State-by-state guide
Your RV is stuck at the shop: storage fees, mechanic's liens and abandonment rules by state
We read the garage keeper's and repair lien statutes for all 50 states and DC. In 32 states a shop that isn't paid can sell the vehicle on a set timeline, from about 20 days in Oklahoma to three months in states like Alaska, Connecticut and Vermont. In 12 more, the shop needs a court order first.
By the RV Repair Centers research desk · Published October 25, 2026
Key findings
- The shop can keep your rig. Every state where we could confirm the rule lets a repair shop hold the vehicle until the bill is paid. In most, the lien ends if the shop lets the vehicle go.
- 32 states allow a sale on a set timeline without going to court. Where we could count the days, the median earliest sale is about 50 days after the bill comes due or the work is done.
- 12 states make the shop go to court before it can sell a motor vehicle, including Massachusetts, Missouri, Louisiana, Maine and Hawaii.
- Storage fees are where bills grow. Most states let storage ride on the lien, but several set limits: DC caps storage at $3 a day for 90 days, Michigan at $10 a day for 120 days, and Nebraska and Illinois allow storage charges only after written notice of the rate.
- Written approval matters. In New York, Rhode Island, Missouri and Washington, the lien is tied to what you authorized or the written estimate, so a signed estimate limits what a shop can hold your RV for.
How a shop can sell an unpaid RV, state by state
A mechanic's lien on a vehicle (often called a garage keeper's or artisan's lien) lets a shop keep the vehicle until the repair bill is paid. If the bill stays unpaid, state law decides what happens next: a sale after notice, a sale after a court order, or in a few states a title transfer. The map shows which route each state uses for motor vehicles and trailers.
How long before a shop can sell
For the 31 states that set a timeline, we added up the minimum waiting and notice periods in the statute. Highlighted states allow a sale within about a month. These counts start at different points (work finished, bill due, or notice mailed), so treat them as the shortest likely path, not a deadline you can rely on. A dispute, a court filing or a slow title search adds time.
The full table
| Alabama | Not confirmed. The repair lien statute does not tie the lien to possession. | Not confirmed | Court order | Enforced by court attachment, not a self-help sale. | Not set | Not addressed in the repair lien sections | Ala. Code §§35-11-110, 35-11-111 |
| Alaska | Yes, the shop may keep the vehicle until the charges are paid. | Registered letter to the owner plus posting in 3 public places for 10 days before sale. | Self-help on a set timeline | Public auction if not paid within three months after the work. | 90 days | Yes, a separate storage lien, also with sale after 3 months. No cap. | AS 34.35.175-34.35.225 |
| Arizona | Yes; a sale requires continued possession. | After 20 days unpaid, a demand giving 10 days to pay, then 5 days' notice of sale. | Self-help on a set timeline | Public auction after 20 days unpaid, a 10-day demand and a 5-day sale notice. | 35 days | Yes, but only when the owner agreed to the amount of the charges. | A.R.S. §§33-1022, 33-1023 |
| Arkansas | Yes; if released, the lien can be kept by filing with the circuit clerk within 120 days. | Certified-letter demand; then at least 10 days' notice of sale (posted, mailed and filed with the circuit clerk). | Self-help on a set timeline | Public auction no sooner than 30 days after the demand, plus the 10-day notice; the shop must post a bond. | 40 days | Yes, the statute covers automobile storage. No cap found. | Ark. Code Ann. §§18-45-201 to 18-45-206 |
| California | Yes, the lien depends on possession and ends unless a lien sale or court action is started within 30 days. | Vehicles worth $4,000 or less: certified-mail notice of pending lien sale; owner has 10 days to file an opposition. Over $4,000: DMV application and 20-day notice. | Self-help on a set timeline | Lien sale 31 to 41 days after the notice is mailed (vehicles worth $4,000 or less); an opposition forces a court case. | 31 days | Yes, but storage past 60 days is invalid without Vehicle Code notices. Against a lender, the lien is capped at $1,500 for work and $1,025 for storage ($1,250 if the lien sale is filed within 30 days) without the lender's consent. | Cal. Civ. Code §§3068, 3071, 3072 |
