Difference between a manufactures warranty and a dealers warranty on a new car

smjxm09

I have noticed that many new cars have a 3 year warranty that starts off as a manufacturers warranty but ends as a dealers warranty.

What are the implications of a dealers warranty and why are cars sometimes sold this way?

forgotmyname

After the manufacturers warranty more failures maybe down to fair wear and tear rather than an unexpected failure.

smjxm09

So when a manufactures warranty becomes a dealers warranty less is covered? Does that also mean if a dealer is covering the warranty they are less likely to change a part if they foot the bill? Also what happens if I take the car to a different dealer?

gilbert_and_sullivan

Presumably the importer/dealer network has stuck their own warranty on to make it appear to most buyers (and their main goal, the fleet/lease market, so 3 years is just enough) that their new car is covered by a proper makers warranty, and to be fair most buyers must believe it because this discussion is seldom heard.

It tells some of us which makers stand by their product long term and which don't, a perusal of servicing schedules (say Toyota compared with some others) might give an inkling who does what.

Mike_J

Manufacturers warranties are covered by the manufacturer. If anything goes wrongs, its the manufacturer who will be sorting it out. These usually cover stuff that the manufacturer deems relates to the build quality of the vehicle. If you move area and have a manufacturer warranty, you simply find another dealership for that manufacturer in your area.

Under contract law though, your initial point of references is the dealer themselves. Your contract is initially with them. Dealers will offer say a 3 year warranty because it keeps you going back to them for at least the next 3 years. It would be very very unusual for a dealer to offer a warranty on a new car for a period longer than the manufacturer warranty. Assuming covered by both warranties, if after 2 years you take a car back with a fault under a dealer warranty they would be perfectly entitled to have the manufacturer fix it under their warranty agreement.

In addition to warranties you also have the backing of law under the SOGA. Question to ask yourself when you are arguing under this (I remember it from when i used to work with car dealerships) if the manufacturer and dealer are offering say a 3 year warranty...how the heck is the car NOT expected to be in good repair for at least 3 years.

As to what is covered by the warranties, this is down to the policy themselves but usually a dealer warranty is unlikely to cover more than the manufacturer. Both warranty types are unlikely to cover for general wear and tear items unless there is a clear fault.

nickcc

New car warranty is with the dealer and used car warranty is usually with an insurer, certainly in the case of my used dealer supplied peugeot.

Nodding_Donkey

If it's a manufacturers warranty dealers will move heaven and earth to get a claim approved. If it's a dealers warranty they will move heaven and earth to deny a claim.

Simples

Tiexen

Nodding_Donkey wrote: »

If it's a manufacturers warranty dealers will move heaven and earth to get a claim approved. If it's a dealers warranty they will move heaven and earth to deny a claim.

Simples

My (Ford) dealer at 2nd service changed a leaking shock that was not covered under warranty at no cost to me as "goodwill" so not all dealers are are like that.

captainawsome

Quoting BMW warrenty (which is one of if not the best manufacturers warrenty out there). First 2 years from new is covered by BMW AG, the 3rd and final year is covered by BMW UK for UK models only. IE you buy a brand new car in France and import it to the UK you will only get 2 years warrenty (in the UK) which will be covered by BMW AG. I imagine most manufacturers operate a similar system, which at the end of the day shouldn't make a difference as long as your car has a manufactures warrenty of some description.