Does your car still have a warranty, and are you wondering whether the manufacturer will accept a claim after it has been serviced at an independent garage? A visit outside the authorised dealer network does not automatically mean that the entire warranty is lost. Before arranging any work, however, check the warranty document and find out how the garage will document the service.
A manufacturer's warranty is a voluntary commitment. Its scope, the warrantor's obligations and the claims procedure are set out in the warranty statement, so the answer for a particular car depends on the relevant document.
A visit outside the authorised dealer network does not automatically void the warranty
The European Commission states that a manufacturer should not reject a claim relating to a manufacturing defect solely because an independent garage carried out an earlier service or repair, or because a part from the independent aftermarket was used. Choosing a garage does not, by itself, determine the outcome of a claim.
This does not mean that every repair will be accepted. If the reported fault is connected with work that was not carried out properly or with a part that was used, the circumstances of the case and the warranty terms may be relevant.
For example, if a fault unrelated to the work carried out appears after a scheduled service, the fact that the car was serviced outside the authorised dealer network should not be the sole reason for rejecting a claim relating to a manufacturing defect. The assessment may be different if the failure is connected with earlier work or a part that was used.
Check the terms and scope of the service before arranging work
Find the warranty document for your car and check the owner's obligations, the scope of cover and how to report faults. Do not assume that the terms for another model or a standard warranty will be the same as those for your car.
Compare the planned service with the manufacturer's schedule and requirements. If you are unsure what a particular service should include, ask the garage to explain the scope before work begins. Before the visit, check whether the garage has access to the information, tools and procedures needed for the planned work on your car.
Do not reduce the choice of parts to a simple distinction between original and non-original. The European Commission states that using a part from the independent aftermarket should not, by itself, be the sole basis for rejecting a claim relating to a manufacturing defect. However, check your car's documentation for any requirements and agree with the garage which parts and materials will be used.
- Before the visit, check the service schedule and requirements in your car's documentation.
- Agree with the garage on the planned work and the type of parts and materials to be used.
Keep documents to help reconstruct the service history
After a service, keep documents that show what was done to the car. An invoice alone may not describe all the work in detail, so ask for the tasks carried out and the parts and materials used to be listed. Keep the job sheet and any other documents that confirm the service history as well.
Make sure services are carried out in line with the manufacturer's requirements, including the specified intervals. Documents help show the history of work, but do not determine whether a particular claim will be accepted.
For a scheduled service, you can compare the required scope with the on offer. Before approving the work, give the garage the requirements set out in your car's documentation.
- Keep the invoice and job sheet.
- Ask for a description of the work carried out and a list of the parts and materials used.
- Keep the documents with your service history.
Check a repair refusal against the fault and warranty
If the manufacturer refuses a warranty repair, ask for reasons that refer to the reported fault and the warranty terms. Check whether a link has been identified between the failure and earlier work or a part that was used, whether the refusal is based solely on the fact that an independent garage carried out the service, and which warranty document has been applied.
Report the fault in line with the procedure described in the warranty and provide the invoices, job sheets and service history documents you have kept. The European Commission's guidance explains its approach to competition rules in the motor vehicle sector, but does not replace the law or an assessment of an individual case. This article does not determine how a specific agreement should be interpreted.
A manufacturer's warranty and statutory claims against the seller for lack of conformity with the contract are separate forms of protection. The warranty does not exclude these statutory remedies, so if there is a problem, check who you should contact and which procedure to use.
What to ask the garage
Before leaving your car, ask for clear details of the planned work and the documents you will receive afterwards. Do not base your decision solely on an assurance that the warranty will be 'preserved', as the garage cannot determine in advance how the manufacturer will assess a future claim.
- Which tasks from the manufacturer's service schedule are included in this visit? Ask for an itemised scope and compare it with your car's documentation.
- Which parts and materials will be used? Ask for their type to be recorded in the service documents.
- Will I receive an invoice or job sheet describing the work and the parts used? Agree this before the service begins.
- If I am reporting a fault, what will the diagnosis be based on? Ask for an explanation of the findings relating to the reported problem.
