In New York City especially the Brooklyn area there are auto body shops every few blocks but when it comes down to quality work and a trusted mechanic you can only go to one place and that's Putnam auto Repair. My family and I have been coming to this shop since it's inception. An honest and trustworthy mechanic is hard to find with today's mechanics upcharging and trying to sell you on things you don't need. Not here they'll let you know what you need and what you don't and the work is quality and quick, you'll be back on the road with a safe and functioning vehicle in no time. No matter what type of car you drive, whether it's personal use, professional use, or if cars are your hobby and you're trying to restore a classic this is the place to bring your car so you know for a fact that it's in good hands. It's family owned and operated since it's inception and once you're a customer here you'll be coming back for all your car repair needs. read more

Putnam Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Joe is the man! Would heartily recommend Putnam Auto. Joe will give it to you straight. Super helpful shop, even if they're not able to do a given repair, they'll send you in the right direction. read more

Joe is great. Trustworthy and quick. A real straight shooter. I'd highly recommend him for your car repair needs.

i have to admit, when I got home last night at 3am from work and couldn't start the car to move it for street sweeping, the stellar yelp reviews for Putnam Auto Repair were almost off-putting. How could a mechanic REALLY be THAT good? Excellent, honest, mechanics are notoriously hard to find, what were the odds that one would have such overwhelmingly glowing recommendations? We're hooked. Our car is never going anywhere else, if we can help it. Got up and called this morning at 8, and he arranged a tow for us, fronting the money for the tow so that we didn't need to go with the truck to the shop. He called us back promptly with a quick assessment of the problem (the car would attempt to crank but not turn over - turns out the battery was slowly dying and had taken its buddy the alternator down with it.) For $550, he replaced the alternator and the battery on our 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and by noon, we had the car back on our street, in fine working order. He was enthusiastic and knowledgeable when showing us what the problem with the old parts had been and where he had put the new ones in the car. He made a point of explaining what to look for in the future in a similar situation and the warranty on the parts installed. Thanks, yelpers, good call. read more

Putnam Auto Repair just saved me from spending more than $2,000 at the nearby Firestone (I have a review for them, too, don't worry). Putnam's price? $720 with tax. My clunker is now purring like a kitten. Joe at Putnam is one of the good guys - he's honest, goes out of his way to keep prices low and stands by his word. His shop has been around for decades and he's clearly a a pillar in the community - while I was in the waiting room his artist neighbor dropped in to pick his brain. And on my way out with my fixed car, a man seemingly down on his luck came by to use his bathroom - Joe knew him by name. I'm still on a high from having such a feel-good experience. I'm so happy that I found Putnam - I was ready to drive 90 miles east on LI to my old mechanic! Please, if you find yourself in some car trouble, just head straight to Putnam. Joe and his hardworking staff truly aim to please! read more

I called here on a last minute whim to try and get my brakes fixed in the middle of an afternoon on a Friday. This was my first time at Putnam and I will return for ALL of my cars needs. When I called Joe kindly said that he was all booked up and that I would have to bring the car in on Monday. Then he asked how bad my brakes were and if they were making a grinding sound. I told him they were. You know what he said "I can't let you drive around on brakes that are grinding, bring the car by now and I will squeeze you in". That was that. My brakes got new pads he showed me how my old ones were worn down to nothing, I paid and was on my merry way in under an hour. His customer service skills were phenomenal, he told me about the history of the shop and area. He just won another customer for life! read more

I've only had to go here twice but Joe is great and completely honest. He removes the stress of getting your car fixed and you know you're not being taken advantage. He's also quite fast. You get the impression that he does this because he loves cars. That means though he doesn't do everything, I guess because somethings aren't worth the hassle. You can't an inspection there, he doesn't mess with locks, tires, etc. BUT, he's a great place to go first because if he doesn't do it, he'll send you to the right guy. read more

The owner is not only a genuine, honest mechanic, but he is the son of a mechanic. Old school. And he has hands of gold. They should get him to work on the shuttles NASA sends out. He's that good. He's also the kind of person that will level with you - he makes his business on fair dealings, not on screwing people over to turn a profit. I vote for Joe. read more

This is by far the shadiest business in NYC. Brake job done was extremely over priced and the job was never done correctly. They badly squeak to this day. Had an engine mount done and it was broken after less than 3 months. Had a one year warranty parts and labor that wasn't honored. The owner Joe Iannarelli was extremely unprofessional and belligerent towards me. Totally ripped me off. I've been in contact with an attorney and I'm currently pursuing legal action against this man and his company. Do yourselves a favor and do not do business with this hustler. Very Dissatisfied Very Disrespectful read more

