Kensington Service Center in
Kensington (MD)

I’m writing this review two years later because that’s how long it took me to speak without anger. I brought my 2004 RAV4 here for an emissions test. I knew the car had rust, but it had under 150k miles, had driven me up and down the East Coast, had its engine replaced in 2018, and wasn’t giving me any real issues. When they called to say it didn’t pass, I expected an explanation. Instead, they handed me my keys with no real information beyond “age and rust”, things I already knew. But ok. As soon as I drove off the lot, the car started making a loud noise it absolutely was not making before. I lived about 10 minutes away at the time, but the sound was so bad I couldn’t even imagine driving home. I immediately turned around and came back to speak to whoever did the “emissions test”. When I asked what was done to my car and why the noise wasn’t mentioned before I left, they played dumb and said, “How do we know it wasn’t making that noise before?” If my car had been making a sound loud enough to make it undriveable, I obviously would have said something. They then brought me to the back and gave me a whole tour of the rust (again, something I already knew) while ignoring the fact that the car was not making that lid banging noise when I dropped it off. Once they realized I wasn’t leaving until either (a) my car sounded the way it did when I brought it in or (b) I got a refund, they chose the refund. Later, when my father-in-law (a mechanic) visited, he checked the car and immediately found that something had been done to the tire, which caused the noise. Something they could have simply owned up to. The issue was fixed, the car passed emissions elsewhere, and—wouldn’t you know—it drove quietly again

GREAT place! I needed a state inspection and that was easy. What stood out was what happened while I was waiting in the sitting area. It was 25-30 degrees out while I was waiting, and an older woman came in needing her car to be looked at. The gentleman at the shop drove her home so she wouldn’t have to walk home in the cold or wait. They knew almost everyone who walked in and treated them like old friends! It was my first time there, and they were nothing but friendly and kind!

I always have my car serviced at this station. I have complete confidence in their team.

Kensington Service Center gives honest answers and great service for a reasonable price! Highly recommended

I’ve been going here for three years since receiving a recommendation from a real car enthusiast. I have a 2016 Cadillac SRX with 95,000 miles on it. I know the next big bill might be the last for my old lady, and I want to keep her going as much as possible. These guys are the most trustworthy, dependable and affordable mechanics in the entire DMV! They never upsell Unnecessary services, they keep things simple, they give reliable quotes ahead of time and stick to it, They are friendly and dependable at this point I feel like they’re family to me. I dare you to find anyone better!

The Best Place for Auto Service in Town!!! The best place to have your car check for any issues or even without the issues. Everyone there are very friendly, honest, professional and have positive attitude. They are pleasant and so dedicate to customer satisfaction which resulted in a high number of repeat customers, positive referrals and high rate reviews. From management, Shawn, John to Deep, Tom , Cage and a few young men there, all of them are exceptional great people, and very helpful. I always take my patrol vehicle there for services from oil change to brake service or everything instead of the dealer because I know I'll get a high-quality work, fast and friendly service, most of all we won't get rip off like taking car to the dealer. We love KSC team and always happy with their services.

Don't take an older vehicle to this establishment. I had a 2000 Jeep Cherokee I took there (in 2022) which ended in my having to basically give the vehicle away. I wanted them to go over the jeep to make sure it was able to do multiple trips from DC to Florida. Part of the discussion was checking the transmission. I told them that it had never been flushed and that it was probably not a good idea to do that. I got a condescending "Well, hahaha, vehicles are a lot different than they used to be. They flushed the transmission and it started to slip constantly. I took it to a jeep dealer I had used in the past and they told me I had to buy a new transmission made in Singapore since they were no longer made in the US (or the parts to repair it). The cost was high enough that I could not afford to pay for the replacement and had to buy a new vehicle that I could finance. I was jammed for time because I was in the middle of a move so I did not have time to slug it out with KSC. If you are not well off stay away from them. They are over priced and about as competent as any other place out there. They have the luxury of location in that their clientele have the money to fix most problems easily. Not so with most people. I would have given them a zero but I couldn't post this review without clicking on at least one star. What you don't know can hurt you.

Always does great work on repairs and maintenance. Gas prices are a little higher then other gas stations however the quality is much better and last me longer then other gas stations gas.

Highly recommend this retro service station in the heart of Kensington’s Antique Row. The staff are so very friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. I just had two tires replaced on my Volvo, and although they were special order, the tires arrived in one day. I am grateful for the prompt, expert service!

The best gas station in Maryland. Great service, and ethanol free options. While the gas is pricier than other stations, choosing ethanol free, and getting great service, is worth the price.

I had a flat tire and Peter and Kenny I believe were their names helped me out even though they just closed. Great service and a Great price. Will definitely come back for any other needs.

So pleased to find these folks!! I had a very non-standard repair needed for my 2006 Cadillac XLR. The repair was handled with professionalism and their depth of knowledge allowed it to be completed quickly and reasonably. I'm not surprised that they were a referral from another local specialist. And, they have Ethanol Free gas!

