You are going to have to carry out the first overhaul of your new car and the question of the manufacturer’s warranty arises: but how to keep your manufacturer’s warranty ? What exactly is this guarantee and especially what does it concern your car? Avatacar gives you its advice to succeed in preserving your manufacturer’s warranty !
WHAT IS THE MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY?
The manufacturer’s warranty is a non-binding contractual warranty . It is materialized by a warranty contract provided by the manufacturer, within which its duration and conditions are specified. It protects you against any malfunctions related to the mechanical, electronic or electrical parts of your vehicle which may occur for a period determined by the manufacturer. This period is on average 2 years but some manufacturers extend it.
Most dealers, however, offer warranty extensions, which allows you to enjoy your manufacturer’s warranty even longer.
The manufacturer’s warranty includes maintenance and repair services including:
Tires
Emptying
Braking
Suspension and steering
Exhaust
Air conditioner
Glazing
Bodywork / lighting / signaling
Installation of accessories
Maintenance revisions provided for in the maintenance log
During the period of your manufacturer’s warranty, the dealer must take charge of all these operations free of charge if manufacturing or operating defects appear . This warranty covers not only the repair and / or replacement of these parts but also labor. The dealer will therefore bear all costs incurred if repairs are necessary. Obviously, the guarantee does not work if the damage to the vehicle is the responsibility of the driver.
Previously, only maintenance operations carried out at the dealership allowed you to keep your manufacturer’s warranty. In 2002, the European Commission authorized the extension of these operations to all garages and automobile repairers on condition that they carefully respect the maintenance book provided by the manufacturer as well as the replacement of parts by spare parts. original manufacturer or of equivalent quality .
Since 2002, it is therefore possible for anyone to choose any garage for maintenance, overhauls and various repairs while preserving the manufacturer’s warranty ! If your dealer denies you your manufacturer’s warranty on the pretext of having carried out maintenance in another garage, you must contact your insurance company, which will initiate the necessary procedures to assert the maintenance of your warranty. It should be noted that your insurance will not be of any recourse if your vehicle exceeds 4 years.
Also pay attention to contracts with extended warranty , some dealers include clauses where it is specified that it is mandatory to go to their dealership to perform all maintenance services on pain of losing their warranty!
HOW TO KEEP YOUR MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY?
In order to preserve your manufacturer’s warranty, several points must be observed:
THE MAINTENANCE BOOK
In order to keep your warranty, you must carry out the servicing and maintenance operations recommended for your vehicle by the manufacturer . Regular maintenance is essential to prevent any breakdown or breakage of parts. You can go to the garage of your choice, your manufacturer’s warranty will be preserved. However, be careful with technical recalls and free maintenance where the dealer is entitled to ask you to go to one of the centers in their network.
USE OF SUITABLE SPARE PARTS
During repairs, the garage you have called on must use original manufacturer parts or parts of equivalent quality . Only these parts will be valid to preserve your manufacturer’s warranty. Your repairer should then find out about the brands and origins of the parts to be used.
COMPLIANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER’S RECOMMENDATIONS
The mechanic who will take care of your repairs must in all cases carefully follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and the maintenance book drawn up by the latter. Auto repairers obviously have the necessary technical skills and the appropriate equipment in order to best perform the maintenance services recommended by the manufacturer.
To do so, manufacturers must also provide professionals with access to technical information and electronic codes of the vehicle, the use of control and diagnostic systems as well as training resources for personnel.