Car warranty, GAP Insurance, breakdown recovery and other FAQs
We know car ownership can be confusing. That’s why we’ve put together this set of FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) to inform and educate you on warranties, MOT tests, car servicing, repairs and other aspects of owning a car here.
How Can We Help?
With the original manufacturer’s new car warranty the vast majority of the car is covered against failure and faults will be rectified, free of charge, by a dealer. There are some parts that won’t be covered that are often termed perishable, service, frictional or wearing parts, although, with a new car these will also be replaced if they fail due to incorrect fitment in the early part of a car’s life. Otherwise, parts such as brake pads, wiper blades, exhausts, batteries and tyres will never be included in a warranty.
So after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired, usually after 3 years, you’ll be on your own, with the potential of huge bills to pay if something serious fails, And, with today’s sophisticated cars and high garage labour rates that can be the case all too frequently. To protect your pocket from such occasions, a decent warranty can be a very sound investment and you can buy a MotorEasy plan at any time as long as your car is less than 12 years old and has recorded less than 120,000 thousand miles since new.
Manufacturers may offer extended warranty cover through their dealers but they will be far less comprehensive than a MotorEasy warranty and, most importantly, they will frequently not cover failures due to wear. Whilst the frictional parts mentioned above will never be covered for wear by any warranty, it’s fairly obvious that every part of a car will simply wear out over time if you wait long enough. That’s where the first huge benefit in cover appears with the MotorEasy warranty plan. MotorEasy will cover failures as a result of a covered part failing due to ‘wear and tear’. This means that we won’t dodge claims by attributing failures to ‘wear’. We always ensure that you are protected against such risks under our plans.
The MotorEasy warranty plans have been designed by Duncan McClure Fisher, a warranty expert of long standing. In the words of the motorist’s champion, Telegraph correspondent and motor industry guru, Honest John “Aftermarket Warranty, or ‘Mechanical Breakdown Insurance' as it is termed, used to be a dirty business that seemed to most people to take the money and run - happy to sell you a warranty, but reluctant to pay for your car to be fixed. Then along came Duncan McClure Fisher who cleaned the business up. It wasn't rocket science. It was simple, straightforward, proper underwriting of risks and telling the customers what they got or didn't get in simple black and white."
To make sure that you are delighted with your MotorEasy plan we include much that many others fail to compete with. Your MotorEasy plan will include cover for:
24/7 online booking and tracking of repairs
Trained engineers interfacing with the garage to ensure the very best price for any work that needs doing, both in and outside of the warranty cover itself.
Optional plans for servicing, MOT and many other motoring needs.
Thousands of approved network garages that we can pay directly for your repairs.
Alternatively, the use of any VAT registered garage of your choice.
Parts costs and hourly labour charges including VAT
Consequential loss/damage
Faults identified at time of service or MOT
Overheating
Reasonable diagnostic costs
Contributions to recovery, onward travel, accommodation and journey completion solutions
Failures in Europe
Claims limits up to the value of your car
Our top cover, for cars up to 5 years old and with less than 60,000 recorded miles, covers all mechanical and electrical parts, including clutch plates, air-conditioning, air-bag electrics, ECU’s and even fluids and consumables – you simply won’t find better cover.
To make sure that you are delighted with your MotorEasy plan we include much that many others fail to compete with. Your MotorEasy plan will include cover for:
24/7 online booking and tracking of repairs
Trained engineers interfacing with the garage to ensure the very best price for any work that needs doing, both in and outside of the warranty cover itself.
Optional plans for servicing, MOT and many other motoring needs.
Thousands of approved network garages that we can pay directly for your repairs.
Alternatively, the use of any VAT registered garage of your choice.
Parts costs and hourly labour charges including VAT
Consequential loss/damage
Faults identified at time of service or MOT
Overheating
Reasonable diagnostic costs
Contributions to recovery, onward travel, accommodation and journey completion solutions
Failures in Europe
Claims limits up to the value of your car
Our top cover, for cars up to 5 years old and with less than 60,000 recorded miles, covers all mechanical and electrical parts, including clutch plates, air-conditioning, air-bag electrics, ECU’s and more – you simply won’t find better cover.
There are about 20,000 garages nationally that are involved with service and repairs ranging from franchised dealers, specialists, independents and fast-fits. Of these, MotorEasy has given approved network status and arranged direct billing arrangements with over 10,000. If you choose to use one of the remaining 10,000 then you will need to pay for any pre-approved repairs and reclaim.
To report a fault under your warranty plan, please log into your MotorEasy account and scroll down to 'My Purchased Products'.
You then should click the red 'report fault' button, and complete the process from there.
Our team will then be in touch regarding the next steps. Please ensure you have your historic service invoices and any other important documents to hand.
No – it’s better. With the original manufacturer’s new car warranty the vast majority of the car is covered against failure and faults will be rectified, free of charge, by a dealer. There are some parts that won’t be covered that are often termed service, frictional or wearing parts, although, with a new car these will also be replaced if they fail due to incorrect fitment in the early part of a car’s life.
Otherwise, parts such as brake pads, clutch plates, wiper blades, exhausts, batteries and tyres will never be included in a warranty. So after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired, usually after 3 years, you’ll be on your own, with the potential of huge bills to pay if something serious fails, And, with today’s sophisticated cars and high garage labour rates that can happen all too frequently.
To protect your pocket from such occasions, a decent warranty can be a very sound investment and you can buy a MotorEasy plan at any time as long as your car is less than 12 years old and has recorded less than 120,000 thousand miles since new.
