153No repair work to be carried out without owner's approval

153 No repair work to be carried out without owner's approval

(1) A person must not commence or carry out repair work on an accident damaged motor vehicle without the approval in writing of the owner of the motor vehicle.

(2) A person is not entitled to sue for or recover any sum or charge for—

(a) commencing or carrying out any repair work that is not approved under subsection (1); or

(b) preparing, without the approval in writing of the owner of the motor vehicle, any quotation to repair an accident damaged motor vehicle; or

(c) towing an accident damaged motor vehicle as part of providing accident towing services, unless the towing was authorised in accordance with this Act and regulations made under this Act; or

(d) storing an accident damaged motor vehicle unless—

(i) the storing was authorised in writing by the person from whom the sum or charge is being sought; and

(ii) the sum or charge is not more than the amount determined in accordance with subsection (3).

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(d)(ii) the sum or charge is determined by—

(a) dividing the total number of hours that the vehicle has been stored up to the relevant time by 24; and

(b) multiplying the result by the daily storage charge.

(4) If the result of the calculation made under subsection (3) is not a whole number, it may be increased to the next highest whole number.

(5) If any sum or charge referred to in subsection (2) is recovered in circumstances in which subsection (2) applies, the person on whose behalf it is recovered is guilty of an offence unless the person repays it as soon as practicable.