This shop is the best shop I've been to in Brooklyn. It's a family business with experienced, honest and efficient mechanics. I called this shop thinking my Volvo was potentially a lost cause. When my car wouldn't even start, they gave me a very reasonable tow and got my car in within the hour. Joe communicated with me every step of the way while diagnosing the problem. It turned out the problem was much smaller than I had anticipated (I was prepared to spend upwards of $700 on a new throttle body). On top of that, he didn't charge me to diagnose my car or to hook it up to the computer. When I came to pick up my car, they made sure to show me my broken parts and explain how that caused my car problems, and what they did to fix it. My repairs were done in one afternoon and I had my car back on the road by 5pm. I would highly recommend this shop to anyone who loves their vehicle and wants to leave it in safe and competent hands. They don't try to up-sell you and are very straight forward with the repairs necessary to get your car back on the road. read more

Excellent mechanic who is very transparent as to costs and thorough in explaining the issues with your vehicle. He gave me options when addressing the replacement of rotors and brake pads and showed me on the vehicle what he was talking about, and didn't push for the replacement of the rear rotors when they still had life in them, which saved me hundreds of dollars. He also had the car ready for pick up by lunchtime on the same day (though I was lucky and it was a slow morning). I am very glad I found a mechanic that I can trust. read more

Joe, the owner/mechanic is as good as they get. He's honest, he's flexible, and he looks for the fix that makes the most sense (not the most money). We have an unusual car situation- a hand me down from grandpa that's almost 13 years old but with very low mileage. I mention this b/c Joe was so thoughtful about his repair to our car noting that he was taking a more minimalist route so-to-speak b/c the alternative would be removing parts of the engine to access the valves in question which on a car that's this old, is never a good idea if you don't need to do it. He was able to stop our small leak and we ended up with about a $200 bill (which would have been approximately $800 if we had gone with the alternative fix). Keep in mind, this garage has been in business here for nearly 100 years. (check the photos on the wall and ask Joe about it! That says something. Highly recommended. read more

Came here for ball joint change and break paddings. Got reasonable price for break joint but for front and rear paddings paid $400. 200 part/200 labor. Heat of moment I didnt think. Joe is the owner. He is good till he gets the money. Yes he did couple extra things but when I returned and said breaks are not good. The only answer I got "breaks are good" he doesn't listen keep repeats himself. And accuse you for that. He also said find another mechanic. What a great service right. Way to deal with customer and your job feeds you your family! Please go somewhere different read more

Like everyone else here I had an awesome experience with Putnam Auto Repair. I heard a funny sound when driving, described what I thought was wrong and Joe looked at the problem (rust on the rotors). He even took the time to drive around the block to make sure the sound I was hearing was what he thought it was. Turns out my car didn't need any service yet and he sent me on my way. He didn't charge me a dime. What a gem! When its time for new break pads I will absolutely come back here. Pro tip: If you stop by during an Orthodox Jewish holiday he'll have more time for you because most of the neighborhood's cars remain parked until the end of the holiday. read more

Joe's the best! I have had several repairs done on my aging Subaru, and he's been honest, efficient, and such a pleasure to do business with. He will tell you what you need, even if it is the cheaper alternative. I've always had the sense that he really cares about you and your car, and not out to make the "quick buck". I would trust him anytime! I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone. read more

I've known Joe for a couple of years and have had nothing but positive experiences with him. I'm never spending a ridiculous amount of money and he does a great job at being honest & upfront about what needs to be done and what doesn't. Finding a mechanic that isn't going to rip you off just because you're not a car expert is hard to come by, making Joe a real gem in Brooklyn. I've even walked in while he was on the phone with his daughter and you can just tell he's a good guy with his main concern being helping people, doing what he loves, and upholding a family business. Can't recommend this place enough for all your day-to-day auto repair needs. read more

It's hard to find a mechanic you can trust. I really found a winner w/ Putnam Auto. The owner is super knowledgable, explains everything, and will always give you the straight deal. Will never try to sell you on any work you don't need. I have been bringing my car there for the past couple of years and would highly recommend them to any friends. read more

I went back to Putnam Auto Repair recently. What was originally thought to be a transmission issue wound up being more serious. The brakes were shot, the rotor and struts were damaged, in other words, it was pretty bad. Fortunately Joe was able to help me out a lot. After getting the runaround from a supposed car repair company (which shall remain nameless), Me and Joe came to the conclusion that the repairs had to be made. After paying for this, which I though was gonna be more, he ordered the parts and he made it happen. If you ever have any issues/problems with your car, I tell all of my friends go to Putnam Auto repair. You'll get top notch service. Thank You Again Joe!!!!! read more

