IMPORT AUTO REPAIR – TERMS & CONDITIONS
(State of Georgia)
- Authorization to Repair
By signing this Repair Order (“RO”), the customer (“Customer”) authorizes Import Auto Repair (“IAR”) to perform diagnostics, inspections, repairs, and to operate the vehicle for testing, evaluation, or quality control. Customer further authorizes IAR to disassemble components as necessary for diagnosis or repair.
Customer agrees that verbal, electronic, or text-message approvals shall carry the same legal authority as a written signature.
- No Guarantee of Outcome
IAR makes no guarantee, express or implied, that any recommended or authorized repair will correct all vehicle issues, especially when multiple faults, intermittent problems, or hidden mechanical/electrical defects are present. Customer acknowledges that diagnostics may require multiple stages or sequential repairs.
- Oil & Coolant Leak Disclosure
Customer acknowledges that engines and cooling systems are pressurized, and sealing an approved leak may expose unrelated or previously undetectable weaknesses.
IAR is responsible only for the specific leak(s) approved and repaired under this RO. Secondary, future, or unrelated leaks are not covered under warranty.
- Suspension/Shock/Strut Disclosure
When a vehicle is hoisted, struts and shocks fully extend, increasing strain on worn components. Customer agrees IAR shall not be liable for:
- New or worsened strut/shock noises
- Leaks or failures occurring during or after the vehicle is lifted
- Performance degradation caused by age or weakness
- High Mileage / Aged Vehicle Waiver (100K+ Miles or 10+ Years Old)
Customer acknowledges that older or high-mileage vehicles may have components that are brittle, corroded, or seized. Customer agrees:
- IAR is not responsible for incidental breakage during approved repairs
- Seized bolts requiring extraction will incur additional labor costs
- Estimates are approximations and may change once disassembly reveals hidden conditions
- Check Engine Light / Continued Testing Disclosure
Customer understands that IAR follows manufacturer-specific diagnostic procedures requiring sequential testing.
Therefore:
- No guarantee is made that the first repair will resolve a warning light
- Additional repairs or testing may be required
- Declined repairs may limit IAR’s diagnostic ability
- Third-Party Warranty Company Limitations
If a third-party warranty provider declines coverage:
- Customer is responsible for all diagnostic and repair costs not covered
- Providers may limit labor reimbursement; Customer pays the difference
- Repairs completed under warranty companies carry a 12-month / 12,000-mile warranty, not IAR’s standard warranty
Customer acknowledges that IAR is not a party to the Provider’s contract and has no authority over their approval decisions.
- Battery Failure During Diagnostics
Diagnostics may put greater electrical demands on a battery than normal operation. Weak batteries may fail during testing.
Customer agrees IAR is not liable for battery failure and must authorize replacement before testing continues.
- Classic Vehicle (25+ Years) Disclosure
Classic vehicles may require fabrication, modified parts, non-standard labor, and extended research due to catalog inaccuracies. Customer agrees:
- Quotes are good-faith estimates, not guaranteed totals
- No specific completion date is guaranteed
- Parts availability and required modifications may extend timelines
- Special labor, fabrication, and parts research may incur extra charges
- Electrical System & Module Replacement Limitations
Control modules often must be installed or programmed before certain faults can be identified. Customer agrees:
- Additional codes may appear after module installation
- Further diagnostics or repairs may be necessary and billable
- Diagnostic Authorization
Customer authorizes up to 1 hour of diagnostic labor.
IAR will seek customer approval before exceeding the allotted time.
Customer acknowledges that disassembly required for diagnostics may render parts unusable or unrepairable.
- Towing, Abandonment & Storage
Vehicles must be picked up within three (3) days of repair completion or notification. After this period:
- Storage fees of $25 per day may apply
- IAR may relocate or tow the vehicle at Customer’s expense
- Customer remains responsible for all charges regardless of pickup delay
- Air Conditioning System Disclosure
A/C recharge is a diagnostic procedure, not a repair. Customer acknowledges:
- Leaks may take days, weeks, or months to become visible
- Mechanical or electrical failure may still occur after recharge
- Dye is added solely for future leak detection
- Vehicle Condition Documentation
IAR documents vehicle condition via photos or video prior to repair.
Customer agrees IAR is not liable for pre-existing damage shown in these records.
- Part Delays & Supply Chain Limitations
IAR is not liable for delays caused by manufacturer backorders, shipping errors, or supply chain interruptions. Estimated completion dates may change.
