garage have the right to keep my car ?

Question

Just before Christmas i left my car into a garage to be repaired, i was given a quote for 800 Euros. While my car was in the garage i lost my job two days before Christmas. I did not have the money to pay the garage the new estimate of 1,600 Euros. Recently i have been offered my job back, but need my car to go to work as it is about 50 miles from my home but the garage will not release my car to me until i pay the money which i don't have. My question is ... does the garage have the right to keep my car ? seems to me to be a no win situation for all involved, Thanks in advance for any answers

Answer 1

Sounds like you're in Europe so you'll have to check on your local consumer laws in the country/province where you live.

Normally a mechanic can retain and even sell your car to cover the repair bill. This is called a "mechanic's lien". However in most countries, there are laws that protect the consumer against rate jacking, that is charging a much higher repair charge than the written estimate.

What that means is you should be able to pay the 800 Euros (or a small amount more than that) and get the car back, however it may not be completely fixed. If the original estimate was low and they found other problems after they got into the repair, it could easily go higher. That's why they're called estimates and mechanics are not bound by law to lose money on a repair job.

I would try to calmly and rationally reason with the shop. Tell them you're willing to pick up the car for the agreed estimate of 800 Euros, even if some of the more expensive things they found later (and repaired without your authorization) are restored or left un-repaired. Or you could try asking them if they will accept payments from you in good faith. If this doesn't work, contact your local consumer protection office for help.

You don't want to let them keep your car too long as they will eventually have the right to sell it.

Answer 2

A friend of mine was in this exact same situation. When the garage was not open on a Sunday night, he went down there with a spare key and took the car. Two days later he received a letter from the garage. If he did not pay the repair costs, they would call the police on him. He ended up paying the garage in full.

Answer 3

Write a check for the original amount. Call the police and ask them to send an officer to the garage when you go there to make the payment. If they gave you an estimate they are bound to it, unless you authorized other interventions on your car.

Answer 4

if you owe money for a repair that you gave them permision to do then ya they can keep it till its paid for.but if the price goes over what they told you they have to tell you before they go on. also they can add storage charges to your bill too.And after a while (90 days i think) they can sell it for the shop repairs or as an abandoned vehicle.

Answer 5

It's called a mechanic's lien (as in lean) and it is legal, and the car is theirs until you pay up. Good luck.

Answer 6

If you did NOT ok the new amount then NO they do not have the right to keep it, and you may need to threaten legal action.

IF you DID ok the new amount then yes, you have to pay it.
Good luck.

Answer 7

they can keep your car for services rendered...use a charge card to pay for the work and get the car then pay it off quickly.

Answer 8

Yes I think they can keep your car until payment agreements have been made.

Answer 9

yes they have the right to keep the car, yea it sucks but im sorry. they prob added alotta storage fees

Answer 10

No they do not have the right to keep the car.