What if I can’t afford to pay for repairs done on my car?

If pre-agreed repairs have been carried out on your car, and on receipt of the bill (e.g. an invoice), you don’t have the ability to pay, then the first step is to speak to the business to try to come to an agreement with them, such as putting a payment plan or affordable installments in place.

If this is not possible, the business may have the right to retain your vehicle until payment is received. If the vehicle is being retained due to an unpaid bill, the business has to maintain it whilst in their care. However, they are able to charge reasonable costs for doing this, and their terms may state that storage fees may be applicable. This can end up increasing the overall debt.

Can I leave my car with the repairer indefinitely if I can’t pay?

You may be able to come to an agreement with the business to use the car for part of full payment of the outstanding sum, or arrange to pay for the disposal.

However, if you are unable to pay the bill, leaving a car on a business’s premises without their consent is never advisable due to the potential for an escalation in costs.

A business may be able to take possession of the vehicle if they chose to take the dispute to court following an unpaid bill.