Mechanic's lien and storage fees
In most states a repair shop has a possessory lien on a car it repaired: it can keep the car until the customer pays for the work they authorized. The lien generally doesn't cover work the customer didn't approve. If the bill stays unpaid, the shop can eventually sell the car through the state's lien sale process, after the required notices. Storage fees are allowed in many states, but usually only if the customer was told about them.
How it works
- Authorized work: the customer approved the estimate and any added work.
- Unpaid bill: the shop can hold the car until it's paid.
- Notices: if the car isn't picked up, the shop sends the notices state law requires to the owner and any lender on the title.
- Lien sale: after the waiting period, the car can be sold under the state's procedure, often through the DMV, and the shop is paid from the proceeds.
The lien usually ends if the shop gives the car back voluntarily before being paid, so don't release it on a promise if you intend to rely on the lien.
Examples by state
| State | Where the rules are | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | Civil Code § 3068 and following | Lien for repairs and, within limits, storage; lien sale through the DMV process |
| Florida | Fla. Stat. § 713.58 (lien); § 559.917 (release) | The customer can get the car back while disputing the bill by posting a bond with the clerk of court |
| Texas | Property Code chapter 70 | A worker who repairs a vehicle can keep it until paid |
Checked October 31, 2026. Every state's procedure, notice periods and storage rules are different; use this as a starting point and read your state's statute.
Storage fees
A shop can generally charge storage only if the customer agreed to it, typically on the estimate or work order, and often only after the shop has told the customer the car is ready. Florida and North Carolina shops, for example, state the daily storage charge on the estimate. Write the daily rate and when it starts on the estimate, and notify the customer in writing when the work is done.
Protect yourself on paper
- A signed estimate, and each added-work approval recorded with name, method, date and time.
- Storage terms on the estimate: daily rate and when it starts.
- A dated "your car is ready" message, by text or email.
- An itemized invoice that matches what was approved.
Without proof of authorization, the lien is the first thing a customer challenges.
Approvals you can prove. WrenchTicket records every authorization with name, method, date and time, and adds your state's storage wording to the estimate where it applies. With Pro, customers sign approvals on their phone and the time stamp prints on the invoice. $15 a month.
Write an estimateQuestions
Can a mechanic keep my car if I don't pay?
Usually yes, for work you authorized. For work you didn't approve, the shop generally can't hold the car.
Can a shop charge storage while my car waits for parts?
Not usually: storage typically applies after the work is finished and you've been told to pick the car up, and only if you agreed to it.
What if I dispute the bill?
Pay under protest to get the car back and dispute it afterwards, use your state's bond or release procedure if it has one, or file a complaint with the state agency that regulates repair shops.
General information, not legal advice. Lien and storage rules vary by state.