Garage Keepers Act

Canadian Act

• The Canadian act spells out the rights and responsibilities of "garage keepers," those individuals and businesses who perform work on motor vehicles, including automobiles, motor bicycles, tractors and any other vehicle propelled or driven minus human power. The act does not include vehicles running via electricity or steam, trolley or railway cars.

Ensuring Payment

• The essence of the Manitoba act surrounds the ability of the business rendering service to demand and ensure payment. "Subject to subsection 5(6), every garage keeper has a lien upon every motor vehicle or farm vehicle for service rendered upon it by the garage keeper to an amount not exceeding the charge, price, or consideration therefore," reads the law.

Michigan Law

• The Michigan version of the law, entitled Garage Keeper's Lien Act, was first enacted in 1915 and has been amended regularly over the years. It also spells out the rights of those whose motorized vehicles require maintenance. "An owner or lienholder who suffers damages because of a garage keeper's failure to comply with this act may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction for the actual amount of the damages or $250.00, whichever is greater," states the law.