Where to Maintain Parallel Imported Vehicles?
2 Answers
Parallel imported vehicles can be maintained at the authorized service centers of their respective brands. These vehicles do come with warranties, albeit provided by third-party contractors. Vehicles sold in free trade zones typically require customers to purchase a whole vehicle warranty insurance. The whole vehicle warranty insurance is divided into two types: major component warranty and full vehicle warranty. The major component warranty primarily covers insurance for the vehicle's key components, while the full vehicle warranty covers insurance for the entire car. Parallel imported cars, fully known as parallel trade imported vehicles, are cars purchased by traders from overseas markets and introduced into the Chinese market for sale without authorization from the brand manufacturers. Depending on the import region, they can be categorized into U.S. specification cars, Middle East edition cars, Canadian edition cars, European edition cars, etc.
I remember after buying that parallel-imported car, the biggest headache was finding where to get it serviced. Right after I got it, I went directly to a nearby 4S shop, but they said they couldn't provide service since it wasn't imported through official channels—they were worried about parts not matching or different technical standards. Later, I tried a few independent repair shops. Some professional mechanics were familiar with imported cars and would follow the manual's requirements, but you had to find places with international certifications, like large repair chains or shops specializing in luxury cars. I also consulted friends, who said going to designated after-sales service centers for parallel-imported cars was the most reliable option. Although it might be more expensive, the warranty coverage was better. The general advice is to first check the manual on the official website to see what parts and tools are required, avoiding cheap small workshops that could cause problems.
