Good Stuff! I've not had any issue at all with Neal's Garage. Scott always makes me laugh and the folks do a great job explaining things to me in layman's terms. read more

** I have included an update below I'm a first time car owner who recently bought a pre-owned 2003 Chevy Blazer Extreme. 1) Neal's garage offers a pretty good pre-purchase car inspection FOR FREE. that's incredibly useful because every other garages charge anywhere from $60 to $120. It's always good to be saving some when you're already spending a bunch of cash. They're also super understanding: I had scheduled a whole bunch of appointments, and ended up cancelling or postponing them because the various sellers were real flakey. Chris was very very understanding about that. 2) Post-inspection, Chris gave a very detailed run down of the potential costs of maintaining the car. This included how much of the tire was left, how much of the brakes were left, and any other issues he found. He provided a rough estimate of the costs of these replacements down the road, and recommends how you can use that to reasonably negotiate the price of the pre-owned car. that was HUGE for me because it allowed me to figure out the additional costs on top of what I was paying for the car. 3) Now being a first time owner, I'm not sure about costs, but I had to fix a leaking intake gasket and a ABS/parking brake light that was on. The intake gasket, being labor-intensive to repair, cost a high $700 for parts and labor. Chris mentioned that the brake lights were likely due to the sensors, which would cost approx $300. However, he mentioned that because for this car the sensors were bolted onto and part of the entire hub assembly, he would recommend changing the entire hub assembly. (he did explain there it is very possible that the faulty sensors might simply be an indication of some faults/issues with the entire hub assembly, so replacing the sensors alone might lead to more repairs down the road anyway.) now THAT costs approx $1100 for parts and labor. That's a lot of money. I called up a few other garages, and got many SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER quotes on the same work. NOW, having said that, I was also told by a ton of other car owners that Neal's Garage's workmanship and parts used are always top notch, so it really depends on how much you are willing to pay for quality. In any case, I went online and found that the ABS light coming on was a common problem with my car, and it was almost always due to the sensors alone, so I decided to take the risk and save almost $800 bucks, and replace the sensors only and see how that turns out. I figured that if it's fine after, I save $800 and feel good about myself, and if it breaks down after, at least I can be reassured that the guys at Neal's Garage really know their stuff. I do wish I knew enough about the industry and cars in general to figure out if replacing the entire hub assembly was legitimately a great recommendation, or something to get me to pay for more work.But alas I'm a total noob 4) They have a webcam service for you to watch your car while it's being serviced (looking at it right now!) 5) They ALWAYS call to give a confirmed quote before starting work. So none of that bait and switch business in terms of fixing your stuff up and then telling you that they are gonna suddenly charge you more because of "expected difficulty" or things like that. 6) They're right off 9th street, which has a ton of restaurants and cafes. If you're scheduled for a decently short service for a couple of hours, you can easily burn time having a meal, coffee or just doing work at the cafe. Gonna be picking up my car later today, so I'll see if they're punctual in terms of the promised service time, and probably a couple of weeks from now I'll update this to reflect on quality of workmanship and if any old problems resurface. *** UPDATE: So couple hours after I said I'd take my chance a go for just the ABS sensor change, Chris called me up to inform me that he had made a mistake in the quotation for the full hub assembly change. It was actually 600+ for changing both the font hubs. Seemed like a honest mistake, so I decided to go ahead and change the hubs too. Whilst changing the intake gasket, the mechanic also found that one of my engine mount was broken, and suggested that I replace that for close to 300. After doing a quick search online and finding out that it's actually a critical component to change, I'll be doing that too (this is turning out to be an incredibly expensive repair spree eh?). I was also told that my car would be ready by the end of the day (they close at 5:30pm), but I ended up waiting to slightly past 6pm. That's both a good and bad thing though. Bad because, well, it was late. BUT it was good (and this is more impt to me) because at least you know that they really try to get your car out ASAP as promised, even if it meant staying open past their operation time. There is something huge that's sticking out right now, but I'm gonna wait till I meet with them again. Will definitely want to post that update by the end of this week. read more

Beware! While Scott is a good guy and will get you in and out as fast as he can, the prices here are absurdly high for both parts and labor. A new radiator for our Toyota costs no more than $200 retail, but Neal's will charge you nearly twice that plus the labor. But what's most unbelievable is that they'll also charge you about $150 for putting in new coolant!!! (That includes $76 just for the labor of pouring it into the radiator!!! Un-freakin-believeable!!!!) A total of over $800! When we learned the gory details we instead had our car immediately towed to Wasp across town (Durham) where the same work and parts saved us more than $300 -- even with the tow! So caveat emptor -- Buyer Beware! But if you're looking to separate yourself from lots of your money, Neal's Garage is the place for you. read more

Great customer service. They are efficient, communicative, and friendly. Have been really pleased with them.

