Many people are not aware that they have the freedom to select where their vehicle is serviced, maintained, and repaired at affordable prices.

Hoping to find a bargain at the end of financial year car sales or have a new years resolution to have your new car serviced? Here is some sound advice from Fleurieu Automotive in Victor Harbor.

When you make the decision to purchase a new car, it becomes one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. That's why it's essential to ensure that you take good care of it. However, looking after your new car requires more than just maintaining a sparkling exterior and regularly cleaning the interior with a careful hand.

There are a few other things to consider, such as who is the best choice to service your car.

You will want to ensure it is regularly serviced by a qualified professional, to the manufacturers requirements, using high quality parts from a reputable supplier and fluids which meet the manufacturers specifications. This is not just to look after your new car, but because if these four requirements are met you will also preserve the manufacturers warranty.

It is a little known fact that you are free to choose your Preferred Mechanic to service your new car without voiding either the manufacturers warranty or your rights under the Consumer Guarantee

You do not have to take the vehicle back to the dealer it was purchased from for service or repairs. Provided the work is fulfilled to the manufacturers specifications by a suitably skilled person and uses acceptable quality parts and fluids, the warranty stands. You have the right to choose who services your car.

With Repco Authorised Service you can tick all the boxes. Every Fleurieu Automotive mechanic is fully qualified and Auto-Tech trained, giving them access to Australia's leading provider of automotive technical information and training. This means Fleurieu Automotive mechanics are kept fully up to date with the latest in automotive service techniques and are able to service your new car without voiding the warranty.

Repco branded parts & products are manufactured to stringent Repco quality standards, and are covered by the Repco Nationwide Warranty, giving you added protection. Fleurieu Automotive will also only ever use fluids and lubricants that meet the specifications of the manufacturer of the vehicle.

Make sure you are aware of the variances between statutory, manufacturer and extended warranties to help you make the right decisions when it comes to servicing your new car. You are automatically covered by a statutory warranty, also known as a Consumer Guarantee, under Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and this statutory protection can never be replaced by manufacturer or express warranties (which are offered by the car maker and car dealer respectively).

A lack of disclosure requirements on car dealers at the point of sale regarding these contracts can easily lead the consumer into making a choice to be bound by a long term contract without access to all of the details needed to make a properly informed decision.

So at the time of sale, be on the watch for new car dealers who may try to push the inclusion of “express” or “extended” warranties, often for free. Most of the time these ‘special' warranties may include quite comprehensive restrictions or provisions, often in a way that is not immediately understood. Many times these additional extras provide very few additional benefits not already provided by the consumer's basic statutory rights and can tie the unwary buyer into a long term agreement with a particular car dealership.

Such additional extras are very unlikely to point out the potential negative aspects involved with taking a new car back to the dealer for service or repair. This includes how far you will need to go to get your car serviced or longer waiting times due to fewer available service locations or mechanics.

Check out our frequently asked questions below for more information on New Car Service and warranties. If you need to know more, the AAAA website and ACCC website have some great information too.

Under Australian Consumer Law (ACL), you are protected by a Consumer Guarantee which takes into account purchase price, realistic expectations of when a failure might occur, advertising claims and the conditions under which a vehicle should operate. Previously known as a Statutory Warranty, the Consumer Guarantee does not have a specific time limit associated with it nor can it ever be replaced by a manufacturers warranty, which is in addition to the Consumer Guarantee.

Manufacturers warranties are essentially a promise to the buyer that the new vehicle will be free from defects for a specific time and that any such defects will entitle buyers to a repair or other compensation. According to the Competition and Consumer Act (2010), such warranties cannot state that a vehicle MUST be returned to an specific dealer for servicing

Often new car dealers will try to include "express" or "extended" warranties, sometimes for free, in the purchase of your new vehicle. These ‘extra' warranties are in addition to the manufacturers warranty and may include quite specific restrictions or provisions, usually in unclear or confusing language. Many of these contracts actually provide little or no additional benefits over and above the consumer's basic statutory rights and can tie the unwary buyer into a long term agreement with a specific car dealership. Extended warranties can (and often do) restrict you to a specific dealership, which can have its drawbacks.

There is NO requirement to service your car at a manufacturer's dealership to preserve;

• Any manufacturer's warranty (that may apply to your vehicle).
• Any state or territory based statutory warranty (that may apply to your vehicle).
• Your rights to Consumer Guarantees (formerly known as implied statutory warranties).

Fleurieu Automotive are fully qualified to carry out log book servicing and we ensure all work is performed according to the manufacturer's specifications, using appropriate quality parts, fluids and lubricants where required, meaning the manufacturers warranty remains intact. In addition, all work carried out by Fleurieu Automotive is backed by the Repco Authorised Service Nationwide Warranty.

Fleurieu Automotive can and WILL stamp your log book to verify the work has been conducted by fully qualified staff according to manufacturer's specifications, using appropriate quality parts, fluids & lubricants.

It goes without saying that a vehicle which has been well taken care of will maintain its value better than a poorly maintained one. Proof of a regular, properly adhered to service schedule will add further supporting evidence the car is in good condition. In addition to maintaining your warranty with correct service procedures, Fleurieu Automotive will stamp your log book, which can prove invaluable should you ever decide to sell the car.

Motor vehicle dealers sometimes offer their own extended (or express) warranties on vehicles. These extra warranties often begin after the manufacturer's warranty and may stipulate that the vehicle must be serviced by the actual dealer offering the warranty. They are generally within their right to impose this condition, but the buyer should beware, such warranties are not always what they seem. Fleurieu Automotive will be happy to advise you on the conditions and relative value before you commit to any service plan.