It is a European Commission law that is designed to stop unfair competition. Prior to 2003, car owners in the EU risked voiding their vehicle warranty when their vehicles were serviced or repaired in workshops not belonging to the vehicle manufacturer or its dealer network.

Block Exemption means that motorists can have their vehicle serviced or repaired in any chosen workshop without invalidating their manufacturer’s warranty, providing that it is undertaken to the same standard as the manufacturer. It also covers spare parts, which means that workshops do not have to use vehicle manufacturer original equipment parts (including lubricants) to ensure a vehicle maintains its warranty. Parts can be sourced from any supplier as long as they are of appropriate or ‘matching quality’.

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