Is it mandatory to have car maintenance at a 4S store?
2 Answers
There is no national regulation requiring maintenance at a 4S store during the warranty period. Here is expanded information: 1. Most car faults can be repaired at normal repair shops. 2. Encourage motor vehicle maintenance enterprises to implement intensive, specialized, and chain operations, promoting reasonable division of labor and coordinated development in the motor vehicle maintenance industry. 3. Encourage the application of environmentally friendly, energy-saving, non-disassembly testing and fault diagnosis technologies in motor vehicle maintenance, advance industry informatization construction and the networking of rescue and maintenance services, improve the overall quality of the motor vehicle maintenance industry, and meet social needs. 4. If quality problems occur with the easily worn parts of household car products during their warranty period, consumers can choose to replace them for free. The types and warranty periods of easily worn parts are specified by the manufacturer on the three-guarantee certificate.
I've been driving for 15 years and feel that it's not necessary to stick with authorized dealerships for maintenance. For example, after my Honda reached 100,000 kilometers, I switched to a reputable independent repair shop nearby. The technicians there are experienced, and an oil change plus inspection only cost me 300 yuan, saving me a lot of money. Of course, authorized dealerships are more professional and standardized, especially for new cars during the warranty period – you must go there, or the manufacturer might not honor the warranty. My suggestion is to choose based on your car's condition: for older cars, consider your budget and trusted shops; for new cars, play it safe during the first few years. Remember, timely maintenance is the most important – don't compromise your car's safety just to save money.