| Colorado | Yes, for work done while in lawful possession. | Abandoned vehicles: 30 days' certified-mail notice to owner and lienholders. | Court order | If unpaid 30 days, the shop files a court foreclosure; the lien ends if no action within 90 days. A non-court route exists only for abandoned vehicles (estimate, bond and title application required). | Not set | Not confirmed | C.R.S. §§38-20-106, 38-20-116, 38-21-101 |
| Connecticut | Yes; the owner can free the vehicle by substituting a bond. | Notice of intent to sell to DMV; certified mail to owner and lienholders and 3 newspaper ads, at least 10 days before sale. | Self-help on a set timeline | Public auction after 3 months from completion of the work if no bond or court action. | 90 days | Yes, repair and storage charges are covered; DMV may limit storage days charged before notice is filed, except the first 30 days. | Conn. Gen. Stat. §49-61 |
| Delaware | Yes, right to detain; lien continues after loss of possession only if a lien-sale application is filed within 10 days. | Justice of the Peace Court mails notice (20 days to object); then at least 15 days' notice of sale. | Self-help on a set timeline | If unpaid 30 days after due, apply to JP Court for authorization, then sell after notice. | 50 days | Yes, storage and towing are covered; the daily rate must be stated in the application. No cap found. | 25 Del. C. §§3901-3907 |
| District of Columbia | Yes, while in lawful possession; covers motor vehicles including trailers. | Written demand to title holder and lienholders; if unpaid 30 days after notice, 3 weekly newspaper ads. | Self-help on a set timeline | Public auction at least 15 days after first publication. | 45 days | Yes, capped at $3 a day or $21 a week, for no more than 90 days, from the date of notice. | D.C. Code §§40-102 to 40-105 |
| Florida | Yes; the lien is lost if the vehicle is released. Owner can get it back by posting a bond (§559.917). | Certified-mail notice of lien within 7 business days after storage starts, and at least 30 days before sale; newspaper notice 15 days before. | Self-help on a set timeline | Not earlier than 60 days after completion of the repair work. | 60 days | Yes, daily storage must be itemized in the notice; lien/administrative fee capped at $250. | Fla. Stat. §§713.58, 713.585 |
| Georgia | Yes; if released, the lien must be recorded within 90 days. | After the vehicle sits unpaid at least 15 days, certified-mail notice; the shop can petition magistrate court 10 days later. | Court order | Court-ordered sale after a magistrate court petition. | Not set | Yes, for titled vehicles at Department of Public Safety maximum rates, stated in the notice. | O.C.G.A. §§44-14-363, 40-11-19, 40-11-19.1 |
| Hawaii | Yes, may retain until charges are paid. | None for a self-help sale of a vehicle; enforced by lawsuit and execution sale (a small-claim route exists for charges of $150 or less). | Court order | Only after judgment and execution. | Not set | No. The lien covers work and materials, excluding storage charges. | HRS §§507-18 to 507-23 |
| Idaho | Yes, may retain until paid. | 10 days' public notice by newspaper or posting. | Self-help on a set timeline | Public auction if not paid within two months after the work. | 70 days | Not in the repair lien; sale proceeds may cover keeping and selling costs. | Idaho Code §45-806 |
| Illinois | Yes for liens of $2,000 or less (lost on voluntary release). The Labor and Storage Lien Act lien survives release if a notice is filed within 60 days. | Small-amount liens: newspaper notice and certified mail 30 days before sale. | Self-help on a set timeline | Small-amount liens: may sell if not redeemed within 90 days of completing the work. Larger liens: court or sheriff sale. | 90 days | Yes, but storage fees cannot accrue until the lienholder of record gets certified-mail notice of the daily rate. | 770 ILCS 50/1-4; 770 ILCS 45/1, 1.5, 2, 6 |
