Do I need to be present when the 4S shop tows the car away?
2 Answers
Towing the car to the 4S shop for repairs does not require your personal presence; you can send a proxy instead. If the car is under warranty, bring the warranty manual. If it's not under warranty, bring the maintenance manual. Here is some additional information: Introduction to 4S shops: 1. A 4S shop is a car franchise business model centered around the "four-in-one" concept, including vehicle sales (Sale), spare parts (Sparepart), after-sales service (Service), and information feedback (Survey), hence the name 4S shop. 2. Simply put, it is equivalent to a brand-exclusive store, uniformly designed by the manufacturer and operated according to the manufacturer's business model. Currently, joint-venture car manufacturers in China have established 4S shops nationwide. These manufacturers directly supply vehicles and spare parts to the 4S shops, which are responsible for sales and after-sales services on behalf of the manufacturer. However, 4S shops cannot sell cars from other manufacturers. 3. The 4S shop concept was gradually introduced to China from Europe after 1998. Due to its close production and sales relationship with manufacturers and advantages such as a pleasant shopping environment and strong brand awareness, it was once emulated by many domestic manufacturers.
Last month, my car broke down and was towed away by the 4S shop without me having to rush over. After work that day, I found it wouldn’t start, so I called the 4S shop. They asked for my license plate number and the car’s location, and I sent the GPS coordinates and a photo of the vehicle registration certificate to their email. The tow truck driver arrived quickly, confirmed remotely that it was my car, and towed it away directly. The whole process was straightforward and hassle-free—I just waited at home. If it involved an accident or insurance claim, more steps might be needed, like signing a power of attorney or taking photos to document the vehicle’s condition, but for routine breakdown towing, it can mostly be resolved online. In the end, the car was fixed, and I just handled some paperwork when I went to pick it up, saving me the hassle of running back and forth. Remember to have electronic copies of your documents ready in advance—it’s convenient and fast.
