Warranty for Chinese cars: a complete guide for

2. What is included in the guarantee and what is NOT: complete list

Chinese manufacturers often use language like “warranty on all parts except wear parts" But what does this mean in practice? Let's look at it in detail.

Included in the guarantee (subject to conditions):

• 🔩 Manufacturing defects — cracks in the cylinder block, body corrosion (if not caused by external factors), malfunctions of the electronics “out of the box.”
• 🚗 Engine and gearbox breakdowns - if they are not related to improper operation (for example, overheating due to lack of oil).
• 🔌 Electronics and sensors - but only if the failure is not caused by a short circuit due to abnormal equipment.
• 🛡️ Body defects — through corrosion (usually a 3-5 year warranty), paint peeling.

NOT included in the warranty (even if the breakdown occurred during the warranty period):

• 🔧 Wear parts — brake pads, clutch, lamps, windshield wiper blades, timing belts (if they have not broken prematurely).
• 🛢️ Consumables — oil, filters, spark plugs, antifreeze.
• 🚨 Breakdowns due to non-compliance with maintenance - for example, if you did not change the oil every 10,000 km, and the engine seized.
• 🔌 Non-standard equipment — alarm systems, radios, LED lamps, if they were not installed by an authorized dealer.
• 🌊 Damage from external factors — Road accidents, hail, flooding, mechanical damage.

Special case: hybrids and electric vehicles. For example, at BYD The battery warranty is valid only if the charging rules are followed (you cannot keep the charge below 20% and above 80% for a long time). If you regularly discharge the battery to zero, warranty repairs will be denied.

3. Typical reasons for REFUSION of warranty repairs (and how to avoid them)

According to statistics Motorists' Rights Society, every fifth owner of a Chinese car is faced with a refusal of warranty repairs. Main reasons:

⚠️ Attention! If you miss at least one maintenance at an official dealer, the warranty for the engine and gearbox is automatically canceled for most brands (Chery, Geely, Haval). Even if the mileage is short!

Top 5 reasons for failures and how to prevent them:

1. Missed maintenance - solution: lead service book without passes, even if the car is idle.
2. Use of non-original consumables — solution: buy oil and filters only from an authorized dealer (even if they are more expensive).
3. Installation of non-standard equipment — solution: coordinate any modifications (even tinting) with the dealer in writing.
4. Operation in extreme conditions (off-road, constant overload) - solution: avoid towing trailers weighing more than 1 ton, unless permitted by the instructions.
5. Fuel mismatch - solution: refuel only at proven gas stations (for example, Gazpromneft, Lukoil) and save your receipts.

Case Study: Owner Chery Tiggo 8 I lost my engine warranty after the dealer found metal shavings in the oil. Cause? The client changed the oil not every 10,000 km, but once every 15,000 km, citing “gentle operating conditions.” The court sided with the dealer.

✅ Check that the mileage does not exceed the warranty limit

✅ Prepare a service book with maintenance notes

✅ Take receipts for fuel and consumables

✅ Remove all non-standard devices (DVRs, radars)

✅ Check for external damage (scratches, dents)

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4. How to check the warranty before purchasing: 5 mandatory steps

If you buy a Chinese car secondhand or even in a showroom, The warranty may already be void - and you won’t know about it until a breakdown occurs. To avoid being scammed, follow this algorithm:

Step 1. Check the originality of the warranty card

Each brand has its own degrees of protection: holograms, unique numbers, watermarks. For example, at Geely must be on the ticket QR code, which leads to the official website with car data. If the code cannot be scanned or leads to a suspicious resource, it is a fake.

Step 2. Make sure the car has not been in an accident

Even a minor accident can result in a warranty denial. Check history via traffic police (free) or paid services like Autocode. Please note:

• 🚗 Painted parts (checked with a thickness gauge).
• 🔧 Traces of welding work (inspect the side members).
• 📄 VIN mismatch in the title and on the body.

Step 3: Check your maintenance history

If the seller claims that the car was serviced by an authorized dealer, ask:

• 📋 Copies of work orders with the service seal.
• 💳 Checks for payment for work (even if the maintenance was under warranty, some parts could be paid for separately).
• 📊 Diagnostic protocols (for example, computer diagnostics before maintenance).

Step 4: Check with your dealer for warranty terms

Call the official service center and ask:

• «Does the warranty apply if there is a change of ownership?"(at Haval and Geely - yes, y Chery - only when re-registering through a dealer).
• «Which dealers in the region are authorized to carry out warranty repairs?"(sometimes there are only 1-2 centers in the entire city).
• «What happens if I miss maintenance due to lack of spare parts?» (for example, during sanctions, some parts were delivered with a delay).

Step 5. Check the VIN in the manufacturer's database

On the sites Geely, Chery and Haval there are warranty verification forms for VIN code. Enter it and make sure that:

• 📅 The start date of the warranty coincides with the date of sale.
• 🚗 The mileage in the system does not exceed the real one (sometimes scammers “twist” the mileage, but the real one remains in the dealer’s database).
• ✅ Warranty status is “valid” (sometimes “suspended” due to missed maintenance).

5. Warranty for used Chinese cars: myths and reality

Many people think that when buying a used Chinese car, the warranty automatically expires. This is not always the case. Let's consider three scenarios:

Scenario 1: The car is purchased from an official dealer (trade-in)

In this case the guarantee saved, but:

• 📝 The new owner must reissue the warranty card in his name (usually free of charge).
• 🔧 If the previous owner missed maintenance, the engine/gearbox warranty may be void.
• 🕒 The warranty period is not extended - it starts from the moment of the first sale.

