Dealership or independent mechanic?
For maintenance and for repairs after the warranty ends, you can use an independent mechanic without putting your factory warranty at risk. Federal law bars a manufacturer from voiding the warranty because an independent shop did the work. Go to the dealer for repairs the manufacturer pays for under the warranty and for safety recalls.
Have a dealer quote you're unsure about? A second opinion is free at Murphy's. Call Beavercreek at 937-426-2886 or Centerville at 937-433-0140, or book online.
What federal law says about your warranty
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act covers the warranty that comes with a new car. The Federal Trade Commission's guide, Auto Warranties and Auto Service Contracts, sums it up:
- Independent maintenance is allowed. A manufacturer cannot void your warranty or deny coverage just because you used an independent shop, unless the warranty provides that work free.
- Aftermarket parts are allowed. Your warranty stays in effect with aftermarket or recycled parts. A claim can be denied for damage a defective part or a bad installation caused, and the manufacturer has to show that it did.
- Records matter. A warranty company can ask for maintenance records, so keep receipts for oil changes, tire rotations, belts, brake pads, and inspections.
- Extended warranties are different. A service contract is a separate agreement. Some require the manufacturer's maintenance schedule or limit which shops you can use.
When is the dealer the right call?
Two jobs belong at the dealer: repairs the manufacturer pays for under the factory warranty, and safety recalls. Everything else, from oil changes and scheduled maintenance to brakes, tires, and repairs after the warranty, can go to either one.
When does an independent shop make sense?
When you want someone to look at the car again, or when you are paying for the work either way. That covers:
- repairs after the factory warranty ends
- a second look when the dealer says nothing is wrong, can't find the problem, or quotes more than you expected
- a household with cars from several brands that you want serviced in one place
- wanting to see the problem first, with photos and video, before you approve a repair
The Dealership Alternative is here!
Regular factory maintenance is a key and vital automotive service your car or truck needs. Sometimes going to the dealer, works out in the customers favor because a part or service is under warranty. That's great for everyone! But what do you do when the dealership tells you nothing is wrong, or can't solve the issues or might not want to work on your vehicle because it's out of warranty?
Well that's what one of our customers faced with their 2002 VW Jetta TDI. The Jetta made its way to Murphy's Autocare with symptoms of degrading/poor performance and poor fuel mileage over the past several months. Our technicians discovered the throttle body and intake were heavily restricted due to diesel particulate build up, which went undetected by the VW dealership service department.
To correct and resolve the particulate build up, Murphy's Autocare cleaned out the deposits by using a chemical cleaning agent and burning additional deposit buildup with a torch. The results of the cleaning showed performance was returned to OE spec and turbo boost was back to normal operating condition.
This kind of deposit build up can be prevented with regular factory maintenance cleaning every 60,000 miles.
In the Dayton area
Dayton-area drivers have two Murphy's shops as a dealership alternative: Beavercreek, where Dave Murphy started as a technician in 1974 and which the family has owned since 1994, and Centerville, which opened in 2021. Both work on all makes, domestic and import, including hybrids and light-duty diesels. How to choose between them, and how to tell a shop is honest, is on Dayton auto repair.
At Murphy's
- Free second opinion. Bring a dealer's quote; the consultation is on the always-free list, along with check engine light code reading and a courtesy inspection.
- See it first. Technicians do a digital vehicle inspection and send photos and video to your phone or email. No repair starts until you approve it.
- A record for your warranty. Murphy's gives you an itemized record of each visit.
- Warranty on our work. Repairs carry a 36-month/36,000-mile warranty, as described on our About page.
- Certified technicians. Technicians are ASE certified, and senior technicians hold ASE Master Certification.
The full menus are on repair services and maintenance services. For service intervals, see how often should I service my vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will using an independent mechanic void my factory warranty?
No. Under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a manufacturer cannot void your warranty or deny coverage just because an independent shop did the maintenance or repairs, unless the warranty provides that work free. Follow the maintenance schedule and keep your records.
Do aftermarket parts void my warranty?
No. The FTC says your warranty stays in effect if you use aftermarket or recycled parts. The manufacturer can deny a claim for a part that a defective aftermarket part or a bad installation damaged, but it has to show that the part caused the damage.
When should I go to the dealer instead?
For repairs the manufacturer pays for under the factory warranty, and for safety recalls. Oil changes, scheduled maintenance, brakes, tires, and repairs after the warranty ends can go to an independent shop.
Is an extended warranty the same as the factory warranty?
No. An extended warranty is usually a service contract, a separate agreement with its own rules. Some require the manufacturer's maintenance schedule or limit which shops you can use, so read the contract before you book.
What records should I keep?
Receipts for oil changes, tire rotations, belt replacements, brake pads, and inspections. A warranty company can ask for them before it pays a claim. Murphy's gives you an itemized record of each visit.
Schedule your next appointment. Call Beavercreek at 937-426-2886 or Centerville at 937-433-0140, or book online. Both shops are open Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 5:00pm.
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