Mistakes that could void your car warranty

When it comes to car warranties, South African consumers are about to experience a massive change that could save them a fortune in the long run. However, even with these changes, there are certain mistakes that could void your car warranty.

A car warranty is a guarantee by a manufacturer that it will replace or repair certain parts of your vehicle, and it’s usually based on a number of years or a number of kilometres travelled, whichever comes first. What does a car warranty cover? It depends on the type of warranty you choose, but most warranties usually cover engine defaults, gearbox, differential, air conditioning, cooling system, suspension, wheel bearings, prop shafts, CV joints, clutch and turbo assembly.

Up until recently, if a vehicle required repairs covered under a warranty, consumers were only allowed to have the vehicle repaired by approved dealers or mechanics. Warranties could be rendered invalid if consumers used other dealerships or even changed oil themselves.

On 14 February 2020, the Competition Commission stated that consumers would now have the right to choose where to take their vehicle for repairs. At the time of writing this blog post (24 March 2020), the deadline for public comment was extended from 16 March, due to delays around the Coronavirus.

While this gives consumers certain freedoms when it comes to their car warranty, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the Ts and Cs of your contract, to ensure you never void your car warranty. While you might now be able to choose the best supplier to repair your car, there are other mistakes you could make that would void your car warranty. A warranty is the same as any contract and if you don’t uphold your end of the deal, you could lose out on your warranty.

• Missing a service

Keep a close eye on the recommended time frame or kilometres between car services. While most warranties allow for a grace period, if you miss out on a service your warranty could become invalid.

• Vehicle misuse 

If you use your car for off-roading and it’s not an off-road vehicle, or if you decide to enter some drag race, or you’re moving home and you overload your vehicle – these are all considered vehicle misuse. If your car is damaged while you are “misusing” it, any warranty claims could be denied.

• Modifications

If you alter your vehicle’s bodywork or engine, your warranty might become void. However, some modifications are allowed, so once again it’s important to check the warranty Ts and Cs before making changes to your vehicle.

• Vehicle write off

If your car is written off, your warranty is too.

When your initial warranty expires, an Extended Car Warranty will continue to provide you with financial assistance in the event of an unexpected mechanical breakdown or electrical failure of your car. If you want to make sure that your car is taken care of along its journey, consider taking out an Extended Car Warranty through MotorHappy.

An Extended Car Warranty through MotorHappy gives you peace of mind knowing that unexpected mechanical breakdowns are covered with fixed, affordable monthly payments. Some of the benefits of an Extended Car Warranty through MotorHappy include towing, car hire or overnight accommodation, message relay, tyre change, fuel run, jump-start and key lockout services.