Do I have to use a Main Agent for service?

Mrs_pbradley936

I have a year old car and the Main Agent near me has closed. It needs a service and I want to know if I will void the new car warranty if I do not use a Main Agent. There is a garage near me that does very good work and is licensed for MOTs - I have used them before and always been pleased. However if I will void the warranty then I will take the car further afield.

Can anyone offer an opinion?
Thanks.

pappa_golf

providing the car is serviced with "genuine" parts and the garage is VAT registered , you should have no problems

neilmcl

^ as above, although I would say that not having a new car serviced at a main dealer would mean you're likely to miss out on any recall or service notices that come along, also you'll unlikely to receive any goodwill from the manufacturer should you have faults outside the warranty period.

Also, I wouldn't generally buy a car less than 5 years old from someone that doesn't come with a full dealer service history, but that's just me.

Strider590

pappa_golf wrote: »

providing the car is serviced with "genuine" parts and the garage is VAT registered , you should have no problems

neilmcl wrote: »

^ as above, although I would say that not having a new car serviced at a main dealer would mean you're likely to miss out on any recall or service notices that come along, also you'll unlikely to receive any goodwill from the manufacturer should you have faults outside the warranty period.

Also, I wouldn't generally buy a car less than 5 years old from someone that doesn't come with a full dealer service history, but that's just me.

Be careful, if you don't actually own the car, your contract (lease, pcp, etc etc) may stipulate that you must use a main dealer. If you don't actually own the car, you can't expect to be able to go elsewhere for servicing.

neilmcl

Strider590 wrote: »

Be careful, if you don't actually own the car, your contract (lease, pcp, etc etc) may stipulate that you must use a main dealer. If you don't actually own the car, you can't expect to be able to go elsewhere for servicing.

^^This as well, good point.

JJ_Egan

Personal opinion if its the manufactures warranty it will be void .
However that's based upon a strong possibility that the terms of the manufactures warranty require authorized service .You need to check that and the length of any such warranty from the manufacturer .

bigjl

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Personal opinion if its the manufactures warranty it will be void .
However that's based upon a strong possibility that the terms of the manufactures warranty require authorized service .You need to check that and the length of any such warranty from the manufacturer .

If you use decent quality parts and fluids then Block Exemption Applies.

But I think Kia are going to be awkward.

As my Picanto had the first service done at an independant Garage.

Basically an oil and filter change.

The Kia Garage where I had the second year service done put in writing the car had a non standard oil filter.

The only reason they can have for doing that is an attempt to invalidate the warranty.

They also said it had a non standard battery.

Now unless Kia make filters and batteries then what the less than intelligent Tech meant was non Kia branded. The filter was a decent one and the battery was replaced by the dealer I bought it from and it is brand new.

It wasn't the filter from a Ford Mondeo and the battery from a Bus.

neilmcl

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Personal opinion if its the manufactures warranty it will be void .
However that's based upon a strong possibility that the terms of the manufactures warranty require authorized service .You need to check that and the length of any such warranty from the manufacturer .

Luckily the reality doesn't match your personal opinion. Block exemption rules apply and a warranty cannot be voided if an independent uses OEM or equivalent quality parts and the service is carried out as per manufacturer recommendations.

daveyjp

My advice is get prices and see if the independent garage is so much cheaper to potentially void a warranty.

Main dealers may ask for extensive proof the car was serviced in line with manufacturer recommendation (including proof of OEM parts being fitted) and that could also include evidence of software updates.

s_b

difficult one to answer because if it was say a peugeot then i would definitely stay within the dealer network for when the chocolate fireguard breaks and you claim under warranty for it
only you can make the choice
wonder why dealer shut of course (scratches head and skuffles off...)

khcomp

Under EU law, you can't be forced to use a main dealer, but for the sake of the car's resale value, and in the hope that a 12 month service shouldn't be very expensive anyway, I'd use one - ring around, I bought a used Honda years ago from a main dealer about 80 miles from me, and they used to collect & deliver it for servicing without charge - find your nearest main agent, give them a ring and ask.