End of car guarantee advice needed, service and first MOT

Lady_K

Car guarantee ends early January and wondering if there is anything that needs to be done before it ends?

Does it have to be serviced by the manufacturer (VW) to complete the book properly or can it be done at another garage?

When exactly does the MOT have to be carried out, can it be the date the warranty ends or should it be earlier?

I'm sure I saw Martin on tv a few years ago advising to do something before the warranty ends in case of anything being wrong thats covered by the warranty so it can get repaired free before it ends but I cant remember what it was

Hintza

Assuming you have had all the other services carried out by VAG then I suggest you do this one with them too.

MOT can be carried out a month before it is due.

Personally I would have the MOT done before the warranty runs out as this might pick up some problems not associated with a service. But if you bought from new the MOT will run out before you bought the car (or on the same day).

Don't leave it all until the last minute.

Inner_Zone

First MOT is due three years from first registration, look at the V5 for the registration date. And as above get it in before.

Lady_K

It was bought on 11th January 2010, although it might not be the same date as the registration, never thought of that so will have to check on the reg date. I know its classed as 2009 not 2010.

Is it best to have the MOT done before the service or vice versa?

Its probably best to take it to Volkswagon for the service this time then.

Tiddlywinks

Book it into the garage just a couple of weeks before the first MOT is due - you say it's a 2009 car not a 2010 so check your log book for date of first registration - this'll be the relevant date for your MOT.

When booking, ask the garage to do a full mechanical check and explain that you want to make sure there are no faults before the warranty runs out - in my experience, most main dealers are more than happy to do this.

Get the service and MOT done at the same time. The garage normally does the service and then gets the MOT done after that.

Hintza

If I was you I would try and get it booked in before Christmas.

As said before check you V5C for date of first registration, I bet it was registered before 31 December.

Lady_K

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Book it into the garage just a couple of weeks before the first MOT is due - you say it's a 2009 car not a 2010 so check your log book for date of first registration - this'll be the relevant date for your MOT.

When booking, ask the garage to do a full mechanical check and explain that you want to make sure there are no faults before the warranty runs out - in my experience, most main dealers are more than happy to do this.

Get the service and MOT done at the same time. The garage normally does the service and then gets the MOT done after that.

Oh so its best to have the service and MOT done at the VW garage then?
I wondered that it might have been best to have the service at VW and the MOT done at the local garage to let an independant party look at it before the warranty ends. I was just worried in case VW might not be so likely to alert to anything that might be expensive before the warranty ends as they would have to pay for it and the local garage might be.

I didnt know that you could ask the VW garage to do a full machanical check when it goes for a service. I thought a service is a set routine check or do you have to pay more for a full machanical check with the service?

steve-L

Lady_K wrote: »

Oh so its best to have the service and MOT done at the VW garage then?
I wondered that it might have been best to have the service at VW and the MOT done at the local garage to let an independant party look at it before the warranty ends. I was just worried in case VW might not be so likely to alert to anything that might be expensive before the warranty ends as they would have to pay for it and the local garage might be.

I didnt know that you could ask the VW garage to do a full machanical check when it goes for a service. I thought a service is a set routine check or do you have to pay more for a full machanical check with the service?

I doubt they personally pay ...... (as in the actual dealers franchise). They probably actually get paid some back payment through head office.... so are probably more inclined to find extra work....

Hintza

I'm with Steve on this, the garage will happily find work if the can bill VW for it.

Lady_K

Hintza wrote: »

I'm with Steve on this, the garage will happily find work if the can bill VW for it.

That sounds good for the service as it would still be under warranty but its always a concern that they may fail something on the mot if they want to find work.

Its actually my daughters car, she always had used cars before this but got a new one when the scrappage deal was on so shes new to this.
She has always used the council garage for mots as they only test and dont do the work, they are really trustworthy. Unfortunately she now needs something a little closer due to working long hours.

The VW garage have quoted £149 service and £49 mot, they did state though that this would be an ordinary service as they dont do the big service until 4 years and that is £279 plus the £49 for the mot, thats a big jump.
He did say that she could pay to have the bigger service if she wanted to although he seemed to think it wasnt really necessary, so is it really worth it to have that one a year early?

On the other hand the local garage is 5 mins walk away and hes proved to be a very honest man over the years, he is well trusted and popular in the area.
He has quoted £130 for the service or £140 for both service and mot at the same time. When asked about a service with a full mechanical check he said it is the most expensive full service. Is that normal for such a big difference in prices between the VW garage above and an ordinary garage?
If she used this one and they found any faults covered by the warranty would they have to do the repairs there or would she have to take it to the VW garage?

steve-L

You need to check the guarantee.
If you use the local guy and he recommends changing something then I presume you would have to go back to the VW dealer to get this done and then they might or might not get it under warranty?

Most likely, there will not be anything major (but you never know)...

In future you will probably use the local guy so....

Its swings and roundabouts. If you pay the extra now then you might get some pre-emptive work done free.....

Overal, its a bit of a double negative.... in that your hoping they find something to repair whilst under warranty but the best situation is nothing to repair.