I would give more stars if I could! I live in Kentucky and my 19 year-old daughter moved to Brooklyn for school. She does not know anyone there. Her car overheated. I did not know what to do so I looked at the map and called Joe at Putnam Auto. He eased my fears and took care of my daughter. He told me he had daughters of his own that went to school out of state. He gave me directions to get her there, fixed more on her car than he had too, gave us a very fair price and eased a very scared parent's mind from states away. He will never know what it meant to her father and I. This is the kind of integrity that is hard to find anymore. Great work, great price and great people! Thank you!! read more

After having negative experiences with other mechanics (I'm female, driving an old foreign car -- you get the picture!), I found Putnam and won't go anywhere else! I've been taking my car(s) to this place for almost ten years now, and service is always efficient, friendly, and inexpensive! The business has been in operation since 1950, and the experience shows. I've recommended Putnam to many people, who become loyal customers like me. Take your car to Putnam! read more

One of the stresses of owning a car is feeling like anytime even the tiniest thing goes wrong you are opening yourself up to being taken advantage of. It feels great to put that to rest and have a mechanic that I trust. The guys I dealt with here were honest and friendly. Joe explained everything he suggested and brought me under the car while it was on the lift to physically show me everything. Prices seemed more than fair. I never expected to have a "feel good" experience at a mechanic, but I have to say I actually enjoyed having work done on my car. Added bonus, I really believe in supporting smaller neighborhood businesses. Putnam Auto was started by the current owner's father more than 60 years ago! read more

This guy is a scam artist. I, like others fell for the glowing reviews. He basically charms you so much so that you have absolute trust in his recommendations. He looks for the minimal problems and tells you the priority is the cheaper item. He always calls the same parts man ( my guess: non-existent) for a quote, making up random numbers. Once he builds rapport and gains your trust, he goes for the scare tactic--"your car will break down if you don't fix this (random) item for a $1000+. He is very charismatic and friendly. He is a scam artist. He never fixed the problem we brought our car for. He, instead, fixed cheap things that totaled about $600, while the issue we came for persisted. He gives false reassurances and talks about automotive engineering like it's voodoo science just to confuse and overwhelm you. Don't get charmed and scammed!!! Run!!! read more

Putnam auto repair is the place to go in the Neighborhood for car repair. It's an old school shop that is a blast from the past. Joe and Larry are real car guys that don't try to force you into unnecessary repairs. I've been taking my CRV and Tercel there for years. Friendly and good prices, from oil changes to major repairs, I trust them 1000 times more than a pep boys operation or other big box garage. Don't let the appearance scare you off, they are worth trying, support your local mechanics! read more

Yep as good as it gets in my books. These guys have been here serving the comunity, and that is what it feels like, for 60 years. I am so happy I found my mechanic from here on in. Great and totally honest service. Really salt of the earth. I also heard he is a mean harmonica player. Much thanks to Putnam for keeping my car on the road. read more

I have over 300,000 miles on my Ford Focus so I've been to a lot of auto repair shops, and I've never had anyone save me money like this guy did. He figured out there was a short in my car that was draining my battery while my car was turned off. When I told him I didn't have any money to afford an electrical inspection, he showed me a temporary fix to unplug my battery while my car is turned off, so that it won't drain. I drove away without spending the money I don't have, and when I do have it I'll be back there to have an electrical inspection and get this short figured out. Great experience and really helped me out. read more

When I first went to Putnam my car was wobbling and swaying all over the place and i could not figure out what was going wrong. My regular mechanic did not stick to the time he said he would check my vehicle and something had always caused a delay. I took a chance, googled and found and called Joe. From the minute he picked up the phone, Joe was honest, direct and respectful. He told me to bring it in. From that moment on I will not go anywhere else when it comes to my car. I replaced three wheel bearings and he also fixed my ODS. Joe is not over priced, he won't sell you anything you don't need, he is straight to the point (no sugar coating) and when he says I'll take a look at your car at 9 - unlike most places Joe is there waiting to fix your car at 9. Despite all the negatives of these endless snow days that we have been getting and and it not helping my vehicle at all- all hands down I recommend Joe to anyone whether they are born and bred from brooklyn or come from outside of the boro. Joe and his ENTIRE team are the most respectable, efficient, down to earth group of men you will ever meet and they know what they are doing when looking at your car and finding out what is wrong with it. They work fast and hard. i strongly recommend Joe and his team for any car problems you may have. read more