| Indiana | Yes, the lien covers repair, labor, materials and storage while the vehicle is held. | Certified mail to owner and lienholders plus a newspaper ad; sale no earlier than 15 days after both. | Self-help on a set timeline | May advertise if unpaid 30 days after the shop took possession; auction 15+ days later. | 45 days | Yes. The BMV form caps storage for abandoned vehicles at $2,000 (under 30 ft) or $2,500 (30 ft or more). | IC 9-22-6-1 to 9-22-6-5; BMV State Form 23104 |
| Iowa | Yes, while lawfully in possession. | Notice to everyone with an interest under UCC §554.7308; no day count in the statute. | Self-help, no fixed wait | Commercially reasonable public or private sale after notice; no waiting period. | Not set | Not covered by the repair lien. | Iowa Code §§577.1-577.3, 554.7308 |
| Kansas | Yes, while in possession; to keep it after release, file a sworn statement within 90 days. | Reasonable notice under UCC Article 9; no day count. | Self-help, no fixed wait | UCC Article 9 disposition. | Not set | Not in the repair lien; a separate storage lien needs 6 months in store and a 15-day notice. | K.S.A. §§58-201, 58-202 |
| Kentucky | Yes, may detain until paid; lien survives removal if a statement is filed within 6 months. | Advertising plus certified or registered mail at least 10 days before sale. | Self-help on a set timeline | May sell once charges have been owed more than 30 days. | 31 days | Yes, the lien covers storing or keeping the vehicle. No cap. | KRS §§376.270, 376.280 |
| Louisiana | Privilege lasts while the vehicle stays at the shop and for 120 days after it leaves. | Automobiles: enforced by writ of sequestration in court; no self-help notice period. | Court order | Court sale (sequestration) for automobiles. | Not set | Not covered (repairs, parts and labor only). | La. R.S. 9:4501, 9:4502 |
| Maine | Not confirmed as a self-help remedy; the lien is enforced by court attachment within 90 days. | Court process; no self-help notice period. | Court order | Only after trial and final judgment. | Not set | Yes, storage provided with the owner's direction or consent. | 10 MRSA §§3801, 4001-4013 |
| Maryland | Yes, may retain until paid. | Published 2 weeks before sale, plus certified mail at least 10 days before sale to owner, secured parties and the MVA. | Self-help on a set timeline | Public sale once charges are unpaid 30 days. | 30 days | Yes, but storage drops out if secured parties are not told of the lien within 30 days. | Md. Code, Com. Law §§16-201 to 16-209 |
| Massachusetts | Yes. Covers garages and repair shops; lien survives a fraudulent taking or bounced check. | Written demand to the owner; if unpaid within 10 days the shop can sue for a court-ordered sale. | Court order | Court-ordered sale only. | Not set | Yes, proper charges for storage, work and care. No cap stated. | M.G.L. c.255 §§25, 26, 29 |
| Michigan | Yes (Garage Keeper's Lien Act). Shop may keep the vehicle up to 225 days after the last labor. | Shop applies to the Secretary of State for a certificate of foreclosure within 105 days; then certified mail to owners and lienholders giving at least 30 days to pay. | Self-help on a set timeline | Public sale not less than 75 days after the date on the certificate. | 75 days | Capped at $10 a day and 120 days unless agreed otherwise in writing. | MCL 570.301-570.307 |
| Minnesota | Yes, lien and right to detain for repair and storage. Can survive release if a lien statement is filed within 60 days. | Certified mail to secured creditors 45 days before the right to sell; sale notice at least 3 weeks before, served on the owner and published 3 weeks. | Self-help on a set timeline | May sell if unpaid 90 days after the charges become due. | 90 days | Yes. For Minnesota-titled vehicles with secured creditors, storage beyond 15 days accrues only after certified-mail notice of the rate. | Minn. Stat. §§514.18-514.21 |
| Mississippi | Yes, until labor and materials are paid. | If unpaid 30 days, certified mail to owner and lienholders; suit may start if not redeemed within 5 days of mailing. | Court order | Court judgment and order of sale required. | Not set | Not in the repair lien (labor and materials only); towing and storage have a separate lien under §85-7-251. | Miss. Code Ann. §85-7-107 (storage: §85-7-251) |
