You took your car in for a repair. It came back worse — the fault is still there, a new problem has appeared, or the garage has damaged something in the process. Now they are denying responsibility or refusing to make it right.
You do not have to accept it. When a garage carries out work, the law sets a clear standard. If they fall short, you can recover the cost of putting things right in the county court.
Your Right: Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a garage must perform repairs with reasonable care and skill, within a reasonable time, and (if no price was agreed) for a reasonable price. Any parts fitted must be of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose. If they breach these terms, you have a claim.
When You Have a Claim Against a Garage
- The repair was defective or did not fix the fault you paid for
- The garage caused new damage to your vehicle
- A faulty or wrong part was fitted and failed
- You were overcharged for work that was never agreed
- The job took far longer than reasonable and caused you loss
Faulty Workmanship vs a Faulty Part
The two are treated slightly differently, but both fall on the garage. Workmanship is covered by the duty to use reasonable care and skill. Parts are treated as goods that must be of satisfactory quality — so if a part fails early or was the wrong one, the garage is responsible for the part and the labour to correct it, even where they bought the part from a supplier.
Recover the cost of putting it right
JustClaim turns your story into a properly drafted court claim, with your particulars of claim written for you. File online in minutes.
Start Your Claim NowHow to Claim Against a Garage: Step by Step
Complain in writing. Set out what went wrong and give the garage a fair chance to put it right by a clear deadline.
Get independent evidence. An inspection report or quote from another garage showing the defect and the cost to fix it is your strongest proof. The cost is recoverable if you win.
Send a letter before action. A formal letter stating your claim and a deadline to pay is required before you issue court proceedings.
File your claim. If they still refuse, file an N1 claim form at the county court for the cost of the remedial work, related losses, interest and the court fee.
What You Can Claim
- The cost of having the work done properly elsewhere
- The cost of repairing any new damage the garage caused
- Related losses — recovery, a hire car, or loss of use
- The cost of an independent inspection report
- Interest and the court fee
Tip: Keep every invoice, the original booking, any photos, and a note of what you were told. Contemporaneous evidence wins small claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue a garage for a bad repair?
Yes. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a garage must carry out repairs with reasonable care and skill, within a reasonable time and for a reasonable price. If the work is defective, incomplete, or caused further damage, you can ask them to put it right and, if they refuse, sue them in the county court for the cost of fixing it.
The garage damaged my car — what can I claim?
You can claim the cost of repairing the new damage, any related losses (such as recovery, a hire car, or loss of use), and the court fee. Get an independent quote or inspection report showing the damage and that it was caused by the garage's work — that is your key evidence.
What if a faulty part was fitted?
Parts supplied during a repair must be of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. If a part fails prematurely or was the wrong part, the garage is responsible for the part and the labour to put it right, even if the part itself came from a supplier.
Do I have to let the garage try to fix it first?
Usually yes. The Consumer Rights Act gives the trader a chance to repeat the service (redo the work) before you claim a price reduction or the cost of going elsewhere. Put your complaint in writing, give them a clear deadline, and keep the evidence. If they refuse or fail again, you can recover the cost of having another garage fix it.
How much does it cost to take a garage to court?
Court fees start at £35 for claims up to £300 and rise with the claim amount (for example £80 up to £1,500). The fee is added to your claim and is normally recovered from the garage if you win. You do not need a solicitor for a small claim.