Your manufacturer's warranty generally can't be made conditional on having routine servicing or non-warranty repairs done at a main dealer. Here's what you need to know to keep your warranty safe when using an independent garage.
Short answer: no. In Ireland and across the EU, your manufacturer's warranty generally can't be made conditional on having routine servicing or non-warranty repairs done at a main dealer. You can use an independent garage, and it can fit non-original parts, as long as they are of matching quality to the originals.
Even so, some motorists are still being told otherwise. In July 2025, Ireland's competition regulator, the CCPC, warned the motor industry after drivers reported being told their warranty would be void if they used an independent garage or non-original parts.
This guide explains what the rules actually say, the few things that genuinely do still go to the dealer, and how to service your car at an independent garage without giving anyone a reason to refuse a warranty claim.
The protection comes from EU competition law, specifically the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation and the European Commission's guidelines that go with it. The regulation applies until 31 May 2028 and is currently under review.
In plain terms, the Commission's position is that a manufacturer's warranty must not be made conditional on:
This applies whether the condition is written in the sales contract or in the service or warranty booklet. It also covers extended warranties sold with the car at the time of purchase or shortly afterwards, including ones arranged through an insurer.
The CCPC's 2025 warning applies the same principle in Ireland. Its message to the industry was that motorists must be free to choose where they service their car and what parts they use, without fear of losing their warranty. It also confirmed that independent garages may use non-original parts of matching quality.
The rules protect your choice for work the warranty doesn't cover. A few situations are different:
| Situation | Where it's done | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A fault covered by the warranty | Authorised dealer, free of charge | The manufacturer pays for warranty repairs, so it can say who carries them out. |
| Recall work | Authorised dealer, free of charge | Recalls are run through the manufacturer's network. |
| An extended warranty you bought years after buying the car | Check its terms | The Commission considers dealer-only servicing conditions on these unlikely to break competition rules. |
| A car leased from a company linked to the manufacturer | Check the lease | If you're not certain to own the car at the end, the leasing company can require servicing in the dealer network. |
| A service plan you've already paid the dealer for | The dealer | You've prepaid for that servicing there. |
So the practical split is simple: routine servicing and wear-and-tear repairs (oil and filters, brakes, tyres, suspension, exhausts, batteries) can go wherever you like. A fault you want fixed for free under the warranty goes back to the dealer.
Using an independent garage doesn't void your warranty. A bad repair can still cost you a claim.
The European Commission says a manufacturer can legitimately refuse a warranty claim if the problem was caused by the failure of a non-original part. And whoever services or repairs your car is responsible for the quality of their work. So the protection is real, but it depends on the work being done properly.
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Does servicing my car at an independent garage void the warranty in Ireland? No. Under EU competition rules, a manufacturer's warranty generally can't be made conditional on routine servicing or non-warranty repairs being done at a main dealer.
Do I have to use genuine manufacturer parts? No, not for work the warranty doesn't cover. Non-original parts are fine as long as they're of matching quality. But if a non-original part fails and causes a problem, the manufacturer can refuse that claim.
Do warranty repairs have to be done at the dealer? Yes. If you want a fault fixed for free under the warranty, it goes to an authorised dealer. The same applies to recall work.
Does the rule apply to extended warranties? It applies to extended warranties sold with the car or shortly after you bought it. An extended warranty you buy years later can require dealer servicing, so check its terms.
What if my car is leased? If you lease from a company linked to the manufacturer and you're not certain to own the car at the end, the leasing company can require servicing in the dealer network. Check your agreement.
Who do I complain to if a dealer insists my warranty is void? Ask the dealer to show you the clause in writing, then contact the CCPC if it doesn't add up.