What clients say about Kingston Garage in Kingston Estates (NJ)
Extremely Disappointed — Overcharged and Poor Service
I visited this garage for a simple headlight bulb replacement on my 2013 Nissan Altima, expecting a quick and reasonably priced service. Unfortunately, my experience was the exact opposite.
I was charged $50 for a single bulb replacement, which is far above the typical $25–$30 I’ve paid at other places for the same service. There was no prior price explanation, making it feel like an obvious overcharge for a very basic job.
What made the experience even worse was the lack of professionalism. Even after my car was finished, I was left waiting unnecessarily because no one bothered to return my keys promptly. Staff seemed disorganized and indifferent to customers’ time.
Overall, this felt like a place that prioritizes squeezing extra money out of customers rather than providing fair pricing and respectful service.
I would not recommend this garage for even simple repairs.
Clean and quiet waiting area. Boss usually does a final once over after completion of mechanical work. Very approachable team that actually listens and not assume you don't know your own vehicle. Appointments or call in advance for emergencies would be smart for quicker service. I would refer them in a heartbeat.
I’ve been a customer for nearly a decade, and the decline here is obvious. I brought in a brand-new car for a basic tire swap and left with a vibration—an impressive failure for such simple work.
I was forced to return, without appointments, to fix their mistake, wasting more of my day, and the issue still wasn’t fully resolved. When I asked about a discount, I was told I “wasn’t charged” for the second visit, as if correcting their own error were a favor.
Careless work, dismissive attitude, and uncompetitive pricing. I won’t be back. And I await the lackluster google response of zero accountability from them.
This is my second time bringing my car to Ken and his team at Kingston Garage, and once again, they proved why they’re truly exceptional. It’s rare to find a mechanic who is not only highly skilled, but also honest, trustworthy, and genuinely committed to doing things the right way and Ken embodies all of that and more.
From the moment you arrive, you can tell you’re dealing with real professionals. Ken takes the time to explain everything clearly, never tries to upsell unnecessary work, and always delivers high quality service. The level of integrity and transparency here is unmatched. Whether it’s routine maintenance or something more complex, I always feel confident leaving my car in their hands. Ken treats every customer with respect and makes sure the job is done right the first time.
His receptionist is also fantastic very friendly, welcoming, and professional. She adds to the overall great experience from the moment you walk in.
If you’re looking for a reliable, knowledgeable, and genuinely good mechanic, Kingston Garage is the place to go. Ken and his team have definitely earned my trust and my business for years to come.
Thank you, Ken!
My first service since the new owners took over was in October and everything was great (I needed new tires too). Told me it was for a road trip to Florida, which we did, and again, all was fine. Was home a week and went slowly over a new speed bump at our church and it triggered my check in engine light. Took it to Ken and he checked everything first thing and confirmed it was good to drive. Both times, great service and friendly staff.
Second time i take my car there.... Really great service. I've had an issue with my car that was difficult to explain, Ken asked me to take a ride with him so i can point it out. He waited for me on a Friday afternoon. We took a ride, I identified the issue and he immediately knew what the problem was. I dropped the car off on Monday and it was fixed 2 hours later... Fantastic service
The new owners, Kent and Julia, are great. I went in today for the first time since the garage changed ownership, and was prepared for a bill in the $300 range or more if it needed something like brakes or exhaust. It came out less than $100. (175,000 mile service -- I supplied the oil and filter.) Kent then offered to repair a pushed-in front bumper for $150, which he did -- very well and the same day. Richie and Diane were great, so I was a bit reluctant about going in, but I'm not doubting any more.
Called in from a referral from Gino’s but the woman who picked up spent 5 mins reluctantly checking inventory and quoted $785 for 2 brake pads + rotors on top of $150 diagnostic fee (unless job was done there) for a vehicle that was just serviced and inspected. Fun fact: you don’t need to know my VIN or plate to run a quote for parts and labor.
The best garage I have ever gone to. The owner is honest and the mechanics do a good job working on the car. It's nice to go to a place where they only do what you actually need and not say you need $1000 worth of things you do not need.
Took our vehicle here for the second time since the new ownership. Vehicle needed a wheel hub replacement, which required it to be up on the lift and remove the wheel. I asked the owner if he could rotate my tires and he wanted to charge me another $60 on top of the $800 for the wheel hub replacement. He mentioned that it includes a tire balance check, which I was clear I was not interested in. Nevertheless, he wouldn’t budge on the additional $60. Outside of any issues with the replacement wheel hub, I doubt I would return to this shop. I didn’t appreciated the nickeling and diming on a simple request, where at least half the job was being performed regardless (up on lift and removing a wheel). Shame, as I had hopes this would be a good option for a local mechanic.
Rotated the tires myself at home.
Edit: Everything shop replies below is accurate. It could only be an additional 30 minute job due to the insistence on balancing tires as well. That type of insistence on unrequested combination work feels like a money grab. With vehicle already on the lift and one wheel already off for the main job, merely removing the other three wheels and rotating is likely 10 minutes at best. Thank you for your reply, which should further assist others in deciding whether this is an appropriate facility for them.
Reliable and honest. Was told by the dealer that a new water pump was needed. Ken performed an inspection and shared that water pump was fine. He was also able to change a stuck spark plug that others were not able to. Thank you!
Kingston Garage recently changed ownership and I met Ken who is the owner. He explained everything to me before proceeding and was very personable and was happy to answer all my questions. Julia who is a receptionist was amazing! My car was ready to be picked up close to thier closing time and I was going to wait for an Uber---but Julia came to my house and picked me up! Unheard of personalized service---it was amazing and so kind! I would recommend Ken, Julia and Kingston Garage to anyone!
