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 people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Calling the shop repeatedly for updates
- 2Consulting online forums or other mechanics for a second opinion
- 3Considering towing the vehicle to another shop despite the high cost and hassle
- 4Having the rotors resurfaced instead of replaced
- 5Replacing only the single damaged rotor and the sway bar link instead of a full set
- 6Checking if brake pads are still good to reuse
- 7Jack it up and spin wheel to see that rim is not bent
- 8trying to get a jump start from a spouse
- 9considering calling out of work
- 10relying on an expensive Uber service
- 11Asking the shop to provide documentation, phone records, or call logs for the supposed authorization
- 12Filing a consumer protection complaint with the state attorney general's office or DOJ
- 13Making a fuss in person and refusing to pay the higher amount at the time of pickup
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“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 ↗
“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 ↗
“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 ↗
“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 ↗
“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 ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 13Why are equipment service bills so expensive for minor fixes?
- 15How to handle random car error codes and weird driving feelings
- 3How to pay for unexpected expensive car repairs when broke
- 3Why am I being double charged or seeing higher prices when booking flights?
- 10Used car broke down immediately after buying from a dead dealership
- 16How to handle a mechanic who messed up brake repairs