Auto Repair Your Rights

In most of the United States, the Attorney General's Office receives more automobile complaints from consumers than any other product or service.

Consumers have reported situations where they have spent hundreds of dollars on a repair that should have cost a lot less. They report they have paid for repairs that was not properly done the first time, that the repairs were made without their permission, and that repairs were made that were not neccessary.

While most of the Dealerships and Independant Shops are honest and do not want to cheat you and do any unneccessary repair to your vehicle, you still should protect yourself from any unforseen problems by knowing "The Motor Vehicle Repairs Or Services Law"

Do I Have The Right To Insist On An Estimate ?

Note: These requirements will also apply to most any other product you have that will need a repair, so you can apply this information to any product you have that you want to have repaired.

When you take your car to a shop during the shops working hours, the mechanic or service advisor must follow certain specific procedures:

A sign ust be posted or you must be provided with a written form before any repairs or services are started, that informs you of your right to a written or oral estimate if the anticipated cost of the repair exceeds $25.00.

When an anticipated cost of any repair exceeds $25.00, the repair facility must, before any work begins, provide you with a form on which you initial your choise of a written estimate, an oral estimate, or no estimate at all.

Work may not be started on repairs or services until you have been given the written or oral estimate (if that is what you selected) and have authorized the work to be done. Faxes are considered an acceptable and convienent way to obtain an estimate and authorize work.

The written estimate form must include the estimate amount and a reasonably anticipated completion date.

The repair facility must contact you and get your permission to continue the repair work if the cost of the work will exceed the estimate by more than 10 percent.

If the anticipated cost was below $25.00 and you did not receive an estimate, but the cost of unforeseen, needed work will make the total bill higher than $25.00, the facility must get your written or oral permission for the repair.

Note: Repair facilities can avoid these estimate requirements only by giving an exact price quote, in writing, which is binding for five days.

For more information on your rights click Here.