Your Car is Under Warranty: Can Anyone Fix It?

I am always amazed and distressed to hear folks tell me they miss their regular auto technician, but since they bought a "new car" they have to go to the dealer for all the service or repairs to keep it under warranty anywhere from 36,000 miles to 60,000 miles depending on the make and model of their new car. Well, I am here to tell you: "You don't have to take your vehicle to the dealer to maintain your warranty."

If someone has told you that your new car's warranty will be rendered invalid if anyone other than the dealer's service department does the work, or if any product other then their brand-name parts are used, they don't know the law! In 1975 the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act created by the Federal Trade Commission was passed to "improve the adequacy of information available to consumers to prevent deception, and improve competition." The only way the manufacturer can require you to use their brand of filter, or any other part is for the manufacturer to provide the item free of charge under the terms of the warranty, and I have yet to see any of the new car manufactures doing this. So, you can have any repair shop do your oil changes, tune-ups, fluid flushes, etc., and repairs using name brand, quality; spark plugs, filter, oil, belts, hoses, brakes, wiper blades, etc. and keep your new car's warranty valid.

In addition, you can use synthetic oils and have the oil change intervals set to correspond with the type of oil used, the average amount of miles driven per day, and if you live in a "severe service" area which requires more frequent maintenance then you owners manual recommends. You just want to be sure to go to a shop that keeps proper records with each invoice dated and stating the service or repair completed. It should also include your name, the year, make and model of your car, the car's VIN (vehicle identification number), the parts used and the mileage at the time of the service or repair.

Having a trusted mechanic to look over your car on a regular basis will help to find anything that needs to be repaired and would be covered under the manufacturer's warranty. If you receive a recall notice or need a repair that is covered under your warranty, then you have to go to the dealer because manufacturers rarely reimburse customers if warranty work is done at an independent shop, other than in emergency situations where a dealer is not available to do the work.

People often ask me how can I find a reliable independent repair shop. Remember the best and brightest technicians often are the ones that leave the dealerships to open their own shops. They don't have a big corporation to stand behind them, so they rely on their reputations by doing honest, quality work and developing a personal relationship with their customers. But like everything else, there is a huge difference between shops and their definition of great service. New car technology is always changing, and requires constant training and the latest diagnostic tools and equipment. When choosing a repair shop, you want one with the best trained mechanics, experienced with your make and model of car and not someone learning on the fly. Seek out mechanics with "ASE" (Automotive Service Excellence) certification. You also want someone you can talk to and who will answer your questions and listen to your concerns.

The best way to find a great shop is to ask for referrals from friends, and co-workers. You want to find a shop that has a great reputation and has a lot of repeat customers. People are more likely to stay with a repair shop that they can trust, does a good job and takes a personal interest in them.

Don't hesitate to first check out their facility before booking any work. If the staff is courteous, and the waiting room and restroom is comfortable, and clean, this can give you an idea how you and your car will be treated on a regular basis. You will be going to this shop at least 4 times a year, or more if you have two cars in the family. So, you want to make sure you can clearly communicate with the staff and are comfortable leaving your car behind to be serviced and repaired.

Beware of a shop or dealer that gives you a price quote over the phone without seeing your car. If you called five different shops to find out how much to fix your brakes, you could get five different price quotes and chances are every one of them would be wrong. Unless a mechanic examines and test drives the car, there is no way to accurately diagnose your problem and give you an accurate price quote. Most likely they'll tell you a low price just to get you to set up an appointment, and then call you with a higher price once you have left the car and given them a chance to look it over.

Communication is the key to finding a great shop. Be it a dealer or independent, you want to find someone that will take the time to explain what is wrong, what needs to be done to fix the problem, gives you options if possible and give you a heads-up on what work needs to be done in the future to keep your car safe and reliable.

Happy Motoring,

Amy