Version 2.0 · Effective September 22, 2026 (Version 2.0 changes the Privacy Policy only — the optional Get-offers switch; the Terms below are unchanged from 1.0.)
Draft for attorney review. Bracketed items — [COMPANY LEGAL NAME], [ADDRESS], [PHONE], [EMAIL], [COUNTY] — must be filled in before this goes live. This draft follows the shape of published U.S. marketplace terms and is written to be governed by California law. It has not been reviewed by a lawyer. See the notes at the end of this file.
Service On Scene is an app that connects people who need help with a vehicle ("Drivers") with independent mechanics and repair shops who offer that help ("Providers"). Service On Scene is a technology platform. We are not a repair shop, we do not employ Providers, we do not perform, supervise or guarantee any repair, and we do not handle payment. Every repair is a deal between you and the other user, and payment goes directly from the Driver to the Provider.
These Terms contain an arbitration agreement and class action waiver (Section 19) that affect your legal rights, and a release of claims (Section 18). You can opt out of arbitration within 30 days of first accepting these Terms — Section 19.9 says how.
By creating an account, tapping "I agree," or using the app, you accept these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you don't agree, don't use Service On Scene.
1.1 The company. Service On Scene is operated by [COMPANY LEGAL NAME], a [California limited liability company] ("Service On Scene," "we," "us"). Our address is [ADDRESS]. You can reach us at [EMAIL] or [PHONE].
1.2 Eligibility. You must be at least 18 years old and able to form a binding contract to use Service On Scene. By using the app you confirm that you are. We do not knowingly allow anyone under 18 to create an account, and we delete accounts we learn belong to minors.
1.3 Your role. You use Service On Scene as a Driver, as a Provider (a mechanic or a shop), or as a technician working under a shop's account. Sections 4 and 5 add role-specific terms. A shop that adds technicians accepts these Terms on the technicians' behalf and is responsible for their use of the app.
1.4 Changes to these Terms. We may update these Terms. If a change is material, we will tell you in the app or by email at least 14 days before it takes effect and ask you to accept the new version; for other changes, the updated Terms apply when we post them with a new version number and effective date. If you don't agree to a change, stop using the app and, if you like, close your account. Your continued use after a change takes effect means you accept it. Changes do not apply to a dispute that arose before the change.
2.1 A marketplace. Service On Scene lets Drivers describe a problem, see nearby Providers, request help, compare quotes, book a time, message, track an arrival, sign a service agreement, and leave a review; and lets Providers list what they do, receive requests, quote, and record what was done. That is the whole of what we provide: software, and the records it keeps.
2.2 Providers are independent. Providers are independent businesses. They are not our employees, agents, partners, joint venturers or franchisees. Providers decide whether to go online, which requests to accept or decline, what to charge, how to do the work, what tools and parts to use, and when to work. We do not train, supervise, direct or control them, and we do not provide their tools, vehicles, parts or insurance. Nothing in these Terms creates an employment or agency relationship between Service On Scene and any user.
2.3 We are not an automotive repair dealer. Service On Scene is not registered with the California Bureau of Automotive Repair as an Automotive Repair Dealer, and does not need to be, because we do not perform, offer or sell repairs. Any repair is offered and performed solely by the Provider, who is responsible for holding every license, registration, permit and insurance the law requires of them (see Section 5.2).
2.4 What we do not guarantee. We do not verify, and do not guarantee, the identity, skill, licensing, insurance, honesty, punctuality, safety or work of any user, except to the limited extent Section 6 describes. Ratings, reviews, badges and the word "Verified" reflect information users gave us or checks we describe; they are not a warranty. We do not inspect vehicles or work. You are responsible for deciding whether to work with another user.
2.5 Not an emergency service. Service On Scene is not a substitute for police, fire, ambulance or roadside emergency services. If you are in danger, injured, or in an unsafe spot, call 911 first.
