VW Gives 2020 Models Two Years of Free Routine Maintenance But Also Cuts Warranties Down By Two Years
Volkswagen has announced some good news and some bad news (but mostly good, for most VW customers) for drivers considering purchasing any of the car maker’s 2020 models.
The Good News: Two Years of Free Routine Maintenance
If you buy a 2020 VW model, you’ll get either two years or 24,000 miles (whichever your car reaches first) of complimentary, regularly scheduled, factory-covered maintenance under VW’s Carefree Maintenance Program. VW had offered a similar program on models from 2009 to 2015. It initially covered maintenance for the first three years (from 2009 to 2013), then VW shortened the program to two years if coverage in 2014. The following year, VW, reduced it to one year, before eliminating it entirely after 2015.
The Bad News: A Shorter Warranty
This marks the end of the People First Warranty, which had covered VW vehicles for six years or 72,000 miles. The new warranty lasts four years or 50,000 miles.
What’s the reason for the change?
VW has stated the change serves as a guarantee of quality and is also a response to customer demand. Because VW’s are a popular choice for leasing, meaning many drivers will only have their car for no more than three years, maintenance is of greater use to VW customers than a long-term warranty. So what might sound like a case of good news/bad news is mostly good for many of VW’s potential buyers or lessees.
If you buy a model from 2019 or earlier, you’ll still get the six-year warranty, even if you buy it in 2020. That means a leftover 2019 model purchased in 2020 will not include the free maintenance.
How Will This Affect Dealerships?
If a warranty offered by a local dealership looks better than VW’s warranty, keep in mind that VW’s new warranty applies nationally. The warranty from an individual dealership will apply to that dealership only, and will likely be limited in what it covers compared to the national VW warranty.
Dealerships have no reason to keep the new warranty a secret from potential buyers. VW plans to pay dealerships for any maintenance performed under the Carefree Maintenance Program.
For VW auto parts you can buy online, contact AutohausAZ.
