How Long Does A Mechanic Have To Fix Your Car?

It’s something we’ve all been through. It seems that something is wrong with your car, so you take it to the shop so that it can be fixed.

Having a frustrating experience can become worse if you have to wait longer than expected for the repair. What are your options when your car is in the shop and how long does it take a mechanic to repair it?

Typically, it takes 12 days to repair a car in the USA. It could be much shorter or longer than this, however, since it is an average.

Vehicles should typically be repaired within 15-20 days. Insurance and warranty requirements may take up to 30 days cumulatively from the time they enter the shop.

You should hopefully have no problems with the repair process since dealerships have a 30-day time limit and regulations make sure you know where your car stands.

Under the lemon law, which exists in some form in all 50 states, a car can be considered a lemon after 30 cumulative days of repair.

Simple maintenance and repairs, such as changing your oil or replacing your brake pads, shouldn’t take more than a day. Quick jobs are likely to be prioritized by a good mechanic.

A cumulative repair day is simply an indication of how long the car has been in the shop for repairs during its warranty period.

When there is a safety recall, it is common for customers to experience a 30-day period straight. It can also be a series of trips that total 30 days while under warranty.

Lemon Perspective: How Long Does It Take A Mechanic To Fix Your Car?

How Long Does A Mechanic Have To Fix Your Car

Recall repairs are extremely common reasons for vehicles to spend extended periods at dealerships.

Usually, these take longer, and they may arrange for a rental or courtesy car to be provided during the recall process. If you leave your car at a private mechanic for an extended period of time, this could indicate a more serious issue.

Normally, if your car has been kept by the mechanic for more than 30 days for repair reasons and several attempts have been made to fix a problem, your vehicle is likely a lemon.

Within 18 months or 18,000 miles of the purchase of a vehicle, it is generally considered a lemon if the following criteria are met:

A routine problem caused significant damage or death to your car after it was attempted to be fixed at least twice by the mechanic.
A dealership attempted to resolve an issue four times during the warranty period.
While it was being repaired, the car was in the shop for almost 30 days.

An attorney who specializes in vehicle and lemon law is a good option if you think any of the above have been met.

Driving a lemon car can lead to serious injuries or death, so you should avoid it at all costs.

You have three options if you buy a lemon car: you can get a refund, you can return the vehicle to the dealership and cancel your contract, or you can keep it and demand reimbursement from the dealership for the repairs/pre-existing damages.

The following six states have used car Lemon laws in addition to their basic Lemon laws: Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Minnesota.

In general, taking action closer to the 30 day mark is not unusual, but you should start thinking about it the closer you get to that mark.

It’s important to maintain a relationship with your mechanic so you can stay in the loop and ask for a reasonable repair timeline, despite the differences between these scenarios.

How Long Does It Take A Mechanic To Fix Your Car? A Professional’s Expectation

There are many basic and standard repairs that can be performed in a few hours. You should be fine if the company advises you to wait in the lobby for a while or run a few errands before returning later in the day.

You can usually get your repairs completed while you wait in most shops, especially if you have an appointment. It may become more difficult to determine repair schedules and delays when substantial repairs are required.

Getting the more extensive repairs completed on time will depend heavily on the amount of work that’s being done at the shop.

You may have to wait a little longer if parts must be shipped or found from a salvage yard due to factors like your make and model. Foreign cars, as well as custom and classic vehicles, usually have this problem.

Even though the technician and customer should have an estimate of how long it will take to complete the repair, we all know that unexpected problems can arise.

In case you won’t have your car for an extended period of time, ask the technician to keep you informed about progress on the repairs.

For the most part, repair shops depend on word-of-mouth for business, and it’s best for them to finish jobs on time.

A Legal Perspective on How Long A Mechanic Has To Fix Your Car

Although it does not arise as often as other reasons, the mechanic and the repair shop have the legal right to retain possession of your vehicle while the whole repair price is being paid.

In essence, the mechanic’s lien gives the repair business a guarantee that they will be paid for the services that were provided.

A repair shop can keep your car until you pay the full amount or agree to a payment plan, regardless of how you feel about the final cost.

You should ask the repair company to itemize the service costs if the final cost is significantly higher than expected.

You can pay the entire amount if you cannot reach an agreement and file a complaint along with the necessary documentation for repairs in the event that you’re unable to reach an agreement.

The repair shop takes a lien on your car when you take it in for repairs. As a result, the repair shop has no obligation to return it to you if you have not paid for the repairs.

Moreover, if you do not pay for repairs in a reasonable time frame, they can hold the vehicle.