2.6 Availability. Providers are shown when they choose to be online. We do not promise that any Provider will be available, accept your request, arrive by any ETA, or be able to fix your vehicle. Arrival times, "typical prices," maintenance reminders and recall information are estimates or third-party data (Section 13) and can be wrong.
3.1 One person, one account. You must give accurate, current information and keep it that way. You may hold one account per role. Don't share your login, and tell us right away at [EMAIL] if you think your account has been used without permission. You are responsible for everything done through your account until you do.
3.2 Identity and verification. We may ask for identification, a photo of you, licenses, insurance certificates or other documents, and may check them ourselves or through a third party, but we are not obligated to and our checks are limited (Section 6). You consent to those checks. We may show verification badges to other users.
3.3 Suspension and termination. We may suspend or close your account at any time, with or without notice, if we believe you have broken these Terms, the law, or put anyone at risk — or for any other reason, or none, as allowed by law. You may close your account at any time in the app or by writing to [EMAIL]. Sections that by their nature should survive (payment owed, content licenses, disclaimers, limitations, release, indemnity, dispute resolution) survive termination.
4.1 Your request. When you request help you are asking independent Providers to consider doing work for you. A Provider's acceptance, quote, or your acceptance of a quote forms a contract between you and that Provider, not with us. You must describe the problem truthfully, give an accurate location, and answer the Provider's questions honestly.
4.2 You must have authority over the vehicle. You confirm that you own the vehicle or have the owner's permission to have it worked on, and that you are at least 18.
4.3 Location and access. You must provide a location that is legal and reasonably safe for the work (level surface, off the traffic lane where possible, access permitted by the property owner). If a Provider reasonably judges the location unsafe or unsuitable, they may decline or stop, and you may owe any call-out or minimum fee the Provider disclosed.
4.4 Price, quotes and the service agreement. Prices are set by Providers, not by us. A quote or price you approve in the app, and any extra work you approve line by line, become the amount you owe that Provider. For every approved price the app prepares a Service Agreement that you and the Provider sign electronically; it records what is being done and for how much. You agree to pay the Provider the agreed amount directly, when the work is finished, by a method you and the Provider both accept. Service On Scene does not collect, hold, guarantee or refund that money and is not a party to the Service Agreement.
4.5 Extra work. Nothing is added to your bill unless you approve it in the app. If a Provider tells you outside the app that more is needed, ask them to send it in the app before agreeing.
4.6 Diagnosis and limits of repair. A diagnosis is a professional opinion; it may not find every problem, and some faults only show up through a process of elimination. Old plastic, rubber and composite parts can break when disturbed. Providers are responsible for their own work and their own warranty (Section 4.8); Service On Scene is not.
4.7 Cancellation. You can cancel a request before a Provider arrives. Providers may set a call-out fee that applies if you cancel after they have arrived, or if the location or vehicle is not as described; that fee is shown on their profile and in the app. Work already done and parts already installed at your request are payable.
4.8 Warranties on work and parts. Any guarantee on work comes from the Provider (shown on their profile as their "Guarantee"), and any warranty on parts comes from the part's manufacturer or seller. Service On Scene gives no warranty on any repair, part or diagnosis.
4.9 Your conduct on the job. Treat Providers courteously and lawfully, keep pets and children clear of the work, and do not ask a Provider to do anything unsafe or illegal.
4.10 Receipts and records. The app keeps a summary, receipt and (where applicable) service history for each job. Keep your own copies; we may delete records after the retention period in the Privacy Policy.
5.1 You are an independent business. You use Service On Scene as an independent contractor and business, not as our employee. You are free to work for anyone, to use any other platform, to set your own prices, hours, service area and services, and to accept or refuse any request. You supply your own tools, vehicle, parts, insurance and staff. You are responsible for your own taxes, permits, business registration and for reporting your income. We do not withhold taxes or provide benefits. You will not represent yourself as an employee, agent or representative of Service On Scene.
