Who pays if a repair fails and damages another part of the car?
Reasonable care and skill isn't optional — if a botched repair causes new damage, that's usually the garage's bill to pay.
Normally, the garage is liable. Under UK consumer law, anyone providing a service — including a car repair — must carry out that work with reasonable care and skill. If a poorly executed repair leads directly to new damage elsewhere in the vehicle, that's a breach of that duty. The garage is generally responsible for putting the resulting damage right, not just re-doing the original job you paid for.
Establishing the link between the repair and the new fault
| Scenario | Likely outcome |
|---|---|
| New fault appears shortly after the repair, in a directly related system | Strong case the garage is liable — e.g. a poorly fitted part causing a related failure |
| Garage disputes the connection | An independent inspection from an uninvolved mechanic can establish the causal link |
| New fault is genuinely unrelated (separate, pre-existing issue) | Garage isn't liable for that unrelated problem |
| Garage refuses to engage at all | Formal written complaint, then small claims court if unresolved |
What evidence strengthens your case
- The original invoice describing exactly what work was carried out.
- A clear timeline: when the repair was done, and when the new fault first appeared.
- Photos or diagnostic printouts showing the new damage.
- An independent mechanic's report, if the garage disputes the connection — this is often the deciding piece of evidence.
What you can claim
You can generally claim the reasonable cost of repairing the new damage caused by the substandard work. In some cases, you may also be able to claim related losses — such as recovery costs or the cost of reasonable alternative transport — if the fault left the car undriveable. Keep every receipt and quote, and put your claim to the garage in writing first, giving them a reasonable opportunity to respond before escalating.
Steps to take
- Get an independent assessment if the garage disputes that the new fault is connected to their work.
- Write to the garage explaining the issue, referencing the original invoice and the independent report if you have one.
- Request the cost of the repair, plus any directly related losses.
- If the garage refuses to resolve it, you can pursue a small claims court case — most disputes of this kind fall well within the small claims limit.
What if the garage says the new damage was unrelated or pre-existing? The garage may dispute that the new fault is connected to their work. In that case, an independent inspection report — from a mechanic who wasn't involved in the original repair — can help establish whether the failure is directly linked to substandard work. Keeping the original invoice, a timeline of when the new fault appeared, and photos or diagnostic reports strengthens your position.
What can I claim for if a repair caused further damage? You can generally claim the reasonable cost of repairing the new damage, and in some cases related losses such as recovery or reasonable alternative transport costs if the fault left the car undriveable. Keep all receipts and quotes, and raise the claim with the garage in writing before considering a small claims court case if they refuse to engage.
Related questions
Official sources
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