Worst service I have ever experienced. Had my car towed after being parked in the overflow lot on accident while in an adjacent store for a few minutes. They demanded I leave their property and laughed at me when the tow truck showed up. If you want to be mocked and ridiculed, this is the shop for you! read more

I went for my NC state inspection. The man at the desk was friendly, the team respected the appointment time, explained what was done and why, and finished the work quickly. I'd certainly go back for any other needed service in the future. Keep up the good work. read more

This place is great. Always get the best service here in a timely manor and all for a good price. I had a lot of work done to my car and Scott made sure I was up to date on the process the whole time. Car drives great again!! Thanks guys!! read more

First, let me say, I can't speak to the quality of their work because we didn't really get that far. And I have nothing negative to say about the shop as it appeared clean and well maintained. My issue was with the way they handled the quote. I called to get a ballpark quote for very specific work. I was very clear about parts, make/model and what was needed for the repair. Person I spoke to gave me what seemed like a reasonable quote for the work needed. I dropped the car off and got a ride back only to turn around two hours later and pick it back up after finding out the REAL cost was almost twice as much as the verbal quote and actually higher than what the dealer quoted. When I questioned why, he came down a bit on the price but not even close to what was quoted. Waste of my time and very frustrating. read more

Just dropped off my BMW. Great customer service and fair prices. Will definitely be coming back for service and the future and will recommend. read more

Very courteous, professional and prompt service. I'll definitely be using them again!

I made the mistake of buying a Volkswagen, so I had Neal's correct my mistake :) Great customer service, and a very neat and professional shop. Guys behind the desk and on the phone were super friendly, to the point, and very easy to work with. While my car was getting fixed (clutch and a fly wheel replacement), I got to drive one of the shop Fiats around town. My car was fixed ahead of schedule, which was amazing, and the price was exactly as quoted on the phone - no sleazy "oh, we added an extra $250 charge..." type of BS I've dealt with in the past. I would highly recommend Neal's to anyone needing car work. If anything just to drive a Fiat for awhile! read more

Two oil changes on two different cars, two horrific experiences. Questionable oil-changing practices--the dipstick was still grimy, even after giving the new oil time to settle. My dad confronted them about this, and they agreed to "re-do" the oil change, but by then the trust was lost. read more

I had the "check engine oil" light come on in my car, a BMW X5 2006, so I went and asked the mechanics there what I should do. Initially they were going to do a full oil replacement and charge me, but I called my mechanic back in Dallas, and he said that meant it just needed filling up with oil. So as they were filling it up, I asked if it was the 5w30 synthetic oil that is needed for the car (synthetic is better and lasts longer) and the apathetic attendant responded, "Yeah, it's the right oil." I pressed him, and asked "So it's synthetic oil?" to which he responded "Oh, no it's not synthetic, but it's fine." The oil put in every car that asks for an oil topoff is supposed to be synthetic. Shitty customer service, and a willingness to take advantage of someone who doesn't know a lot about cars. I won't go here again. read more

I needed to get air filter changed on my Nissan Altima. I called in on a Monday and was told that it would cost $25 and take one hour. I said that is great because I would not have to leave the car for long. I get there and it takes them 2.5 hours to replace a filter when I asked for updates I was told it was harder than they expected. I then go to cash out and they charge me $68 because the labor took over an hour. The cashier denied quoting me $25 for the job. This place is a scam. I have never experienced a bait and switch like this in my life. I also have serious reservations about their mechanics skills if they believe changing a cabin air filter is hard. read more

