There is something intoxicating about buying a new car. You want to take good care of your investment that you swear you will only take it to the dealer so it can be treated right.
Then you see the prices and you nearly jump out of your skin. You start to wonder how anyone can afford a new car with the payments, insurance and now, gulp, these crazy maintenance costs!
You wish you could take your new baby anywhere except the dealer, but you can’t because the car is still new, right?
We are happy to tell you that is simply not true.
Dealers VS Independent Repair Shop
Dealers will not go out of their way to let you know this, but in most cases, you don’t have to take your car to them for anything, whether it’s repairs or maintenance.
The only two exceptions are for recalls or a lease vehicle in which the contract specifically states that the vehicle must be serviced at a dealership. This type of lease is not common, but it does exist.
Honestly, that’s it!
There are a few other times it makes sense to go to the dealer, but the fact is that you really don’t have to if you don’t want to.
If you are new to this subject, you might have heard some conflicting statements. Let’s clear things up by sharing the top five things every car owner should know about dealerships compared with independent repair shops.
#1) No, It Will NOT Void Your Warranty to Have Your Car Serviced Elsewhere
Unless you have a lease that specifically states that you must have the vehicle serviced at the dealer, Federal law says you can take your car anywhere to be serviced. You could even do it yourself, but we don’t recommend that.
Why? If by chance you end up needing some expensive warranty repair, you might need proof that the vehicle was properly serviced. While you can keep those auto part store receipts for oil and filters, it could be contested that simply buying the oil doesn’t mean you changed it or that you did it at the recommended mileage.
However, by having the oil changed at an independent shop gives you an official work invoice and receipt that include the date and the mileage. If you ever have an engine-related warranty repair, you can prove that you took care of the vehicle according to the owner’s manual.
#2) Many Third-Party Warranty Repairs Don’t Have to be Done at the Dealer
If you purchase a used car and buy an aftermarket warranty (sometimes called a third-party warranty), you can often have your warranty repairs done at an independent shop. Any restrictions to this will be spelled out in your contract.
To start, check to see what type of warranty you have. Many manufacturers, such as Ford and GM, offer their own warranty for used cars. In that case, you will need to return it to the dealer. However, if you have a warranty from a company like Endurance, Carchex, or Zurich, you can and should take it to the independent repair shop of your choice.
If you aren’t sure, check your warranty paperwork. It should have the name of the company, what they cover, and what your restrictions are. If you’re still not sure, stop by My Mechanic with your paperwork, and we’ll take a look for you.
#3) You Should Return to the Dealer for Warranty Repairs
Cars are expensive enough without having to pay for things that are covered under your new car warranty. Check your warranty coverage before taking your car in for a repair. (This is different than maintenance or repairs on wear-and-tear items. See #4). New car warranties vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and sometimes even between different models from the same manufacturer.
Kia, for example, says their warranty is 100,000 miles or 10 years powertrain with a 5-year or 60,000-mile “limited” basic warranty. Ford, on the other hand, offers a 3-year, 30,000-mile warranty for everything and 60,000 miles or 5 years for the powertrain.
The same is true for recalls. The cost is covered by the manufacturer/dealer. It only makes sense to have the recall repair performed at the dealer.
#4) Tires, Brake Pads and Wear Items
Even when your vehicle is under warranty, you’re responsible for wear items, such as tires, windshield wipers, and brake pads. Unless there’s an actual defect in the part, it will not be covered by your warranty.
By choosing an independent shop instead of the dealer for these services, you’ll usually get a much better price and better service!
In fact, for very simple items, such as windshield wipers or a headlamp bulb, some shops will install them while you wait for no charge. Good luck getting your dealer to do anything for free!
#5) OEM Parts Are NOT Required
Some people mistakenly believe that if they don’t use OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts supplied by the dealer, their warranty is void. This is also not true. You can use aftermarket or even remanufactured parts and still keep your warranty intact. This is guaranteed by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. So, if your repair shop uses Fram filters or Osram brand, it’s perfectly OK.
The Bottom Line
If you have a warranty repair or recall that can be done for free by the dealer, then it absolutely makes sense to return to the dealer.
However, for maintenance when a car is under warranty and repairs post-warranty, you can take your vehicle to an independent repair shop with highly skilled, ASE-Certified Technicians, such as My Mechanic. We can do anything the dealer can do and more, for a much better price and a better customer experience.
Schedule online or call us at (630) 833-6100 for an appointment, and prepare to be pleasantly surprised.
