Tuesday
Mar192013
Using an Independent Repair Shop for a Car under New Car Warranty
Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 02:31PM We've received questions from our customers and prospective customers about whether their cars can be serviced at an independent repair shop while still under a manufacturer's warranty for a new car and thought that it would be helpful to share our views on this issue.
Most of our customers and prospective customers with this question seem to have an incorrect impression that their warranty will be automatically null and void if they do not use a dealer for scheduled maintenance.
First, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (Federal Lemon Law) protects customers from products that repeatedly fail to meet quality and performance standards and regulates consumer product warranties. A manufacturer's warranty is the manufacturer's stated terms and conditions on their coverage for the products they manufacture. The manufacturer's warranty is, generally, not a service, repair, and maintenance contract for wear and tear on the product from buyer's use. Oil changes, brake pads, and tire rotations are generally not covered by a warranty.
Second, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act generally prohibits "tie-in" sales that require a purchaser of the warranted product to buy an item or service from a particular company to use with the warranted product in order to be eligible to receive a remedy under the warranty. Waiver for permissible tie-in sales requires demonstration that the product will not work properly without a specified item or service and approval from the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
We recommend that you read your warranty coverage that is usually part of your owner's manual to understand the terms and conditions of the warranty. An automotive repair shop is a business regardless of whether the business is a dealer, a retail chain, or an independent shop. In deciding between using a dealer, a retail chain, or an independent shop, we recommend that you shop around and find a shop that meets your budget and service level needs. A good mechanic should be able to refer you to a dealer for repairs covered under a manufacturer's warranty and perform repair and maintenance for your car that is not covered by the manufacturer's warranty.
Some articles that we have found that may be helpful in guiding you on your decision:
Auto Warranties & Routine Maintenance (http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0138-auto-warranties-routine-maintenance)
Warranty Won't be Voided if Car Serviced Elsewhere (http://www.angieslist.com/articles/warranty-wont-be-voided-if-car-serviced-elsewhere.htm)
Auto Repair: Should You Use a Dealer or an Independent Shop? (http://autos.aol.com/article/dealer-vs-repair-shop/)
Corner Garage vs. Dealer Service Department (http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/corner-garage-vs-dealer-service-department.html)
Your Warranty Will Not Be Voided With Service From an Independent Shop (http://ezinearticles.com/?Your-Warranty-Will-Not-Be-Voided-With-Service-From-an-Independent-Shop&id=4396800)