5.2 Licenses and the law — you must be legal to do the work. You represent and warrant that you hold, and will keep current, every license, registration, permit, certification and insurance that the law where you work requires for the work you offer, and that you will follow every law that applies to that work. In California this includes registration as an Automotive Repair Dealer with the Bureau of Automotive Repair (Business and Professions Code § 9884.6) — mobile mechanics included, with a registration for each service vehicle — and the BAR's estimate, authorization, work-order and invoice rules (16 CCR Article 7, "Write It Right"), including giving the customer a written estimate before starting, getting authorization before exceeding it, itemizing the invoice, and returning replaced parts on request. The app's quotes, approvals and Service Agreement are tools that can help you meet these duties; they do not replace them, and compliance is your responsibility. You must enter your license or registration number in your profile where the app asks for it, and update it when it changes. We may suspend Providers who cannot show they are properly licensed and insured.
5.3 Insurance. You must carry insurance appropriate to your work (at minimum, general/garage liability and, for mobile work, commercial auto coverage), and you are solely responsible for damage or injury arising from your work. Service On Scene does not insure you, your customers or their vehicles.
5.4 Your profile and quotes. Everything on your profile (photo, name, business name, licenses, certifications, services, rates, portfolio) must be true and about you. Quotes must be honest and complete. You may not charge a Driver anything you did not disclose in the app before doing the work, except as the Service Agreement allows.
5.5 Your work. You will do only the work the Driver approved, competently, safely and lawfully, using appropriate parts; will not misrepresent what is needed or what was done; will not leave a vehicle in a less safe condition than you found it without telling the Driver; and will honor any guarantee you advertised.
5.6 Shops and technicians. A shop account may add technicians. The shop is responsible for its technicians' compliance with these Terms and the law, for their licensing and insurance, and for work done under the shop's name.
5.7 Location sharing. While you are online, the app shares your live location with us and, during a job, with the Driver, so they can see your arrival. Go offline when you don't want to be found.
5.8 Payment from Drivers. You collect payment directly from the Driver. Service On Scene does not process, guarantee or collect it. The app records the amount agreed and a signed Service Agreement, which you may use as evidence in a dispute with the Driver, but we do not chase debts on your behalf.
5.9 No kickbacks or steering. You will not pay or accept fees for referrals that the law prohibits, and will not steer Drivers to services they do not need.
Today Service On Scene verifies an email address (the "Verified" badge), shows certifications and licenses that Providers upload, and may mark a document "verified" after a person on our team looks at it. We do not run criminal background checks, driving-record checks or license-status checks unless we say so in the app, and even where we do, a check is a snapshot that can be incomplete or out of date. Ratings and reviews are other users' opinions. Use your own judgment, and report anything that worries you (Section 9).
Service On Scene is currently free to use for Drivers and Providers. If we introduce fees (for example a subscription or a per-job fee for Providers), we will tell you in advance in the app, and the fees will be shown before you incur them. All payments for repairs are between Driver and Provider (Section 4.4).
8.1 Messages, calls and texts. By creating an account you agree that Service On Scene and other users may contact you through the app, by email, by push notification and — at the phone number you give us — by call or text message, including automated texts, for things like job status, quotes, reminders, safety and account notices. Message and data rates may apply. You can stop texts by replying STOP, and turn off notification types in the app, but some service messages (for example about an active job or your account) may continue while you use the app. If you give us someone else's number (for example a trusted contact) you confirm you have their permission.
8.2 Your phone number. During a job your phone number may be shown to the other user so they can reach you. Use the app's messaging if you prefer not to share it.
Tell us at [EMAIL] (or through the app's report option) within 24 hours about any accident, injury, property damage, threat, harassment or other incident connected with a job, and cooperate with our review. We may share information with law enforcement or insurers when the law allows or requires it. We may remove users from the platform based on safety concerns without proving them.
10.1 Your content. You keep what you own in the photos, text, reviews, profile details and other material you post ("Content"). You give Service On Scene a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable license to host, store, reproduce, display, adapt (for example resize or crop) and distribute your Content in order to run, promote and improve the service — including showing a finished-work photo in a Provider's portfolio when the Driver has allowed it in the app. This license ends when you delete the Content or your account, except for copies in backups for a limited time, Content others have already re-shared, and records we must keep by law.
