Car warranties - can an garage perform routine servicing and maintenance?

Do I need to take my car to a main dealership for it’s service?

It’s one of the oldest myths in the industry and one that continues to cause confusion among motorists. So with car warranties – can any garage perform routine maintenance and servicing?

Thousands of new car owners continue to choose main dealerships for their servicing needs every year as opposed to independent garages. Why? Because they fear that using a local garage will somehow jeapodise or invalidate their car warranty.

Warranty

A warranty is a pledge by a manufacturer about the quality and durability of its product. It promises to repair or replace specified defects or malfunctions during the warranty period.

Legislation exists giving motorists the freedom of where they have their routine car maintenance carried out. This choice is a motorist’s consumer right and legally cannot have any adverse effect on their warranty.

Contrary to popular belief, EU Block Exemption legislation has been in existence for several years. It prohibits a manufacturer from forcing a buyer to have their car serviced by their official dealership network.

The legislation means a manufacturer cannot refuse to honour a new car warranty because the owner has simply decided to book in for a service somewhere else.

Adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines

There is one very important stipulation. The manufacturer is entitled to set the servicing schedule and this must be followed in order to safeguard the warranty.

Any servicing or routine maintenance carried out by an independent garage must strictly adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines. In every situation, genuine parts or lubricants specified by the manufacturer must be used and the services must be carried out according to the schedule.

Failure to meet these specifications could invalidate the warranty should a fault arise in the future.

More competitive prices

There are many reasons why a motorist might favour using an independent garage for their servicing. Independent garages usually offer very competitive prices thanks to lower overheads than main dealers. Many offer a personal, local service and work hard to establish trust with their customers over a long period of time.

If you decide to opt for an independent garage to service your new car, you must ensure they are reputable. Check for industry accreditations and whether the business is a member of The Good Garage Scheme.

Keep your receipts

Keep a record of all your receipts and invoices for the servicing carried out. These will provide you with proof that your car has been serviced according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Sometimes a routine health check will uncover problems. If your vehicle requires work covered under the warranty, the manufacturer can insist the work is undertaken by its official dealership. This cannot be negotiated because the manufacturer is paying for the repair work.

Lots of dealerships offer extended warranties once the original warranty expires. These are not always provided by the manufacturer of the vehicle and the terms and conditions could be different.

Ensure you read the small print before committing because such an agreement could tie you to a specific dealership.

I hope you found this article on ‘ Car warranties – can any garage perform routine maintenance and servicing?’ useful. There are many online articles discussing car warranties. If you have any further questions, please call us today here at M&BM Motors on 01375 379401.