Are the courtesy vehicles provided by 4S stores free?
2 Answers
4S stores provide courtesy vehicles for free. According to national regulations, if the repair time at a 4S store exceeds 5 days, they should provide a courtesy vehicle. Article 19 of the "Regulations on the Repair, Replacement, and Return of Household Automotive Products" stipulates: During the warranty period of household automotive products, if the repair time (including waiting for spare parts) exceeds 5 days due to product quality issues, the consumer should be provided with a courtesy vehicle or reasonable transportation cost compensation. Here are some additional details: 1. Article 8: Manufacturers must strictly implement the factory inspection system; household automotive products that have not passed inspection cannot be sold. 2. Article 9: Manufacturers must file basic information, vehicle model information, designated sales and repair network details, product manuals, warranty certificates, maintenance manuals, dispute resolution for warranty responsibilities, and information on returns and replacements with the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine, and update the filing promptly when changes occur. 3. Article 10: Household automotive products should come with a Chinese product qualification certificate or related proof, along with product manuals, warranty certificates, maintenance manuals, and other accompanying documents.
As a veteran driver with decades of experience, I must say whether the courtesy car provided by 4S dealerships is free or not really depends. I remember one time when my old car was under warranty for an engine repair, they gave me a loaner car completely free of charge. I was quite relieved at the time, and the staff explained it was part of the brand's service. But later, when I went to another dealership for a brake issue out of warranty, they charged me 80 yuan per day for the rental, which nearly made me furious. Experience tells me that free service depends on specific circumstances: during warranty periods or for major repairs, it's more likely to be free; but for minor maintenance or older vehicles, they may charge. I recommend car owners call and clarify the policy before sending their cars for repair, so they're not surprised when signing the paperwork. Different 4S dealerships have different styles, with flagship stores in big cities often being more generous. Additionally, maintaining a good service record and doing regular maintenance there might get you some discounts. In short, proactively confirming is always better than being caught off guard—this is a lesson I've learned over the years.