The reason why I'm writing this review is because I parked my car in front of there shop on a Saturday WHEN THEY ARE CLOSED and when I came back to look for my car I couldn't find it. After doing some research I found out that the owner called the police to ticket my car and then tow him away and they made me spend $450 to get my car out and wait till Monday. STAY AWAY FROM THEM IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR CAR read more

I have been a satisfied customer for more than 20 plus years. Execellence, Honesty, and Reliabiliy. This has been passed down to Joe from his dad Angelo and has remained a tradition for more than 50 years. Joe will only recommend what your car needs, and he values his clients. It's refreshing to trust your car mechanic, as you would your family doctor and dentist. He cares for the safety of your car and your family that rides in it. This place definitely a treasure, great find and a keeper. read more

In the time of need Putnam easied the pain !!! They quoted exactly $1000 less then the $2000 cheapest quote from 3 others The largest one being $2800. Thats $1800 saved !!.Dropped off at lunch and was ready next day at lunch as promised. What more can one ask for ? Joe you are my hero !!! read more

EXCELLENT!! I brought my 2002 Audi a6 here to get my axles done because the car was making noise when turning the wheel all the way to left or to the right. Joe was fast, honest, and knowledgable about the car and he gave me a good price also. I have found me a new mechanic!! read more

Unfortunately, I now have to give Joe one star or perhaps zero stars if it was possible. I went into his shop to have a rear window regulator fixed and he charged me double what my current mechanic charges. I had no idea if the price was good or not at the time but now that I have an honest mechanic, I know what things should cost and Joe is not an honest guy. By no means go to this place. You will get ripped off. read more

Thanks Joe! These guys are great. I'm mechanically savvy and this guy is a straight shooter. No BS. They work hard, honest and efficient. I was lucky and they weren't busy the morning I brought my car in with clutch cylinder problems. I was in at 8 am and they had me back on the road by noon. Fantastic! I will use Joe from now on for all of my auto repair needs. read more

Wow! What a great experience! Joe and his shop are about honesty and great work. And for anyone with experience with repair shops you KNOW how rare such a pair is. Joe gives you an honest diagnosis about what's best for your vehicle without trying to pad your bill with unnecessary repairs just to get a few extra dollars. On top of that, the work is great and is done in a timely manner. I've found my go-to mechanic! read more

These guys are the absolute best. I brought my 2010 Volvo in for an oil change, they give me a great price. Very friendly folks, overall a great experience. They are a neighborhood institution, I would gladly bring my car back there anytime. read more

I had a great experience with Joe and Putnam Repairs. I was able to come in and get my repairs right away. Joe went over all the repairs I needed and gave me all the options. The repairs were done quickly and I was very happy. I would highly recommend Putnam. read more

I can't explain how great it feels to finally have a reliable, honest mechanic so close in my neighborhood. Putnam Auto repair is a GEM in an ever changing neighborhood. read more

I brought my car here previously before driving down to Florida for an oil change and the owner was super friendly and fair. I just brought it in again after driving back up to NY and now heading back to Fl. I got an estimate from another mechanic in the area telling me my engine was going to fall out if I didn't get new engine mounts and a bunch of other stuff. I take it in today for an oil change and for Angelo to look at it before I take off again. I ask him about what the other mechanic told me and he told me I was fine, just got rear brakes replaced at an extremely reasonable price. I love this guy! I wish he was in Florida! I won't bring my car to anyone else. I can't recommend this place enough. It is impossible to find an honest mechanic. When you find one don't ever let him go! read more

I mean, everyone gives Joe 5 stars except the odd disappointed customer who thinks they're being scammed. I've had nothing but good interactions with Putnam, dealing with them for 4 years now. Joe is great, good "bedside manner", blunt but not overly dramatic. All his work has been stellar, has always gotten right to the heart of every issue I've brought in. My car's with him right now, so here's to hoping my streak doesn't stop! But I doubt it will. Thanks guys, best wishes to Breeze who's fallen ill recently. read more

If you are looking for an honest mechanic this is the place to go. The owner was very nice and reasonable. I would will be returning for any work I need on my car! read more

Great service! I had a problem with my brakes and I found them through yelp and I'm am definately going back. They were nice but more importantly honest! I went to a meineike a while ago and I almost got ripped off. I am so sick of mechanics ripping off people who may not know a lot about cars. Afforable repairs and honesty. I highly recommend this place to anyone in a bind needing a good repair shop! read more