Servicing a newer car at an independent garage

By Martin Harvey, MH Auto Services · Published 19 October 2026

The short answer

You can have a newer car serviced at an independent garage without affecting its manufacturer warranty, as long as the service follows the manufacturer's schedule and uses genuine or matching-quality parts. The exception to watch for is an extended warranty, which can have its own rules.

The rules

Competition law stops car makers from insisting that only their own dealers service cars under warranty. What Car? traces this back to the Block Exemption rules introduced across the EU in 2003, and says an independent service is fine "provided it adheres to the car maker's servicing schedule and uses genuine parts". In the UK, the current rules are the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Order, which came into force on 1 June 2023 and is overseen by the Competition and Markets Authority.

What makes a service warranty-safe

• The manufacturer's schedule. The service should be the one your car's maker sets for its age and mileage, found in the handbook or service book.
• The right parts and fluids. Genuine parts, or parts of matching quality, and the oil grade the maker specifies.
• A record. An invoice showing the date, mileage and work done, so the car's history stays complete.

Extended warranties

What Car? points out that the Block Exemption "doesn't apply to the extended warranties offered by many car makers". Some of these ask for dealer servicing as a condition. If your car is covered by one, read the terms before booking, or send them to us and we'll take a look with you.

Servicing with us

We service cars in our Bletchley workshop to the manufacturer's schedule, using genuine and matching-quality parts, and keep full service records. If we spot anything else, we tell you what it is and what it would cost before doing it. See car servicing.

Sources: What Car?, Must servicing be done by a franchised dealer?; Competition and Markets Authority, Motor Vehicle Block Exemption.