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Warranty servicing

Hi,


I believe the answer is yes but wanted confirmation.


Ive got a new car which will be due its 1st service soon. Do I need to have it serviced by the manufacter dealership or can any VAT ( I trust ) do the same work?


Would that have any comeback on the warranty or wiggle room by the dealer if anything goes wrong during the warranty period?


Cheers.
«1

Comments

  • Car_54
    Car_54 Posts: 8,697 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    So long as it's serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's specs and using genuine parts then the warranty shouldn't be affected.


    However .... you're unlikely to get the benefit of the doubt in borderline cases, nor to benefit from any goodwill or out-of-warranty claims.


    In recent years, I've found that the franchised dealers' prices for routine services have been very competitive.
  • Bigphil1474
    Bigphil1474 Posts: 3,066 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Under EU law, all new cars have to come with a 2 year warranty and the manufacturer cannot specify where you have that service done -
    https://www.thecarexpert.co.uk/new-car-warranty-servicing/


    Just looks like any garage you take it to has to follow the manufacturers schedule and standards to maintain the warranty.
  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 21,095 Forumite
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    get written proof that they have used genuine parts
  • daveyjp
    daveyjp Posts: 13,203 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    More info needed, in particular how you paid for the car. Is it yours or on a PCP?
  • Having gone to the expense of a new car I would have thought the downsides of having services in its early years outside of the franchised dealerships would outweigh the cost savings.
  • UncleZen
    UncleZen Posts: 843 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    The dealer will/may update software in the various ECU's that on non-franchised servicer wont be able to do.
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    There's three factors to consider.

    First is that it is possible that the warranty is split into two parts - first is a manufacturer-backed warranty, to which the EU block exemption rules apply. The remainder may be dealer-backed, to which it doesn't.

    Second is that if the car is not owned by you (leased or PCPd), the owner - the finance house - may well penalise you for non-franchise servicing on handback.

    Third is, as has been suggested above, out-of-warranty goodwill.
  • dogshome
    dogshome Posts: 3,878 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Main Dealer Service pricing is negotiable !

    Like the OP I have a new car that has just come up for it's 1st year service.
    By good fortune, another main dealer franchise for the mark opened last Summer just 7 miles from where I live, whilst the supplying dealer is 24 miles away.


    Phone call to supply dealer - Cost £204
    Phone call to nearer dealer - Cost£186
    2nd call to supply dealer - Cost £168
  • The car is a new sandero. Bought by loan from Halifax.

    One of the main reasons is I trust the garage who are right at the top of my road as opposed to chasing about for a day with dealer.

    I got the 5 year warranty included as part of the purchase.
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    So three years' manufacturer warranty, plus years 4 and 5 (maximum 60k miles) aftermarket warranty. It looks as if the wording is the same in both...
    Servicing

    The Vehicle must be serviced according to approved Dacia standards as described to the Customer in the Owner's Handbook in order not to risk invalidating the Warranty should an incident be due to the lack of or quality of servicing
    The big difference is that onus will be on you to prove it in the event of a dispute.
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