'They Owe You a New Vehicle:' Woman Drops Honda Off for an Inspection. Then the Workers Total It. Now What?

A woman has a story so unbelievable it could only happen in real life: She dropped off her car for a simple inspection—and the shop totaled it.

Rachel (@rachelf22) recorded a TikTok from bed, looking visibly upset. “Dropped my car off for inspection. Woke up to a phone call that it got totaled during the test drive,” she writes in the text overlay.

In the following clip, she shows photos of her wrecked Honda, which she’d affectionately named Stanley. One image shows the entire front bumper crushed, though it’s still unclear how the workers managed to destroy it during what should’ve been a basic inspection.

“RIP Stanley,” Rachel added in another overlay. As of Thursday, her video has racked up more than 648,800 views—and plenty of disbelief in the comments.

What Happens When a Mechanic Wrecks Your Car?

If a mechanic wrecks your car during an inspection, the shop has a legal responsibility to fix it, according to Ware Law Firm. It reports that in certain states, such as Mississippi, that usually means either repairing your vehicle at no cost or reimbursing you for the repair expenses. The dealership should return your vehicle in the same condition it was received, the law firm reports. 

The moment you discover the damage, it’s essential to document it, report it to the shop, and make sure they acknowledge what happened. Getting a written acknowledgment can help if the situation escalates.

From there, the shop should work with you to resolve the issue. But if auto workers refuse to cooperate, there are a few ways to push back. For one, aggrieved customers can file complaints with their state's Motor Vehicle Commission or the Better Business Bureau. Filing a complaint with a consumer protection agency can also put pressure on the shop to resolve the problem.

If you paid with a credit card, you can also dispute the charge, potentially getting your money back through a chargeback. But in some cases, taking the matter to small claims court is the most effective way to recover the costs.

Incidents like the one Rachel experienced are rare, but they can still cause a lot of headaches. That’s why it’s crucial to act quickly, document everything, and know your options to make sure you’re not left footing the bill for a mistake that wasn’t yours.

Viewers Question What Mechanics Were Doing

Commenters who watched Rachel’s video were just as shocked as she was that a routine inspection could end with her car totaled. Many said the shop should make things right, either with a replacement or some form of reimbursement.

“They absolutely owe you a vehicle,” one woman wrote. 

Another quipped, “So what I’m hearing is ur getting a new car.”

A third added, “Congrats on your 2026 Honda Civic!” while a fourth said, “They better be paying for a new one.”

One viewer even encouraged legal action, writing, “Sue them.”

Some people questioned whether mechanics should even be driving cars during inspections, saying they hadn’t encountered that practice before. “Never in my life had any vehicles test drove for a state inspection,” one man claimed.

Another advised, “They don’t need to drive it for an inspection, lawyer up and sue.”

A third chimed in, “Test drive for an inspection??? They went for a joy ride, girl.”

One commenter who identified as a dealer tech weighed in, explaining that test drives are sometimes a standard procedure.

“Yes, we actually test drive cars often, it’s how we diagnose and verify concerns,” he said. “And then they get driven again after the part replacement. And yes, we drive cars for inspections. Listening for pop, grinds, and other things that shouldn’t be there.”

Motor1 has reached out to Rachel via a direct message on TikTok. We’ll update this if she responds.

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