Hello forum,

 

Hoping someone can shed some light on the position regarding modifications and warranties. My warranty is an Approved Used scheme which states this:

 

12. Modification to the vehicle – If you would like the vehicle to be modified in any way, you should obtain our prior approval and the work should be carried out by a Retailer participating in the ŠKODA Approved Used Car Warranty Programme. In the event that a modification, which was not approved by us, contributes to a fault, we reserve the right to reject any claim you may wish to make in relation to that fault.

 

I'd be interested in getting my car remapped, and to that end I've obtained approval from both the finance company and the warranty team to go ahead with this. But the warranty team also said: "If a claim is submitted after the modification, we reserve the right to refuse the claim should the claim be related to the modification."

 

How can this be correct? The policy clearly states that non-approved modifications can lead to a rejection of a claim, but as mine is approved there should be no question about it. Am I wrong or is the policy wording and/or Skoda's interpretation incorrect?

Some countries / VW Brands have approved Tuning like Remaps / Tuning boxes.  So Factory Approved.  (Extended Warranty Approved possibly.)

Audi, VW, SEAT & Skoda.  

 

Some Skoda Dealers in the UK were REVO Dealers and they told Customers that the Manufacturers Warranty was valid with their remap.

They were not though. 

 

Just fill your boots with modifying the car and do not expect a Warranty to cover it unless it is a Warranty the Tuner sells or provides and which is worth the paper it is written on.

There are overseas tuners that sell products and warranties and these Remaps / Tuning Box with a proper Warranty are lots more expensive than anything in the UK that you will be buying.

Edited 21 March, 20224 yr by roottoot

As I read it, they're putting in a general catch all term in the overall warranty terms that they'll not warranty anything unapproved, or deemed related to be unapproved.

 

That doesn't necessarily dictate that they will warranty any modifications that you ask them to approve, only that there is a possibility. In this case they've confirmed to you that regardless of their 'approval' to have the vehicle modified, they'll not cover things related to the particular modification you wish to make.

 

As an example, they may consider you asking a dealer to retrofit an OEM reversing camera as a modification - it's reasonable to think they might then be prepared to warranty such a modification as it's all OEM kit done by an authorised dealer but that doesn't necessarily extend to 'we will warranty any modification'.

 

It does make the 'approval' process somewhat redundant feeling in your case, as they're not prepared to cover it either way - the cynic in me wonders if this is just to lure people into recording the modifications they make so it's easier for them to pick out something that'll let them reject claims.

Edited 21 March, 20224 yr by Kenai