The best way to avoid auto repair rip-offs is to be

prepared. Knowing how your vehicle works and

how to identify common car problems is a good

beginning. It is also important to know how to

select a good technician, the kinds of questions

to ask, and your consumer rights.

Repair Information

In Wisconsin, motor vehicle repairs are governed

• Ask for recommendations from friends, family,

and other people you trust.

• Look for an auto repair shop before you need

one to avoid being rushed into a last-minute

decision.

• Shop around by telephone for the best deal

and compare warranty policies on repairs.

• Contact DATCP’s Bureau of Consumer

Protection to see if there is a record of

complaints about a specific repair shop.

authorization for any repair and must offer you

an estimate, or firm price quote, if repairs will

cost $50 or more.

• No unauthorized repairs are allowed. But if

you drop off your car before the shop opens

with a note to repair something – and you do

not ask them to call you with an estimate –

the shop can charge what it wants.

• No unauthorized price increases are allowed.

If a shop provided an estimate or quote, they

• When requesting additional authorization, the

shop must tell you both the cost for the

additional repairs and the new total cost of

the complete job. Make sure you leave a

telephone number where the shop can reach

• If a shop accepts a prepayment of $250 or

more, the shop cannot start any repairs until

they provide an oral or written estimate of

the repair completion date and include that

Warranty parts or parts exchanged for

rebuilding need not be returned, but must be

made available to you for inspection.

• When work is completed, the shop must

provide you with an invoice describing the

repairs, replaced parts (specifying if used or

rebuilt), and warranties for repairs and parts.

• If you need expensive or complicated repairs,

or if you have questions about their

recommended repairs, consider getting a

is violated, you may be able to start an

100.20(5) enables consumers to recover

twice the amount of any monetary damages,

court costs, and reasonable attorney’s fees.

After the work is done

• The shop must provide you an invoice

• The shop must also return parts if you

requested them before the repairs began. If

the shop needs to return a part under a

warranty, the shop must allow you to inspect

the parts before your vehicle is returned.

Warranty & service contracts

on repairs. Make sure you understand what is

covered under your warranty and get it in

others sell optional service contracts issued by

vehicle manufacturers or independent

companies. Not all service contracts are the

same; prices vary and usually are negotiable.

To help decide whether to purchase a service

contract, consider:

• The cost.

• The repairs to be covered.

• Whether coverage from the service contract

overlaps coverage provided by any other

schedules.

• Whether repair costs are paid directly by the

company to the repair shop or whether you

will have to pay first and get reimbursed.

• The reputation of the service contract

company. Contact DATCP’s Consumer

Protection Hotline to check for complaints

against a business: (800) 422-7128 or

DATCPHotline@wisconsin.gov.

of Consumer Protection. Another option is to

file a claim in small claims court. You do not

need an attorney to do this.

Repair Shop Prohibited Practices

(Wis. Adm. Code § ATCP 132.09)

Shops cannot do any of the following:

• Knowingly underestimate the price of repairs

or the time required to complete the repairs.

• Misrepresent any of the following:

• Demand payment for unauthorized repairs, or

for repairs that have not been completed.

work required to provide an accurate