Mechanics lien: Can my Mechanic Sell my Car. Auto talk blog #2
What is a Mechanics Lien? How long will they hold my car? Can he/she LEGALLY sell my car? How can I get my car back? All are questions I've heard, and as a mechanic, I feel its time to shed some light on the subject. Please keep in mind that this IS NOT legal advice, and is all from my experience with mechanics liens.
Automotive Repair Order Form
What is a Mechanics Lien? When you take your vehicle in for repairs, you fill out and sign an automotive repair order form. Although it looks simple, it is a legally binding contract that covers both parties. It guarantees the client that repairs will be done if possible, and it guarantees the mechanic payment for authorized work done by any means necessary. This is where a mechanics lien comes in. A mechanics lien allows the mechanic to keep the vehicle until the full payment is made, this includes parts and labor, as well as storage fees.
How long will they hold my vehicle? As mentioned above, a mechanics lien allows the mechanic to hold your vehicle untill full payment is made or untill an agreement is made between both parties.
Can he/she LEGALLY sell my car? The short answer is yes. When the repair order is signed, it guarantees the mechanic payment for authotized work done by any means necessary, including selling your vehicle. While a mechanic can not legally sell your vehicle immediately, because most if not all states require the mechanic to wait at least 30 days after the customer is notified about the finished repairs to sell the vehicle, if payment is not made and an agreement is not made they can legally sell your vehicle after the requiered wait period after you are notified about the sell if required by law in your state. Although you dont need to worry too much as most honest mechanics wait double the requiered wait period and are more than willing to work with you becsuse they want to keep you as a loyal customer.
How can I get my vehicle back? If the mechanic legally sells your car, there is almost no way to get it back. Before that point you can get your vehicle back by paying the fees or coming to an agreement with the mechanic. If you feel that you were wronged or that the mechanic is ripping you off, don't try to wait it out, file a civil report against the mechanic and have them investigated, depending on where you live you may get a reward for reporting fraudulent mechanics, and at the very least you will get you vehicle back from the fraud.
That is all for now. Please remember that this IS NOT legal advice. Hopfully this blog has helped shed some light on the mysterious and ominous Mechanics Lien. If you have any questions, post them in the comments and i will try to answere them to the best of my ability.