Do You Need A Drivers License To Get Your Car Repaired

Smart Shopping for Auto Repairs
Y'all tin can assist avoid trouble with an unreliable or dishonest repair shop by following these tips:

Deal merely with a registered shop. Brand certain there's a dark-green and white "Registered Country of New York Motor Vehicle Repair Shop" sign outside the store and a valid New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) registration certificate inside.
Utilize the "Find a DMV-regulated Business" service to notice a registered repair shop in your expanse.
Ask your family, friends and co-workers for communication on reliable repair shops in your expanse, too as those y'all should avert.
Continue all records, including estimates, invoices, work orders, receipts, guarantees and warranties. Too their importance in instance y'all file a repair complaint, these papers serve as your record of service, and could increase your vehicle'southward resale value.
If you authorize repair work past phone, write down the date and time, the proper noun of the person you spoke with, any estimated price quoted, and other pertinent details.
Don't be agape to enquire questions. Management of a shop should have the fourth dimension to explain required repairs and prices, discuss problems, and tell y'all almost the training and experience of employees.

The "Consumer'southward Bill Of Rights"

Under the Repair Shop Act, you have the following rights when dealing with a repair shop:

Written Estimate

If y'all request it, the repair shop must give you a written approximate of the parts and labor necessary for each specific repair. The store may charge a reasonable fee for developing a written estimate, but the labor charge for an estimate may not exceed the store's usual hourly labor accuse.

The estimate must list each office and its cost, and evidence what parts, if whatever, are either used or not of original quality. It must show the labor charges for each repair and by what method they are calculated. The shop may not accuse more than the estimated price without your permission.

Authorizing Piece of work

A shop may non perform any services unless you give your permission. If the shop prepares a written piece of work lodge, it must requite y'all a copy. If y'all prepare a written work order, the store must attach it to the invoice. If work is authorized verbally or by telephone, the invoice must show the appointment, fourth dimension, and proper name of the person giving authorization.

Parts

You are entitled to the return of all replaced parts, except warranty and exchange parts, but yous must inquire for them in writing before any work is done. If you qualify work past phone, the shop must keep any replaced parts, and brand them bachelor when you pick upwards the vehicle.

Invoice

When repairs are completed, the store must give you a detailed invoice listing each repair done, each part replaced, the cost for each, and the toll of labor. The invoice must evidence which replacement parts, if any, are used, or not of original quality. It must prove the odometer reading at the time you left the vehicle for repair and when the invoice was prepared. If the store promised a delivery date, that must be listed on the repair order. If y'all received a written estimate, compare it with the invoice and endeavour to resolve whatever questions earlier you pay for the repairs.

Inspection After Repair

You lot have the right to inspect your vehicle at the shop earlier paying for repairs. Still, this does not give you the right to remove the vehicle from the shop without paying for the repairs, or to inspect it in areas where only authorized employees are allowed.

Guarantees

A shop is not required to guarantee its work, but if a shop voluntarily guarantees repairs, the terms and fourth dimension limit of the guarantee must be listed on the invoice.

If you are non satisfied with the quality or toll of a repair, hash out it with the direction of the shop. Many misunderstandings can be resolved through a calm, honest discussion.

If Y'all Have a Repair Problem

Showtime, endeavor to resolve the upshot with the management of the business. Proceed a written record of all contacts with management in addition to details most the repair. Copies of work orders and invoices are proof of your attempts to resolve the trouble.

If a satisfactory resolution is not reached and you wish to file a complaint, you must submit a Vehicle Rubber Complaint Report (PDF)(VS-35) along with whatsoever supporting documents to the DMV Consumer & Facilities Services Complaint Unit. To submit electronically, download the complaint report available at the link above to your personal device. Attach then electronic mail the completed written report likewise every bit any supporting documents to [email protected]. Please note that DMV staff will communicate with you through email.

Complaint Unit of measurement
Bureau of Consumer & Facility Services
Section of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 2700-ESP, Albany, NY 12220-0700
FAX: (518) 486-4102
Phone: 1-518-474-8943 (between 8:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.1000., Mon - Friday)
Email: [e-mail protected]

Important: DMV staff volition not investigate a complaint until a completed VS-35 Complaint Report has been received. The department does non investigate complaints that have been filed anonymously. There is a 90-twenty-four hour period limit on reporting incidents related to a NYS Repair Shop. We cannot accept complaints against Repair Shops across the xc-day limit or 3,000 miles (whichever comes starting time). The DMV cannot resolve disputes over the terms of manufacturer or third party warranties or guarantees. If you feel you take a NYS Lemon Law complaint, delight see Lemon Police Complaints.

What Happens to Your Complaint

A DMV customer service representative will try to resolve the problem by discussing it with yous and the shop. About half the complaints received past DMV are resolved through mediation.

If the repair problem isn't resolved, your complaint will oftentimes be referred to a DMV regional office for investigation. A DMV inspector may contact yous to ask questions or hash out your case in detail. These inspectors are experienced automotive technicians trained to investigate and resolve complaints.

If the DMV investigation indicates the shop violated the Repair Shop Human activity or regulations, DMV will either ship a warning letter of the alphabet to the shop or schedule a hearing. If a hearing determines there were violations, DMV will take activeness confronting the shop. This may include suspending or revoking the store's registration and/or imposing fines.

If you endure a financial loss due to overcharging or unnecessary or poor quality repairs, the administrative law guess presiding at the hearing may offering the shop the option of paying restitution. The shop may then receive a shorter break catamenia and/or a lower fine.

DMV cannot forcefulness a shop to pay restitution. Restitution is limited to the amount you were overcharged or the cost of proper repairs. Other expenses, such as the price of renting a replacement car, cannot exist included. Filing a complaint with DMV does not foreclose you from seeking help from other consumer protection agencies or from taking the shop to courtroom. Even so, if you receive a courtroom settlement or 1 is pending, restitution through DMV is not available.

With Your Aid, The Repair Shop Act Works

Nether the Repair Shop Act, thousands of dollars are returned to consumers each year through arbitration and restitution. In addition, hundreds of vehicles are repaired at no additional cost. The Repair Shop Act likewise helps to make our highways safer past promoting quality car repairs.

The Repair Shop Deed works best when consumers take the time to shop wisely for auto repairs, keep records of their dealings with shops, and discuss repairs with shop management to avoid misunderstandings.

Additional information tin can be found at:
Written report a problem with a DMV regulated automotive business organisation

(C-17) Edited for the Internet 9/19

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
Mark J. F. Schroeder, Commissioner

Return to DMV Publications