Automotive Repair Disclaimer Template (US)
Updated on August 9, 2026
An automotive repair disclaimer sets expectations before a customer signs off on repair work: what the shop is and isn't promising, what the limited warranty on the repair actually covers, and what remains the customer's responsibility. It is usually signed alongside — not instead of — a written estimate and work order.
The most common free version of this document swings too far toward blanket liability disclaimers, some of which are not enforceable against a customer for negligence or for statutorily guaranteed workmanship. This template keeps the parts of a disclaimer that are legitimate and useful — a defined warranty scope, exclusions, and customer responsibilities — while stating plainly that it does not cut off the customer's statutory rights or the shop's liability for its own negligence.
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Automotive Repair Disclaimer
- Date:
- Shop:
- ,
- Customer / registered owner:
- Vehicle:
- , VIN ,
1. Services performed
The shop performed the following services on the vehicle described above: . The shop made reasonable efforts to accurately diagnose and address the reported issues, but does not guarantee that every issue with the vehicle has been identified or that no further issues will arise unrelated to this repair.
2. Warranty
The shop provides a limited warranty on the parts and labor for this repair for , covering: .
This warranty does not cover: , including damage resulting from accidents, misuse, or neglect of the vehicle after this repair.
3. Fees
- Shop supplies fee:
- Hazardous waste disposal fee:
4. Customer responsibility
It is the customer's responsibility to disclose any known pre-existing issues with the vehicle and to provide accurate information about its history, maintenance, and usage. Failure to do so may affect the shop's ability to diagnose and repair the vehicle effectively.
5. Personal property and storage
The shop is not responsible for personal property left in the vehicle. If the vehicle is not collected within a reasonable period after the customer is notified that repairs are complete, the shop's storage-fee policy is:
6. Statutory rights preserved
This disclaimer does not affect any statutory rights the customer may have under applicable consumer protection law. It does not limit or exclude liability for death or personal injury resulting from the shop's negligence or fraudulent misrepresentation.
By signing this Automotive Repair Disclaimer, the customer confirms they understand and accept the matters stated above.
Customer / registered owner
Date:
Give the warranty an actual scope and duration
"We provide a limited warranty" with a blank where the duration should go is not a warranty a customer can rely on. This template requires the shop to state the actual duration (for example, 90 days or a mileage limit, whichever comes first) and what it covers — defects in the parts and labor for the specific repair performed, under normal use.
It also states plainly what the warranty does not cover: damage from accidents, misuse, neglect, or an unrelated failure the shop did not diagnose or repair. A warranty with clear boundaries is more credible to a customer than a vague promise, and clearer for the shop to actually honor.
Disclose parts sourcing and any additional fees upfront
If the repair uses aftermarket, reconditioned, or used parts rather than original-equipment-manufacturer parts, say so on the disclaimer as well as on the work order — a customer who finds out after the fact has a legitimate complaint even where the parts themselves were a reasonable choice.
Shop-supply fees (rags, lubricants, disposal materials) and hazardous-waste disposal fees (used oil, coolant, batteries, tires) are common and often legitimate, but should be disclosed as a stated amount or percentage rather than appearing as a surprise line on the final bill.
Keep the customer's responsibility for accurate information
It is reasonable to ask the customer to disclose known pre-existing issues, prior repair history, and accurate information about how the vehicle has been used and maintained, since a technician's diagnosis and repair depend on that information being accurate. This template keeps that responsibility but frames it as a two-way expectation rather than a blanket shift of risk onto the customer.
Do not disclaim what the law does not allow you to disclaim
A blanket statement that the shop "shall not be liable for any damages, losses, or expenses" reaches further than the law generally permits. This template keeps the source document's better instinct — a statement that the disclaimer does not affect the customer's statutory rights and does not limit liability for death, personal injury, or loss caused by the shop's own negligence or fraudulent misrepresentation — and builds the rest of the document around that boundary rather than around a blanket exclusion.
Address the vehicle and any belongings left in it
Customers routinely leave personal items in a vehicle during a repair. A brief clause addressing the shop's responsibility (or lack of it) for personal property left in the vehicle, and its storage-fee policy for a vehicle not collected after the customer is notified it's ready, closes two common sources of after-the-fact dispute that the source template does not address at all.
Section-by-section guide
- Vehicle and services
- Identifies the vehicle and the repair services actually performed.
- Warranty scope and duration
- States a specific warranty period and what it covers, rather than a blank.
- Warranty exclusions
- States what the warranty does not cover — accidents, misuse, neglect, unrelated failures.
- Parts sourcing and fees
- Discloses non-OEM parts use and any shop-supply or hazardous-waste disposal fees.
- Customer responsibility
- Asks for accurate vehicle history and known pre-existing issues.
- Statutory rights preserved
- States that the disclaimer does not affect statutory rights or exclude liability for negligence, death or personal injury.
- Property and storage
- Addresses personal property left in the vehicle and the shop's storage-fee policy.
US compliance notes
Warranty disclaimers on repair work interact with both federal warranty law and state consumer-protection rules.
Do not disclaim liability for negligence or personal injury
A disclaimer that purports to exclude liability for the shop's own negligence, or for death or personal injury it causes, is generally unenforceable and should be stated as excluded from the disclaimer.
Confirm any written warranty complies with federal warranty-disclosure rules
If the shop offers any written warranty on the repair, federal rules governing written consumer product warranties can apply to how that warranty must be described.
Check state garage-lien and storage-fee limits
State law typically sets limits and notice requirements for charging storage fees on an uncollected vehicle after repair — confirm your state's specific rule before setting a policy.
How to complete the disclaimer
- Describe the vehicle and services. Identify the vehicle and the repair work actually performed.
- Set the warranty terms. State the actual warranty duration, scope and exclusions.
- Disclose parts and fees. Note non-OEM parts use and any shop-supply or disposal fees.
- Add storage terms. State the policy for vehicles not collected after repair.
Frequently asked questions
Can a repair shop disclaim all liability for its work?
No. A shop can limit and define its warranty, but a blanket disclaimer that purports to exclude liability for its own negligence, or for death or personal injury, is generally not enforceable and shouldn't be relied on as protection.
How long should a repair warranty last?
There's no single required duration — it's the shop's own commercial decision. What matters for this template is stating an actual period (such as 90 days or a mileage limit) rather than leaving it blank, so the customer knows exactly what's covered and for how long.
Do I have to disclose if I use a used or aftermarket part?
It's strongly recommended even where not specifically mandated by your state, since a customer who later discovers non-OEM parts were used without being told has a legitimate complaint regardless of whether the part itself was a reasonable choice.
What happens to items the customer left in the vehicle?
Address this explicitly in the disclaimer rather than leaving it unaddressed. Most shops disclaim responsibility for personal property left in the vehicle and ask customers to remove valuables before drop-off.
Can I charge a storage fee if the customer doesn't pick up the car?
Many states allow it once the customer has been notified the vehicle is ready and given a reasonable period to collect it, subject to state-specific limits and notice requirements. State your policy in the disclaimer rather than introducing it after the fact.
Should this disclaimer be signed at drop-off or at pickup?
It works best signed alongside the work order at drop-off, once the customer has authorized the repair, so the warranty scope and fee terms are agreed before work begins rather than presented as a surprise when the customer collects the vehicle.
Related templates
Disclaimer
This template and guide are for general information only. They are not legal advice, and no attorney has reviewed or approved them. Warranty-disclosure and consumer-protection rules vary by state; confirm which requirements apply to your shop before relying on this document. This disclaimer does not, and cannot, exclude liability for negligence or for death or personal injury, and it does not affect any statutory rights a customer may have.
