Legal Question in Consumer Law in New Jersey

Re: auto repair

Yes. Your choice is not to pay them. If you can't get the car without paying, you can pay and then sue in small claims court to get your money back. Just don't write a check with the intention of stopping payment on it later. That is a crime and will get you in trouble too.

Unless there is something that you haven't said, it is fairly apparent that you brought the car in to be fixed not to be diagnosed. If they needed to do a lot of work first without knowing whether it could be fixed, they should have contacted you first. Depending on the circumstances, the NJ law relating to written estimates probably says as much.

See also: http://info.corbettlaw.net/lawguru.htm