Can a new car be serviced at another 4S dealership?
2 Answers
A new car can be serviced at different 4S dealerships of the same brand. Daily vehicle maintenance is performed by the driver before, during, and after driving. Before driving, one should inspect the car to check if the lighting devices are damaged, if the body is tilted, if there are any leaks such as oil or water, and examine the condition of the tires, doors, engine hood, trunk lid, and windows. Things to note when visiting a 4S dealership: Verify vehicle information: This mainly includes the vehicle repair unit (driver's name), license plate number, engine number, chassis number, entry time, and exit time (settlement time). The key details are the engine number and chassis number. The driver should carefully compare these numbers with those on the vehicle registration certificate to prevent clerical errors by the settlement staff. Otherwise, in case of an accident, it may lead to difficulties in filing complaints. Try to reclaim replaced parts: The parts list details which components were replaced during the current maintenance service and their respective prices. The driver should check whether the listed parts exceed the scope of those that needed replacement in the maintenance project. Additionally, one can choose to reclaim the replaced parts whenever possible.
I think it's perfectly fine to get a new car serviced at a different 4S dealership. I've done this with my own car, since all 4S stores are brand-authorized, and their parts and standards are basically the same. At first, I was worried about the warranty being affected, but after checking the manual, I learned that as long as genuine parts are used and maintenance is done on time, the warranty remains valid—this is even legally stipulated. Routine maintenance is just about changing the oil, checking the brakes, and so on, so I go wherever is convenient. For example, since I often travel for work, I can find good shops in different cities, saving both time and money—some shops offer better service packages. The key is to choose a reputable 4S store and call ahead to ask about their service quality, so you don’t end up with unprofessional mechanics causing damage. Overall, this approach is quite flexible and improves the car ownership experience. I recommend new car owners give it a try too.