| Missouri | Yes. Vehicle cannot be taken without consent or payment. | No pre-sale notice period; the lien is enforced by suit in circuit court. | Court order | Court-ordered sale after judgment. | Not set | Yes, a separate lien for keeping or storing a vehicle. No cap stated. | RSMo §§430.010-430.060, 430.160 |
| Montana | Yes; lien depends on possession. | Court show-cause order served at least 21 days before the hearing. | Court order | Enforcement can start if unpaid 30 days after the work; court judgment, then sheriff's sale. | Not set | Yes, reasonable cost of towing or storage. No cap. | MCA §§71-3-1201 to 71-3-1204 |
| Nebraska | Yes, while in possession; nonpossessory lien available by UCC filing within 60 days of release. | Certified mail to owner and lienholders; disposal no sooner than 30 days after mailing. | Self-help on a set timeline | May sell after holding the property 90 days. | 90 days | Only after certified-mail notice of the daily rate; accrues from the date notice is sent and must be reasonable. | Neb. Rev. Stat. §§52-201 to 52-203, 52-601.01 |
| Nevada | Yes, may detain without process of law. | Notice in person or by certified mail to owners and secured parties, with a payment deadline at least 10 days out; owner can contest in justice court. | Self-help on a set timeline | Public auction after newspaper ads 3 weeks; sale at least 22 days after first publication. | Not set | Yes, towing, storage and keeping are covered. No cap on the lien itself. | NRS 108.270-108.367 |
| New Hampshire | Yes, while the vehicle stays in the shop's possession. | Posted notice and written notice to owner and recorded lienholders at least 14 days before the sale. | Self-help on a set timeline | Public sale if charges remain unpaid for 60 days. | 60 days | Yes, a separate storage lien for public garages and trailer courts. No cap. | RSA 450:1-450:3; RSA 444:3-444:6 |
| New Jersey | Yes, may detain without process of law; detention starts with a certified-mail notice of the amount due. | Sale advertised two weeks in a local paper plus at least 5 days' notice posted at the garage. | Self-help on a set timeline | Public auction not less than 30 days after detention, if the owner does not sue for possession. | 30 days | Yes, towing, storing, keeping and repairing are covered. | N.J.S.A. 2A:44-20 to 2A:44-31 (Garage Keepers Lien Act) |
| New Mexico | Yes, may retain until paid. | Itemized notice by certified mail once the debt is due; if unpaid within 10 days, the sale is advertised (20-day notice). | Self-help on a set timeline | MVD practice: auction not less than 44 days from the certified-mail date (70 if out of state). | 44 days | Not confirmed | NMSA 1978 §§48-3-1, 48-3-13, 48-3-14 |
| New York | Yes. The lien is void against earlier security interests if the shop releases the vehicle more than 30 days after the lien accrues. | Verified notice of sale by certified and first-class mail to the owner and every lienholder; the owner gets at least 10 days to pay and can go to court within 10 days to contest (§201-a). | Self-help on a set timeline | Public auction. Notice published once a week for 2 weeks; sale at least 15 days after first publication. | 25 days | Yes, the lien covers storage, towing, maintenance and repair. No dollar cap in the statute. | N.Y. Lien Law §§184, 200-202 |
| North Carolina | Yes. Lien ends if the shop voluntarily gives up possession. | Shop applies to DMV, which mails the owner and secured parties (10 days to request a hearing). Sale notice 30 days before a private sale or 20 days before a public sale. | Self-help on a set timeline | Can enforce once charges are unpaid 30 days after they are due (10 days for towing/storage only). | 50 days | Yes, reasonable storage. If the shop does not start enforcement within 180 days of storage starting, storage after that is waived. | N.C. Gen. Stat. §§44A-2, 44A-3, 44A-4 |
| North Dakota | Yes. If released, the shop must file a lien statement within 90 days to keep the lien. | 10 days' written notice of intent to foreclose by registered or certified mail to owner and lienholders. | Self-help, no fixed wait | Disposed of like collateral under UCC Article 9 after the notice; no other waiting period in the statute. | Not set | Yes, but storage cannot start until 15 days after the owner is asked to pick up the vehicle. | N.D. Cent. Code §§35-13-01 to 35-13-07 |
