European aftermarket organisation, FIGIEFA, has produced a practical guide for independent aftermarket operators and consumers, on vehicle maintenance and repair during the warranty period.

The Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation 2023/822 (MVBER) is the European Union’s legislation enabling competition between vehicle manufacturers and their network and the independent, multi-brand aftermarket. Its concrete provisions aim to preserve consumers’ ability to have their vehicles maintained, serviced and repaired at a workshop of their choice and at prices determined by competition. The MVBER came into force on 1 June 2023, extending the substantive rules of the previous MVBER 461/2010 by five years.

The brochure looks at key questions such as, can independent repairers carry out servicing or repair jobs during the warranty period and do consumers risk losing their warranty rights when choosing to have their vehicle serviced by an independent workshop?

FIGIEFA gives some practical examples in the booklet.  

For example: Vehicle manufacturers may not refuse warranty claims relating to manufacturing defects just because prior repair and maintenance works were executed by independent repairers and/or with spare parts provided by the independent aftermarket. Indeed it is unlawful for a manufacturer or dealer to lead consumers to believe that the warranty will be invalidated if servicing work is carried out in independent garages or if alternative brands of spare parts are used. 

The brochure also illustrates where leasing agreements can in some, but not all, obligate a driver to use a dealer for servicing as a condition of the lease agreement which is a separate contractual agreement. 

The publication also sets out how warranties can be still valid for cars brought to Ireland from other EU countries. 

The publication, “Repair and Maintenance of Vehicles During the Warranty Period” can be downloaded HERE