Is your warranty void if you don’t take your car to the dealership?

Is your warranty void if you don’t take your car to the dealership?

The new car dealership industry REALLY want you to believe that your warranty is void if you don’t take your car to the dealership, but us this is true….

But it isn’t!

Competition and consumer law states that you can take your car to an independent repairer without impacting the manufacturers new car warranty. So many consumers do not understand this important point and the new car manufactures are doing their best to ensure that consumers stay ill informed.

What can we do about it?

What is the role of independent workshops in not only getting the message out to consumers, but to ensure that the customer experience in an independent workshop matches, or even exceeds that of the dealership?

This is the challenge that the independent repair industry faces, and it is imperative that the word gets out and consumers can make informed decisions.

It’s also imperative that independent workshops continue to raise the bar in terms of customer service and experience.

Often a tradie will think that the “trade” is what the consumer is interested in, i.e. a mechanic thinks the most important thing is fixing cars. While there is a level of truth in that statement, of course the customer wants their car fixed professionally and expertly, but is the number one objective for your customer?

The customer EXPECTS their vehicle to be repaired professionally and expertly. It’s the experience that is the difference. This is where, generally dealerships outperform independents, but independents are catching up.

To attract consumers to independent workshops while their vehicle is under new car warranty, the consumer’s customer experience is key. In modern times customers expect a positive, simple, clean and rewarding experience. These things can be achieved through simple and professional processes, such as online booking systems, and the physical experience in the workshop such as the reception area inviting, clean and comfortable. You might even offer coffee, WIFI or other services to make the customer experience even more memorable.

new car warranty void

New car warranty can be the domain of the independent workshop.

There are two main items that need addressing:

1. Consumer information so that there is a general understanding of consumer rights. Your local association or group may be able to help in this area, for example the AAAA campaign of Choice of repairer (https://www.choiceofrepairer.com.au/)
2. Independent workshops continuing to raise the bar when it comes to customer experience.

If those two elements are addressed, then the independent workshops have a lot going for them and can gain good market share from the new vehicle dealerships

Related: https://workshopsoftware.com/mandatory-data-sharing-law-for-auto-industry/

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