| Ohio | Not confirmed (common law); no general statutory garage lien found. | For a vehicle worth under $3,500 left 15+ days after repair: certified-mail notice to remove, to owner and lienholders. | Not confirmed | No sale under the statute. If still unclaimed 15 days after notice, the shop can apply for title through the clerk of courts. Vehicles worth $3,500+: Not confirmed. | Not set | Not confirmed | Ohio Rev. Code §4505.101 |
| Oklahoma | Yes. If the vehicle leaves without written consent, the shop must file with the county clerk to keep the lien. | Notice of possessory lien within 60 days of first service by certified mail; notice of sale posted and mailed at least 10 days before sale. | Self-help on a set timeline | Foreclosure no sooner than 10 days after the lien notice is mailed. | 20 days | Storage charged only from the date the lien notice is mailed (with an exception for storage contracts), capped at Corporation Commission nonconsensual tow rates. | 42 Okla. Stat. §91 |
| Oregon | Yes, but for motor vehicles only franchised dealers or shops with a $20,000 bond or letter of credit can claim it. | Notice of sale to the owner at least 30 days before the sale; secured parties notified within 20 days of storage starting. | Self-help on a set timeline | Shop must hold the vehicle at least 60 days after the lien attaches before foreclosing. | 60 days | Yes, up to 6 months if certified-mail notice goes out within 20 days of storage starting; otherwise limited to 20 days. | ORS 87.152, 87.172, 87.176, 87.186-87.206 |
| Pennsylvania | Yes, common-law repairman's lien (case law). | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not set | Not confirmed | Common law; no current statutory sale procedure found |
| Rhode Island | Yes, common-law possessory lien recognized by statute. | Written demand to the owner; if unpaid 30 days after demand the shop can sue. | Court order | Court-ordered sale only (Superior Court action). | Not set | Yes, the chapter covers storage liens. No cap found. | R.I. Gen. Laws §34-32-1; §§34-35-1 to 34-35-6 |
| South Carolina | Yes, continuous possession required to sell. | Written notice by certified or registered mail to owner and lienholders; sale may follow after 30 days; magistrate advertises at least 15 days. | Self-help on a set timeline | Public auction run by a magistrate. | 45 days | Yes, but storage before the location notice is limited to 7 business days; notice must state the daily rate. | S.C. Code §29-15-10 |
| South Dakota | Yes; after surrender it can be kept by filing within 120 days. | Notice of sale mailed and published at least 10 days before sale. | Self-help on a set timeline | Foreclosure any time after 60 days from the last item furnished, by advertisement or court action. | 60 days | Yes, reasonable or agreed storage. No cap found. | SDCL §§44-11-1 to 44-11-4; ch. 21-54 |
| Tennessee | Yes, garagekeepers have a lien on vehicles in their possession until reasonable charges are paid. | After 30 days, written notice to owner and interest holders with a payment date at least 10 days out; sale advertised at least 15 days. | Self-help on a set timeline | Enforceable after 30 days; sale at least 15 days after first advertisement. | 55 days | Storage needs the owner's express written authorization; otherwise extra notice and waiting rules apply. | Tenn. Code Ann. §§66-19-103, 66-14-102 to 66-14-106 |
| Texas | Yes, until the contract amount or reasonable compensation is paid; released on payment or surrender unless paid with a bad check. | Certified mail to owner and title lienholders; non-dealer shops file a copy with the county tax office within 30 days of charges accruing. | Self-help on a set timeline | Public sale no earlier than the 31st day after the notice is filed with the county. | 31 days | Separate lien for storage; where possession is under law or ordinance, storage before notice is limited to 5 days. | Tex. Prop. Code §§70.001, 70.003, 70.004, 70.006 |
| Utah | Yes, until paid; behind secured lenders unless the lender requested the work. | Certified mail at least 30 days before sale to owner, customer and interest holders. | Self-help on a set timeline | Public or private sale no earlier than 45 days after the repair is completed. | 45 days | Yes, storage fees may be included in the notice and redemption amount. No cap found. | Utah Code §§38-2-3, 38-2-4 |
