Legal Question in Consumer Law in Washington

auto repair shop's right to keep my car

I had a shop repair my transmission. When they told me a quote of 1500-2000 dollars, I said I didn't have it, but needed the repairs still. He said they'd work with me. The following week they called and said it was done. I came in with a $200 payment, and said in a few days I'd be back with $400 more. He said, ''You know you can't have your car until the $2135 is paid off.'' I had apparently misunderstood that working with me ment payments, not payments and having my car.

I want to know if I keep weekly payments, can I legally have my car back before the entire balance is paid off?


Asked on 2/27/05, 1:29 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Elizabeth Powell ELizabeth Powell PS Inc

Re: auto repair shop's right to keep my car

The repair shop has what's called a lien - a mechanic's lien - on your property until you pay them for the work they did.

If you get an agreement in writing with the shop regarding when and how much you will pay them, they may well release the car to you.

When you buy groceries, do you tell the checker you'll pay for them when you have it? What do you think the response would be? What is the diffrence with authorizing work on your car when you don't have the funds to pay for it?

They did the work. You are going to have to pay for it. The variable that you can control is how much you are going to pay; if you don't pay it under terms approved by them it is going to cost you a lot more.

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Answered on 2/27/05, 3:37 pm


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