Can the first car maintenance be done at any 4S store?
4 Answers
Car first maintenance can be done at any 4S store. Here are the specific details about car first maintenance: 1. The first car maintenance is free, provided by the manufacturer, not the 4S store. 2. During the warranty period, the vehicle can receive nationwide warranty service, and maintenance records can be checked at any 4S store. 3. The first maintenance time for a new car is between 3 to 5 months, and the first maintenance mileage is between 3,000 to 5,000 kilometers. Usually, it is determined based on either the mileage or the specified first maintenance time, whichever comes first. 4. In addition to changing the engine oil and oil filter, the first car maintenance also includes a comprehensive inspection and diagnosis of the vehicle's condition and usage.
Last time I went to an out-of-town 4S dealership for my first free maintenance service, I hit a wall. Although they were all authorized 4S shops, the manufacturer has regional protection policies. My car was purchased from a dealership in the East China region, and when I went to a shop in the Southwest region, they wouldn't provide the free service. The staff explained that manufacturer rebates are settled by region, and they couldn't get subsidies for cross-regional services. Later, I called the manufacturer's customer service to confirm, and they indeed recommended returning to the original purchase dealership or another shop in the same region. Nowadays, maintenance manuals come with electronic warranty codes, so it's advisable to call ahead and check if the code can be verified at a different location to avoid a wasted trip and having to pay out of pocket.
As someone who has worked at a 4S dealership, honestly, there are three key points to consider for cross-shop first maintenance: First, it must be within the same brand chain—you can't take a Toyota to Honda for service. Second, you need to bring all necessary documents like the purchase invoice, maintenance manual, and first maintenance card. Most importantly, check if the selling dealership has entered your vehicle information into the nationwide warranty system. Our dealership has encountered cases where customers brought maintenance cards issued from other locations, but the service couldn't be provided for free because the records weren't found in the system. Nowadays, some new energy vehicle brands support nationwide coverage, but most traditional fuel vehicles still have regional restrictions.
When I first bought a car, I also thought that any 4S store nationwide could perform the first maintenance, but reality taught me a lesson. That time, I decided to get maintenance during a business trip, and the staff pointed at the system telling me I had to register at the first store. Later, I learned that the manufacturer binds each car to an original dealer code, similar to a phone number's location. Now I've learned my lesson: before traveling, I use the brand's APP to check authorized stores and directly ask the after-sales manager, 'Can the joint warranty number be used?' If it's a newly bought electric car, it's actually more convenient. My neighbor's Tesla completed its first maintenance right at the airport showroom.
