Most new car manufacturers offer warranties of various kinds on their vehicles. It is your responsibility to make sure you keep your vehicle’s maintenance up to date in order to keep your car’s warranties valid. However, under the law you are not required to visit a specific dealership to have the work done. Here are some key points to remember that will help you honor your manufacturer’s warranty.

–Your warranty cannot require that you use only a specific brand of parts carried by the car dealership where the vehicle was purchased. This gives you the freedom to choose your own mechanic and have any work that needs to be done performed by someone you know and trust. This law gives the consumer a real advantage, because you are not “forced” to have maintenance and repairs done at a dealership which often costs more.

–In order to keep your warranties valid, however, you are responsible for making sure that all of the proper maintenance procedures are performed on the vehicle as specified in your owner’s manual or in the warranty information booklet you were provided at the time of purchase. Even if your vehicle is leased, you are still responsible for making sure all maintenance guidelines are followed.

–Keep meticulous records of any type of maintenance or other work performed on the vehicle. Be sure to include mileage, dates, receipts, and all other pertinent information. Should there ever be any questions regarding the validity of the warranty, you will need to have all evidence appertaining to your maintenance schedule.

Vehicle warranties are wonderful safeguards and can be real money-savers; keeping them valid is up to you.

Advanced Auto Tech ( http://www.advancedautotech.net/ ) is a full-service preventive maintenance and automotive repair center that has been performing high quality, guaranteed automotive repairs in the Newington and Springfield, Lorton VA auto repair and Kingstowne area