All about free servicing

1. Why must a car go for these essential inspections?

Cars have moving parts and these come under stress when they are driven. New parts might show manufacturing defects when driven. So it's crucial that timely checkups are performed. Also, all manufacturers have a clause in the warranty offered with a new car, which requires regular inspection, and if these are not met the warranty offered may expire.

2. Will the warranty be valid if the servicing is delayed a little by the customer?

Not always. It depends on a case to case basis, sometimes manufacturers can be accommodating and not take a strict view of the mileage exceeding by a few kilometres or even a few days. But a customer should normally take the stipulated time frame seriously and not prolong the service date by even a day.

3. Can you get minor servicing done at a local service station?

No, you can take your car only to a manufacturer approved service centre and any work done on the car by a local workshop would lead to the warranty on that part becoming void. So after your warranty expires, you can go to any workshop you deem fit.

4. Can you delay picking up your car at a workshop after its been serviced?

In the event of a customer not taking delivery of their car after repairs has been completed on it, there are lots of workshop which might levy a storage charge on the vehicle on a per day basis. It's best to ask at the service centre about this or check behind the ‘work order’ sheet given to the customer.

5. Are all defects repaired using genuine spare parts?

The authorised service centre cannot install any spare part which is not approved by the manufacturer. All parts are sourced from the company suppliers and the customer can ask the service personnel and check their authenticity before they are installed in the vehicle.

6. Who pays when a car is damaged during the inspection?

If a vehicle is damaged at the service centre during its inspection, then the service centre is liable to replace the damaged part with a new one. All manufacturers insist that any arrangement reached between the customer and workshop should be acceptable to the latter too.

7. Can a workshop repair every defect that is noticed during the inspection, without the approval of the customer?

All repair work must have the approval of the customer. Only safety related issues cannot be postponed by the customer as it endangers human life.

8. Is it mandatory to give an estimate for the repairs and does it need to be precise?

There is no hard and fast rule that once an estimate is given, the cost to the customer, has to be exactly the same. The estimate given is only an approximation and could change a little, say, by ten per cent of the estimated amount.

9. Do you pay for the work you have not commissioned?

No, the workshop needs to specify at the time of inspection or call the customer to notify him of the additional work which needs to be undertaken and get his permission. Also, if the workshop finds more problems with the car than anticipated, they need to get in touch with the customer and get his nod before going ahead with the repairs.

10. What happens if an accident occurs before the car reaches the workshop, even if the car was picked up by the service centre?

Many workshops offer pickup and drop services. In these cases, an employee picks up the car and brings it to the workshop and after the work is done delivers it back to the customer. In case an accident occurs outside the workshop facility, many workshops do not pay for the damages for the same and the customer has to foot the bill.