How Long Can a Dealership Hold Your Car for Repair? (2023)

FAQs

How long is too long for a car to be in the shop? ›

On average, a dealership can hold your car for a maximum of thirty days. Beyond this, some issues might arise. Ensure that you make that clear upfront with a dealership before you drop your car off.

If the repair is taking too long

You can ask the garage for a courtesy car (this is a car that the garage will give you to use - not all garages will offer this). Keep a record of everything extra you spend on travel - you might need to prove this later on.

When a garage services or repairs you car, your consumer rights as a buyer are protected in law. This means that your garage must: fit replacement parts that are in good condition, that are able to do the job and that will last a reasonable length of time. use reasonable skill and care.

How long can a mechanic keep my car? There is no legal limit to how long a mechanic can keep your car. If you are unsatisfied with your service, you can always take your business elsewhere and try to find another mechanic.

Typically, your car can sit about four weeks to two months without driving before the battery dies. The reason your car can sit only for so long before it dies is the fact that your car battery is in use even when you're not behind the wheel.

A garage that has repaired your car has what is known as a 'lien'. This is the right to keep the car until they've been paid for all work done.

If you see a lot of 5-star ratings and read about top quality work, this may be the mechanic for you. If reviews are lukewarm or worse, keep shopping. Also, if you see a lot of cars in the lot without much turnover and mechanics wandering around or getting off-task, you may want to look elsewhere for service.

Car repair shops rarely get jobs done in a single day and often complete them after two to five days -sometimes up to a week. However, there are some vehicle repair jobs that can take longer-like months.

Regardless of how aggrieved you feel about your problem, there is always a strong chance that you won't get your problem resolved the way you want it. You need to be prepared to accept that the dealer may have no obligation to fix your problem, even if leaves you with a broken car or a large bill.

Can you insist on car being repaired? ›

After a non-fault collision

You can choose to have your vehicle fixed by a vehicle repairer of your choice. Your insurer, or a Company appointed to handle your claim, may recommend a repairer but they cannot insist that you use such a repairer. It is always your right to control what happens with your vehicle.

Unless you've agreed otherwise, the seller (dealer) has only one opportunity to repair (or replace) the faulty vehicle after which, if they fail to repair it, you're entitled to a refund.

If the cost of repairs exceeds the car's value, it's probably best to get a new car instead. Sometimes, when a car with high mileage needs a significant repair or if your car is totaled, you might consider replacing it with a new or used vehicle.

All 50 states have some form of Lemon Law which mandates that manufacturers must buy back or replace fatally flawed cars. That is, the cars that cannot be repaired after a certain number of repair attempts or days in the shop. This is often four times OR 30 days in the first year.

Don't Be Afraid to Get a Second Opinion

If you don't feel like the mechanic did the repair right, take it to another auto shop so they can properly evaluate the repair and re-diagnose the issue. You may have to pay a diagnostic fee.

Poison gas leaking into the house poses a serious threat.

Warming a car for just two minutes raises the CO level to a dangerous 500 ppm. Measurable concentrations may linger for as much as 10 hours. People working in the garage as much as 10 hours later remain in danger.

Contrary to some beliefs, a car isn't airtight. So you can sleep in your car with the windows up without any issues to your health. The main issue you may have with sleeping in your car with the windows up deals with your comfort level. With the windows up, you aren't going to get much ventilation.

If the car has sat a long time, all the fluids need to be flushed and replaced along with hoses, seals and gaskets which most likely have dried up and become brittle. The gas tank most likely will be laminated on the inside if it contains old gas and would either need replacement, heavy-duty cleaning or sandblasting.

On what grounds can police seize your car? ›

The police have the power to seize your vehicle if: You're driving without adequate car insurance cover. Your driver's license doesn't certify you to drive that type of vehicle. Your driving is inconsiderate, careless or dangerous and is causing alarm or distress to others.

This can be done as follows: If you are online, you can simply complete the online Assistance Request Form; or. You can download the Assistance Request Form, complete it fully and either email it to info@miosa.co.za or fax it to 086 630 6141; or.

In order to resolve a dispute regarding the standard of work, you should firstly raise your concern with the garage directly, ideally by submitting a formal complaint to the business in line with their in-house complaints procedure.

Most mechanics you contact will not be thrilled about the idea of allowing you to bring in your own parts. Although they may accept it once you make it clear that you do not expect a warranty, they will understandably be concerned about the quality of the product and the likelihood of a breakdown.

Replacing a car engine typically takes eight to 15 hours depending on the make and model of your car and the mechanic you choose. However, your mechanic may quote you for a longer wait time, especially if the parts in your engine are hard to find. For an exact repair time estimate, contact your mechanic.

