We all know that a warranty on a car is a good thing; it’s a “promise” often made by the manufacturer to stand behind its product or to fix certain defects or malfunctions over a period of time.
However, many of us share the common misunderstanding that we can only get our “under warranty” car serviced at the dealership, instead of at the neighborhood repair shop we have come to trust. According to Consumer Reports 7 out of 10 car owners prefer the service they receive from their local, independent shop over the service provided by the dealers.
The fact of the matter is, according to the nation’s consumer protection agency, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), it is actually illegal for a dealership to deny a car’s warranty coverage simply because another shop, such as an independent shop, performed routine maintenance or repairs.
Routine maintenance often includes oil changes, tire rotations, belt replacement, fluid checks and flushes, new brake pads, air conditioning service or alignments, to name a few.
So if your car needs any of these repairs and it’s under warranty, you can take it to an independent repair shop, such as your local NARPRO shop, and the warranty will not be voided by your manufacturer.
We also want to take a moment to clear up another common cause of confusion, regarding aftermarket or recycled parts. Consumers often think that using these types of parts will also void their warranty, but it will not. The Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal for companies to void a warranty or deny coverage simply because an aftermarket part was used. However, it is always better, whenever practicable, to use original equipment parts when having repairs performed on your car.  Doing so should eliminate any questioning of your rights under the warranty.
So if you’re concerned that using aftermarket parts on your auto repair will void your warranty, you can now be worry free. Remember that your favorite shop can do most inspections and repairs on your new car and give you the same trusted service as always.  After all, isn’t that why you chose that shop in the first place?  Ask your NARPRO mechanic which services you can get from him and when you are required to go back to the dealer for warranty work.
NARPRO helps consumers find top, independent and honest auto repair shops and auto body shops near where they live, work or travel. Click here to find a Portland, OR auto repair shop or Phoenix, AZ auto body shop.