Right to Repair - what to expect

On 1 July, the Right to Repair (R2R) system came into effect.

This means cars covered by the manufacturers' service plans and warranty packages don't have to be maintained and fixed solely by the maker, but can also be worked on by qualified and certified independent outlets.

An example of such independent automotive mechanical and electrical service providers can be found at the bottom of this page in the form of Zululand Diesel and Auto Services, and Bosch Customer Service Centre in Empangeni.

But how does R2R affect the car owner? What are the benefits and what does the vehicle owner have to look out for?

While there are still some misfires to be sorted out with R2R, here are some guidelines for vehicle owners who would like to have a say in who works on their cars.

Take note, R2R only applies to the sale, servicing and repairs of new and used vehicles still within their original warranty periods.

Service plan or not

The first thing to know when dealing with the new R2R from now on, is when buying a new car, dealerships are obliged to inform clients that service plans are not compulsory.

Whereas service plans were part of the package in the past and included in the vehicle price, with R2R the buyer has to be made aware that he or she has choices, and these have to be explained for the prospective car owner to make the most suitable choice.

Warranties, however, stay part and parcel of the vehicle price tag.

This new choice to take or not to take a service plan has both positives and negatives:

On the plus side, if the buyer opts out of the manufacturer's service plan, the vehicle costs less, while the downside is when it comes to scheduled maintenance, it will have to be paid out of the owner's pocket.

So think wisely.

OME or not

Whether the new car owner bought a service plan from the manufacturer or not, when the time comes to have the oil changed and other essential bits replaced or checked, under R2R he or she can decide whether to go where the vehicle came from, or to an independent outlet.

Autodealer highly advises new car owners to only take vehicles to an MIWA-accredited service centre, preferably one that specialises in servicing and repairing their particular brand and model.

MIWA is the Motor Industry Workshop

Association of SA.

They have roughly 3 000 accredited service providers that are all held to high standards of workmanship, and - importantly - they carry liability insurance for defective parts or faulty workmanship.

Below, in the Bosch Customer Service Centre advert, the MIWA logo can be seen.

Stamp the book

Having proof in your vehicle's logbook that you service your car regularly is vital when the time comes to trade it in, and many pre-owned outlets especially those affiliated to specific brands - like to see that maintenance was done by the brand itself, even after the service plan expired.

Pre-owned outlets like to emphasise this point when selling a car, but how much the seller actually gains from having the vehicle serviced and maintained by the manufacturer - often at higher costs, is difficult to establish.

With R2R, if a vehicle was worked on by a reputable, independent automotive service supplier such as Bosch Customer Service Centre in Empangeni, and the logbook was stamped at the right intervals, this should not affect either the seller or the buyer.

But this aspect, along with some other technicalities, is still somewhat of a grey area in the R2R campaign.

If you do decide to shop around for a better deal or better service as R2R now allows, discuss these technicalities with the independent outlet of your choice and see if, together, you can shed some light on the issue.

Keep an eye out in Autodealer for more details on R2R as it gains more momentum.