Called to get a price for replacing the battery in my car and doing a brake flush. The woman on the phone at the other end said she couldn't give me a price without seeing the car! Would you trust this garage? And FYI, I got 3 quotes over the phone from other repair shops.
After getting a flat, I rolled onto their lot on Labor Day and had to leave quickly with my dog and bags of ice to get to a party in town. When I called the next day to set up service, I was asked if I filled out paperwork, I said I had not and asked if he wanted me to come in to do so. He then called me a "typical Tesla owner" for thinking I could do whatever I wanted. I confronted him about his insult, but he had no interest in apologizing for his lack of professionalism. I called a tow truck to remove the vehicle from this disaster of a human's business. The sooner this guy gets help the better.
This place is a gem. I recently moved to Princeton and was looking for a place for wheel alignment for my Volvo XC40. Dianne was so nice to squeeze me in before they close and clearly explained me the process. They run an honest business and do quality work. No unnecessary extra work or surprise charges. It’s definitely my go to place now.
I have been using this garage for over a decade. They have always been straight forward, with no pressure for unneeded work, and kept my last car in tip top shape for 16 years. The staff is friendly and honest. I recently brought them a pre-owned car I was considering buying, and they gave it a thorough check and advised me that there were issues that the dealership should fix before I bought the car. This was an important assessment, as it turned out the steering was misaligned. I have never had a bad experience with Kingston Garage, and have total trust in them.
I called Kingston Garage recently as my vehicle required service. I was told by Rich that since I haven’t had my vehicle serviced in four years that he doesn’t like to work on cars that are older. I’ve taken my car here several times in the past and have never had any issues with getting my vehicle looked at. I explained that I perform my own servicing to my vehicle and only take it there for major work. My car overheated and needed attention sooner than later. He advised me to take it to where I’ve been getting it serviced. I was taken aback at how they’ve been pre-selecting the vehicles to service. I was very disappointed at the lack of customer service. This shop is definitely not what it used to be a small honest service repair shop. I won’t be going here any longer.
Recently acquired an older foreign car in need of TLC, so until now I haven't had occasion to visit Kingston Garage. **The folks here have provided the best all-around service I have ever experienced with a repair facility.**
Rich carefully talked me through a variety of necessary repairs and thoughtfully coordinated with my budget — it was extremely refreshing to have an honest conversation about what made sense for my current driving needs that was also within range of how much I was comfortable spending. The work is always performed exactly as explained, and the quality is tops.
Dianne in the front office has always been so friendly and accommodating each time I've spoken with her. Excellent customer service. The whole experience they provide was worthy of a review from one who normally doesn't bother to post — highly recommend!
We have been using Kingston Garage for many years. They are honest, communicate well, and do good work. Occasionally we get a 2nd opinion from them (with an original estimate from our dealer service center) and they always give great advice - sometimes telling us to have the dealer do the work, or letting us know why they think work isn't necessary. They are straightforward in their communication. They are kind and friendly in a New Jersey - gruff way. My only complaint is that they don't do body work and won't service US-brand cars!
I have been using Kingston Garage for years and they have always been wonderful to work with. They are extremely professional and above all they are trustworthy and fair. For a couple of years I had been using a dealer to service my car when it was new and they were always trying to do the maximum work for top dollar. The last time I brought my car there they had a huge estimate, so when I brought it to Kingston Garage they informed me I didn’t need to do anything the dealer was saying I needed, saving me a couple thousand dollars. Rich and Diane are both a pleasure to deal with and I highly recommend Kingston garage as a place that is fair, honest and does great work.
My car was thoroughly checked. The communication was clear about issues and options. Excellent service quality and customer service. Rich and Diane have taken excellent care of 3 of my cars. I always knew that they would check well beyond what you expect them to check.
I have been so grateful to have Kingston Garage service my Volvo for the past few years. Not only do they do excellent work at a reasonable price, they are kind, professional, and transparent. They have offered me honest advice that has served me well several times. I only wish I could take them with me when I move to Michigan!
I've taken my BMW to Kingston Garage several times, for various maintenance and service needs. The quality of service was always excellent, the price always reasonable and the communication was very good as well. This is one of the best (if not THE best) auto mechanic shop that I've used in over 20 years!
My experiences with Kingston Garage have been terrific. I have taken my elderly mother's car there multiple times. They always quickly diagnosed and fixed the problem, were reasonably priced and extremely helpful. Yesterday, they delivered my mother's car back to her since they knew that nobody was able to pick it up. Also, they are very honest. When I thought that a major repair was necessary, they informed me that it was only minor fix, saving me a lot of money. It is rare to find such an excellent garage with such friendly and considerate people running it.
I highly recommend Kingston Garage. They are a long standing family run business. I always feel confident that they give me the best recommendation for my car maintenance at an affordable price. And, they are great about going the extra mile like giving you a ride home or delivering your car to your home when your away. They communicate with you throughout the process and there are no surprises. Great people to deal with.
I would like to thank Kingston Garage Team for providing excellent service and for being so kind. My car tires were replaced overnight even though they were very busy and fully booked.They saved me a lot of money as compared to other quotes I have received from the dealer. They even picked me up so I was able to take my car back the next morning. Five star customer service! I would bring back my car there anytime as well as recommend their service to others.
Competent, friendly, reasonably priced and honest to a fault--this is the car repair business you didn't think existed anymore. I've used them for years, for multiple cars, and have always been pleased with how they've treated me and my vehicles. Ignore the (few) cranks--this place is top-notch. If you have a foreign car that's out of warranty, Kingston Garage is the place to take it.
We take our family's Subaru & our Toyota to Kingston Garage, and recommend it to anyone seeking a local mechanic. Rich & Diane and the team are friendly & helpful. They are fair with pricing, and trustworthy. They're frank about what services are critical (and what aren't) and they are thorough.
