Collision repair
Bumpers, fenders, hoods, doors and quarter panels — from a parking-lot scrape to the kind of hit that needs the frame rack.
4 Lackawanna Plaza · Montclair
Fix what’s broken. Leave the rest alone.
Collision and body repair, paint, and straight answers on mechanical work. If another shop handed you an estimate, bring it here before you pay it.
See hours below
4.8
What to bring in
Body shop and mechanical, under one roof.
Paint & refinishing
Repaired panels refinished to match the rest of the car, not just the panel next to them.
Scratch & dent repair
Small damage taken care of right away, before it turns into a bigger job.
Frame & structural repair
Hits that go deeper than the sheet metal, pulled straight on the rack before the body work starts.
Rust repair
Rocker panels and sills, dealt with before it spreads to the rest of the body.
Diagnosis & second opinions
Brakes, shocks, tires, and noises you can’t place. Bring the other shop’s estimate and we’ll tell you what actually needs doing.
Serving Montclair and Upper Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Verona, Cedar Grove, West Orange, Clifton and Nutley — and the regulars who make the trip from Jersey City.
What a visit looks like
Honest is cheaper.
No upsell, no mystery line items. Here’s how it goes — and what it looks like.
- 01
Bring it in, or call first
Describe the damage or the noise over the phone. Drop-off Mon–Fri 8–5, Sat 8–1.
- 02
A straight estimate
Already have another shop’s quote? Bring it. You’ll hear what actually needs doing — and what doesn’t.
- 03
Pick it up straight
Body, paint, frame or mechanical, done under one roof and matched to the rest of the car.
Drag the line to see before and after
Google reviews
4.8 stars across 123 reviews. Here are five, word for word.
Pulled straight from the Google listing. Read all 123 there.
“A while back, a chain oil change shop told us we needed new brake pads. We came here for a second opinion, and they explained that the rust we were seeing was normal and would wear off with regular local driving. They were right. A year later, another shop again tried to sell us brake pads during an oil change. We immediately brought the car here, and after a thorough inspection, they told us the brakes still had about 2,000 miles left.
That level of honesty is rare. Instead of recommending unnecessary repairs, they only suggest work that actually needs to be done. Their prices are fair, their workmanship is excellent, and most importantly, they genuinely care about their customers.”
“I got a quote from a Toyota dealer (I happened to be there for another reason) and, unsurprisingly, the quote they gave me was nearly 7 times what John charged, and included replacing an $800 part that didn’t need replacing. You can trust John not to do that dishonest trick. I recommend him 100%.”
“They skillfully replaced fender, repaired the bumper and hood, and did a fantastic paint job. All in just 2 days. My car now looks brand new. … They even reattached the original ‘Supercharged’ emblem on the fender before I got my car back.”
“I brought the car to John’s Automotive for a second opinion, and they took the time to thoroughly inspect everything. They found that the noise was actually caused by one of the newly replaced tires being completely flat—not the shocks at all. They also checked the rear shock absorbers and confirmed they were in good condition and only needed a minor adjustment, saving me at least $2000.”
“He was honest, professional, and didn’t try to sell me anything unnecessary. He truly went above and beyond to help me, and I really appreciate his kindness. I will definitely come back if I ever have any issues with my car in the future.”
On the shop floor
What comes through the door.
Photos via Google
Hours & directions
4 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair.
John’s Automotive Inc 4 Lackawanna Plaza Montclair, NJ 07042See hours
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking
- Restroom on site
- Credit, debit and contactless payments accepted
Hours
- Monday
- 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday
- 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday
- 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday
- 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday
- 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday
- 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Sunday
- Closed
Hours as listed on Google.