My car was sold without my knowledge after I took it to the garage – and the mechanic even tried to blame me for his mistake

A driver sued a car mechanic after his vehicle was stolen while being serviced at his shop.

The owner of a car he admitted was not drivable told a judge on a popular reality show that he had it towed to a mechanic’s shop, where it later disappeared.

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In a clip shared on Judge Judy’s YouTube account (@JudgeJudy), John Perry said Mwelu Mataya’s vehicle needed “a radiator, some hoses, a timing belt and a water pump” to make it functional.

Mataya sued Perry in hopes of suing him for the $1,200 car, blaming the mechanic for the theft.

The mechanic claimed he did not know the car was stolen while it was parked in front of his auto repair shop.

“I had the impression that it had been confiscated,” he explained.

Before the vehicle was reported missing, Perry said he only had the opportunity to repair the radiator.

“The tow truck driver left it on the street,” the mechanic said, explaining how Mataya’s car could be stolen even though his shop was full of other vehicles.

Mataya initially gave Perry $460 to pay for the parts needed to complete the job, the driver said.

“And when he was finished, I gave him the rest,” he added.

The car was eventually found “on the highway” by highway patrol, Mataya said.

The driver showed the judge a recording from a towing company confirming that the car was found by the highway patrol and also told him that his car “was sold at auction.”

Judge Judy told the mechanic that by accepting the driver’s vehicle “for repair,” he had also assumed another special responsibility.

“They had a responsibility to keep it safe,” she said.

“You obviously didn’t keep it safe.”

However, she explained to Perry that it was his fault that the car was stolen while he was in care.

How to avoid fraud in the repair shop

Motorautocar and AARP offer easy-to-follow tips to prevent you from being ripped off by a repair shop.

1. Motorautocar recommends asking about replaced parts or old fluids after they have been replaced. If the garage says it is impossible or refuses, it could be a sign that it has not been done.
2. Ask to be shown the repairs that have been made. Most mechanics will be happy to show you what has been done in the shop. As you walk around, look for signs of repairs, such as whether the area has been cleaned, whether there are shiny new parts, whether there are tool marks on the bolts, whether any tools have been taken out or are nearby, etc.
3. Before you drop off your car, read customer reviews on Google, Yelp or Facebook. Many customers will only rate a business if there are negative reviews, so pay attention.
4. For expensive repairs, get multiple opinions. If two or three shops suggest identical repairs, it’s probably correct.
5. Test a new repair shop with minor problems you are aware of to see if the repair bill will be higher.
6. If necessary, bring someone with automotive knowledge to the workshop who can check or read the repair invoice again.
7. Keep everything in writing. This is not only important for your repair records, but it will also protect you if legal action is necessary.

Source: Motorautocar, AARP

“Someone took it,” Judge Judy said.

“You left it open. You left it in a place where it was unprotected, and if it was drivable, and it was clearly drivable, it should be in your garage when you’re working on it.”

She ordered the mechanic to pay the driver $1,200.

The YouTube post received over 200 comments.

“I’m glad he had that audio recording,” someone said.

“Be careful when repairing radiators,” warned one user.

“I did that and ended up with a cracked engine block and not having to recover the car.”

“They both seem like nice people,” someone interjected.

“Sad situation.”