Be sure to read all paperwork when dropping off the vehicle as the repair shop does not possess legal authorization to seize it without your signature.

An agreement for repairs could be drafted with its own unique language so that this could be stated. You are basically allowing the shop to hold your car until you pay for the repairs when you sign an agreement like this.

Tips For Communicating With Your Mechanic

Communication with the repair shop can be improved by following these tips:

Be sure to get everything in writing. You should always request written estimates for repairs, time estimates, and any other related articles.
It’s best to leave diagnostics (like diagnosing a check engine light) and auto repairs to the mechanic. Don’t rely on online research to guide your action. It is better to rely on their expertise rather than your own.
Maintain a calm and diplomatic attitude. In this way, the mechanic can concentrate on his work and do it well.
Mechanics should also provide you with an itemized repair bill showing any parts and materials that were replaced.
In this way, it will be possible to prove that there have been no unauthorized repairs. These documents can be provided to your insurance company if necessary.
Keep your eyes open for red flags, but trust the process. You can, for instance, ask for clarification or get a second opinion if your final bill doesn’t seem right.

What Happens if My Mechanic Keeps My Car Past 30 Days?

Taking legal action if a dealership or repair shop holds your vehicle for an unusually long period without explaining why there has been a delay is an option.

There is a standard repair turnaround time of 12 days for most vehicles, so anything longer may raise questions regarding the quality of the repair.

You may have a Lemon Law case on your hands if your car has not been returned from a repair shop, auto body shop or dealership.

If you are dealing with faulty or defective products, this can assist you in receiving compensation.

Gathering all necessary information is essential before considering legal action. Make sure you have access to all the documents related to your vehicle, including a history of repairs, a sales contract, and other important documents.

As soon as all the required documents have been gathered, any individual can take the following steps:

You should get in touch with a Lemon Law attorney if you have not received your car back from your dealership or repair shop and they are not providing you with any information.
Afterward, an attorney will examine the details of your case and determine if they want to represent you.
Upon taking you on as a client, your lawyer will either send a demand letter to the manufacturer stating that you have a right to compensation should the dealership not be able to fix the vehicle in time, or they will file a lawsuit directly with the court.
Manufacturers can settle claims without going to small claims court with funds expected within 30-60 days, or they can take the case to small claims court.

The problem with a Lemon vehicle is that it has so many issues after manufacturing that it is impossible to repair or fix in an efficient, cost-effective, or reasonable manner.

Your best course of action should be to contact your dealership or car repair shop if your vehicle is being held for an extended period of time for reasons other than an inability to fix the vehicle.

You can inform them that you will pursue legal action or contact the authorities to get your vehicle back. In the end, a shop’s ability to keep your vehicle will be determined by several factors.

You could take legal action to receive compensation if a vehicle is held past a reasonable period of time.

Nevertheless, extended warranty coverage is your best defense if your car is in the shop as a result of a regular breakdown and other problems.

How Can A Car Repair Be Delayed?

There are several factors that influence the repair time of your car, including the complexity of the process, the number of problems, and so on.

However, here are some general guidelines:

You may have to wait a while for your car to be repaired if the repair shop is extremely busy or overbooked. Especially in independent shops, there may only be a few mechanics sharing all the work.
Your car can be held by a mechanic until you’ve paid the final bill because of the mechanics lien.
It is possible for the mechanic to discover other serious problems during the repair and maintenance process of a vehicle.
Repair time can be extended by these factors. Your vehicle should not be repaired without your permission if the repair facility is performing unauthorized repairs.
There may be a personal issue with your mechanic. A person may become ill or suffer an unforeseen emergency. Despite having a plan for such situations, reasonable delays might still occur.
During the repair process, diagnostic difficulties may arise. There are several possible reasons for the check engine light to illuminate, and they all need to be investigated.
There is a possibility that your car needs to be fixed with parts that need to be ordered. In the event that parts aren’t readily available or the supplier’s shipment is delayed, additional delays may occur.

How Can I Avoid Overly Lengthy Repairs?

It is important to choose a reliable auto mechanic or car repair shop in order to avoid unexpected delays in car maintenance or auto repairs. Additionally, this will save you from unnecessary repair costs.

Here are some things to watch out for when choosing an independent shop or a franchise:

Online reviews, ratings, and testimonials are good. A record of good repair work indicates that it is a real body shop or repair facility.
Certificates. Make sure your car is serviced by a qualified mechanic at all times.
Well-organized and clean auto repair shop.

Summary: How Long Should A Mechanic Have Your Car?

There are several factors that determine how long your car will take to be repaired, such as the complexity of the repair process, the number of problems, etc.