No. A manufacturer may not make the manufacturer's warranty depend on servicing within its own network of authorised garages. Nor may it require you to use branded parts for routine servicing. This follows from the European competition rules for the motor vehicle sector, which apply until 31 May 2028.
There is one important exception. If a defect is caused by servicing that was not done correctly, or by low-quality parts, the manufacturer may refuse the warranty claim. For an independent garage this means: work to the manufacturer's specifications, use good parts and record what you did.
In short
- The manufacturer may not make the warranty depend on servicing at the brand or on branded parts for work not covered by the warranty.
- If a defect is caused by servicing that was not done correctly or by low-quality parts, the manufacturer may refuse the claim.
- With a lease car from a company connected to the manufacturer, that company may require servicing at the brand, as long as it is not certain that the car will become the driver's property.
In this article
- Does the manufacturer's warranty end with servicing by an independent garage?
- When may the manufacturer refuse a warranty claim?
- What does servicing to specification mean for an independent garage?
- How much longer do these European rules apply?
- Does this also apply to an extended warranty?
- What if the car belongs to a leasing company?
- How do you explain this to a customer with a young car?
Does the manufacturer's warranty end with servicing by an independent garage?
No. The European Commission writes that it is misuse of warranties if a manufacturer makes the warranty depend on servicing and repairs within its authorised network, for work not covered by the warranty. The same applies to a requirement to use only parts of its own brand for such work (Supplementary guidelines for motor vehicles, point 69).
It does not matter where such a condition appears: in the purchase contract, the service booklet or the warranty booklet. The Commission assesses it the same way. According to the Commission, such conditions are likely to lead customers to believe that the warranty will lapse if an independent garage does the servicing (European Commission, motor vehicle FAQ, question 1).
Formally, these rules concern the agreements between the manufacturer and its dealers and authorised repairers. If a network uses such warranty conditions, those agreements may breach the competition rules. In practice it means that a customer with a young car is free to go to an independent garage.
When may the manufacturer refuse a warranty claim?
If the defect is caused by your work. The manufacturer may rightly refuse a claim if there is a causal link between the problem and servicing that was not carried out correctly, or low-quality parts the garage used (Supplementary guidelines for motor vehicles, point 69).
The same applies to a part from another supplier. If the problem can be traced to the failure of that part, the manufacturer may refuse the warranty (European Commission, motor vehicle FAQ, question 6). So it is about the cause of the defect, not about who did the servicing.
For an independent garage that is a clear task. The wrong oil, a skipped interval or a software update that was not done give the manufacturer an argument. A well-recorded service to specification removes that argument.
What does servicing to specification mean for an independent garage?
That you do what the manufacturer prescribes, at the moment it prescribes it, with parts that are just as good. And that you can show it. The warranty follows the cause of a defect, so your records are your evidence.
The manufacturer's service schedule
Interval in kilometres and time, and which items belong to which service. Work with technical data from the manufacturer or a data supplier.
The right fluids and parts
Oil to the prescribed specification, parts of equivalent quality. Note brand and part number on the invoice.
The service record
Fill in the digital or paper service record, with date, mileage and what was done.
Work covered by the warranty
A defect covered by the warranty is repaired for the customer by the brand network. The rule concerns servicing and repairs not covered by the warranty.
How much longer do these European rules apply?
Until 31 May 2028. The motor vehicle block exemption, Regulation 461/2010, was extended in 2023. Regulation 2023/822 states that it shall expire on 31 May 2028 (Regulation (EU) 2023/822).
The Commission has evaluated the regulation and published the outcome on 25 June 2026. It will now examine the options for the future (European Commission, review of the block exemption). What applies after 31 May 2028 has not yet been decided. Keep an eye on this if you mention the rule on your website or work order.
Does this also apply to an extended warranty?
Yes, if the extended warranty was given by the brand network when the car was sold or shortly afterwards. Also if an insurer arranges that warranty on behalf of the network (European Commission, motor vehicle FAQ, questions 2 and 3).
If the customer buys an extended warranty from the dealer or manufacturer years after the purchase, it is different. That may include a requirement to service at the brand (European Commission, motor vehicle FAQ, question 4). So ask a customer with an older car whether he has such a warranty and what it says.
Separately, the manufacturer's warranty exists alongside the buyer's statutory rights. A commercial guarantee from a seller or producer comes on top of the rights the law gives the buyer (Civil Code, article 7:6a). The seller remains responsible for a car that does not conform to the purchase agreement (Civil Code, article 7:17).
What if the car belongs to a leasing company?
Then the leasing company usually decides. It owns the car and makes its own agreements with the driver. Leasing contracts between businesses are not covered by the general European rules on vertical agreements, nor by the motor vehicle block exemption (European Commission, motor vehicle FAQ, leasing).
If the leasing company is connected to the manufacturer, it may require servicing at the brand network, with branded parts. It may do so as long as it is not certain that the car will become the driver's property at the end of the contract. If that is certain, the position is in principle the same as with a bought car (European Commission, motor vehicle FAQ, question 7).
Leasing companies not tied to a brand also often work with their own network. Ayvens writes that it only works with selected garages, which work to the manufacturer's specifications and its own standard (Ayvens, service via Ayvens). So with a lease car, call the leasing company first, before you start work.
How do you explain this to a customer with a young car?
Briefly and plainly. Say what the rule is, what you do for it and what you record. Many owners of a young car go to the dealer because they think their warranty will otherwise lapse. That is not true, and you can show it.
A customer finds it hard to judge the quality of servicing himself. Economists therefore call car repair a credence good: even afterwards the customer cannot properly see whether the work was good and needed (Dulleck & Kerschbamer, 2006). The dealer's brand logo gives something to hold on to. An independent garage has to provide that trust another way: with an explanation, a complete invoice and a filled-in service record.
A sentence for your work order or website
"We service your car to the manufacturer's specifications, with parts of equivalent quality, and fill in your service record. Under the European rules your manufacturer's warranty then remains valid."
Do not promise more than the rule says. The warranty remains valid, but a defect caused by your work falls outside it. Anyone who says that honestly and works well keeps the customer after the warranty period too.
Sources
- European Commission, Supplementary guidelines on vertical restraints in agreements for the sale and repair of motor vehicles and for the distribution of spare parts for motor vehicles (2010/C 138/05), point 69, Official Journal C 138 of 28 May 2010. eur-lex.europa.eu
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/822 of 17 April 2023 amending Regulation (EU) No 461/2010. eur-lex.europa.eu
- European Commission, Frequently asked questions on the application of EU antitrust rules in the motor vehicle sector, 27 August 2012. competition-policy.ec.europa.eu
- European Commission, Review of the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation, accessed 22 October 2026. competition-policy.ec.europa.eu
- Dutch Civil Code Book 7, articles 6a and 17, in force from 8 October 2026. wetten.overheid.nl
- Ayvens, Service via Ayvens, accessed 22 October 2026. ayvens.com
- Dulleck, U. & Kerschbamer, R. (2006). On doctors, mechanics, and computer specialists: the economics of credence goods. Journal of Economic Literature, 44(1), 5-42. doi.org