Servicing a new car, do you have to get it serviced at a main dealer to comply with your warranty ?

You have the right to take your car to any licenced garage or mechanic for servicing. You must ensure that the servicing is carried out exactly as per the manufacturer’s servicing schedule. This sadly is your responsibility not the garage to explain what you require. This means servicing must be undertaken on time and must use any genuine parts or lubricants specified by the manufacturer.

If you choose to have your car serviced by an independent garage or mechanic, make sure they are reputable. Check they are VAT registered, have public liability insurance and use main dealers for service parts if that is what you need. Keep detailed invoices and receipts for all work done so you have proof the car has been serviced according to schedule. We add the invoice number from our supplier to our records. If there is any dispute we can provide evidence of the supply of parts for your car.

If your car requires repair work under its new car warranty, the manufacturer has the right to insist that this work is undertaken by its official dealerships. In this case the manufacturer is paying for the work so it’s their choice. Of course when you pay for work it’s your choice.

What if it’s not a manufacturer’s new car warranty?

Not all warranties are provided by the vehicle manufacturer. For this reason, you need to be careful.

Extended warranties on a new or a used car warranty are not provided by the manufacturer and are basically aftermarket insurance policies.  Some have different requirements for servicing, some even different to manufacturer requirements. We see some which insist on servicing every 6000 miles for instance. Read the documents and if in doubt we will of course go through the paperwork with you. 

What about cars on PCP ?

It is important to understand that although your new car warranty will not be affected if you service your car outside the dealer network, it may affect your finance agreements.

Some PCP agreements will insist that the car has to be serviced by an approved franchised workshop to maintain the guaranteed future value (GFV). If you want to give the car back at the end of the agreement at the agreed value, you will also be expected to service the car with a dealership.

The theory being car with a full manufacturer service history will be worth more. The GFV may be based on a car with a full manufacturer service history. It should state this in your documents. Again we can go through these with you.

Need more help? 

Drop us an email to info@spannermonkeys.co.uk or give us a call 0191 4698740