While there are major differences between service, maintenance and warranty plans, almost every new car sold in our market comes with some sort of aftersales plan . The duration’s and coverage of these plans can differ greatly between brands, so it’s impossible to give every car owner a detailed explanation of exactly what’s covered and what’s not, but here is a simple breakdown of the three types of common aftersales plans.
SERVICE PLAN
This looks after the day-to-day running of your car, and service procedures which must be performed to keep mechanical components running properly. Most cover basic service items like oil, air and fuel filters, as well as spark plugs and fluid top ups. Some service plans also cover cam belt replacements. Vehicle services are scheduled over regular time (or distance) increments, and while some dealerships will inform owners of upcoming windows, it’s ultimately up to you to make the scheduled workshop visit on time. Missing a scheduled service will likely void the plan.
MAINTENANCE PLAN
This is a more comprehensive version of a service plan which covers additional wear and tear items such as brake pads, wiper blades, shock absorbers and sometimes clutches on manual gearbox vehicles. Maintenance plans also work on time and distance intervals, and can also be voided if owners miss scheduled services. Both service and maintenance plans require work to be performed by approved dealerships or workshops only, so even if your car is serviced on time by a private mechanic the vehicle manufacturer can still choose to void the plan.
