Can I get maintenance at a local 4S store after buying a car from a different location?
2 Answers
You can get maintenance at a local 4S store after buying a car from a different location. Here are some relevant introductions about 4S stores: The business scope of 4S stores: In a region, there will be several 4S stores for a brand, mainly determined by the size of the city. There is competition among each 4S store, even though they belong to the same brand. According to the current situation in China, standard 4S stores only exist in cities and above, while some county-level cities do not have car 4S stores. Characteristics of 4S stores: They are established according to the manufacturer's unified standards, with a unified model, and are authorized by the manufacturer to sell only a single brand of vehicles. Within the price range allowed by the manufacturer, they attract customers with the lowest prices, reflecting the brand's related value and maintaining the brand's reputation. However, it is important to understand correctly that 4S stores should not be regarded as car manufacturers.
I previously bought my Camry at a discounted price from a dealership in a neighboring city, and drove it back for maintenance at the Honda dealership near my neighborhood without any issues. All dealerships are uniformly authorized by the manufacturer, using the same parts and labor standards nationwide. My maintenance records are updated in real-time in the manufacturer's system, so there's no need to carry any paper documents—just book an appointment via the mobile app and scan the code at the shop. Most importantly, during the vehicle's warranty period, the manufacturer mandates that all authorized service centers nationwide must honor the warranty, a policy that protects the owner's rights. Services across different brands are quite similar, and now even some joint-venture cars support free first maintenance across regions. It’s always safer to call ahead and confirm the local dealership's policy.
