Driving a new car that’s under warranty? You can bring it to Auto Lab for oil changes and ALL your repairs.

Bought a new car? Congratulations—but don't be a stranger! Too often, a client will say to us, "Oh, we love you guys, but we bought a new car. We'll see you when the new car warranty is up!"But you don't have to do that! You can bring your new car to Auto Lab for all repairs and maintenance, even while it's under warranty.

You Mean I Don't Have to Go Back to the Dealer?

No, you don't. Here's why: Your new car warranty covers repairs on parts that fail, such as a sensor that triggers the Check Engine light or a seatbelt that doesn't retract properly.But it doesn't cover routine maintenance, such as oil changes and tire rotations. When you bring your car to Auto Lab for an oil change or any other service, we'll take care of those services for you AND we'll inspect your new car for any warranty issues. If we identify any warranty repairs, we'll take the car to the dealer for you.** You don't have to make a second trip!It doesn't get any better than that: You still get to come to Auto Lab, and we help you take care of warranty matters.

What Services Aren't Covered by the New Car Warranty?

Your warranty won't cover anything that is considered a wear-and-tear or maintenance item, such as:

• Oil Changes
• Tire Rotations
• Brake Pads
• Air Filters
• Cabin Air Filters
• Fuel Filters
• Windshield Wiper Blades
• Coolant Flush | Coolant Service
• Transmission Fluid Change or Service

These are all services you have to pay for, whether you bring your car to Auto Lab or to the dealer.In some cases, a new car purchase will include some maintenance services, such as oil changes. However, the scope of the "free maintenance" is can be very limited. If you think your new car came with some maintenance, we highly recommend reading our article, "New car free maintenance: Oil changes once a year?"

Can the Dealer Deny Warranty Coverage if I Bring My Car to Auto Lab?

Excellent question, and the answer is, "No!" Your right to choose your auto repair shop is protected by federal law. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal for car dealers to claim that your warranty is void or to deny coverage under your warranty because someone other than the dealer did the work.Your only obligation is to adhere to the vehicle's maintenance schedule (refer to your owner's manual) and to keep records that can prove the maintenance has been done. (At Auto Lab, we keep a complete computerized history of your repairs and maintenance for you.)

What Should I Do Before the Warranty Expires?

Do yourself a potentially huge favor: When your car is within 2,000 miles or 2 months of the new car warranty expiring, schedule a vehicle inspection appointment at Auto Lab.Why? We will thoroughly inspect the entire vehicle, and we will identify any warranty repairs. (If you've been bringing it to us all along, it should be a quick inspection!) And as we said before, we'll take the car to the dealer for you to have any warranty repairs made.Unfortunately, if you take the car to the dealer for an inspection, there's a chance they won't be as thorough. (Some will and some won't.) Why? Because they actually make more money if youpay for a repair out of pocket than if they submit the repair to the manufacturer for a warranty claim. The labor guides they use, which dictate how long a repair should take, allow more time for customer-pay work than they do for warranty work.We recommend avoiding any potential issues and coming to Auto Lab!Have questions about your new car warranty or maintenance, feel free to call us at 847-367-4488 or email us anytime.** Please Note: We are happy to take your vehicle to the dealer for warranty repairs if we're performing maintenance or another service on your vehicle and if there is a dealer for your vehicle within 5 miles.