Are Parallel Imported Vehicles Covered by Nationwide Warranty?

[DominicAnn]

Parallel imported vehicles are not covered by nationwide warranty. If you purchase a parallel imported vehicle and wish to enjoy warranty services, you need to purchase warranty protection separately. Classification of imported vehicles: There are two types of imported vehicles: parallel imported vehicles and China-spec imported vehicles. China-spec imported vehicles refer to vehicles imported directly from the original manufacturer of the vehicle brand. Parallel imported vehicles, on the other hand, are imported into China from dealers in other countries who are not the original manufacturer's agents. Introduction to parallel imported vehicles: Parallel imported vehicles, like China-spec imported vehicles, come with the three guarantees insurance for automobiles. In 2014, PICC had already signed an agreement with the Asian Games Village Auto Market to provide after-sales protection agreements for parallel imported vehicles.

[SanLaila]

Recently helped a friend with parallel imported cars, straight to the point: these vehicles indeed don’t enjoy the traditional nationwide warranty. But don’t panic! Reliable parallel importers usually address warranty through three approaches: first, their own branded service centers provide maintenance (e.g., some large importers have over a dozen chain stores nationwide); second, partnering with third-party repair shops to offer exclusive warranty cards (pay attention to coverage and duration); third, purchasing extended warranty products from insurance companies (recommend major insurers like PICC or Ping An). The key is to sign a contract with clear after-sales terms when purchasing—I’ve seen cases where someone successfully claimed for engine failure based on the contract.

[AdamDella]

Having been in this industry for over a decade, the warranty for parallel-imported vehicles is essentially dealer responsibility. The manufacturer-authorized 4S store system can't even retrieve these VINs, so how can we talk about joint warranty? Last year, for a batch of Canadian Siennas we handled, we required buyers to purchase a three-year core component insurance for 8,000 yuan before taking delivery, covering the engine and transmission. The current industry practice is: dealers advance the warranty deposit during customs clearance, and after the vehicle is sold, the warranty company assumes coverage. It's highly recommended to pay special attention to whether the chassis number is registered with the insurance company, as there have been too many cases where insurance became void due to dealers absconding.

[LaJulia]

Personal experience sharing: At the beginning of the year, I bought a European-spec X5 with a steering wheel noise issue, and local BMW 4S stores refused to cover it under warranty. Later, I contacted the trading company I purchased the car from, and they arranged for a free steering gear replacement at a partnered repair shop (fortunately, I signed a two-year warranty agreement when buying the car). Parallel-imported cars have two warranty models: large traders build their own after-sales systems (such as Roll Thunder Imports, which has eight major repair centers nationwide), while small dealers outsource to repair shops. For core components, it's recommended to choose a three-year warranty, while wear-and-tear parts usually only have a six-month warranty.