Lost my trust. Recommended tire rotation for brand-new tires with 100 miles on them. Quoted me $290 to install a battery that would be $120 less elsewhere. I'm going to take a guess that many of the neighborhood folk and students who enthusiastically recommend Neal's for years have not bothered looking around for alternatives. I've used them myself for years. They've never done an inadequate job. But I don't trust them anymore. read more

When offered the chance to have a new customer for life (or at least a long time), this garage opted instead to try for a rip off - right out of the gate! When I asked them to quote for a regular service on a Volvo XC70, they informed me (after a 90 minute wait) that all it would need was new spark plugs. Huh? And that the plugs alone would cost $225. (By the way, folks, plugs for XC70 cost $65, labor included). Good try, Neal's, but not this time, Not. Ever. read more

Good and HONEST mechanics are hard to come by. Neal's has proven to be honest and reliable. Let's count the ways: - 10% discount for students with an ID - Webcams in the garage let you watch you car be worked on - Brought in my car thinking I needed brake pads AND rotors based on the length of time it had been since my last replacement and the squeaking coming from my brakes. I actually told the guy at the desk that I needed pads AND rotors. They inspected my brakes and said that my rotors were fine and I only needed pads. This would have been a perfect opportunity for a dishonest mechanic to install rotors anyway and get a few extra bucks. Neal's mechanics were completely honest. - A friend of mine brought in his car for an electrical issue. Neal's fixed the problem fast and even called him 2 weeks later to check up on him and make sure everything was working. - They're not open on weekends, but they've always squeezed me in when I had time constraints. Service has always been fast. - Oil change price for my car is among the cheapest I've found; no coupon necessary. - Tire prices are completely fair; price quoted is the final price including installation, balance, disposal, etc.; no markup or hidden fees. I got a better price offer from Ingold's on some Kelly Chargers; Neal's matched their price no problem. - Free shuttle service. Neal's gets all of my auto repair business and I refer all of my friends to them as well. More businesses should aspire to this level of service. read more

Always great customer service. They are quite busy now though and only open during weekdays. Have a nice shuttle service or rental car if they need to keep your car longer. Very accommodating and friendly. read more

I called around 11 am and spoke with Marshall about needing to have my brakes and rotors replaced. He told me to go ahead and bring the car in. They looked over the car and told me my back brakes and rotors were good. They gave me my estimate for the front brakes and rotors with OEM parts at a great price. I was surprised they didn't just go ahead and replace all four regardless if needed it or not. They could have made more money off me but these are honest guys that will not try to rip you off. Marshall asked me if I needed a ride somewhere which I thought was a really cool service. I dropped the car off at 2:30 and the work was done before 5 pm. The entire interaction was top notch, from the customer service, quality of work, as well as the speed of work. I will absolutely be using Neal's Garage as my go to mechanic shop in the future. read more

I never had a problem with these folks until very recently. This time around they said I needed to change a part in my car and gave me a quote, but upon looking it up in my owner's manual, it turns out my car 1) doesn't have that part, and 2) has a similar part that won't need changing for many more years. I'd love to give them the benefit of the doubt, but I drive a pretty generic, recent model car and can't think of a good reason for them to have made that recommendation. read more

Took my truck up for an overview and tune-up. The customer service was excellent and the truck is running better than it ever has. I was especially impressed with the headlight restoration treatment. My lights had a yellow haze which took away from the shine of the truck but after the treatment, they look brand new. Scott has a great group of guys who know what they are doing. Highly recommend Neal's Garage. read more

Awesome speedy service and super reasonable prices- my car takes a synthetic blend oil. Every place quoted me about $70-80 for an oil change and they charged $34.99. I'll definitely be back :) read more

Neal's Garage always does a great job whenever I am having car troubles. I have visited several times and been helped by Marshall each time. He is always very professional and helpful and able to find time to fit me into their busy schedule. In terms of price, quality, and speed, this is the place to take your car in Durham. Marshall is very honest about what services I needed and gives me a reasonable price. I will definitely take my car here for all maintenance needs in the future! read more

