Today we are going to take a look at auto repair laws in Ontario.

At Hansma Automotive, we believe in providing you with honest reliable service and repairs for your vehicles. We've been providing good, old-fashioned customer service to all of our customers in the Kitchener area since 1987 and we'd love to put our expertise to work for you.

We will outline what's included in Ontario auto repair laws and what your rights are. So let's get going.

Learn your rights under Ontario’s auto repair laws

Ontario Auto Repair Laws

If you take your vehicle in for a service or repair, you are protected under Part VI of the Consumer Protection Act, Repairs to Motor Vehicles and Other Goods. The law applies to any place that provides you with motor vehicle repairs including:

Motor vehicle dealerships with repair facilities
Used car lots with repair facilities
Neighbourhood garages
Auto body repair shops
Muffler shops

Auto repair shops must provide you with a written estimate

Auto Repair Laws: Your Basic Rights:

Auto Repair Charges

Under the law, your repair shop must provide you with a written estimate before they can charge you. The price that you are charged cannot be more than 10% above your written estimate.

You can decline a written estimate and agree on a maximum amount you are willing to pay if you prefer. If you choose this route, then your final cost cannot exceed your maximum agreed upon amount.

According to auto repair laws, you can’t be charged more than 10% over your written estimate

What Your Written Estimate Should Include

When you are given a written estimate it needs to include the following items:

The contact detail of your repair shop, including the name and address
The date when the estimate was given and when it expires
The date when the work will be completed
Your name
The make, model, licence number and VIN (vehicle identification number)
A detailed explanation of the repairs to be carried out
A list of any parts to be installed and if they are new, used, rebuilt or remanufactured parts
Whether the parts used will be made by the original equipment manufacturer
The price of each individual part
The cost for labour including a breakdown of how it is to be calculated whether it will be a flat or hourly rate or a combination of both
The total amount to be charged

Learn the differences between used, rebuilt and remanufactured auto parts

Charging for Estimates

If a repair shop is going to charge you for an estimate, they need to let you know ahead of time and they must tell you how much it will cost before giving it to you. The cost of an estimate can include:

The time taken to examine your vehicle
The time taken to put your vehicle back together after the examination
The cost of parts that may get damaged during the examination or reassembly

*Tip: To protect yourself, never sign a blank work order. Blank work orders give they shop the freedom to make any type of repair they think necessary and to charge you for the work even if you don't agree to it.

Learn more about your rights surrounding car repair estimates

What Your Final Invoice Should Include

Just like your written estimate, your final invoice needs to include certain items such as:

Your name
The contact detail of your repair shop, including the name and address
The make, model, licence number and VIN (vehicle identification number)
The odometer reading on your vehicle when it went into the shop and when it was returned
A list of any parts to be installed and if they are new, used, or reconditioned parts
Whether the parts used will be made by the original equipment manufacturer
The price of each individual part
The cost for labour including a breakdown of how it is to be calculated whether it will be a flat or hourly rate or a combination of both
A list of any shop supplies charged to you that weren't included in normal operating costs
The terms of the warranty given by the repair shop for each part installed in your vehicle and for the labour to install it
The total amount charged

Your final invoice needs to include a listing of all the parts installed

What to Do if You Have a Problem Under Ontario Auto Repair Laws

If you think that your repair shop has not followed Ontario's auto repair laws, then you should:

1. Write a letter of complaint to the shop and keep a copy for your records.

2. If you don't get a response to your complaint, you should take your vehicle to another repair shop and ask for a written assessment that shows that the repairs were not done properly or that the parts were of inferior quality.

3. Send a copy of this assessment to your original repair shop and request an adjustment to your bill.

4. If you still don't receive a response, you should file a complaint with the Ministry of Government of Consumer Services or take your case to court.

If you have a complaint about the sale or fulfillment of your extended warranty or service plan then you should get in touch with the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council.

If you have an issue with the fulfillment of a manufacturer's warranty then you should contact the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan.

*Note: Under the Consumer Protection Act, your repair shop is required to return any parts that they replaced to you if you want them. There are some limited exceptions to this rule.

If you think your repair shop has not followed Ontario’s auto repair laws, write them a letter of complaint