But you can expect an average diagnostic test to take about an hour and a half. If the issue is complicated, the mechanic may have to remove a few components of your car for access and further testing. Expect your car to be tied up for two to three hours in those instances.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, car parts, from windshields to electronics, have been hard to come by. Materials are challenging to secure for manufacturing. Materials, parts and components are stuck sitting on cargo ships.

Before the scrapyard can take legal possession of the broken down car, you need to secure ownership of the car finance institution first. This means you have to pay your obligation completely before you can sell the car for parts.

Can a garage keep my car if I don't pay? ›

If you are refusing to pay while you dispute the bill, the garage has the right to keep your vehicle until the debt is paid. If you need the vehicle back before you can settle the dispute, you should pay “under protest”.

“If your engine blows up on a financed car, you're still on the hook for the payment. Unfortunately, your car insurance won't pay for the damages either, as even full-coverage policies won't cover this.

Key Takeaways. Insurance companies deem a vehicle a total loss when the cost of repairing the car is more than its actual cash value (ACV). A car can become totaled after an accident, a natural calamity, theft or even failure to change the oil regularly leads to complete engine failure.

Courtesy vehicle – Most insurers provide a 'Class A' courtesy car whilst a vehicle is being repaired, but not when a vehicle is written off. A courtesy car may be provided whilst the cost of repair is being assessed, but once the decision is made you will be asked to return the vehicle within a few days.

Typically, car insurance does not cover engine failure, even if you have full coverage. The exception is if the mechanical problem or blown engine can be directly linked to a covered claim.

Only certain types of repairs are covered under the right to repair scheme. These are called qualifying repairs. They include insecure windows and doors, unsafe power sockets or electrical fittings, leaking roofs and broken entry phone systems. A full list of the qualifying repairs is set out at the end of this page.

Introduction. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) now governs the sale of goods (including cars) to consumers. As a second-hand car dealer you need to know how the law affects you and your customers.

The term “right to repair” refers to legislation that would enable consumers to independently repair and modify their own consumer goods (such as electronic, automotive, or farm machinery like tractors) where the manufacturers of such products would otherwise require the consumer to use only their offered services by ...

What car breaks down the most? ›

1. Chrysler. Chrysler vehicles are some of the most unreliable on the market. They've been ranked as the least reliable car brand for three years in a row by Consumer Reports.

Generally speaking, it is almost always less expensive to repair a car than buy a new one. Even something as severe as an engine or transmission rebuild will cost you roughly $1,200 to $5,000 — far less than buying a new car.

If you find out that the quote is excessive, it's time to haggle! Politely tell the auto technician about your findings and explain why you think their estimate is too high. If they don't lower the price, let them know you'll be shopping around with other mechanics.

While the cost of auto body repair varies drastically. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere between $75-$2,500 for a quality repair job on a range of minor paint or body damage. That price is dependent upon several factors. Labor costs vary between auto body shops, so keep this in mind also.

If you've had work done on your car and you don't pay the person or company you hired, they may take legal action, known as a mechanic's lien, to recover the cost of their parts or labor. Depending on your state's law, an unpaid mechanic's lien may allow the lienholder to sell your car at auction.

Your financial situation is a major factor when debating between repairing or selling a car. If your car has a lot of life left and a good value, repairing it is likely a good decision. If your car isn't worth the cost of the repairs, you might be better off selling it.

Add fresh fluids.

If you plan to park your car for more than a few months, consider changing the fluids. Used engine oil, brake fluid and power steering fluid trap contaminants that could damage your vehicle over time. By adding brand new fluids, you'll give your car a better chance of avoiding any future issues.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends that you get all of your shopping done within ther 14-day window to minimize the impact that credit inquiries have on your credit. FICO, the Fair Isaac Corporation that calculates your credit score puts the shopping window at as long as 45-days.

Not necessarily: We recommend driving every two to three weeks to make it less likely that you wind up with a dead battery, flat-spotted tires or other issues that can be caused by letting a car sit parked for weeks. Related: How Long Do Tires Last?

Is it better to store a car with a full tank of gas? ›

Choose a clean, dry garage or storage facility, as damp air can cause rusting. Ideally, store your car in a climate-controlled facility. Fill the gas tank completely full. An empty or low gas tank will lead to internal rust as condensation and moisture builds within the tank.

Shopping for the best deal on an auto loan will generally have little to no impact on your credit score(s). The benefit of shopping will far outweigh any impact on your credit. In some cases, applying for multiple loans over a long period of time can lower your credit score(s).

In general, you'll need a credit score of at least 600 to qualify for a traditional auto loan, but the minimum credit score required to finance a car loan varies by lender. If your credit score falls into the subprime category, you may need to look for a bad credit car loan.

In general, lenders look for borrowers in the prime range or better, so you will need a score of 661 or higher to qualify for most conventional car loans.