GSNL-2_UK_A4_20pp_May2024

Myth Busting

IAAF, as part of its role in protecting the rights and freedoms afforded to the independent aftermarket, is actively involved in ‘myth busting’ when it comes to what independent repairers can do when servicing or repairing their customer’s vehicles. IAAF Chief Executive Mark Field exposes the aftermarket myths Often, these myths have been perpetrated to mislead vehicle owners into thinking that they must take their vehicles to authorised repairers, but the following may help dispel some of these myths.

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Myth Busting #1 Work During the Warranty Period:

UK legislation was updated in 2023 (the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Order – MV-BEO) , which explicitly states that a vehicle can be serviced or repaired by independent repairers during a warranty period (including extended warranties), whether that warranty is provided by the vehicle manufacturer or a 3rd party, and applies to when a vehicle is new or has a warranty when sold as a second hand vehicle. The MV-BEO stipulates that the replacement lubricants/fluids or replacement parts fitted by the independent repairer need to be of ‘matching quality’ to the original oil or parts fitted during the manufacture of the vehicle – i.e. that they are ‘parts manufactured according to the specifications and production standards used by the manufacturer of the motor vehicle. A second stipulation is that the vehicle manufacturer’s service or repair processes are followed correctly by the independent repairer. If a vehicle manufacturer refuses to honour a warranty claim, they have to show clear evidence that the situation leading to the claim in question is causally linked to the failure on the part of the repairer to carry out a particular repair or maintenance operation in the correct manner, or to the failure of a spare part supplied by a third party.

Myth Busting #2 | Spare Parts:

The MV-BEO also expands the details of ‘spare parts’ to include any code or software that is required to activate/integrate the replacement part into a vehicle. Software required to update a vehicle system is also now considered to be a ‘spare part’. The MV-BEO also includes the ability for independent distributors to buy OEM parts (e.g. so-called ‘captive parts’) and subsequently supply them to independent repairers.

Myth Busting #3 | Tools and Equipment:

Independent repairers have the right to buy the same tools (e.g. diagnostic tools) and equipment as are available to an authorised repairer (i.e. a ‘main dealer’) with the same functionality – i.e. it is ‘non-discriminatory’ between independent or authorised repairers. This right also allows these tools and equipment to be bought by independent repairers via ‘independent distributors’.

Page 10 | Garage Support | 2024 Issue 2