- Safety-Related Repairs Declined
If Customer declines a recommended safety repair:
- Customer assumes all risks associated with the condition
- IAR shall be held harmless for any loss, injury, accident, or damage related to the declined repair
- Storage fees begin after 3 days if the vehicle is not picked up
- High-Performance Brake Noise
High-performance brake pads may produce increased noise or vibration due to metallic content and compound hardness.
Brake squeal, vibration, and noise are not warrantable conditions.
- Damage, Theft, and Personal Property
Except where caused solely by IAR’s negligence, IAR is not responsible for:
- Damage caused by weather, fire, theft, vandalism, or acts of God
- Personal items left inside the vehicle
- Damage to aftermarket accessories, attachments, trailers, cargo, or modifications
Customers are advised to remove valuables before service.
- Mechanic’s Lien, Lien Sale & Collection Rights
Customer acknowledges:
- IAR retains a mechanic’s lien on the vehicle for all charges
- If payment is not made within 10 days of completion notice, IAR may initiate lien sale proceedings under Georgia law
- Unpaid accounts may be referred to collections, and Customer is responsible for all associated fees, including attorney costs
LIMITED WARRANTY – 3 YEARS / 36,000 MILES
(Whichever Occurs First)
A. What Is Covered
IAR warrants repairs to be free from defects in material and workmanship for 36 months or 36,000 miles from the completion date.
Coverage includes:
- Replacement of failed parts originally installed by IAR
- Labor required to repair or replace the warranted part
B. What Is NOT Covered
This warranty does not cover:
- Customer-supplied parts
- Used, salvage, or rebuilt parts
- Wear items (filters, bulbs, belts, wipers, clutches, brake pads, etc.)
- Failures caused by overheating, contamination, lack of lubrication, neglect, or misuse
- Failures unrelated to the original repair
- Future leaks or faults not included in the approved repair
- Repairs funded by third-party warranties (covered under a 12/12 warranty only)
C. Warranty Procedure
To obtain warranty service:
- Customer must return the vehicle to IAR for inspection
- No outside repairs qualify without prior written authorization
- All warranty work must be performed solely by IAR
- Warranty is void if related systems are repaired or altered by another shop
D. Limitations of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, IAR shall not be liable for:
- Towing fees
- Rental car costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of use
- Diminished vehicle value
- Incidental or consequential damages
Liability is strictly limited to the original repair cost.
E. Governing Law & Venue
This agreement shall be governed exclusively by the laws of the State of Georgia.
Any disputes arising under or related to this Repair Order must be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction located in Forsyth County, Georgia.
F. Entire Agreement (Integration Clause)
These Terms & Conditions constitute the entire agreement between Customer and IAR and supersede all prior verbal or written statements. No modification is valid unless executed in writing by an authorized representative of IAR.
Terms & Conditions at Import Auto Repairs, Georgia
- Oil leaks and Coolant leaks: IAR is responsible for fixing approved leaks but is not responsible for additional oil leaks in the future. The same goes for the cooling system. When sealing a pressurized system such as the cooling system – oil lubricated engine, if any other weak parts are present, then additional leaks may occur in the future. IAR only provides a warranty for specifically approved repairs.
- Shocks/Struts: When the vehicle is hoisted during repairs. The customer is aware that weak struts/shocks may fail. IAR is not responsible for failed struts/shocks or noises caused by failed struts. When the vehicle is hoisted in the air, all four struts are fully extended and can cause excess strain on weak units.
- High mileage and older vehicles 100K plus: IAR is not responsible for any broken parts while performing the approved repair. We do our best as a company to add additional items to the quote during the estimate write-up but choose not to charge the customer for every part that gets removed. By doing this, during the repair process, older parts such as hoses, bolts, brackets, gaskets, and seals may need to be replaced once removed. Also, in the case that a bolt is seized. We charge additional labor to extract the bolts.
- Check engine light to continue testing disclosure: IAR must perform the approved repairs and continue testing. What does this mean, and why can’t you guarantee me this repair will resolve my check engine light? We as a company follow factory-specific trouble trees, and by doing so, it won’t allow us to continue testing until every step holds integrity.
- Third-party warranty company disclosure: The customer will be responsible for any diagnostic charges and authorized repairs if the warranty company declines coverage or diagnostic. Also, the warranty may not cover the total labor rate amount, and the customer assumes responsibility for the remaining balance. Import Auto Repair only offers 12k 12m warranty on all third-party warranty repairs and does not fall under standard warranty coverage.
