Tennessee · Auto-Repair Consumer Rights
Tennessee Auto Repair Laws & How to Sue a Mechanic
If a Tennessee shop overcharged you, did unauthorized work, or botched a repair, state law is on your side. Here are the statutes that protect you, your small-claims limit, and free tools to get a refund or fix — no lawyer needed.
What does Tennessee law say about your repair?
See what Tennessee’s auto repair laws say, side by side with what happened to you. Free.
Look up Tennessee repair laws →Statutes that protect Tennessee consumers
Failed to properly repair the vehicle (defective workmanship)
- Common law breach of contract and breach of the implied duty to perform repairs in a workmanlike manner — Breach of contract / breach of implied warranty of workmanlike performance
Possible remedy: Cost of repair/redoing the work, diminution in value, and consequential damages; no treble damages on the contract theory alone.
- Common law negligence (negligent performance of repair services) — Negligence (tort)
Possible remedy: Compensatory damages for the negligent repair and resulting harm; potential punitive damages for egregious conduct (in lieu of TCPA treble damages, not in addition).
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages (cost to correct); up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
No written estimate for labor and parts before work
- Tennessee Code Annotated Section 66-19-104 (automotive repair facility duty to inform consumer of rights) — Violation of automotive repair facility disclosure duty
Possible remedy: Loss of the shop's lien (vehicle and unauthorized charges released); when paired with the TCPA, actual damages, discretionary treble damages, and attorney fees.
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages under Section 47-18-109; up to three times actual damages for willful/knowing violations; reasonable attorney fees and costs.
No authorization before proceeding with repairs or further repairs
- Tennessee Code Annotated Section 66-19-104 (automotive repair facility duty to inform consumer of rights) — Violation of automotive repair facility disclosure duty
Possible remedy: Loss of lien on unauthorized charges (consumer not liable for them and may recover the vehicle); TCPA actual/treble damages and fees when the conduct is also deceptive.
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages; up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs under Section 47-18-109.
Exceeded the authorized estimate without the consumer's consent
- Tennessee Code Annotated Section 66-19-104 (automotive repair facility duty to inform consumer of rights) — Violation of automotive repair facility disclosure duty
Possible remedy: Consumer relieved of charges exceeding the 25% threshold and shop loses its lien; TCPA actual/treble damages and fees where deceptive.
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages (the overcharge); up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
Failed to perform the agreed-upon repairs or services
- Common law breach of contract — Breach of contract
Possible remedy: Restitution of amounts paid plus the cost to complete the agreed repairs and consequential damages.
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages (amounts paid for unperformed work); up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
Caused additional damage to the vehicle
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages (cost to repair concealed damage); up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
- Common law negligence (negligent performance of repair services) — Negligence (tort)
Possible remedy: Compensatory damages for the additional damage and loss of use; potential punitive damages for egregious conduct.
Made repairs that were not authorized or not needed
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b)(13); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Per-se unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages (cost of unneeded repairs); up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
- Tennessee Code Annotated Section 66-19-104 (automotive repair facility duty to inform consumer of rights) — Violation of automotive repair facility disclosure duty
Possible remedy: Consumer not liable for unauthorized charges and shop loses its lien on them; TCPA actual/treble damages and fees where deceptive.
Refused to release the vehicle without payment when the consumer disputed the work/fees
- Tennessee Code Annotated Section 66-19-103 (garagekeeper's lien) read with Section 66-19-104(d) — Wrongful assertion of garagekeeper's lien / improper retention of vehicle
Possible remedy: Release of the vehicle; damages for wrongful retention/loss of use; TCPA actual/treble damages and fees where the retention is part of a deceptive practice.
- Common law conversion — Conversion (tort)
Possible remedy: Return of the vehicle and damages for wrongful deprivation and loss of use; potential punitive damages for egregious conduct.
Failed to comply with its stated warranty to repair the vehicle
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages (cost of the warranted repair); up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
- Common law breach of express warranty / breach of contract — Breach of express warranty / breach of contract
Possible remedy: Cost of the warranted repair and consequential damages; no treble damages on the contract theory alone.
Charged excessive storage fees while holding the vehicle
- Tennessee Code Annotated Section 66-19-103 (garagekeeper's lien) — Wrongful/excessive lien charges
Possible remedy: Disallowance of unreasonable storage charges and release of the vehicle; TCPA actual/treble damages and fees where the charging is deceptive.
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages (excessive storage charges); up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
Failed to provide an invoice / documentation for services performed
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages under Section 47-18-109; up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
Failed to return replaced parts though requested at the work order
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b)(28); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Per-se unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages under Section 47-18-109; up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
Failed to properly diagnose the problem
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b)(13); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Per-se unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages (cost of the unnecessary/wrong repair and proper re-diagnosis); up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
Misrepresented the quality or origin of the parts used
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b)(7); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Per-se unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages (price/value difference); up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
Charged excessive fees for the services or repairs
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages (the excess charged); up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
Falsely advertised services or prices
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages; up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
Bait-and-switch tactic
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b)(9); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Per-se unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages; up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
Not properly licensed/registered with the state regulatory authority
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages; up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
Inspection station issued a fraudulent inspection certificate
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages; up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
Inspection station failed to properly perform the safety/emissions inspection
- Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 47-18-104(b); private remedy Section 47-18-109 — Unfair or deceptive act or practice (TCPA)
Possible remedy: Actual damages; up to treble damages for willful/knowing violations; attorney fees and costs.
Free tools for your Tennessee dispute
More Tennessee guides
Tennessee auto-repair FAQ
What is the small claims limit in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, you can generally sue in small claims court for up to $25,000 without a lawyer. Auto-repair disputes commonly fall within this limit.
Can I sue a mechanic in Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee consumer-protection and auto-repair laws cover this kind of situation, including overcharges, unauthorized work, and faulty repairs. Many disputes start with a demand letter before small claims court. We track 31 Tennessee statutes that may apply.
Who regulates auto repair shops in Tennessee?
Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs oversees auto-repair consumer issues in Tennessee. You can file a complaint with them in addition to (or instead of) sending a demand letter.
Do I need a lawyer to send a demand letter in Tennessee?
No. A clear, statute-citing demand letter is something you can send yourself — it is often what gets a shop to refund or fix the problem before court.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and is not a substitute for a licensed attorney. Court rules, dollar limits, and filing fees vary by county — confirm yours before filing.