Your Rights
Under Part VI of the Consumer Protection Act, 2002, the total cost of repairs cannot exceed the amount in the written estimate by more than 10 per cent. If you have declined an estimate, the total cost cannot exceed the amount you’ve authorized.
Upon completion of the work, the repairer must provide an invoice indicating:
- name of the consumer;
- name, address and telephone number of the repair shop;
- make, model, vehicle identification number and licence plate number;
- the parts installed, their prices and condition (new, used or reconditioned);
- terms of the warranty provided by the repair shop for each part installed and the labour to install it if that warranty coverage is equal to or greater than the one deemed by the act to apply to repairs (90 days or 5,000 km, whichever comes first);
- the total charge for the labour and the method used to compute it (i.e. a flat rate, an hourly rate, or some combination);
- the total amount billed to the consumer;
- date and odometer reading when the vehicle is returned to the customer;
- shop supplies charged to a customer (and not included in normal operating costs);
- final total amount billed.
The Consumer Protection Act, 2002 specifies that the garage is required to provide a warranty on all new or re-conditioned parts installed and the labour required to install them for a minimum of 90 days or 5,000 km, whichever comes first. But repairers are free to provide warranty coverage beyond that outlined by the legislation. As well, the act states suppliers, including repair shops, must guarantee that services provided are of a reasonably acceptable quality.
If your vehicle breaks down during the warranty period or becomes unsafe to drive because of the repair job, arrange to have it taken back to the repair shop. By law, the money you were charged for the repair must be returned, as well as any reasonable towing costs involved.
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