What is the warranty period for a repaired accident vehicle?
4 Answers
Different types of vehicles and varying degrees of repairs will have different warranty periods. For passenger vehicles, the quality assurance period for complete vehicle repair or assembly repair is 20,000 kilometers or 120 days. For secondary maintenance, the quality assurance period is 6,000 kilometers or 35 days. For primary maintenance, minor repairs, and parts repair, the quality assurance period is 2,000 kilometers or 10 days. Below is additional information: 1. Accident vehicle: Refers to a vehicle that has suffered damage due to non-natural wear and tear accidents, resulting in a decline in mechanical performance and economic value. Accident vehicles generally refer to those with structural damage. Flood-damaged vehicles and fire-damaged vehicles also fall under the category of "special accident vehicles." 2. Methods for identifying accident vehicles: Appearance inspection, light inspection, insurance check, and interior inspection.
My cousin just dealt with his accident-damaged car the other day, and the warranty situation really depends on specific circumstances. If repaired at an authorized 4S shop, they usually provide a 12-month or 10,000-km warranty (whichever comes first). But last time when he used insurance at a chain repair shop, they only offered a 6-month warranty. The key is to scrutinize the warranty terms in the repair contract—never sign vague clauses stating 'according to industry standards'; I learned this the hard way. Here's a pro tip: if you find secondary damage to related components (e.g., doors not sealing properly after pillar replacement), you can still claim compensation with evidence even beyond the warranty period. Also, most modified parts aren’t covered, which many tend to overlook.
The biggest fear when repairing accident-damaged vehicles is encountering disputes. As someone who has handled hundreds of insurance claim vehicles, here are some insights. Three major factors determine the warranty: the qualifications of the repair shop (dealerships generally offer 12 months > repair shops' 6 months), the type of damage (structural repairs last longer than bodywork and painting), and the source of replacement parts (OEM parts are covered for 1 year / aftermarket parts for half a year). Many people are unaware of the hidden services provided by insurance companies—their partnered repair shops typically offer an additional 3 months of coverage. Pay close attention to the remarks section on the damage assessment form. Last time, I helped a client recover the repair costs for a second transmission leak by spotting the fine print in the assessment form that stated 'covered parts enjoy equal warranty.'
Last year, after my vintage car was rear-ended, I thoroughly researched the warranty rules. The law mandates a minimum of 3 months, but in practice, it's divided into three tiers: core accident components (e.g., frame rails) are covered for 12 months, related parts (e.g., suspension) for 9 months, and general body panels for 6 months. Pay special attention to cut and welded areas—the warranty period starts from the repair completion date, not the pickup date. Once, the repair shop took two months to deliver the car, resulting in the warranty being reduced to 10 months. Saving repair photos is crucial—a friend’s door rattle was proven to be a repair defect through photos, leading to compensation.