I was in a collision on 7/23/19, during which the bottom of my 98 4-Runner made impact with an uneven, rocky drainage ditch. I took my car to Neal's that evening due to a noise that started after the accident. In the morning, I explained what had happened over the phone and asked them to do an inspection on my car to ensure that the vehicle was safe to drive. Neal's assured me that they did a thorough check and told me I would need new tires, alignment, a new O2 sensor, new spark plugs, a fuel injection service and replaced rear drums and shoes for a total of $1,995.08. Because this price was worth more than the value of my car, I asked them to get back to me again with only the absolutely necessary repairs for safety. Neal's responded by saying everything could wait except for the tires. As a result, I agreed to pay $872.00 for new tires and the labor to put them on. On Friday, August 2nd, I paid Neal's and picked up my car at 5:30 pm.The next day, I drove on the highway to work and the noise was still there. On my way home, while driving 75 mph, cars started swerving around me and flagging me down to get off the road. I looked in my rearview mirror and saw that my right tire was severely unstable and looked like it might come off. I got off the road and had it towed back to Neal's. On Monday morning (8/5), I received a call from the manager asking why I had brought my car back to the garage. I told them I would be in over the afternoon to drop off my key and speak with the mechanic. When I arrived, there were no mechanics available to speak with me so I explained the situation to the office employee. On Tuesday, 8/6, I received a call from someone in the office asking me to come in and meet with the owner because the manager was still out from work. I agreed to leave work early that day and meet with him at 5:30 pm. When I arrived at the garage, neither the owner, the manager nor a mechanic was there. Two office people were waiting for me insisting that I "must have bent my axle during the time between when I picked my car up from them and drove it to work the next day," and that my car wasn't safe to drive. Instead of owning that they had missed a MAJOR repair on my vehicle and putting me and other drivers in danger on the highway, the owner stood me up and had his office workers lie to me instead. After speaking with the office folks for 45 min trying to get an explanation from the owner or mechanic, the owner of Neal's called on the office phone and started screaming at me over speaker phone. He immediately started yelling, "If you do not immediately get off of my property, I will call the police and have them remove you." He also told me that I had to get my vehicle off the property immediately or they would start charging me with storage fees. By this point, I had realized that there was no point in arguing because I was dealing with people who were under the authority of an erratic, verbally abusive owner. I very calmly tried to interject with the owner to ask him a question. I repeated myself saying, "May I please ask one question about my vehicle?" Finally, he stopped yelling long enough to let me ask how I was supposed to remove my vehicle from the property if the office workers had just told me that it was not safe to drive my vehicle anymore. He screamed back saying that my car was safe to drive and if I did not get my body and my vehicle off the property, he would have me arrested. He was so aggressive and verbally abusive that I decided to leave. The office workers were feeling bad by this point and advised me to try and speak with the manager when he got back in the office the following week. During this interval, I had my vehicle towed to another garage where I was told that this kind of thing happens frequently with Neal's. The owner met me personally and told me within one day that my axle was bent and that the only way for that kind of damage to be done would have been during a collision. He also told me that the repairs would be around $2,000 and that he would have recommended not to put the tires on the vehicle or do any of the repairs. Essentially, my car should have been totaled. His advice was to see if Neal's would refund me for the tires and the labor, even if that meant returning the tires to them. On Tuesday, August 13th, I called Neal's to speak with the manager who yelled at me for 15 minutes and then threatened to call the police for harassment if I called back again. The bottom line is that Neal's garage missed a major repair on my vehicle, put me and other drivers in danger, lied about their mistake and then verbally abused me countless times while I tried to resolve the issue concerning my vehicle and my payment. Neal's garage should no longer be in business and I highly advise customers, especially women, to stay away from this business. (There is even more to this bizarre story but Yelp is stingy with space.) read more

I found them to be very dismissive of my concerns. I went in to get my AC fixed and tried to tell them why it wasn't working. They literally interrupted me and told me they would fix it. I am a younger female, and they repeatedly called me sweetheart, honey, and dear, including while interrupting me. This was not just one gentleman, but three who did this. I needed to get my car fixed while I waited and made an appointment as such. FOUR hours later, they finally finished doing a basic AC check on my car. Finally, my air conditioning still doesn't work. The didn't fix the problem, probably because they never listened to what the problem is to begin with. Terrible terrible service punctuated by a bit of condescension. I will not be returning. read more

People in office explained everything clearly and broke down the work that needed to be done by priority so I could pick and choose given that I'm on a budget. Bit pricier than other garages but with the student discount the difference wasn't that large. Everything seemed more straightforward and clear than other places I've been, to me that was worth paying a little more. read more

