. Excellent service, never a ripoff. Located near the Allston-​Cambridge exit from the Pike.

These guys are great and HONEST!!! Talk to Andy, who runs the shop. He’ll tell you the honest truth about what you need, what can wait, and what you don’t need. I highly recommend them, especially compared to the terrible VW dealership down the road.