10.2 Rules. Content must be yours to post, true, and lawful. No harassment, hate, threats, sexual content, private information about others, spam, malware, or anything that infringes someone's rights. Reviews must be about your own real experience on a real job. No fake, paid or traded reviews, and no threatening a bad review to get a discount.
10.3 Our rights. We may (but need not) review, hide, edit for format, or remove any Content, and may keep or disclose Content as needed to comply with law, enforce these Terms, or protect users. We are not responsible for Content posted by users (47 U.S.C. § 230).
10.4 Feedback. If you send us ideas or suggestions, we may use them without obligation to you.
You will not: use the app for anything illegal; harass, threaten, discriminate against or endanger anyone; impersonate anyone or misstate your affiliation; create accounts for others or for a banned user; scrape, copy, reverse-engineer, interfere with or overload the app or its servers; access other users' data; use the app to build a competing service or to train machine-learning systems; post someone's private information; or bypass any safety, verification or moderation feature.
The app, its design, code, text, graphics, logo and the name "Service On Scene" belong to Service On Scene or its licensors. We grant you a limited, revocable, non-transferable license to install and use the app on devices you own or control, for its intended purpose, under these Terms. All other rights are reserved. Copyright complaints: send a notice meeting 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3) to our copyright agent at [EMAIL], [ADDRESS].
The app uses third-party services and data, including map tiles and address search from OpenStreetMap and Nominatim, road routing from OSRM, vehicle recall and VIN data from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Apple App Store and Google Play, and your phone's map and dialer apps. Those services have their own terms, and we are not responsible for their accuracy or availability. Recall, VIN and maintenance information is provided for convenience only, may be incomplete or outdated, and is not advice from a mechanic.
Our Privacy Policy explains what we collect (including precise location while you use the app and, for Providers, while online), how we use and share it, how long we keep it, and your rights, including under the California Consumer Privacy Act. By using the app you agree to it. In particular, you understand that Service On Scene creates and sells de-identified, aggregated data derived from jobs on the platform (repair prices, vehicle problems and parts, demand by area and time) that cannot reasonably identify you, that we do not sell or share your personal information, and that the controls in Profile → Your data let you turn off usage analytics, keep your jobs out of research datasets, and record a "Do Not Sell or Share" and "Limit Sensitive Information" choice that we will honor.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THE LAW ALLOWS, SERVICE ON SCENE PROVIDES THE APP "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE APP WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE OR ERROR-FREE, THAT ANY PROVIDER WILL BE AVAILABLE, LICENSED, INSURED, COMPETENT OR HONEST, THAT ANY REPAIR WILL BE DONE OR DONE PROPERLY, THAT ANY DRIVER WILL PAY, OR THAT ANY ESTIMATE, ETA, PRICE RANGE, RECALL, REMINDER OR OTHER INFORMATION IS ACCURATE. ALL REPAIRS, PARTS AND RELATED SERVICES ARE PROVIDED SOLELY BY PROVIDERS, AND YOU AGREE THAT ANY CLAIM ABOUT THEM IS AGAINST THE PROVIDER, NOT SERVICE ON SCENE. Some states do not allow certain warranty disclaimers, so parts of this section may not apply to you.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THE LAW ALLOWS, SERVICE ON SCENE AND ITS OWNERS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, LOSS OF USE, PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE APP, ANY JOB, ANY PROVIDER OR DRIVER, OR THESE TERMS — EVEN IF WE WERE TOLD IT WAS POSSIBLE. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS TOGETHER WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS (US $100) OR THE AMOUNT YOU PAID SERVICE ON SCENE (NOT AMOUNTS PAID TO A PROVIDER) IN THE TWELVE MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM.
