My Fabia vRS is due for its 30k oil change service, it has nothing wrong with it and is running sweet.

As it is still under warrenty for another 6 months I want to get it serviced to keep the warrenty valid.

How do I stand at getting it serviced by an indipendant garage as apposed to a main dealer.

As there is nothing I feel needs doing and its only the interim service I dont really want to pay main dealer prices and it would be much more convenient to take to my local garage who I know and trust.

Is it coeerct that all I need to do is ensure genuine Skoda parts are used and the garage doing the work must be VAT registered?

As long as the garage is VAT-registered and uses genuine parts, your warranty will not be affected. So if you have an independent VAG specialist nearby, you should be fine for example - just make sure they use the right oil...

What is the need for garage being VAT registered?

If the correct OEM parts are used and fitted by a competent mechanic is that not sufficient?

I guess it proves that you've had the car serviced by a proper business, and not a mate in his garage!

I was told that if it's not a VAG dealer, then you get two years waranty

I guess it proves that you've had the car serviced by a proper business, and not a mate in his garage!

That's it. If something goes wrong and you need to make a warranty claim, first thing SUK are going to do is look at the stamps in the service schedule and ask you to produce invoices / receipts...

You can have invoices/ receipts without being VAT registered though.

More info in this thread and here

Or do a Google on Block Exemption

You can have invoices/ receipts without being VAT registered though.

Well, yeah, but if you take it to a VAT-registered garage, it'll be a "proper" business, rather than just some guy. I'm not saying that you'll necessary get a better service, but I guess the line's got to be drawn somewhere...?

@Babs:

Didn't you post about that before? Someone has. It's a load of carp anyway - any VAT-registered garage can do it, as long as they use genuine Skoda parts. For most bits replaced during servicing, they'll be the same whether it's got VW, Audi, Seat or Skoda on the box, so perhaps that's where the VAG garage bit comes in...?

ot - you can still be a "proper" business and not be vat registered btw, iirc the threshold for vat registration is a turnover of

I just wondered if it was a genuine requirement to have a VAT registered garage do the work. I'm not sure it is, but i understand your reasoning and realise it may be easier to argue your case with skoda in the event of a warranty claim if the garage is VAT registered.

I use a very competent, fully qualified mechanic to do my work. He, however, is not VAT registered as he is a small business.

FWIW Audi completed warranty work when required on my fathers car which had been maintained by this non VAT registered mechanic.

I still get invoices for work - they just don't show a VAT breakdown.

Hi

You dont HAVE to use OEM parts now

As long as they are of same spec

Like the OEM filters I do believe to be Man filters , so if you use Man filters that dont have the Logo on , it does not affect warranty

Sarah

As regards the manufacturer's "new car" warranty, that won't be affected. However , the third year of the warranty is provided by the dealer network ISTR.

However, however: That third year warranty is provided as part of the process of buying the new car and doesn't cost extra. I don't recall whether you have to sign separately for it either.

At this point I give up and hope I don't have any warranty claims in the 3rd year.

J.