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Shopping · Spain
Updated September 2026

🔩 The garage overcharged or did not fix my car — who helps?

Direct answer

A repair is a service with a quote you must be able to rely on: work beyond the quote needs your consent, and a repair that did not solve the problem must be redone at no cost. Complain in writing to the garage first. OMIC — Oficina Municipal de Información al Consumidor (consumo.gob.es) advises and takes complaints about garages; most countries have a motor-trade dispute body — Junta Arbitral de Consumo (consumo.gob.es) — where an expert looks at the car and decides, cheaper than any lawyer. Juzgado de Primera Instancia — juicio verbal (administraciondejusticia.gob.es) is the small-claims route if the garage is not a member.

Call firstOMIC — Oficina Municipal de Información al Consumidor
Report toJunta Arbitral de Consumo
If that failsJuzgado de Primera Instancia — juicio verbal

🗣️ What to say

"Invoice [number] for [repair] on [date]. [The amount exceeds the quote by [x] without my consent / the fault is not fixed]. I ask you to [correct the invoice / redo the repair] within 14 days. Otherwise I refer the case to Junta Arbitral de Consumo."

🪜 Step by step

  1. Get the quote in writingBefore any work, next time. This time: what was agreed by phone, message, or the job sheet you signed.
  2. Do not pay the disputed partPay what was quoted; dispute the rest in writing. A garage may hold the car for the undisputed bill only.
  3. Second opinionAnother garage's written finding on the "repair" is the best evidence.
  4. Complain to OMIC — Oficina Municipal de Información al ConsumidorGarages are licensed; repeated complaints trigger inspections.
  5. Dispute body: Junta Arbitral de ConsumoAn independent expert inspects and decides; the garage usually accepts.

📇 All contacts

OMIC — Oficina Municipal de Información al ConsumidorAdvice, official complaint form, mediationWhen the shop refuses🔗 www.consumo.gob.es/es/consumo/informacion-consumidores
Junta Arbitral de ConsumoFree, binding arbitration if the company is signed upAfter a written complaint without a solution🔗 www.consumo.gob.es/es/consumo/arbitraje-consumo
Juzgado de Primera Instancia — juicio verbalNo lawyer needed up to €2,000Last step, with the contract and inventories🔗 www.administraciondejusticia.gob.es
DGT / ITV — reclamacionesRegistration, inspection, licencesInspection appeals and vehicle data📞 060🔗 www.dgt.es

❓ Frequently asked

The garage keeps my car until I pay

They may hold it for the agreed, undisputed amount. Pay that under written protest and dispute the rest.

They replaced parts I did not ask for

Not payable without consent unless the repair was impossible otherwise and they could not reach you. Ask for the old parts.

A used car broke down a week after purchase

That is the two-year legal guarantee: the dealer must repair. Different page (faulty goods), same bodies.

📎 Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-26

🔎 Common searches

Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.

  • “garage overcharged complaint Spain”
  • “car repair not fixed rights”
  • “motor trade dispute body Spain”
  • “garage holding car until payment”
  • “repair beyond quote consent”

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Related questions

📦Faulty goods, no refund→🔧Vehicle inspection→🚚Parcel not delivered→📶Phone or internet contract→

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