Is it necessary to go to a 4S store for car maintenance?
2 Answers
There is no national regulation requiring maintenance to be performed at a 4S store during the warranty period. Here are the relevant details: 1. According to the revised regulations by the Ministry of Transport, car owners have the right to independently choose maintenance service providers. Except for car manufacturers fulfilling their responsibilities for defective vehicle recalls and the 'Three Guarantees' policy for vehicle quality, no unit or individual may force or covertly force the designation of a maintenance service provider. 2. Even if car maintenance and repair are not performed at a 4S store, the vehicle can still enjoy the 'Three Guarantees' policy for quality and warranty services. 3. A 4S store is an authorized maintenance provider for a specific car brand, dedicated to servicing vehicles of that brand. It receives technical guidance, raw material supply, and undergoes annual assessment and supervision from the brand manufacturer. Vehicles regularly maintained at 4S stores will have a comprehensive maintenance and repair record.
As a veteran driver with 15 years of experience, my advice is that maintenance doesn't necessarily have to be done at 4S shops. While 4S shops have professional equipment, their prices are high, especially the labor costs which can be shocking. For example, changing the engine oil and filter for my Japanese car costs 800 at a 4S shop, but only 400 at the repair shop downstairs. However, it's best to go to a 4S shop during the warranty period, otherwise you might risk voiding the warranty. For routine items like changing spark plugs or brake pads, qualified specialized repair shops are perfectly fine. The key is to check if the shop has manufacturer-certified equipment and if the workers are properly certified. The owner of the shop I often visit used to be a technical director at a 4S shop and has been running his own business for seven years now, offering meticulous work at a lower cost.
