Century Auto Service

I have been taking my car to this place for over 15 years and never once have I been disappointed! When I was living far from this place, I took my car to a different mechanic and let me tell you that it was the worse experience ever. My car at kept stalling so they told me it was the clutch. I paid 1200 for labor and a new clutch but that did not resolve the issue. They also kept my car for a month because the tech that does the replacement was on vacation!!! So I had enough and took my car to Century Auto. They figured out what the issue was (one of the spark plugs was bad). Now if I would have taken my car to Century Auto in the first place, I would have saved $ 1996 since the spark plug was only $ 4. They are loyal and up front with you. They will never tell you things that don’t need fixing yet but will give you an estimated time when it should be. Just to add, their customer service is extremely excellent!!! Best mechanic place in town.

I’ve taken my Camry and Trooper to Marty and his team for 18 years now. They are both still running pretty much like new. I hope and expect to get many more years from them. I can not imagine finding more honest, capable, and just all around great people. There have been many occasions I would expect a serious problem and a serious bill only for them to tell me it was something simple and inexpensive. They are always looking out for me and I cannot say how much I appreciate that. I would never consider going elsewhere, and I don’t.
ETA
I just read a «not recommended» review below of a customer saying he paid for a repair, but Century Auto had not fixed his car. This also happened to me once where a repair did not completely fix the problem, but Marty and his team made it a first priority to finish the job. They did additional work, replaced an additional part or two, got it fixed, and did not charge me when in all fairness they should have. They were making up for the fact I had to come back. Now that’s priceless. I’ve been to many other mechanics before I moved to Maryland. Nothing ever came close to the experiences I’ve had at Century Auto. Yes this is a spectacularly glowing review, but it is fully deserved.

I have posted before and I’ll post again. These guys are the real deal. They are competent, honest and good people. I can’t say enough about them. We’re sold on Century Automotive.
Marty and Chuck and the guys definitely have the best in mind for our cars. We have a ’03 CRV that I swear my goal is to get to 200K and I know I will make it and farther. (at 165K right now) But the thing is that they don’t try to up-​sell. And if there are more miles to be gotten off the brakes or tires or whatever, they will say so!
Marty, Chuck! You and your guys rock!

I’ve been avoiding finding a mechanic for year, but I finally had an issue that required me to see someone. As a lot of people (especially women) will attest, it’s a challenge to find an auto service place that isn’t trying to rip you off, constantly up-​sell you, or is rude/​condescending. That’s why I picked Century Auto– several reviews from women saying that this was a good place to go.
I was really happy with them. Every staff member was very friendly and took the time to explain the issue and my options in detail, without a hint of condescension (it was like they realize that we don’t all have time to learn everything about cars… that’s why we pay professionals to patiently explain them to us). They changed my oil and did diagnostics on my emissions issue. Marty outlined several choices, ranging from very expensive to absolutely minimal, and wasn’t pushy about any particular one. It is really nice to be able to talk to someone knowledgeable who I actually felt I could trust to be honest.
Oh, and when I told my friend where I ended up, she smiled and said her family has been coming here for years because of the honesty and friendliness. I highly recommend!

I just called because of a transmission issue that I’m having and Marty answered the phone. He was so helpful and so honest about what might be going on with my car and didn’t try to bring me in to charge me for just looking at the car. He let me know that it’s probably not something they’re going to be able to do and recommended what I should do instead. This is the first issue I’ve really had with my car but if anything else comes up this is where I’ll be bringing it.

Thank you, Century Auto!
I recently moved to Silver Spring, MD from Massachusetts and needed to get the MD state inspection done to register my car in Maryland.
First I went to Beltway Car Care in Silver Spring because it’s close to my new place and it got great reviews on Unilocal.Beltway Car Care failed my car. They said I needed new rear signal lights, new rear brakes and rotors, and I possibly had an oil leak. My rear brakes and rotors were replaced not too long before that inspection, and I had just had an oil change, so I was pretty certain Beltway was trying to pull one over on me.
Thankfully, one of my closest friends has been going to Century Auto for years and had nothing but great things to say about them. In her words, «If Marty tells you there’s a problem with your car, then there really is. You can trust them over there.»
I had my friend make an appointment for me, and what do you know… my car passed with no issues. I didn’t even need new rear signal lights!
Another thing I noticed, while I waited for my inspection to be completed, was how genuinely friendly and helpful they were to absolutely everyone who walked in the door.
Century Auto is pretty far from Silver Spring, but I’ll definitely be making the trip back whenever my car needs anything. It’s hard to find a trustworthy mechanic. Even if you don’t live that close, it’s definitely worth the trip.

