Garages & Motor Services: Your Rights

Your Rights Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022

The Consumer Rights Act 2022 sets out clear rules for services, including garage repairs. Every service must be:

• Performed with reasonable care and skill — the garage must do the job properly. If they make your car worse, that's a breach
• Completed within a reasonable time — if no timeframe was agreed, they can't keep your car for weeks on end for a straightforward repair
• Provided for a reasonable price — if no price was agreed in advance, you only have to pay what is reasonable for the work done

Quotes vs Estimates — The Difference Matters

Before any work begins, understand what you're agreeing to:

• A quote is a fixed price — it's legally binding. The garage cannot charge more than the quoted amount
• An estimate is an approximation — it can change, but the final price must still be reasonable and not wildly different from the estimate
• If no price is discussed at all, you only owe a reasonable price for the work actually carried out

If the Garage Makes Your Car Worse

This is one of the most common complaints — you bring your car in for one problem and get it back with new problems. This is a clear breach of contract. The service was not performed with reasonable care and skill.

Your rights in this situation:

• The garage must repair the damage they caused at no cost to you
• If they can't fix it, you're entitled to a refund for the work done
• You may also be entitled to compensation for any additional damage or costs you incurred (e.g., towing, alternative transport, further repairs elsewhere)
• You are not obliged to let the same garage attempt to fix their own mistakes if you've lost confidence in them

Extra Charges Without Your Permission

A garage cannot do additional work and charge you for itwithout your prior consent. This is a common trick — they find “extra problems” and fix them without asking, then present you with a much larger bill.

• If the garage discovers additional problems, they must contact you and get your approval before doing the work
• You have the right to refuse the additional work and take your car elsewhere
• If they did the work without your consent, you are not obliged to pay for the unauthorised work
• Get any approval for additional work in writing — a text message or email is fine

Unreasonable Delays

If no specific timeframe was agreed, the work must be completed within a reasonable time. What counts as reasonable depends on the repair, but weeks for a straightforward job is not acceptable.

• If the garage is taking too long, put a deadline in writing — give them a specific date to complete the work
• If they fail to meet that deadline, you can take your car back and have the work completed elsewhere
• You may be entitled to compensation for the inconvenience and cost of being without your car (e.g., car rental, public transport costs)

Right to Refuse to Pay for Poor Work

If the repair was not done properly, or the garage made things worse:

• You can refuse to pay for work that was not carried out with reasonable care and skill
• You can refuse to pay for additional charges for work you did not authorise
• You may be entitled to a full or partial refund depending on the circumstances
• If the garage refuses to release your car until you pay (a lien), you should put your dispute in writing and seek legal advice — they cannot hold your car hostage for charges you legitimately dispute

NCT and Safety

If a garage returns your car in an unsafe condition, this is an especially serious matter:

• A car that was roadworthy before the repair should be roadworthy after — if it's not, the garage has failed in their duty of care
• If the car fails its NCT because of work the garage did (or failed to do), they are liable
• If the unsafe condition poses a risk to you or other road users, you should not drive the car — get it towed to an independent mechanic
• In serious cases, unsafe repairs could be reported to the Road Safety Authority (RSA)

SIMI Membership

If the garage is a member of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), you have an additional avenue for complaints:

• SIMI members are bound by a code of ethics
• You can file a complaint with SIMI directly — they can investigate and take action against the member garage
• Check if the garage is a SIMI member on simi.ie

Note: many garages are not SIMI members. This does not affect your legal rights — the Consumer Rights Act applies regardless of SIMI membership.

How to Fight Back

1. Document everything — take photos of your car before and after the repair, keep all receipts, invoices, text messages, and emails
2. Put your complaint in writing — send the garage a written complaint (email or letter) setting out what went wrong, what your rights are, and what remedy you want
3. Get an independent assessment — have another mechanic inspect your car and provide a written report on the issues. This is crucial evidence
4. Contact the CCPC — the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission can advise you on your rights and may investigate the garage
5. Small Claims Court — for claims up to EUR 2,000, the Small Claims procedure is a low-cost, accessible way to get a resolution without a solicitor
6. Civil court — for larger amounts, you may need to take a civil case. Consider getting legal advice

Protect Yourself: Tips

• Always get a written quote before work begins — list the specific repairs and the cost for each
• Take photos of your car before dropping it off — document its condition
• Keep all receipts and messages — texts, emails, and WhatsApp messages are all valid evidence
• Ask for old parts back — if they claim to have replaced a part, ask them to return the old one
• Get a second opinion for expensive repairs — especially if the diagnosis seems extreme
• Agree a timeframe in writing before leaving your car
• Never feel pressured into agreeing to extra work on the spot — take time to consider and get another opinion if needed