These limits do not apply to liability that cannot be limited under the law of your state — including, under California Civil Code § 1668, liability for our own fraud, willful injury, or violation of law, and, under California law, our gross negligence — and do not limit your rights as a consumer that cannot be waived.
You will defend, indemnify and hold harmless Service On Scene and its owners, officers, employees, contractors and agents from any claim, demand, loss, liability, damage, cost or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your use of the app; (b) any job, repair, vehicle, part, payment or dispute between you and another user; (c) your Content; (d) your breach of these Terms or of any law, license or regulation (including, for Providers, automotive-repair licensing and consumer-protection laws); or (e) your negligence or misconduct. We may take over the defense of any claim you must indemnify, and you will cooperate.
Service On Scene is not a party to disputes between users. If you have a dispute with another user, you release Service On Scene and its owners, officers, employees, contractors and agents from all claims, demands and damages of every kind, known or unknown, arising out of or connected with that dispute, to the extent the law allows. If you are a California resident you waive California Civil Code § 1542, which says: "A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release and that, if known by him or her, would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released party."
Please read this section carefully. It requires you and Service On Scene to resolve most disputes through individual arbitration, not in court, and it waives class actions and jury trials.
19.1 Talk to us first. Before starting arbitration or a lawsuit, the party with a claim must send the other a written notice describing the claim and the relief sought (to us: [EMAIL] and [ADDRESS], "Attn: Legal"; to you: the email on your account). The parties will try in good faith to resolve it for 60 days. Many problems can be solved this way.
19.2 Agreement to arbitrate. Except as Section 19.4 provides, any dispute, claim or controversy between you and Service On Scene arising out of or relating to these Terms, the app, any job, or your relationship with us — including claims about the scope or enforceability of this Section — will be resolved by binding individual arbitration, not by a judge or jury. This applies to claims that arose before you accepted these Terms.
19.3 The Federal Arbitration Act. This Section is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), and it evidences a transaction involving interstate commerce.
19.4 Exceptions. Either party may (a) bring an individual claim in small claims court, so long as it stays there and stays individual; (b) seek an injunction in court to stop actual or threatened infringement or misuse of intellectual property or data; and (c) bring in court an individual claim of sexual assault or sexual harassment connected with the app. Nothing here prevents you from reporting a concern to a government agency or from seeking relief from one.
19.5 Public injunctive relief (California). If you seek public injunctive relief (relief that primarily benefits the public) under California law, the arbitrator may not award it; that request will be decided by a court after the arbitrator has decided all the arbitrable claims, and the court proceeding is stayed until then. Everything else in the dispute still goes to arbitration.
19.6 Rules and administrator. The arbitration will be run by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Consumer Arbitration Rules (or, for a Provider whose claim relates to their business, its Commercial Arbitration Rules), as modified by this Section; the rules are at www.adr.org. If the AAA is unavailable, the parties will agree on another administrator or a court will appoint one. A single neutral arbitrator decides the case. Hearings for California residents take place in the California county where you live, or by video or phone if you prefer; claims under US $25,000 are decided on written submissions unless the arbitrator or a party asks for a hearing. The arbitrator can award the same individual relief a court could, must follow the law, and must give a written decision. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court with jurisdiction.
19.7 Fees. Filing, administrative and arbitrator fees follow the AAA rules. Where those rules or the law require it, Service On Scene pays them; we will pay all AAA fees for a Driver's claim under US $10,000 unless the arbitrator finds the claim frivolous. Each side pays its own lawyers unless the law or the arbitrator's award says otherwise. Service On Scene will pay arbitration fees it owes within 30 days of the invoice, as California Code of Civil Procedure §§ 1281.97–1281.98 require.
19.8 No class actions, no jury. You and Service On Scene each agree that claims may be brought only in an individual capacity, not as a plaintiff or class member in any class, consolidated, collective or representative action, and that the arbitrator may not consolidate claims of different users or preside over any form of class or representative proceeding. If a claim proceeds in court for any reason, each party waives a jury trial. Only a court, not an arbitrator, may decide whether this class-waiver paragraph is enforceable; if it is found unenforceable for a particular claim, that claim (and only that claim) is severed and proceeds in court, stayed until the arbitrable claims are resolved.