The only repair shop I trust. Marty, the owner, is full of integrity and genuine kindness. He remembers my name, even if it’s been a year. He remembers my history. And he sets a great example for his staff, which is also stellar.
The people at this shop really know cars, and they do not try to upsell you.
There’s a reason why it’s almost impossible to schedule next day service… The shop is almost always booked several days in advance. People trust them. And they keep coming back.

I have been going to Century for over 25 years. They are the best. Extremely honest and they stand behind their work. How honest? 10 years ago I needed some work done on a car. Marty looked me straight in the eye and told me to take it to the dealership because the particular work I needed would actually be less to have the dealer do it versus Marty doing it… and he was right (a first for a dealership as they are usually way higher than a third party garage). Century has done just about everything for me from brakes to wheel alignment and everything in between. They’ve even done some mods on some of my cars.
Honest, reliable auto mechanics are hard to find, and when you do, they are a sparkling jewel. Century Auto is a diamond.

I have been going to Century since I moved to Germantown. I found them through word of mouth. What I love is that they treat you with respect, keep you informed, and do not pressure you for services that you can wait on. I took my car in for brake work and they said the front brakes were ready for work but I could wait on the rear. They are right next to the Germantown Transit Center, so you can easily get on a bus to/​from work or home. I do wish they had a courtesy shuttle, but I think they are too small, but that would be great if they could offer one.

Love love love these guys. They’re helpful, honest and I never feel like I’m being ripped off. My only complaint is they used to be open Saturdays and they’re not anymore. I also wish they were in Rockville for selfish reasons.

I first found Century Auto several years ago through
. Readers were giving it a great evaluation. I never had to look for another shop since.
I like Century Auto for several reasons. 1) They have a front counter person who is nice to people. You don’t have to talk to a gruff mechanic who is too busy working on cars. 2) They will put you and your car in their computer to keep track of what maintenance items may be coming up, and what repairs have been done at their shop. 3) They don’t pressure you into getting a repair or scheduled maintenance item. 4) If you don’t understand something, they will explain it to you very patiently.
And of course, they will repair your car, do it well, and do it on time. Sorry if this sounds like an advertisement!!!

Honest, dependabie a breath of fresh air — these guys don’t try to pressure you into unnecessary work — did not try to cheat me as a woman going into the shop (ladies know what I am talking about!) Gave me options that were less costly and even referred me out to a place that could do a specialty item cheaper. Definitely will return for all of my service!!!

Great, friendly service. I appreciate that Marty discusses and explains issues with your car and options. Being a woman I am used to car mechanics and contractors treating me like I have no clue and not bothering say much. Marty explains things in detail and I’ve learned a lot about cars because of this. Always prompt and efficient. Today I had a nail in my tire and they took my car on the spot and were done in half an hour and it was a very busy day.

I honestly can’t think of another business that I would slap a 5 star rating on; Century Auto is just that good! Finding a mechanic you trust is a difficult proposition, but once you’ve found them you don’t stray — Marty and his team are honest, communicative, and invested in providing their customers with the best possible service.
I first started going to Century a couple of years ago, on the recommendation of a friend, and was a bit hesitant to try them at first because the drive from Takoma Park to Germantown is a bit of a trek. I will never regret the decision to trust them with my cars. At the time, I had a ten year old Jeep Wrangler that I will lovingly refer to as a «death trap.» It’s the first car I purchased on my own, and the car I always wanted, so there was significant sentimental value attached to it. What I love about Marty is that he understood that attachment, and helped me nurse the car along for several years by keeping me informed of what absolutely needed to be fixed, and what I could probably get away with for a few thousand miles. There’s no pressure or up-​sells at this place, and they’ve always called around to see if they can get quality used parts to shave some money off the repairs. As time wore on, I was having some real reservations about keeping the Jeep (gas mileage was atrocious, and the transmission was starting to fail). Marty took the time to help me weigh the pros and cons of future repairs vs. selling the Jeep and was really an advocate for supporting my decision either way.
I now have a newer automobile (sigh, I miss that damn Jeep), and continue to rely on Century Auto for my repairs and maintenance. You honestly can’t go wrong with these guys, and I would encourage anyone shopping around for a reliable and friendly mechanic to head on over to Germantown and check them out for yourself!

It is rare to find an auto repair shop that is so friendly, trustworthy, and reasonable. I have brought my car here for service twice, and will continue to in the future. They have always been fast, don’t treat you like an idiot, and very communicative.

Best service center I’ve found. Honest — they do what they say, and well. They also will tell you when something doesn’t need to be done — or offer a better alternative (e.g. for a leaky headlamp assembly that was filling with water, make it drain rather than replacing the entire $ 700 assembly)