Manufacturers Warranty - New Car

[Fanriffic]

Do you have to take your new car to the same manufacturer to keep the manufacturers warranty valid?
Can you take it to an independent garage for a service and just get them to stamp the service log book?

[Baldric]

No.

Yes, so long as they use OE Parts.

[gingejbee]

Yes, but they must use "approved" parts and follow the manufacturers' schedule fully.

[tonyav]

They also have to be VAT registered for some strange reason.

[Fanriffic]

Thanks Baldric and gingejbee. I always wondered about that. I always find that the dealerships rip you off by finding 'phantom faults'.
So as long as the wee garage uses Original Parts, everything should be rinky dinky doo.

:o)

[kjn2]

Plus as tonyav stated the garage must be VAT registered.

[MantaRay]

I'd use a franchised dealer while the vehicle is under warranty.

[TWR]

As said, also the Mileage stated / date. they will do anything to cop out.

[bhg481]

So you've spent thousands of pounds on a new car, which is depreciating at thousands of pounds a year, apart from all the other running costs, and you're going to save a few quid by having it serviced at other than a franchised dealer and risking losing the warranty. Right!

[FrogNog]

You won't invalidate your warranty by paying less than the extortionate prices charged by the main dealers bhg. That's just scaremongering.
Under block exemption rules you are allowed to take the care elsewhere with no effect on your warranty as long as you use approved parts and the garage is VAT registered, as others have said.

http://iautouk.com/car-block-exemption-laws/

[Hopkirk]

So you are happy to pay main stealers prices when you don't have to, Bhg?

I would add that for many it can be far more convenient to use a local garage than go across town to the franchised dealer.

[TWR]

Hi Bhj, I can understand Fanriffic's enquiry, my BIL Used to use his cars dealership as he did not think he could get it done elsewhere & keep the warranty, I mentioned the VAT Reg Garage where I get my car tested on the Market ( I think you know Tyreman?) he cut his bill's from £500 (Yes) £500 in half, to point out regards the VAT side of it, Dealers will not recognise NON VAT Garages in a claim, they look at it as if any Tom Dick Harry has been toying with the car, VAT Reg Garages are trained.

[bhg481]

I'm well aware of what the rules say. This need not stop a manufacturer "wriggling" if there is a major problem with a car still under warranty and dragging a claim out over several months. The extra servicing costs over the period of a warranty are trivial compared with all the other costs of motoring.

[gingejbee]

I have to agree with bhg....I know the rules...but manufacturers are a canny bunch when it comes to avoiding warranty claims and they are less likely to "try it on" if a franchised garage was used for servicing.

[TWR]

The difference to a dealer to X servicing the is the Dealers name, if X has trained Mechanics or Technicians as they are now called, they would find that if it was taken to court, they would not have a leg to stand on.

[bhg481]

You're dead right TWR - I'd rather just not risk the bother of having to go to court.

[gingejbee]

...anyway, my first three years' servicing is "free" at the dealers...so, no contest there!

[TWR]

They have completely cleared Barkers Site now Bhj, the should start the footing very shortly.

[bhg481]

TWR - yes I spotted on the Advertiser web site, going to be a LIDL or ALDI.

PS We're hijacking again.

[TWR]

I was just going to say that, sorry Fan.

[ToraToraTora]

No and Yes, this was one of the rare things the EU did to help out the consumer. Sadly though the rules are so strict that it is almost impossible to stop them welching on the warranty if you doi this and later an issue arises.