19.9 Your right to opt out. You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by emailing [EMAIL] with the subject "Arbitration opt-out," your full name and the email on your account, within 30 days after you first accept these Terms. Opting out does not affect any other part of these Terms and does not affect a prior arbitration agreement you accepted.
19.10 Mass arbitration. If 25 or more similar arbitration demands are filed against Service On Scene by or with the help of the same law firm or group within 90 days, the parties agree that the AAA's Mass Arbitration Supplementary Rules apply, that the demands will be handled in staged batches of no more than 25, that claims not in a batch are tolled while earlier batches proceed, and that a process arbitrator will decide procedural issues common to the batches. If a court finds any part of this paragraph unenforceable, the affected demands proceed in court, individually, and the rest of this Section stays in force.
19.11 Changes; survival; severability. If we change this Section after you accepted it, you may reject the change by emailing [EMAIL] within 30 days of the change taking effect; the prior version then continues to apply to you. This Section survives termination of your account. Except as Section 19.8 says, if any part of this Section is found unenforceable, the rest remains in effect.
These Terms and any dispute between you and Service On Scene are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules, and by the Federal Arbitration Act for Section 19. For any claim that is not subject to arbitration, you and Service On Scene consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in [COUNTY] County, California, except that either party may bring a small-claims action in the county where you live.
21.1 Consumer notice (California Civil Code § 1789.3). Service On Scene is provided by [COMPANY LEGAL NAME], [ADDRESS], [PHONE], [EMAIL]. Service On Scene currently charges users no fees for the app; any repair charges are set and collected by the Provider. If you have a complaint about the app or want more information, contact us at [EMAIL] or [PHONE]. You may also contact the Complaint Assistance Unit of the Division of Consumer Services of the California Department of Consumer Affairs in writing at 1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N 112, Sacramento, CA 95834, or by telephone at (800) 952-5210 or (916) 445-1254.
21.2 Automotive repair (Bureau of Automotive Repair). In California, automotive repair for compensation must be performed by a registered Automotive Repair Dealer. You can check a Provider's registration and file a complaint about a repair with the Bureau of Automotive Repair at www.bar.ca.gov or (800) 952-5210. Service On Scene is not an Automotive Repair Dealer and is not a party to any repair.
If you downloaded the app from Apple's App Store: these Terms are between you and Service On Scene, not Apple; Apple has no obligation to provide maintenance or support, or to handle any warranty, product-liability, intellectual-property or legal-compliance claim about the app — those are our responsibility to the extent these Terms allow; you must comply with the App Store's terms and any third-party terms that apply; and Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these Terms and may enforce them against you. You confirm you are not in a country under a U.S. embargo or on any U.S. restricted-parties list. Similar terms apply to Google Play under Google's terms.
23.1 Entire agreement. These Terms, the Privacy Policy and any policies we link from the app are the whole agreement between you and Service On Scene about the app, and replace any earlier agreement. A Service Agreement between users is separate and does not bind Service On Scene.
23.2 Severability; no waiver. If a court or arbitrator finds part of these Terms unenforceable, the rest still applies. Our not enforcing a term is not a waiver of it.
23.3 Assignment. You may not transfer these Terms or your account. We may transfer them to an affiliate or a successor to our business.
23.4 Electronic dealings. You agree to receive notices, agreements and disclosures electronically (in the app or by email), and that electronic signatures and records — including your typed name on a Service Agreement — are as valid as paper ones. Notices to you are effective when we send them to the email or phone on your account or post them in the app. Notices to us go to [EMAIL] and [ADDRESS].
23.5 Force majeure. We are not liable for delays or failures caused by events outside our reasonable control.
23.6 Contact. Questions about these Terms: [EMAIL], [PHONE], [ADDRESS].
Service On Scene