How Long Can a Dealership Hold Your Car for Repair?
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If you have ever dropped your car off at a dealership, you know that it can take a long time for them to finish. This issue can be very frustrating if you need your car for critical aspects of your life. The longer a vehicle sits inside the shop, the more it might seem like you will never get it back. How long can a dealership hold your car for repair?
Keep reading to learn more about how long a dealership can hold your car for repair. Many are unaware that a limit exists. It can be helpful to know this just in case you run into a situation where a dealership seems as though they have kidnapped your car. You can be forward with the legalities that exist.
How Long Can a Dealership Hold Your Car?
So, how long can a dealership hold your car for repair? This is a vital question to ask. It could help you speed up a process that tends to take a long time. A few items might cause the length of time to extend. However, there is generally a set amount of time that they can keep your car for repairs.
According to tortdeform.com, a dealership can hold your car for about 30 days. After this, you are potentially entitled to:
- A lemon law case, which you can further understand with research
- Financial compensation for the time that has been wasted
- Various consumer rights depending on the scenario
All of these can be given to you if the dealership holds your car for more than 30 days.
Of course, there might be some legitimate reasons why they are holding your vehicle for so long. It is dangerous to drive a broken car on the road. If they give you an honest explanation for the length of time, you might want to negotiate a discount or something similar to avoid conflict. They are most likely trying to give you the best possible fix.
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What Repairs Take the Longest?
A dealership can hold a car for a maximum of 30 days. However, there are a few repairs that are more intricate than others. If your vehicle is in the shop for any of these, you might want to talk to the car dealership before making any drastic choices. It might just be a simple misunderstanding that can quickly be resolved through a little bit of communication.
According to autotrainingcentre.com, some of the repairs that will take a dealership the longest include:
- Engine replacements can be extensive due to all of the smaller parts that are connected to the engine
- Clutch alterations, which also involve removing the transmission
- Spark plug replacements, which are small and tricky to work with
- Transmission repairs, which are often brought in at the most desperate stages
All of these repairs can take a long time. They are very detailed and tend to use intricate parts.
Theoretically, none of these repairs should take longer than thirty days. However, it is critical to remember that dealerships are not perfect. They might be waiting for a car part necessary to repair or replace components of the vehicle, or they may be carefully taking on the task you have presented them with to fix. Communication is vital when finding out what is going on.
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What Do You Do If They Take Longer Than the Requested Time?
If a dealership takes longer than thirty days to return your car to you, you might be wondering what your next steps should be. This information is vital when understanding how long a dealership can hold your vehicle for repair. If a dealership keeps your vehicle for more than thirty days, you can pursue a case against them.
If the dealership keeps the car for longer than the requested amount of time, you should:
- Contact a legal group that can assist you with the next steps
- Get a case evaluation
- Check-in with the dealership to see if anything can be resolved without legal action
You can do all of these if the dealership hangs on to your car for longer than expected. There are a few other options, but these are the most common actions that you can take.
Talking to them should always be your first point of action. If you can resolve everything without conflict, you will be better at it. Legal action can be pricey if you are in the wrong. Ensure that you have exhausted all of your options before taking one that will cost you money.
Can You Request a Timeframe for Completion?
You can always inform the dealership if you have a specific timeframe that you would like your car done. Sometimes, they can’t shorten a timespan. However, informing them does not hurt. You can even let them know about the limit and tell them the action you will take if they exceed that.
Dealerships should not take more than thirty days to fix your car. They should not be able to take your vehicle from you for more time than is necessary. There are very few circumstances where they do this for a legitimate reason. If you cannot reach a logical conclusion with a dealership, you should look into legal action.
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Conclusion
It can be frustrating when a dealership holds your car for a long time. It slows down your life, but it causes distrust and anger that is unnecessary. You might wonder how long a dealership can hold your car for repair before legal repercussions occur. Are you able to take hold of the car issue and inform some higher authorities of the extended repair time?
On average, a dealership can hold your car for a maximum of thirty days. Beyond this, some issues might arise. Ensure that you make that clear upfront with a dealership before you drop your car off. If they go past this length and do not have a good explanation, there are measures that you can take to get your vehicle back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will insurance pay for car rental while my car is in the shop?
Insurance doesn’t guarantee that car rental is covered while your vehicle is in the shop for repair. It will always depend on the nature of your coverage. Basic insurance will not include car rental coverage in most cases, but it’s available as optional coverage. Keep in mind that this will slightly increase your premiums too.
What are the factors that might delay my car repair?
Unfortunately, there’s always a possibility that the repair will be delayed, and that’s always frustrating. Many factors can potentially delay the repair, including:
- The mechanic is sick or has a family emergency.
- The mechanic simply needs more time to complete the job.
- The mechanic found additional repairs that must be addressed (but they’ll have to inform you).
- The insurance provider failed to pay the dealership on time and may keep your car as collateral.
Regardless of the reason for the delay, the shop will almost always keep you updated.
What can you do if you’re not satisfied with the repair duration?
Your car may be driven or towed to another shop in extreme cases. Although it’s understandable if the shop needs more time with your vehicle, some wait times can be unreasonable. If you can’t get in touch with the shop, call your insurance provider asap.
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