Auto repair laws by state
Estimate, authorization and invoice rules for the ten largest states, in one table. Checked against the official texts on October 31, 2026. This is a summary, not legal advice.
| State | Law | Written estimate | Going over the estimate | Invoice must show | Shop number on paperwork |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Bus. & Prof. Code 9884.8–9884.9; 16 CCR 3353, 3356 | Before any work; no work without the customer's authorization | Further authorization required, recorded with date, time, name, phone or email, the added work and the new total | Each service and part with its price, labor and parts subtotals, tax; parts marked new, used, reconditioned or rebuilt, crash parts OEM or aftermarket; no generic “shop supplies” line | Yes: ARD registration number, with name and address as registered with BAR |
| Texas | No auto-repair-specific statute; general consumer law (DTPA) applies. Written estimates and authorizations are still good practice. | ||||
| Florida | Fla. Stat. 559.901–559.9221 | Jobs over $150: written estimate and a signed choice (estimate, a dollar limit, or none) | Notify before exceeding by more than $10 or 10%, whichever is greater, up to $50; consent oral or written | Date, odometer, work done, itemized parts and labor, used/rebuilt/reconditioned parts, guarantee with time and mileage | Yes: FDACS registration number |
| New York | Vehicle & Traffic Law 398-d; 15 NYCRR 82.5 | On the customer's request (a reasonable fee is allowed) | Not without the customer's consent | All service and parts; used parts stated; body parts OEM, non-OEM or used; copy to customer, copy kept | Facility number on invoices |
| Pennsylvania | 37 Pa. Code 301.5 | Prices in writing before work; any estimate fee disclosed | Not above a price the customer specified; oral approvals recorded with date, time, who gave and who took it, and the number called | Names and addresses, dates in and completed, year, make, plate, odometer, itemized parts, labor hours × rate, totals, non-new parts marked | — |
| Illinois | Automotive Repair Act, 815 ILCS 306 | Jobs of $100 or more (collision repair excluded), unless waived | Itemized estimate: up to 10%; non-itemized: no increase. Phone approvals noted with date, time, name, phone and amount | Itemized parts and labor, odometer, warranties, total | — |
| Ohio | Ohio Adm. Code 109:4-3-13 (eff. March 21, 2026) | Jobs over $50: a form where the customer picks written, oral or no estimate | 10% or more (before tax) needs oral or written authorization | Itemized parts with price, used/remanufactured/rebuilt marked, labor, who did the work | — |
| Georgia | We could not confirm a separate auto repair statute in the official code. Use written estimates and authorizations as good practice. | ||||
| North Carolina | G.S. 20-354 et seq. (Motor Vehicle Repair Act) | Jobs over $350, or a written waiver | More than 10% needs oral or written approval | What was done, itemized parts and labor, used/rebuilt/reconditioned parts | — |
| Michigan | Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Act, MCL 257.1301 et seq. | Before work; a waiver must be in 14-point bold capitals | Not above the estimate without consent | Parts new, used, rebuilt or reconditioned; estimated and actual cost; certification signed by the owner or designee; mechanic's name | Facility registration |
What every state has in common
- Get the OK before the work. Every state with a repair law requires the customer's authorization before work, and again before going over the estimate.
- Write down added-work approvals. Who approved, when, how (phone, text, in person) and how much. California, Pennsylvania and Illinois spell out the fields.
- Mark parts that aren't new. Used, rebuilt, reconditioned or remanufactured parts must be identified on the invoice almost everywhere.
- Separate parts and labor. Itemize each part with its price; show labor hours and rate.
WrenchTicket's estimate, repair order and invoice include these fields, and the state setting adds the registration number, Florida and Ohio estimate choice blocks and the right overrun wording.
Sources
- California: 16 CCR 3356, 16 CCR 3353, BAR on estimating and invoicing software
- Florida: 559.905, 559.909, 559.911
- New York: VTL 398-d; Pennsylvania: 37 Pa. Code 301.5
- Illinois: 815 ILCS 306; Ohio: OAC 109:4-3-13
- North Carolina: G.S. Chapter 20, Article 15B; Michigan: MCL 257.1332, 257.1334
Is a verbal estimate legal?
In Ohio the customer can choose an oral estimate, and in several states the customer can waive a written one. In California a written estimate is required before any work. Check your state row above.
Can a customer approve added work by text message?
California's rules expressly cover authorizations given orally or electronically, as long as you record the date, time, name, the phone number or email used, and the added work and cost. Other states accept oral or written consent. A time-stamped approval link creates that record automatically.