Good service by nice people. This is my go-to place for oil changes. They offer a 10% Duke discount and don't try to upsell you like some of the other places in town when you need something. read more

Car had a flat before I was about to go to atlanta and these guys were able to fit me into the queue. Took a little longer than I hoped because they had to order new tires instead of being able to plug the flat so I can't complain because of that. They were apologetic of the extra time it took since it wasnt a plug. Tons of people here getting serviced and they were rolling cars in and out. I liked them and would recommend. read more

I will never take my car to Neals' Garage again. Both Chris and Marshall talked over me when I was discussing my car with them. Their confidence about fixing my car did not match their actual ability to fix it. They misdiagnosed the problem, and allowed my low beam lights to burn out while attempting to make their assessment. They refused to replace the bulbs that they burned out. My car was with them five days - un-fixed. I wound up towing my car to another mechanic, who not only diagnosed the problem over the phone based upon my description, he fixed it within 2 hours of the car's arrival. Neal's will NEVER get my business again. They are obnoxious, cocky, and downright disrespectful. read more

Was at the tavern Wednesday night when Marshall and his drunk friends were egging a fight after his friends were asked to leave. When they came back they were still trying to provoke a fight. I do not recommend you to go to this place because you don't know if they are Sober read more

These guys are top notch, very professional. I trust that the work will be done right. It's so nice to have a great place right here in Durham to take my car. read more

I had done routine small stuff here for years--oil changes, NC state inspection, etc.--and it was all fine. My issues started when I took my car in one year ago, and Neal's recommended $1000 worth of work! I decided to get a second opinion, and not only did the Honda dealer give me an estimate that was hundreds cheaper, but they said that some of Neal's recommendations to replace parts was totally unnecessary with that model of car. Also, they (correctly) diagnosed the main issue, which Neal's had overlooked and which was a persistent problem with Hondas of that model and year. I know that diagnosis can be tough, and I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but I felt uneasy about the whole situation. To make matters worse, the guy I talked to was a very fast, smooth talker who, I felt, was too aggressive in trying to sell those repairs to me, and periodically texted me afterward. I'm not interested in such a hard sell. Going to another mechanic now who's way more straightforward and trustworthy. read more

Got NC emissions check. Staff was great! Printer was down, and I had to follow up several days later to get a printout, because one wasn't sent proactively as promised. Still, a great experience apart from that and I will return. read more

Polite, helpful and fast. This place repaired my air condition system quickly and efficiently. They let me know exactly what was going on,what was going to be done,and what to do in the future. They're fabulous! read more

My wife took our car for oil change and general servicing while I had to be at work. 1. Even though she asked explicitly not to do a 'tire rotation', when she went back after 1.5 hrs, there was a charge for tire rotation on the bill. When questioned, there was an apathetic 'you asked for general servicing and that is a part of it'. I thought this was an exception to the mechanic shops which 'overcharge' for 'unnecessary services', but doesn't seem like it. 2. Two months ago when I took my car for pre-sale-inspection they said the car was perfect and only needed changing windshield wipers for $15. Today, they gave her an estimate for around $600 which include changing brake pads/rotors, and fixing some problems with the doors. 3. They are also very busy at reception in a very small room and act as if in a hurry... same situation over the phone. When you want to show them what is wrong with the car, they do not want to come out and only take notes at reception, which is annoying. So a generous 2/5, for 'being apathetic', 'overcharging', misleading/wrong pre-sale inspection. read more

I went to Neals for a simple state inspection, and my OBD II connector failed apparently but they couldn't figure out why. Usually if it fails the machine wont turn on, but it did turned on for my car just didn't give readings. They had ZERO idea how to fix it and wanted 100$ just to attempt with no guesses or direction. I took my car to another dealer later, and it ran perfectly and passed. Neals refused to try another connector and clearly had no idea what they were doing. Maybe they are used to a certain car model or were trying to take advantage of a mid 20s girl... They were friendly but not knowledgeable about my bmw. read more

Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone takes action to make it right later. Neal's garage is one of the places that does. My daughter had a problem with our Ford Expedition at Duke right near Neal's garage. I decided to call them because otherwise it would cost too much to tow the truck 30 miles to my usual mechanic. Chris from Neal's garage was very helpful and gave me the name of a towing company that took my truck over there. To make a long story short, there was a problem with the repair that was made and the truck was barely driveable. This was the last repair of the week on a Friday night and Chris was nice enough to take my credit card payment over the phone and leave the truck outside for my daughter to pick up over the weekend. So when she got it, there was no way to contact Neal's and get it fixed. I made the decision to have my daughter "limp home" 30 miles with the truck so that my regular mechanic could determine what went wrong with the repair and get it back in running order. I wrote of my experience on Yelp and promptly got a call from Chris. He was very apologetic and wanted to make things right by giving me an after the fact refund on the labor that went into my repair. I thought this was above and beyond what could be expected because I hadn't even given Neal's the chance to make it right themselves by bringing the truck back. The problem with the repair was a simple mistake that was understandable given the rush they were in to get it done for me before they closed for the weekend. I am sure they would have caught it afterward in a typical repair situation, but it was not an issue that you would notice until you actually started driving the truck. I was impressed and am now changing my rating to be a fan of Neal's garage. I don't often see any business take this type of action to make it right. read more

Be very wary! I was charged for a break fluid service and only a few weeks later got a "slip" indicator light, took my car to the dealership. They showed me my brake fluid looked like thick very dark coffee. Chris says 100% they did the service but I could bring it back in and he could redo. (Umm, no thank you). When I told him I would not bring my car back to him and he could instead reimburse me he refused. I was already feeling distrustful because he told me my transmission service was due at 70k miles and I found out later that it wasn't due until 130k and would not have fixed the problem I was having anyway (according to the dealership). On top of both of these issues, my experience day of service was bad. They kept telling me it would be 90 minutes, then another hour, then another hour etc. until I was waiting the entire day and they rushed to get it out the door after their closing time. If I had known it would take so long I would have made other arrangements but they just kept leading me to believe it would only be another hour. I watched them turn people away with pre-scheduled appointments for oil changes because they were so far behind. Very poorly managed and dishonest. read more

What a nightmare. These guys are motivated by money, plain and simple. I took my car to this mechanic three times. Each time was shady, but for some reason I kept returning. The first time I went to Neal's Garage, I told them I was informed by another mechanic that both wheel bearing and hubs in the front tires replaced. The said I only needed the driver's side replaced, so I had them do it. They gave me an invoice, but it identified my car as a completely different make and model. That made me feel weird, but I didn't notice until I got home, so I just recycled it and moved on with my life. About a month later I needed my brake pads and my serpentine belt replaced. They tried to get me to replace my spark plugs, at a really unreasonable price. I wasn't having any issues with my spark plugs, so I declined. Again, I felt odd about that situation, but again, I shrugged it off and carried on. The very next day I noticed a vibration in my steering wheel and a noise similar to the one when I had my wheel bearing and hub replaced, on the same side. I took it back a short time later, and asked that they take a look at it, since it had just been in their shop. On the phone, the man reported that it was an issue with the bearing. I pointed out they had just worked on the bearing, and requested they replace it for free. He insisted it was the right side mechanism they had replaced. Obviously I did not have an invoice, since they gave me one that was incorrect, so I couldn't prove that they had replaced the left one. When I came to pick up my still rattling car, they somehow produced an invoice, with the correct car, and stating they had replaced the right side bearing. Also, in a completely bizarre turn of events, the man at the counter told me it was not the bearing at all that was the problem, but that the entire axel was broken and needed to be replaced. My mother needed her axle replaced, and her wheel was practically hanging by a thread. Clearly untrustworthy. Clearly trying to take advantage of a young woman. I went to Melton's Service Center. They treated me like I was the most important customer they had ever had in the decades they have been open. One million points to Mr Melton and his amazing staff. read more

DO NOT RECOMMEND!!! Went in for a diagnostic check. Was told sure they had time for that. So after and hour went back was then told it would be 3 to 4 hours before they could even look at it. The man that "waited" on me was a complete jerk as well. I asked him so where is my car and says to me, with his back to me, oh I don't know maybe on the other lot. I had to walk around and look. For my car on a loathing lot across the street. The worst customer service. So glad I didn't have them do any work. read more