AUTO REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE COST THE CONSUMER AN ESTIMATED $20 TO $25 BILLION ANNUALLY. YET, A GREAT PERCENTAGE OF THIS IS FOR FRAUDULENT OR INCOMPETENT REPAIR WORK. ONE MICHIGAN STUDY FOUND 75 PERCENT OF AUTO DEALERSHIPS TO BE INCOMPETENT, DISHONEST, OR BOTH. THE APPROACH MOST FREQUENTLY PROPOSED BY STATES TO DEAL WITH AUTO REPAIR ABUSE IS TO REQUIRE LICENSING OF REPAIR SHOPS OR MECHANICS. THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THIS APPROACH, HOWEVER. THE AUTO REPAIR REGULATIONS OF CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, NEW JERSEY, AND OTHER STATES ARE DESCRIBED TO ILLUSTRATE THEIR BENEFITS. THE CONTRASTING APPROACHES TO AUTO REPAIR FRAUD BY VARIOUS STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL ARE PRESENTED. SOME ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON THE MICHIGAN AUTO REPAIR ACT FOR THE LEEWAY IT OFFERS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN PROSECUTING FRAUDULENT AND INCOMPETENT REPAIR PRACTICES....BDS