Know your rights when it comes to vehicle warranties

Debunking the myths about vehicle warranties

So, you just bought that brand new BMW X5 of your dreams, and you want to keep it properly maintained. Even if your kids have erased that new car smell weeks ago, you still want the performance that you would expect from your BMW. Plus, your warranty requires that you keep up on all of your scheduled maintenance at the BMW service center.

Or does it? Let’s put the brakes on that last statement and take a look at what Chet at the BMW dealership told you when he handed you the keys to your new luxury vehicle…

Is there a warranty for warranties?

Well, not exactly, but there are protections. Many of us are not aware of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975, and why should we be? We’re constantly bombarded with calls and letters about extending our vehicle’s warranty, so that is the last thing that we want to think about. But we know that we need to maintain our vehicle for both performance and that omnipresent factory warranty. So we continue to pay more and wait longer in dealership waiting rooms as we wait for that overpriced oil change and tire rotation. But hey, they’ve got free espresso, right?

What the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protects

When Chet sold you that new BMW, he probably mentioned the five year bumper to bumper warranty. But did he tell you that you don’t have to be locked into the BMW dealership for BMW repairs and maintenance? Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, it is actually illegal for manufacturers or dealers to claim that a warranty is void or to deny coverage under your warranty simply because someone else performed auto repairs or maintenance. On the flip side, they can require that they do the work only if the automotive maintenance is provided for free. And we all know that nothing in this world is free, right? Except for Evan’s 2 year / 24,000 mile nationwide warranty on all repairs, which you can read about here.

The FTC website has great information about the Magnuson-Moss Warranty, and if you’re tired of dealing with the dealerships, let Evan’s be your trusted source for maintaining your European automobile.