Highly recommend this place. They're very friendly, honest and very helpful. My boss told me to get oil change and get new set of brake. They changed the oil and said it still has long life left in that brake, we don't need to waste money changing it. There's nothing wrong with the brakes. So we saved a lot of money for it. They also inflated the tires for me some other times without charging. Last week a bottom part of vehicle fell off & dragging. I went there and "Tom" took care of it. He spent over 25 good minutes fixing it and again did not charge us a penny!!!! We love this place . Everyone from front office, Tom, and everyone there are extremely friendly and caring, very professional. When my boss asked me to drop the vehicle off at the dealer for services I told him I wanted to go to KSC instead. Dealership is a big rip off place.

Problematic. KSC did a fine job changing my oil ($$$), but they tried to up-sell me an unnecessary tire rotation. During another oil change, a lugnut stud got mysteriously stripped by a numatic tool I don't own (KSC has been working on my car exclusively for the past 3 years).... and it cost me $350!!!! Their lack of professional competence is expensive. The front office staff is professional and nice, but the prices are outrageous! Go somewhere else for your inspection! Ethanol-free gas pump.

They gave me good advice and service in keeping a 2001 Ford Ranger on the road for as long as it could. Had several repairs done here. When it finally died, they were helpful in allowing me to keep it parked there until I could get it towed.

After picking up a screw on the road some place, I brought the vehicle here and had the screw removed and the tire plugged in just about ten minutes. As an added bonus, I didn't have to pay an arm and a leg! Very friendly and quick service! Thanks a lot!

I stopped by Kensington Service Center in a panic due to being a rideshare worker and a tire pressure light displaying on my dashboard. The technicians were professional, courteous and knowledgeable. My issue was quickly resolved and I plan to return for future car repairs.

THANKS to John and the tire plugging crew, I was on my way in under 10 minutes this morning!! So grateful!! This center has been our Go To place for diagnostics and repair for literally decades and we have never been disappointed. They are thorough, honest, have reasonable rates, and have only ever recommended truly needed repairs. Highly recommend!

Truly a great and friendly place. I love the full service experience and the staff there. Its great to find the only place in MoCo that sells ethanol free gas. The mechanics are always spot-on with their work, I don't take my car anywhere else! Well I mean, unless they are affiliated with Mario Bruno. He is such a great guy and is so unbelievably kind

Been bringing my old Honda here for a few years. Staff is great. They always explain what the problem is in terms I can understand and the quality of their work is unparalleled. I'm exceptionally happy with Kens Service Center!

We have taken our older pilot to another well reviewed shop for years.... eventually there was an issue that never got fixed and that was a red flag. Brought our car here and they easily identified an engine leak and their price for other repairs was SO reasonable I was shocked how much the other place was charging. Will never go somewhere else. Amazing survive and honest work!

One of only two places in the area I trust to service my and my wife's cars. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They don't sell you anything you don't need. Bonus: they host an annual car show that's great fun for the family. My father-in-law had no end in stories about the '66 this or the '54 that.

I see the positive reviews from others but that was not my experience. I asked a friend for a recommendation for a mechanic and he said Kensington Service Center. They tell me my power steering pump and the rack and pinion are shot and need to be replaced. It will cost $3100 to repair. I'm shocked but I'm trusting what I'm told. I do some research online and find out that the repair should be around $2000 on the high end. I pick up my car and take it to another local mechanic. The new mechanic informs me there is nothing wrong with the pump and fixes my car for $1565. Almost half of what KSC quoted me. The car has been fixed and is running fine. I'm a small business owner and always try to support the other businesses in the community. I'm very disappointed to be gouged on a repair job and told to replace a part that is working. Is it a disconnect between the mechanic and management or just a money-grab? Again, plenty of people with positive reviews but maybe they should have gotten a second opinion and saved some money.

I was recommended to Kensington Service Center a few years ago by a neighbor. Since then I have gone to them every time that my now 22 year old Volvo has required service. I am always impressed and grateful for their expertise and excellent friendly service. I highly recommend them! Everyone there has always been especially kind to me, especially John, the manager, who is always courteous and takes time to explain in detail what has to be done, and, as an added bonus, has a great sense of humor! Many many thanks to all of the good people there!

Honest, skilled, friendly, knowledgeable... you won't find a better auto shop. They've saved me thousands of dollars over the years with their expert advice. I trust them 100%. Mario Bruno, the owner and chief mechanic, is especially great.

Mario has developed an infectious rapport with the customers, greeting them with a smile, remembering them, going out of his way to be helpful, and always showing courtesy and competence. Our repairs have been performed well and the car returned at the promised time. I have no complaints

I've been going to Kensington Service Center for MANY, Many years and I truly trusted Bob Orr. He was extremely good, thorough with fairest prices of anywhere around the area. I only give 4 stars now, because costs soared after Bob Orr sold it. If one can afford it, it's the best place to get the Best Service in Montgomery County for GM cars. I enjoyed the staff and their Old-Fashioned Style of doing business! They Pump my Gas and check under the hood, which is VERY meaningful to me as a senior!