Answer
It depends on what contract you signed when you dropped off the car. he does have the right to hold your car for non-payment..but as for the authorization...it would depend on the circumstances/what you signed/agreed to. he also cannot immediately sell the car...he has a property lien against it..not the right to sell it. i think the right to sell it takes a fairly long period of time to acquire. you also would be entitled to any money beyond what was owed him that the car sold for.