- Failed batteries: When performing extensive diagnostic on the vehicle, which uses more volts than normal driving conditions. Import Auto Repair is not responsible for a failed battery. We can not predict that a battery may fail until our diagnostics are performed. Weak batteries may fail, and the customer will be responsible for payment of battery and installation before continuous testing can be conducted.
- Classic Car Disclosure 25 yr old or older: Classic car repairs are subjected to change during the repair process. Remember that most repairs consist of fabricating and extracting old bolts – parts. Having set labor for these types of repairs is impossible until the repair starts. We provide an estimated labor and parts quote at the start of the repair to give our customers an idea of the cost. IAR uses a combined cost of parts, labor, and parts research to determine a set price. On classic vehicles, most of the catalogs are incorrect, and the vehicle has already been converted into a different parts makeup. Tracking down the correct parts can take time with many trials and errors. Also, IAR can give our customers a time frame when the vehicle can be completed, never a specific date. Classic car completion times may vary from the initial completion time frame.
- Electrical repairs: When performing module-specific repairs/replacement. IAR cannot determine the vehicle’s specific fault codes until the module is installed and programmed. The customer knows that once the module is replaced and repaired, the vehicle may have additional fault codes requiring extra diagnostic time.
- Diagnostic: During a check engine light / Engine performance test. Import Auto Repair allows 1 hour per labor rate to determine the cause of the failure or possibly the next steps. The customer will not be charged additional diagnostic time until the one hour is met. IAR will reach out, and the customer will need to approve additional diagnostic time if we cannot determine the issue within the allotted time frame.
- Towing: The customer has three days to pick up the vehicle after a given repair notification. If the vehicle has not been picked up within three days, the vehicle is subject to towing.
- A/C Systems: A/C recharge is not a repair for the a/c system of any kind. it is simply a service to determine where any leaks may be found. During small leaks, it could take months or even seasons to determine when the dye is present. During the recharge, IAR adds dye to determine any leaks in the future. Electrical or mechanical failure of the A/C system may still be possible in the future months of a recharge.
- Walk around pictures: All vehicle photos will be taken prior to the repair. If the damage is present in the photos, IAR is not responsible for the damage. 1
- Part delays: IAR has no control over the manufacturing and ETA times of parts. We do our best as a whole to guide customers to an accurate time frame, but shipping, back order, and manufacture delays may cause times to vary.
- Safety items: Customer understands that if any safety items are declined, IAR is not held responsible if accident occurs after vehicle has been picked up. Once repair is declined, the customer has 3 days to pick up the vehicle before storage charges occur.
- Storage: IAR will charge $25 per day 3 days after the repair is complete or decline. Customer may call and get an extension on storage days.
- Insurance repairs falls under same standards as #5. (Third – party warranty disclosure)
- High performance brake noises: Why do performance brakes squeak? Brakes squeak in disc brakes because this is caused by vibration of the rotor, pads and caliper. Performance brakes will usually have a higher concentration of metal in the pads. This increased metal content will sometimes allow, or even cause, more vibration than the older organic, asbestos and first generation semi-metallic brake pads. In performance brake pads, the bonding materials that the metallic pieces make up the friction material in a brake pad, is also more durable than with lower performance pads/ This increased durability also contributes to the squeak, causing vibrations. IAR does not offer a warranty for high performance brake squeal.
- Damage; Theft. IAR is not responsible for loss of or damage to the vehicle due to or arising from fire, weather, theft or any other cause except the sole negligence of IAR. IAR is not responsible for any loss or damage to articles of personal property that have been left in the vehicle or for loss or damage to bodies, trailers or special equipment, including any cargo, materials or supplies carried on or in such bodies, trailers or special equipment, whatever the cause.
- Mechanic’s Lien; Lien Sale; Collection. In addition to any and all other legal remedies available to IAR, Customer authorizes and acknowledges an express mechanic’s lien in favor of IAR on the vehicle described herein for all charges for repairs, including labor and parts, storage and/or towing. Customer authorizes and acknowledges that if payment in full is not received within ten (10) days after IAR has notified the Customer that the repairs are completed: (i) IAR may, in accordance with applicable state law, begin lien sale proceedings and sell the vehicle at public auction; and/or (ii) IAR may refer such account to its attorneys or a collection agency for collection.