What is Right2Choose?

Right2Choose is all about informing motorists that they can take their vehicle, irrespective of age, anywhere for servicing without invalidating the vehicle manufacturer’s warranty. Motorists have a choice and can legally take their vehicle to be repaired or serviced at any independent garage, franchised dealer or autocentre, Providing parts and fluids of Original Equipment (OE) quality have been used in accordance with manufacturer’s service schedules, you will NOT invalidate the warranty.

Right2Choose - Car Repairs in Dublin | Alex Autoservice

Everyday motorists place one of their most essential possessions – the modern motor vehicle – in the hands of independent garages by taking their vehicle to a workshop close to home or workplace.

The Right2Choose means you cannot be obliged as a condition of warranty to have your car serviced by a franchised dealer. Under European Union competition law servicing, etc. can be carried out by an independent garage as long as that garage uses manufacturer approved parts and correctly follows the manufacturer’s service schedule.

This Right2Choose is a result of changes in 2002 to the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations (BER) after successful lobbying by the independent ‘Right to Repair Campaign’. These regulatory changes significantly included the requirement for manufacturers to made available technical data and repair instructions to the independent motor trade and motoring organisations like the Alex Autoservice.

Who can repair my car?

Under the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations (BER), the industry was allowed to continue to operate a franchised dealer network, controlling who would sell their products and where they could do so – a selective and exclusive distribution network in the jargon. This wasn’t complete exemption though and the BER included clauses protecting consumer rights regarding service and repair.

The BER were introduced in 1995 and then updated at the end of 2002. One specific requirement of the Regulations was that technical data and repair instructions should be made available to the independent motor trade (for which manufacturers could make a reasonable charge) so that car owners were not obliged to take their car to a franchised dealer for service or repair. This also ensured that data was available to motoring organisations like the Alex Autoservice to enable us to fix cars at the roadside.

What are the advantages?

By securing access to technical and repair information the Block Exemption Regulation helps to:

    • Keep repair costs down
    • Provide security for independent garages and specialists such as auto-electricians, air conditioning specialists and body repairers
    • Ensure you don’t have to wait too long or travel too far for servicing or repairs

Right2Choose - Car Repair | Alex Autoservice

Will this affect my warranty?

Absolutely not, under the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations (BER) it is within your right to use original equivalent manufactured parts and your vehicles warranty is unaffected. Car owners are not obliged to take their car to a franchised dealer for service or repair. The work can be carried out by an independent garage as long as that garage uses manufacturer approved parts and correctly follows the manufacturer’s service schedule. The Right to Repair campaign ensured block exemption regulations were kept up-to-date. For more information on BER please visit the following link & get the big picture on regulations in the automotive aftermarket from FIGIEFA.

The role of FIGIEFA is to monitor and accompany the development of European legislation and International legislation which affects the automotive aftermarket and to represent the interests of its members towards European and international institutions.

They inform European decision-makers about the substantial contribution of the independent automotive aftermarket to achieving the EU’s goals for a competitive European economy, the environment and road safety. The market for vehicle replacement parts, servicing and repair fosters job creation, supports a healthy environment and promotes free consumer choice in auto care.

FIGIEFA’s aim is to maintain free competition in the automotive aftermarket when it comes to selling aftermarket automotive parts. Their end objective is to ‘Maintain Competition’.

How can I be certain that my car is serviced by the right garage?

The Right2Choose website gives you all the information you require in making a decision on where you would like to get your car serviced without invalidating your manufacturer’s warranty. The garage must use trained mechanics and use original equivalent quality parts. Yes, they’re the parts that we supply at Alex Autoservice. We promote choice, because as a sector we are confident in our ability, proven to consumers consistently on a daily basis.