A A A

Home » Topics » Car » Buying a car


13/02/2009

Buying a car and having it repaired in Europe

Regulation 1400/2002 offers consumers more freedom of choice

Car manufacturers set up a distribution and repair network for the sale and maintenance of their vehicles and (spare) parts. The agreements with these concessionaires and authorised repairers may however be viewed as distorting competition and possibly even be in conflict with Community law. These can only be allowed if they offer economic advantages.

European Regulation 1400/2002 lays down the conditions which agreements within a distribution and repair network must meet to be permitted. The first aim of this regulation is to increase competition within the car industry. This increases the consumer's freedom to buy anywhere he wishes in Europe. Moreover the consumer will gain greater freedom as regards the choice of repair service.

Attention: the Regulation only covers new cars.

The consumer can buy his car more cheaply in another country

The Regulation bars car manufacturers from imposing sale prices on their concessionaires, to foster competition. This enables price differentials between the various Member States. Consumers can compare prices and make a decision on that basis.

Twice a year the European Commission publishes a comparative study of sale prices of new cars in Europe. You can view this study by clicking on this link.

You will find the administrative formalities you are required to meet when you buy a car in another country in the EU in our brochure in Dutch or French.

Top

More consumer choice

A car manufacturer is not allowed to impose restrictions on his concessionaires in relation to their sales market (to whom and where they sell) except in clearly defined cases. For example, if a manufacturer concludes exclusive agreements in a certain region with a concessionaire, then he is permitted to ban other concessionaires from undertaking active sales activities in that region. This allows concessionaires to reach a larger number of consumers, which increases everyone's consumer choice.

The Regulation also states that the consumer must be able to buy any vehicle from the car manufacturer's range from any concessionaire whatsoever. Thus a consumer in France must be able to buy a car with the steering wheel on the right.

Top

For repairs under warranty the consumer must be able to approach all concessionaires or authorised repair services

As is the case with all consumer goods, the consumer also enjoys a legal warranty of two years when purchasing a new vehicle. In addition the car manufacturer may also offer a commercial warranty, which must not however affect the legal warranty. The Regulation deals with both forms of warranty and does not make any distinction.

Thanks to Regulation 1400/2002, consumers have the right to have their car maintained or repaired at any authorised repair service whatsoever in Europe. The same conditions apply to the warranty in all Member States.

If for example you buy a Citroën in France, you do not have to return to the concessionaire in France for a repair. You can have your car repaired under warranty at any repair service authorised by Citroën in Belgium.

Authorised repair services cannot refuse to maintain or repair your car with the argument that you bought it somewhere else.

Top

Independent repair services are also permitted

The Regulation also offers the consumer the possibility to have his car maintained or repaired by an independent repair service, even during the warranty period.

When a consumer has his car repaired by an independent repair service for a problem that is not covered by the warranty, e.g. damaged shock absorbers after an accident, a recognised concessionaire cannot afterwards refuse to repair an engine fault that is covered by the warranty.

If the independent repair service performed the maintenance or repair work incorrectly, the consumer may lose his warranty rights. A recognised concessionaire is in this case not obliged to put right the mistakes of an independent car workshop.

Attention: if you want to have your car repaired under warranty then select an authorised repair service. Unless you bought the car from him, an independent repairer should not perform repairs that are covered by the warranty free of charge.

Top

Second-hand cars are not covered by this Regulation

The Regulation only concerns new cars. If you buy a second-hand car in another country, you can only benefit from your warranty rights at the dealer where you bought the car.

chn/kme