| Vermont | Yes, artisan's lien on personal property repaired at the owner's request. | Written notice to the owner and posting in 2 public places at least 10 days before sale. | Self-help on a set timeline | Public auction once the debt has been unpaid three months. | 90 days | Not confirmed | 9 V.S.A. §§1951-1954 |
| Virginia | Yes, until paid, if the work was requested by the owner or authorized possessor. | Intent-to-sell filed with DMV after 10 days unpaid; DMV notifies owner and lienholder; sale at least 21 days after notifying DMV. | Self-help on a set timeline | Public auction if the vehicle is worth $12,500 or less; court petition above that. | 31 days | Separate storage lien; capped at $500 if the title shows a lien, otherwise storage plus repair capped at vehicle value. | Va. Code §§46.2-644.01 to 46.2-644.03 |
| Washington | Yes, possessory or chattel lien; survives release only if a lien notice is filed within 90 days. | Reasonable notification by first-class and certified mail; no fixed day count. | Self-help, no fixed wait | Court or summary foreclosure within 9 months of filing; commercially reasonable sale. | Not set | Not confirmed | RCW 60.08, 60.10, 46.71.041 |
| West Virginia | Yes, for agreed or reasonable charges. | Written itemized notice with a payment demand at least 7 days out. | Court order | No self-help sale; the shop must sue within 30 days of the notice and sell by court judgment. | Not set | Yes, reasonable storage compensation while the property is held. | W. Va. Code §§38-11-3, 38-11-10, 38-11-14 |
| Wisconsin | Yes, for repairs at the request of the owner or legal possessor. | Sale follows UCC Article 9 notice rules; no fixed day count in the lien statute. | Self-help on a set timeline | May sell once the claim is unpaid 2 months. | 60 days | Storage lien valid only if charges were disclosed on a signed service order or a posted card. | Wis. Stat. §§779.41, 779.43, 779.48 |
| Wyoming | Yes, until paid; possession right ends 6 months after charges are due unless foreclosure has started. | Certified-mail notice of intent within 30 days of the due date; certified-mail sale notice; no minimum day count. | Self-help, no fixed wait | Public or private sale on commercially reasonable terms; no fixed waiting period. | Not set | Yes, capped at 180 days from completion unless notice was sent and foreclosure started. | Wyo. Stat. §§29-7-101 to 29-7-105 |
"Not set" means the statute sets no fixed waiting period or the sale goes through a court. "Not confirmed" means we could not verify the cell from the statute text. This is a summary, not legal advice; check the current statute or ask a lawyer before acting. Download this table (CSV)
What to do if your RV is held
Most lien fights start with a bill that grew past what the owner expected. Long waits for parts make it worse, because storage can run while the rig sits. Our RV Repair Wait Index shows how long owners say they waited.
- Get a written estimate and sign only for that amount. Many states tie the lien to what you authorized, and several have estimate and overage rules of their own. See our guide to repair estimate laws by state.
- Ask about storage before you drop the rig off. Get the daily rate in writing, and ask when it starts. In states like Wisconsin and Nebraska, storage charges depend on the shop telling you the rate.
- If you dispute the bill, consider paying under protest. Paying gets your RV back and stops storage. Write "paid under protest" on the invoice and keep copies, then pursue the overcharge. Several states, including Florida, Maryland and Connecticut, let you post a bond to get the vehicle back while you dispute the bill.
- Use small claims court for the overcharge. Bring the estimate, the invoice, photos and any texts or emails approving work.
- File a complaint with your state's consumer protection office. Most are run by the attorney general. USA.gov lists every state consumer office, and NAAG lists every attorney general.
- Watch your mail. A certified letter about a lien or pending sale starts the clock. If you get one, respond in writing before the deadline it states.
