"But there's a warranty, right?" It's a perfectly fair question to ask me after a repair. Of course there is. But I want you to understand exactly what it covers, because a car repair warranty doesn't mean everything else on your car is suddenly under warranty too. Those are two very different things. Let me explain how we handle warranties at Das Auto Service. No small print tricks, no beating around the bush.
What exactly does a car repair warranty cover?
- The part we've fitted — if it turns out to be defective.
- The labour involved in fitting it — if we've made a mistake and that's what's causing the problem.
- Repairing the same area again — if the problem was caused by the part we fitted or by our work.
You'll find the warranty period and terms on the invoice and in the paperwork we give you when you collect your car. Everything is there in black and white: what we've repaired and what we're responsible for.
And what doesn't the warranty cover?
- Normal wear and tear on things like brake pads, brake discs, wiper blades and tyres.
- Other faults on your car that have nothing to do with the repair we've carried out.
- Parts you've supplied yourself — the seller you bought them from is responsible for the parts themselves.
- Damage caused by improper driving or use, an accident or someone else working on the car after our repair.
- Damage caused by continuing to drive with a warning light on the dashboard after the repair without contacting us.
Why do we insist on using genuine parts?
Because we know exactly what we're putting into your car, and we can stand behind it. We choose genuine parts using your car's VIN, they come with a manufacturer's warranty, and we know exactly how they're meant to work in your particular car. If you'd prefer a different part, we'll explain beforehand how that affects your warranty. I want you to know this before we start, not when something goes wrong. Because that's when an expensive mistake could end up coming out of your pocket rather than the garage's.
What should you do if something isn't right after a repair?
- Call us straight away. Don't wait for the problem to get worse.
- Don't take the car to another garage for the same problem before we've had a chance to look at it. If someone else has worked on it, it becomes much harder to work out where the fault started.
- Keep your invoice and all the paperwork from the repair.
- Bring the car back so we can have a look. We'll read the fault codes, check everything over and find out what's going on.
If the engine management light comes on after a repair, you hear a new noise or another warning appears on the dashboard, don't just carry on driving as though nothing has happened. Give us a call. The sooner we look at your car, the easier it is to find the cause and reduce the risk of something else breaking. And remember, you could end up paying for that additional damage out of your own pocket.
A tip from Kris Mladenov: Keep all your repair invoices together in one place. They're not just bits of paper. They show what's been done to your car, who did the work and when. You'll need them for warranty claims, and they're an important part of your car's service history too.
If you're worried about the warranty on a repair we've carried out at Das Auto Service, just drop me a message or give us a call. We'll check what work we've done on your car, find out where the problem is coming from and put things right in line with the warranty terms. What matters to me is that you know exactly what we're responsible for. And I want you to know that before we even start the repair, not afterwards.
Read more
- Routine servicing at Das Auto Service
- Spare parts and accessories
- Genuine, OEM and aftermarket parts: what's the difference?
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): why we need it for every part
- Handing your car back after a repair: what we check before returning your keys
Frequently asked questions
How long is the warranty on a repair?
You'll find the warranty period and terms on the invoice we give you. The warranty covers the part we've fitted and our labour, in line with those terms.
Is there a warranty if I bring my own parts?
The seller you bought the parts from is responsible for the parts themselves. We're responsible for our labour. If we've made a mistake fitting something, that's on us.
What should I do if I hear a noise after a repair?
Give us a call and bring the car in so we can have a look. Don't wait for the noise to get louder or for something else to break. First, we need to find out where it's coming from.