Contractors and Repair Shops in New Jersey

Home improvement contractors must register annually with the Division of Consumer Affairs (with some exemptions, such as licensed trades acting within their license and new-home builders registered under a separate law). Every home improvement contract over $500, and every change to it, must be in writing and signed by all parties, and must include the contractor's legal name, business address and registration number, a copy of its liability insurance certificate and the insurer's phone number, and the total price including finance charges. Division rules also require the contract to describe the work and principal materials and state the start and completion dates or time period and any guarantee. Consumers may cancel within three business days (see cooling-off). Violations are unlawful practices under the Consumer Fraud Act, and knowing violations are a fourth-degree crime.

Under Division of Consumer Affairs rules, an auto repair dealer may not start paid work without the customer's signed written authorization (or documented oral authorization if the car is dropped off after hours or by someone else), and must give a written estimate before work begins—either a not-to-exceed price, a detailed parts-and-labor breakdown, a price for a specific repair, or a written authorization up to a set dollar amount—unless the customer waives the written estimate in a signed statement. A diagnostic charge must be agreed to in advance. The shop may not charge more than the estimate without the customer's oral or written consent obtained before the extra work is done. Replaced parts must be returned if the customer asks before work starts (except exchange or warranty-return parts, or parts impractical to return). The invoice must itemize parts and labor and state whether new, rebuilt or used parts were installed. Shops must post a sign telling customers these rights.