Leaving your car at the shop is a heroic act of trust, you think they are going to take care of it and treat it with all the respect it deserves… but that’s not what happened with this man, who reported on TikTok. A man in the United States went viral on TikTok after reporting that his mechanic used his car without permission to take his family to church!! Whaaat? Yes, what you read! The customer had left his Dodge at the shop for some repairs, but shortly after he recognized the worker behind the wheel in the middle of the street! Can you imagine that feeling?
The video went viral, of course, and it only said “This is crazy” and like anything on social media it generated debate, outrage and a community of drivers who have lived similar experiences… Is this legal?
What happened?
A man, @gelsadas02 on TikTok had left his vehicle at the shop to be repaired, a normal day in the life of any driver, but when he was walking down the street he saw his vehicle driving next to him, inside was his mechanic taking his whole family to church.
Can a mechanic take your car home?
The short and most logical answer is no, unless there is explicit permission from the customer. According to shop specialists, a mechanic is only authorized to move the car within the facilities or to take a short test drive to verify repairs or diagnostics, but not for personal use! If he uses it for personal purposes, it can be considered unauthorized use or even theft!! That’s why one of the things always recommended is to ask before leaving the car what the shop’s policy is about test drives and if the vehicles remain parked inside the shop overnight.
What if I don’t want to leave my car?
Of course, this video has sparked panic among many drivers, and TikTok users started recommending how to know if your vehicle went partying with your mechanic without telling you. They suggested very simple but logical precautions: writing down the mileage before delivering the vehicle, taking a photo of the odometer and checking possible toll charges that might appear.
If you detect something strange when they return the vehicle to you, contact the shop and the mechanic immediately and demand the explanations you see fit.
Customers have the right to set clear limits on the use of their car and, if these are exceeded, you can even file a complaint or lawsuit because we repeat, it’s not legal.
Fire on TikTok
The video generated a flood of comments. Some said they would have taken their car back right at that moment, even walking into the church to confront the mechanic in front of everyone. Others joked about sitting next to him in the church pews. There were also testimonies of people who claimed to have suffered the same thing, like a customer who left his car for brakes and got it back with 150 extra miles…
And well, so many testimonies make you think, it’s not an isolated error, just one mechanic, it’s something that happens often and it shouldn’t! And what if they have an accident or the vehicle gets fined for speeding?
Even if we trust our shops, we have to be careful with what happens when we are not in front. Even if many have taken this video as a joke, if something similar happens to you, don’t hesitate to claim your rights! You can see the video below.
@gelsadas02 This is Carzy . #dodge #fyp #film #crazy ♬ original sound – owengarceaumedia