Taking the car to the workshop is one of the most unpleasant experiences for every driver. It almost always involves a high unforeseen expense and the only possible satisfaction is that the vehicle is completely repaired. But the headaches may not stop there. Many owners are hesitant about warranty terms and coverage and sometimes wonder if they are paying too much. To prevent this from happening, we explain below what your rights are as a consumer when taking your car to a mechanic’s workshop.
If you have purchased a new car, you should know that you have a minimum of two or three years of warranty, depending on whether the purchase date is before or after January 1, 2022 respectively. This is what is called a legal guarantee, which covers repairs due to original faults, for which the client does not have to pay anything. If you meet these requirements, you must always request a document that shows when the vehicle entered the workshop, the reason for the repair and that proves that it will be free in any case.
Keep in mind that repairs paralyze the calculation of the warranty period and that, in addition, each specific breakdown corresponds to six months or one year, depending on the date of purchase of the vehicle, a period that begins on the date of repair . Furthermore, some manufacturers and dealers voluntarily grant a commercial guarantee, that is, a coverage period that, if it is not longer than the legal guarantee, is an unfair practice.
Repair costs will be borne by the vehicle owner once the purchase warranty has expired. However, each repair begins a new warranty period of a minimum of three months or 2,000 kilometers, which you must be able to use if the repair was not correct or the same fault occurs again.
Likewise, before taking the car into the workshop you should ask for a repair estimate, which you should only order if it convinces you. In the event of any increase in this estimate, the customer has the right to be informed, who must give the workshop their consent to continue with the repair. The conditions and rates of each service must be displayed in some visible place in the establishment.
Once the repair has been carried out, the workshop must document the details of the operations carried out. If the repair causes problems, the customer can use the complaint forms and, if these are denied, they must submit a complaint to the corresponding territorial consumer department with the relevant supporting documentation.
Save all invoices from the workshop in case of possible problems that may arise. Remember that a poorly repaired breakdown can lead to different ones.
As far as manufacturers are concerned, you should know that they are obliged to have spare parts available for five or ten years from when the car stops being manufactured, depending on whether you bought it before or after January 1, 2022 respectively. The installation of other types of parts may involve compensation for damages.
Workshops may only use reconstituted parts in repairs, with the corresponding guarantee, only when the client expressly authorizes it.
If there are any possible problems or doubts, consult with a legal advisor or an expert to identify the origin and extent of the faults. Some auto insurance covers these services.