Scenario 2: Buying secondhand (without a dealer)

It all depends on the brand:

• 🟢 Geely and Haval — the warranty is valid upon change of owner, but you must notify the dealer within 30 days.
• 🟡 Chery — the warranty remains valid, but only if the new owner undergoes maintenance at an official dealer.
• 🔴 BYD — the warranty for the battery is tied to the first owner and does not transfer.

Scenario 3: Used car from a taxi or car sharing

Most Chinese brands they refuse the guaranteeif the machine was used for commercial purposes. For example, Geely voids the warranty if:

• 🚖 The car was in a taxi or car sharing (even if the mileage is small).
• 📊 Average daily mileage exceeded 200 km (checked using the on-board computer).
• 🔧 The service was not carried out at an official dealer (for example, in “garage” services).

⚠️ Attention! If you are buying a Chinese used car, be sure to check its history through traffic police for use in taxis. Even if the seller claims that the car was “personal”, but in fact it was driven Yandex.Taxi, the warranty will be void at the first failure.

6. How to use the guarantee: step-by-step instructions

If your Chinese car breaks down during the warranty period, follow this algorithm to avoid a refusal:

Step 1. Sign up for diagnostics at an authorized dealer

Don't go to the first service you come across! Warranty repairs are carried out only authorized dealer. Find your nearest center on the brand's official website. For example, for Chery this can be done here: https://chery-rus.ru/dealers.

Step 2: Prepare your documents

You will need:

• 📄 Owner’s passport.
• 📄 PTS or STS.
• 📄 Warranty card (original!).
• 📄 Service book with maintenance marks.
• 📄 Receipts for fuel and consumables (if confirmation of compliance with the conditions is required).

Step 3. Don’t agree to an “oral diagnosis”

Demand written diagnostic report from:

• 🔧 An accurate description of the malfunction.
• 📌 Cause of breakdown (defect or fault of the owner).
• 💰 Preliminary estimate (even if the repair is under warranty).

Step 4. If refused, ask for justification

There must be a refusal written, with reference to the specific clause of the warranty conditions. If they tell you “we don’t cover this breakdown” without explanation, that’s a violation. In this case:

1. Write a complaint addressed to the director of the dealership center (sample can be downloaded here).
2. Swipe independent examination (cost ~5–10 thousand rubles).
3. Contact Rospotrebnadzor or court.

Step 5. Monitor repair deadlines

By law, warranty repairs must be completed within 45 days. If the dealer delays, demand a replacement car or compensation for each day of delay (0.5% of the cost of the car per day).

7. Extended warranty: is it worth buying?

Many dealers offer to buy extended warranty (for example, up to 7–10 years) for an additional fee (from 30 to 100 thousand rubles). Is it worth doing?

Pros of an extended warranty:

• ✅ Covers more components (e.g. suspension, electronics).
• ✅ For some brands (Geely) is valid even if the owner changes.
• ✅ May include evacuation and roadside assistance.

Cons and pitfalls:

• ❌ Often does not cover wear parts (brakes, clutch), although sellers claim the opposite.
• ❌ Requires mandatory maintenance at the dealer (the cost of maintenance for 5 years may exceed the cost of the warranty itself).
• ❌ If a repair is refused, it is almost impossible to return money for the guarantee.

When is an extended warranty worth it?

1. If you plan to drive more than 5 years.
2. If the model is known problems with electronics (for example, BYD early releases).
3. If the dealer offers a warranty with franchise (you only pay part of the repair cost).

Example: owner Haval Jolion I bought an extended warranty for 50 thousand rubles. After 4 years, his turbocharger failed (repair cost - 120 thousand rubles). The dealer refused to recognize the warranty claim, citing “non-compliance with operating conditions” (although maintenance was carried out regularly). As a result, the owner returned the money for the guarantee through the court, but spent 30 thousand rubles on lawyers.

8. Warranty alternatives: what to do if it runs out?

If the warranty period has expired or the dealer refuses to repair, you have several options:

Option 1. Manufacturer service programs

Some brands offer preferential service after warranty. For example:

• Geely — 20% discount on spare parts for 2 years after the end of the warranty.
• Haval — free diagnostics once a year for owners over 5 years old.
• BYD — preferential maintenance for electric vehicles (30% discount on consumables).

Option 2. Breakdown insurance (CASCO with extended coverage)

Some insurance companies (eg. Ingosstrakh, RESO) offer policies that cover:

• 🔧 Engine and gearbox breakdowns.
• 🔌 Electronics (for example, control unit).
• 🚗 Suspension and steering.

Cost - from 15 to 40 thousand rubles. per year, depending on the model. Important: Before purchasing a policy, check which parts are covered and whether there are exclusions for Chinese cars.

Option 3. Self-repair with a guarantee from a service station

Many independent services provide work guarantee (usually 6–12 months). For example:

• Clutch replacement — 1 year warranty.
• Engine repair — warranty 2 years or 50,000 km.
• Battery replacement — 1-2 year warranty.

Plus: cheaper than from an official dealer. Disadvantage: no access to original spare parts (sometimes analogues are used).

Option 4. Exchange under the trade-in program

If your car is older than 5 years and requires expensive repairs, some dealers (Geely, Haval) offer exchange for a new one with additional payment. For example, for Chery Tiggo 7 In 2019, you can get a discount of up to 200 thousand rubles. for a new model.

⚠️ Attention! If you are not repairing your car at an authorized dealer, always take certificate of completed work with stamp and warranty card for spare parts. Without these documents, in the future you may be denied even paid repairs under the service station warranty.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the warranty for Chinese cars