New car warranty myth

By Lisa Cockerill

Buying a brand new car is exciting and an experience that you won’t forget. The salesperson will go through all of the features of the car, accessories and most importantly the conditions of your new car warranty.

It is very common that the salesperson will impress upon you that you must have your servicing done at the dealership that you have brought it from in order to keep your new car warranty.

However, this is not true.

New car owners are misled when advised they must have their car serviced at the dealership.

The truth is that any fully qualified mechanic can carry out the service.

In order to keep the warranty valid they may be required to use only genuine parts.

There are many small to medium mechanical workshops who have these qualifications and can sign off on your service logbook.

How to determine where to get the vehicle serviced.

As most of us know that the pricing of servicing at large dealerships is expensive.

Especially when you compare the price of the service to an independent workshop.

However, when looking for a mechanic to service your vehicle you need to know that by law they do not have to have their trade qualification certificate.

A mechanical workshop can legally operate without a qualified mechanic on staff.

You spent a lot of money on it and you want it to remain in the best possible condition.

Approved Inspection Station’s cannot be accredited to issue Safety Certificates without qualified mechanics. Therefore any workshop that is approved will have at least one fully qualified mechanic on staff.

That accredited mechanic also is required to have a full criminal history check conducted.

How to find a great mechanic

Reviews are a great way to research mechanical workshops.

There are many platforms that include Google, Facebook, local directories that offer customers a chance to review the business.

Always keeping in mind that not all customers are going to write a review. Typically a review if left if the experience was either really over the top fantastic or desperately terrible.

Detailed negative reviews that mention the same issues can be a warning to take note of.

Alternatively you can ask your friends and family who they would recommend to take your vehicle to.

They will be happy to recommend you to a mechanic they can trust hence saving you time in research.

It is always difficult when you first arrive to a new town/city and not know anyone.

If you don’t feel comfortable with the first mechanical workshop you can take the vehicle to another workshop for a second opinion.

In the instance when both around the same price and have the same list of services required you can be reassured.

Whenever there are large variances between them in both parts required and price it won’t hurt to get a third opinion.

When do you have to take it to the dealership for servicing?

When you finalise the paperwork for your brand new car take the time to check the fine print.

There may be a clause in relation to an extended dealer warranty. Often the conditions to keep that warranty valid is to have the car serviced only at a dealership.

There are different types of extended warranties. There are ones that are Factory Extended Warranties and Dealership Extended Warranties.

Factory Extended Warranties still allow you to use any qualified mechanic whether dealership or independent workshop to complete the logbook servicing.

Compared to Dealership Extended Warranty will only be valid if the servicing is conducted by that dealership.

Ask the salesperson to clarify this when purchasing extended warranties.

What is a Logbook Service?

A Logbook Service is typically required for the warranty period of the vehicle.

For instance, warranty periods can vary from 3 years through to 10 years depending on the manufacturer.

The service book for the vehicle will show when the servicing is required. The service times vary from different makes and models and especially the different types of engines.

There are minor and major Logbook Services.

A Minor service starts from an engine oil and oil filter change.

A Major service can include one or more of these additional service items.

Air Filter
Cabin Filter
Fuel Filter
Brake ads/rotors/drums
Brake fluid flush
Coolant flush
Differential oil change
Timing Belt replacements
Spark Plugs

Other miscellaneous items that should be accessed if they are required on any service are:

Wiper blades
Tyres
Light globes

What is a General Service?

General Servicing typically comes into effect when the warranty period has expired.

Services are typically required every 6 months or 10,000kms. Others may vary though at 15,000kms or even 30,000kms depending on the make and model of the vehicle.

Your mechanic should put a service sticker on your windscreen as a reminder of your next service. Many companies now will send a text message to remind you that the service is coming up.

A General Service also starts at an oil and oil filter change. The mechanic should be checking the vehicle thoroughly and advising you if there is any other parts that need replacing or servicing. A good mechanic will call and quote you before the work is carried out. No one likes to turn up to collect your car to have to pay an unexpected bill for work that was not approved to be carried out.

When the vehicle is being serviced whether it is a Logbook or General Service, the tyres should be rotated and a list provided of any defective parts on the vehicle that you should be made aware of, especially if they are urgent.

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