How long does a mechanic have to fix your car? Everyone has been there. Something is wrong with your car, and you can’t figure it out, so you take it to the technician. What might be a frustrating affair, to begin with, can become even more so if there are delays and a lengthier repair period than anticipated. How long does a mechanic have to fix your automobile while it is in the shop, and what can you do about it?
How long does a mechanic have to fix your car?
Typically, a car should be fixed within 15-20 days of entering the shop, with a maximum of 30 days for insurance as well as warranty requirements collectively. The car can be declared a lemon after 30 days of repair under the lemon law, which applies in some form in all 50 states. Cumulative repair days simply indicate that the vehicle has been in the shop for a total of 30 days throughout the warranty period. It could be 30 days straight, as is customary for significant safety recalls, or a series of trips totalling 30 days while under warranty. How long does a mechanic have to fix your car?
A legal viewpoint
This may not be as common as some of the other reasons, but the mechanic and repair business has the legal right to keep your automobile until you pay the entire repair cost. This is known as a mechanic’s lien, and it effectively ensures payment to the repair company for the services provided. Even if you disagree with the final cost, the repair shop has the right to hold your automobile until you pay the whole amount or set up a payment plan.
If the final cost is significantly higher than you anticipated, you should request that the repair company write down the specific jobs completed for itemised service charges. If you are unable to reach an arrangement, you may wish to simply pay the whole price to reclaim your vehicle and file a complaint with the necessary documentation for repairs.
When you bring your car in for maintenance, the shop places a lien on it. This means that if you haven’t paid for the repairs, the repair shop isn’t obligated to give it back to you. They also have the authority to impound the vehicle if you do not pay for the repairs within an acceptable time frame. The repair shop is not legally entitled to seize the car unless you signed a letter certifying the repair’s permission for the shop to do so – so be sure to read all papers when dropping it off.
This might be stated in the repair contract, which would have its own wording. If you sign an agreement like this, you’re basically giving the shop permission to keep your car until you pay for the repairs.
A professional requirement
Many of the simple and regular fixes should just take a few hours to do. This shouldn’t be an issue if the company encourages you to wait in the lobby or conduct a few errands and return later in the day once they phone you. Most shops will try to do your repairs while you wait, especially if you have an appointment. In the case of significant repairs and damage, questions about repair timelines and delays may become more problematic.
The total workload at the shop will play a significant role in completing the more extensive repairs on schedule. Other factors, such as your vehicle’s make and model, may affect the overall repair time if components must be transported or located from a salvage yard. This is prevalent for foreign vehicles, as well as custom and classic types.
While both the professional and the customer should have a repair timeline, we all know that things might happen unexpectedly. Asking the mechanic to keep you updated on any major innovations with the repairs may benefit both parties, especially if you will be without a car for an extended period of time. In general, repair firms rely heavily on word of mouth for a large amount of their revenue, therefore completing projects on time is in their best interest.
A lemon’s eye view; How long does a mechanic have to fix your car
Recall repairs are a pretty common reason automobiles are kept at a dealership for a lengthy amount of time. These are usually a little longer, and they may provide you with a rental or courtesy vehicle while the recall is being repaired. Keeping your car for an extended period of time at a private repair, on the other hand, could suggest a larger problem.
If the technician (typically at a dealership) has retained your automobile for 30 days for repair reasons and has made several attempts to fix a specific fault, it is possible that your car is a lemon and driving it could be risky. A vehicle is commonly referred to as a lemon. If you meet any of the following requirements within 18 months of purchase or before 18,000 miles:
- Because of a common problem that could have resulted in major harm or death, the mechanic attempted to repair your car at least twice.
- The dealership attempted to resolve an issue four times throughout the warranty period.
- The car was in the shop for over 30 days being fixed.
If you believe any of the aforementioned conditions have been met, you might consider filing a lawsuit or hiring a car and Lemon law attorney. Driving a lemon car is perilous because it can cause major harm or death to you and others. If the vehicle is a lemon, you may be able to obtain a refund, return the vehicle to the dealership and cancel your contract, or keep the vehicle and seek payment from the dealership for the repair/pre-existing damages.
In addition to fundamental Lemon laws in each state, six states have used automobile Lemon statutes: Hawaii, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Minnesota. While this is uncommon, the closer you get to the 30-day mark, the more seriously you should consider taking action. While these are all very different cases, it’s crucial to try to establish a relationship with your technician so you can stay informed and make acceptable requirements for your repair timeframe.