RVs, trailers and motor homes
Most of these statutes say "motor vehicle", and a motorhome is a motor vehicle. Towable RVs are less certain. Delaware, DC, Kansas, Nevada, Oklahoma and South Carolina name trailers or RVs outright, and states with a general artisan's lien (Alaska, Montana, Vermont) cover any personal property. Wisconsin sets higher lien caps for heavier vehicles, which can include large motor homes, and Indiana's BMV form lists a higher storage cap for vehicles 30 feet or longer. If you own a travel trailer or fifth wheel, read your state's text.
The infographic
Free to use with a link. Publish the graphic or the numbers anywhere, as long as you credit RV Repair Centers with a link to this page.
How we did this
- Between October 20 and 25, 2026 we read each state's repair, garage keeper's or artisan's lien statute, as it applies to motor vehicles and trailers, on the official legislature or code website. Where the official site blocked access we read the text on FindLaw, Justia or Cornell LII and cite that copy.
- For each state we recorded whether the shop can hold the vehicle, the notice it must give before a sale, how and when it can sell, and what the statute says about storage fees. We classified a state as "court order needed" when the statute sends a motor-vehicle sale through a lawsuit or court authorization.
- Earliest-sale days are our own arithmetic from the minimum periods in each statute, assuming every notice goes out on the first day allowed. Statutes measure from different starting points, and we note which in the table.
- Cells we could not verify from the statute text say "Not confirmed" (12 cells). Indiana and New Mexico are drawn partly from official agency forms and guides, Alabama's sale procedure is not confirmed, and Pennsylvania has no current sale statute we could find.
- Towing and police-impound storage rules are separate in most states and are not covered here. Laws change; this table is a summary, not legal advice.
Not legal advice. Laws and agency rules change. Each row links the source we read and the date we checked it; confirm with the agency or an attorney before you rely on it.
Sources
- Cal. Civ. Code §3068 (California Legislative Information), accessed October 25, 2026
- Tex. Prop. Code ch. 70, accessed October 25, 2026
- Fla. Stat. §713.585, accessed October 25, 2026
- Michigan Garage Keeper's Lien Act, MCL 570.305, accessed October 25, 2026
- N.Y. Lien Law §184, accessed October 25, 2026
- Minn. Stat. §514.20, accessed October 25, 2026
- D.C. Code §40-102, accessed October 25, 2026
- USA.gov, state consumer protection offices, accessed October 25, 2026
- NAAG, find your attorney general, accessed October 25, 2026. Every state row in the table links its own statute.
Cite this: RV Repair Centers, "Your RV is stuck at the shop: storage fees, mechanic's liens and abandonment rules by state," October 25, 2026, https://rvrepaircenters.com/rv-mechanics-lien-laws-by-state/
Spotted an error or have newer data? Tell us and we'll check it and update the page.
Questions people ask
Can an RV repair shop keep my RV if I don't pay?
Yes. In every state where we could confirm the rule, a shop that repaired a vehicle at the owner's request can hold it until the bill is paid. In most states the lien depends on possession, so if the shop releases the RV it loses the right to hold it, unless it files a lien notice within a set period.
How long before a shop can sell my RV for an unpaid bill?
It depends on the state. Where the statute sets a timeline, the earliest sale ranges from about 20 days in Oklahoma to three months in states like Alaska, Connecticut, Minnesota and Vermont, with a median near 50 days. In 12 states the shop has to go to court first. Every state requires notice to the owner before a sale.
Can a shop charge storage while my RV waits for parts?
Usually, but with limits. Most states let storage fees ride on the lien. Some cap them (DC at $3 a day for 90 days, Michigan at $10 a day for 120 days) and others, such as Nebraska and Illinois, allow storage charges only after the shop sends written notice of the rate. Ask for the daily rate in writing at drop-off.
What should I do if I think the repair bill is wrong?
Ask for an itemized invoice and compare it with your written estimate. Many owners pay under protest to get the RV back and stop storage, then pursue the overcharge in small claims court or through the state attorney general's consumer office. Florida, Maryland and Connecticut, among others, let you post a bond to recover the vehicle while you dispute the bill.