Car repair shop broke my car and wants more money
Shops sometimes cause new mechanical failures while servicing a vehicle and then demand thousands of dollars extra for computer replacements. This unexpected damage leaves owners stranded without transportation for weeks and forces them to pay triple their original estimate just to get a working car back.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- Most of it landed at once — the busiest month was September 2026, with 13 people.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Calling the shop repeatedly for updatesDid this help you?
- 2Consulting online forums or other mechanics for a second opinionDid this help you?
- 3Considering towing the vehicle to another shop despite the high cost and hassleDid this help you?
- 4Having the rotors resurfaced instead of replacedDid this help you?
- 5Replacing only the single damaged rotor and the sway bar link instead of a full setDid this help you?
- 6Checking if brake pads are still good to reuseDid this help you?
- 7Jack it up and spin wheel to see that rim is not bentDid this help you?
- 8trying to get a jump start from a spouseDid this help you?
- 9considering calling out of workDid this help you?
- 10relying on an expensive Uber serviceDid this help you?
- 11Asking the shop to provide documentation, phone records, or call logs for the supposed authorizationDid this help you?
- 12Filing a consumer protection complaint with the state attorney general's office or DOJDid this help you?
- 13Making a fuss in person and refusing to pay the higher amount at the time of pickupDid this help you?
- 14waiting for an in-person diagnosis from a professional mechanicDid this help you?
- 15inspecting and replacing sensors or checking fluid levels independentlyDid this help you?
- 16getting a refund for the partDid this help you?
- 17taking the part and vehicle to an independent shopDid this help you?
- 18using another car for upcoming tripsDid this help you?
- 19Hand sanding burrs off instead of paying for machine shop servicesDid this help you?
- 20Shopping around at different engine repair shops for lower quotesDid this help you?
- 21Using alternative head studs or OEM parts to save moneyDid this help you?
- 22Booking through Costco Travel or AAA insteadDid this help you?
- 23Taking screenshots of the checkout pageDid this help you?
- 24Saving all receipts and using credit card chargebacksDid this help you?
- 25Doing online research to check the validity of the repair costDid this help you?
- 26Asking online forums whether a quote is a scam or an intentional brush-offDid this help you?
- 27trying to find the leak source using adviceDid this help you?
- 28taking it to a professional technicianDid this help you?
- 29Choosing between cheaper aftermarket parts or more expensive OEM parts for recurring repairsDid this help you?
- 30Considering a trade-in at a significant financial loss to switch to a different type of vehicleDid this help you?
- 31Paying for alternative transportation like UberDid this help you?
- 32Asking the repair shop for a detailed breakdown of the workDid this help you?
- 33Paying higher prices at independent repair shops to get immediate service.Did this help you?
- 34Calling around to multiple local shops to compare pricing and availability.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Booked and paid for a car rental through Avis in full and thought everything was good until I received an email stating the confirmation and charge. To my surprise, the charges stated in the email were higher than what was paid.”source ↗
“Luckily for me, I took a screenshot of my checkout page and the difference is about 69 USD from additional additional surcharge/fees and taxes.”source ↗
“Last time they charged me an extra day. Because the attendant didn't invoice the drop off until the next day. They were SO effing unhelpful.”source ↗
“It’s the fourth week of school, starting tomorrow. I teach K-1 sped. My car battery is dead.”source ↗
“Anyway, I have to go to work in the morning. Idk how to handle this. I don’t reliably have someone who will help me jump it. It’s expensive to get the battery as well and I’m fairly broke rn.”source ↗
“I’m debating if I should call out. I would rely on an uber but it’s very expensive from where I live. I don’t want to call out as I had to use two sick days two weeks ago.”source ↗
“Mechanics is NOT my forte and this was not exactly in the budget. How screwed am I?”source ↗
“Bring my car to the shop and a few hours later they call me and tell me instead of the $1100 they originally quoted, is now over $4000 plus a rear differential fluid exchange for $200?”source ↗
“now its been almost over a week of my friend not having her car”source ↗
“she was called them wanting an update on her car, they then told her that her car was NO LONGER TURNING ON/WORKING”source ↗
“They now told her that she is going to have to get a new computer system and have it programmed..”source ↗
“Cutting corners is now gonna cost me another 1k to get my head surfaces…….”source ↗
“I didn't go to the dealer because they couldnt get me in for a week and a half.”source ↗
“she was prepared and has the money to have what she asked for done, and now it might be an extra $2000 ish on-top of the $1000 she’s paying for-”source ↗
“I just changed all four brakes and rotors 3 months ago. I was just wondering if there is any cost saving advice from a mechanic. I am broke right now so I am a little devastated.”source ↗
“Hi everyone my 2014 Honda pilot engine light came on and this is what the code says does anyone have any experience with sort of thing?”source ↗
“so I’m just trying to brace myself for how much this might cost I’m broke as hell man is it all over for me”source ↗
“I come in Saturday and after a 2 hour wait, they tell me that first, the quote was innacurate, that it would take 2.5 hours and they didn't have the time to do it.”source ↗
“They also said the car was very rusty and that they weren't sure if they would be able to make the repair or if they would have to replace the entire axle.”source ↗
“everything just seems to set me back since the reason the heads came off was a bad lifter”source ↗
“I am so stressed right now, and have to pay hundreds of $$$ on uber”source ↗
“Took my car to a repair shop and it's been there for 9 days now.”source ↗
“Independent charged me $700, dealer was charging me $670, but again the wait was a week and a half so I had no choice.”source ↗
“The shop gave me a written estimate of approximately **$741** for the repair, and I agreed to proceed based on that estimate.”source ↗
“After the repair was completed, I went to pick up the car and was told the amount was approximately **$1,460**.”source ↗
“I was not contacted and did not verbally, electronically, or in writing authorize the higher amount before the work was completed.”source ↗
“I’ve paid the latest amounts. However, the final invoice states that I authorized approximately **$1,461.80 “by phone”** on a specific date. I do not recall having any such phone conversation or approving that revised amount.”source ↗
“My question is are Teslas complicated to get parts for and complete repairs or is the auto repair shop holding my car longer to bill the insurance company more?”source ↗
“They keep telling me that they are waiting on suspension parts and that they’ll be here “soon” but they have had my car for a month now and I’m getting suspicious.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 17Why are equipment service bills so expensive for minor fixes?
- 21How to handle random car error codes and weird driving feelings
- 2Driving a damaged car when you can't afford the repairs
- 6Why do appliance warranty repairs take weeks or months?
- 45How to pay for unexpected expensive car repairs when broke
- 17What to do when your rental car logistics and shuttle go wrong