A Plus Customs

California law affords you certain rights when you have repairs made to your automobile. Repair shops are required to display a sign informing you of these rights. They include, for example, the right to a written repair estimate, to a detailed invoice of labor and parts, and to the return of any parts replaced, provided you request the return at the time you order the work and provided that your warranty does not require that the be returned to the manufacturer.

A repair service may not perform repairs beyond those listed in the estimate without your authorization. However, if they have to tear down a component to give you an estimate, you may have to pay for the labor to tear it down and reassemble it. You will know beforehand, though, what the charge for that will be. You should never sign a blank work order, and a reputable dealer will not ask you to.

For businesses outside of California, please check with the agency that regulates this industry.