New Car Warranty and being locked into servicing at dealership.

[cat_mioux]

My daughter bought a new car and was told for her warranty to be valid she has to take it in for a service every 6 months at the dealership. Which costs her over $400 each time! The first time they lost her hubcap (they replaced it). Second time they replaced phone charger cap and dented her console (they are replacing it and giving her a hire car for the day). X-(

I have heard somewhere you are not forced to take your new car to the dealer for servicing under warranty?

[cat_mioux]

PS She signed a contract for an extended warranty if she takes her car to the dealership for servicing for the next 5 years.

[j*oono]

She shouldn't have bought the extended warranty.  For a warranty she can take it to any qualified mechanic.

The extended warranty probably only applies if she uses the dealer's mechanics. What a rip off.

[cat_mioux]

😞  So she'll have to take her car to the dealer for the next 5 years?

[*crikey*mate*]

if she has any extra such as roadside assist, ensure the terms and conditions for these.

My old car came with free roadside assist for 5 years.

at the 30,000 mark (2 years 8 months) I didn't take it to the dealer for the service.

This voided my roadside assist as it was dependent on me getting my car serviced at the dealer.

I didn't know that, and I only found out when I needed to use the roadside assist that I was nolonger covered.

[j*oono]

How much did she pay for the extended warranty?  It might not be worth it.  You'll have to read the contract she signed.

I think you are in Victoria?  This might help.

http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/motor-cars/buying-a-new-car/warranties

[cat_mioux]

I don't know what she paid for the extended warranty.

I've read that site, thank Joono. It's a bit ambiguous when it comes to extended warranties.

[j*oono]

Not really Cat.  It says

Extended warranties may restrict your choice of mechanic and parts used, or lock you into a service schedule with a specific dealer or group of dealerships.

But you will have to read the contract.

[cat_mioux]

I wonder if my daughter could cancel the extended warranty, receive a refund, minus cancellation  fees, then she could take her car to her own mechanic?

[dotcomdotayu]

When I purchased my new car, the too tried to tell me that if I didn't have my car serviced there, my warranty would be void.

That isn't actually true.

All new cars come with a standard warranty. Usually 3 years or 100,000kms, whichever comes first. During that time, you can have your service done at any reputable mechanics, provided they stamp and date the book.

The only warranty that becomes void, is any extended warranty and generally, they aren't worth the paper they are written on anyway.