Contractors and Repair Shops in North Carolina

A state general contractor license is required for anyone who, for pay, bids on, builds or manages construction of a building or other improvement where the job costs $40,000 or more. Owners building or altering a building on their own land for their own use are exempt if they meet the statute's conditions, as are farmers building on their own farmland.

Under the Motor Vehicle Repair Act, a repair shop must give a written estimate before diagnostic or repair work when the cost will exceed $350. The shop must promptly notify the customer before charges go over the estimate by more than 10%, and the customer may then authorize, modify or cancel the work. The estimate must let the customer say whether replaced parts should be saved, and a customer who asks when authorizing the work may inspect removed parts; the shop may discard them if they are not collected within two business days after the repaired vehicle is delivered. The shop must give an itemized invoice and post a sign telling customers about these rights. An injured customer may sue for damages, court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees.