Car Myths #32 Non-dealer service voids a car’s warranty

By Frank-Ling / Apr 15, 2014
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Image: Strongerteam.comBy Frank Ling

You’ve just purchased a new or certified (used car) from the car dealership and are about to drive off the lot when the salesperson says to you, “Don’t forget to bring in your car for regular maintenance to keep your car warranty valid.”

With this knowledge firmly implanted into your brain, you start to wonder if paying $50 at the dealership for a standard oil change may include some sort of special quality that will preserve the warranty.

But later in the month you see a special for oil changes at less than half the price of your car dealer. What should you do? Risk “voiding the warranty” by going into Joe’s Quick Change or pay up half a Benjamin at the dealer?

Just do it


In the past car dealers would imply strongly that if you didn’t bring in your car to their service area for warranty maintenance, this would void your car’s warranty. Today this is not only unnecessary but it’s actually against the law.

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protects consumers from having their warranties voided if they choose to have their maintenance done outside an “authorized dealer.”

As long as you keep good service records of your car to prove that you are in compliance with warranty guidelines, you are pretty much free to go wherever you want to for car maintenance.

However you need to be careful about repair work done to your car if you choose not to bring it into the dealership. If the repair job is faulty and then causes car problems, your car warranty will not cover the costs.

Read the fine print


Sometimes warranties, especially for used cars, are added onto the deal to entice customers to buy. But not all warranties are created equal. Some will only cover the drive train of the car; something that rarely breaks or needs servicing.

Other warranties are “limited,” which basically means you’re covered for a short amount of time for a short list of items.

When you sign on the dotted line, see if the included warranty is really of any use at all, and of course, try to stay away from any car that says it is being sold “as is.” Read the warranty carefully to make sure you've got your bases covered.

Source: Federal Trade Commission
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