Warranty for importing a car from outside the EU

markodaly

I know that if one imports a car from the UK, the manufacturer's warranty still carries over, but is that the case for cars imports from the likes of Japan or Australia?

Would it be up to the individual's dealership or manufacture?

Getting information on this is not that easy.

Atlantic Dawn

For the likes of say a Toyota/Lexus Hybrid battery pack or Nissan LEAF battery I could see the warranty period being global as the parent company will likely cover the replacement but can't see any other components being covered across different regions.

bazz26

Each manufacturer has an EU wide distributor which is then broken down by country or country group, i.e. United Kingdom/Ireland. I could not see them wanting anything to do with honoring the warranty of a car from Japan or Australian that was never intended to be sold in Europe. They would not be bound by EU law to honor it either as EU originally sold cars have to meet different requirements to Japan or Australian sold cars.

Williewell

Did you manage to find a warranty that transfers back to Europe? I'm thinking ot bringing home a VW from Australia but would want the warranty cover to come across too. Thanks.

markodaly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120497806#Comment_120497806

No, I didnt.

I am guessing that it wont, but haven't tested it yet.

Williewell

VW Australia said a warranty covers internationally for 2 years from date of purchase (new car only).

sumo12

Short answer - No

Warranty is not transferrable on any vehicle purchased outside the EU + UK, even a brand new one. European distributors sell their products in Europe and do not / will not honour a warranty on a car they didn't sell

CiniO

Even within EU it's not always that straightforward.

I purchased a brand new Suzuki S-Cross in 2021 from a dealer in Poland, and as I was taking it to Ireland for couple of months in 2022, I enquired about warranty abroad (in case something happens) at my dealers. They directed me to ask Suzuki Motor Poland (which is main Suzuki distributor body and coordinates all dealers in Poland) and their answer was non-specific, but in general they said that depending on a EU country in which I might want to repair my car under warranty, in some countries it might be like at home, but in some I might be required to pay for repairs, obtain adequate invoices and proofs of repair, and apply for refund to Suzuki Motor Poland. They were not able to answer my direct question whether I'd need to pay for repairs in Ireland or not - they just said to contact them if I need to use warranty there. Luckily I didn't, so never found out.