MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIRS

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 F.S. 559.917 provides for the vehicle owner, who refuses to pay the repair bill to take possession of his or her vehicle by posting a bond with the clerk of the court. Once the vehicle owner has posted a bond in the amount of the repair invoice (including storage), the clerk would then issue a certificate directing the repair shop to release the vehicle. The refusal of a repair shop to release the vehicle once the certificate is issued is a 2nd degree misdemeanor (F.S. 559.917 (3)). The issue would later be dealt with in civil court between the disputing parties. If the vehicle owner refuses to pay the repair cost and removes the vehicle from the repair shop then the vehicle owner should be investigated for theft under F.S. §812.014.