Gary's Automotive, Laurel MD (2024)

Brought the car in for a tune-up and to get it all checked out before a cross country trip and had everything done while we waited in the lobby. Price was more than reasonable, and they are more than willing to work with you. everything was laid out in detail, as well as prices up front, and one of the coupons we brought in was not valid anymore, but they gave us credit for it anyway. Great service by a great shop! We never expected to find such nice people or great service in Laurel.

I am very unsure of Gary's. I was looking for an honest mechanic. I heard of Gary's (or read reviews).. and so I took my car there for it's normal maintenance,, and waited for it.. (took the day off).. they were nice.. BUT they said i needed a new Serpentine Belt.. well, that belt was new.. and still in warranty.. i bought the new belt.. trusting them.. but when i took the old belt to the place i had originally bought it.. the old place reimbursed me.. but they said the belt was fine... then i looked up serpentine belts online.. and compared mine to pictures of worn belts.. mine was FINE. (a little shiny on the smooth side of the belt.. which Gary's said was a problem.. but i think i was TOOK (i am female older woman.. relevant?)) (what do you think??)

I took my vehicle to Gary's Automotive, and Gary,Jr to be exact, to get a safety inspection because of the great reviews I saw on Yelp and the close location to my home. I'm not sure who serviced the other reviewers, but my experience was not only horrendous, but most likely illegal!! Gary returned my car to me, stating that it needed a new steering fluid pump line because the current one was leaking. Gary stated he could fix it for $372.00. I was initially okay with that, but told him I'd be taking it to my own mechanic for repair. Thank goodness I had another mechanic. Because upon taking it to him, my mechanic advised me that nothing was wrong with my line, nothing was leaking at all, and that he could not in good faith or conscious replace it. I immediately returned to Gary's Automotive and he not only refused to correct the safety inspection, but he refused to refund my money. I then took it to a third mechanic to get the inspection done and he found NOTHING wrong with the vehicle. I got my safety inspection without a glitch. It is funny that only Gary's Automotive found the convenient $372.00 problem. I don't think it's a coincidence that out of three certified car repair shops, all inspecting the same vehicle on the same day, his was the only one to find a problem. I'm sure he must do this kind of shady business regularly, as it can be quite lucrative when servicing the uninformed customer. So BEWARE!!!! As a note, I do plan on notifying the MD State Police to investigate this shop, and I will also be contacting the Better Business Bureau. If my mechanic did inspections, I'd never have bothered going elsewhere. DO NOT GO TO THIS SHOP FOR ANY REPAIRS, AS THEY ARE TOTALLY DISHONEST!!!