A franchised dealer will offer you an extended warranty that is organized by the manufacturer that the dealer represents. This is unlikely to cover you for consequential loss, overheating and many other benefits that come with a MotorEasy warranty. If you are buying a car from a non-franchised dealership the car will probably be supplied with a minimal 3 month cover that will offer minimal protection. If you have a short term cover then MotorEasy has a plan that will supplement the dealer cover until it expires and you are ready to take out full MotorEasy cover.
Your manufacturer warranty should be sufficient but MotorEasy has a plan that will provide seamless cover as your manufacturer warranty expires. Get a quote online and our team will contact you to discuss the next steps.
You can buy a policy for 12, 24 or 36 months. There is also the option to have a monthly rolling plan.
Your car must have been serviced in line with the manufacturer’s requirements for its age and mileage, and you must be able to provide historic service invoices in the event of a claim. In addition, essential service items such as timing belts must have been changed at the appropriate interval. The car must also have a valid MOT test certificate. Further details can be found in your policy handbook.
Call our engineers on the repairs number 0800 131 0001, they will be happy to give best advice.
You should get recovered through your own recovery or pay as you go recovery to your nearest garage. Our team will need a diagnosis and quote for repairs prior to authorising any work under the warranty. You should report the fault online from your account and our team will be in touch.
Call our repair line for best advice. Repairs can be carried out within Europe but you will need to pay and reclaim any authorised and agreed contributions.
Yes. For covered and authorised repairs we will contribute towards recovery costs if you don’t have a recovery provider. MotorEasy also offers breakdown recovery plans from preferred providers that are excellent value.
Yes, online, but our engineers will not be able to approve them outside of business hours.
We will pay a network garage directly for valid claims less any agreed contributions. If you prefer to use a non-network garage you will need to settle and reclaim the authorised amount which we will reimburse within 7-days.
You can cancel the remainder of your policy or transfer it to your replacement car or the new owner.
If you decide to sell your vehicle, you may transfer a fixed period plan to a new owner as long as you have paid for the plan in full. You will be asked to pay a £30 admin fee in order for us to do this. Please note that the plan is not transferable to, or through, the motor trade.
We want to enjoy your custom for years to come and our warranty plans are built to delight you rather than to avoid pay-outs. Of course, we are a business that will only continue to succeed with your recommendation and the honesty and goodwill of our customers.
If you are worried about your cover level then you can top-it-up with a MotorEasy plan that will supplement the dealer cover until it expires and you are ready to take out full MotorEasy cover. Otherwise we can arrange for our cover to start as your dealer cover ends. If you are buying a used car from a dealer consider asking for a lower price without their warranty and getting MotorEasy instead.
Payment can be completed securely online or over the phone by credit or debit card. We also accept payments via PayPal.
There are about 20,000 garages nationally that are involved with service and repairs ranging from franchised dealers, specialists, independents and fast-fits. Of these, MotorEasy has given approved status and arranged direct billing arrangements with some 10,000. If you choose to use a VAT registered garage outside the MotorEasy network you will need to pay for any pre-approved repairs and be reimbursed by us for these costs.
All our engineers are qualified vehicle technicians, with experience in garages so they are able to speak to the garage on your behalf. We’ll always check all quotes and advisories for price and necessity to make sure you are getting the best deal possible. Save time and hassle on motoring maintenance and support with MotorEasy.
Sales & Support
Monday – Friday 8:30am-7.00pm
Saturday 9:30am-4.00pm
Sundays and Public Holidays - Closed
Repairs
Monday – Friday 8.30am-5.00pm
Saturday 9:00am-4.00pm
Sundays and Public Holidays - Closed
Request help via your MotorEasy account area, or call MotorEasy and our engineers will book you into an approved workshop that has the right skills for the kind of problem you describe.
If you selected a warranty, service and maintenance plan that allows you to select a workshop, then you choose who repairs your car. If you selected a plan that uses our approved network then our engineers will select a workshop that is usually within 5 miles of your post code or arrange for your car to be collected.
Our engineers select workshops based on your car, it’s repair needs, and the recent workshop performance - our engineers monitor every booking from a technical perspective to ensure our network maintains the highest standards in the country.
Our approved workshops guarantee their workmanship for 12 months, and wherever possible use Original Equipment or equivalent parts.
Yes, we will provide an itemised estimate and worksheet detailing the work your car requires. The estimate and bill will explain the work required, show the parts price, labour time, labour cost, VAT and savings achieved for you with our special discounts. Our customer service team and engineers will always send you a copy and then call you to explain it all.
The labour rate that we can pay workshops for your car will vary depending on the warranty service and maintenance plan you have selected. Rates start at £60.
Send us your quote in before you let the workshop go ahead with any work. We will advise you what can be covered and if we can offer you a better price in our network we will do that too
Sadly our warranty and service maintenance plans do not cover accident damage.
Yes, we can help repair all kinds of gearbox, whether you have a warranty plan with MotorEasy or not. Simply request help via your account or call our team and we will book you into the best local specialist.
You can pay securely by debit or credit card over the phone or online.
We can collect your car or organise recovery. We always try to use the closest suitable specialist so that you can also drop the car in if that is more convenient to you.
Log in to your MotorEasy account and we’ll look it up automatically for you
An MOT test is an inspection of your car, but the garage is not allowed to dismantle or strip components down. This makes it harder, but not impossible for the garage to tell you that your car needs work that it doesn't. The MOT test is the same for all cars, because the inspection criteria is set by the Government agency VOSA.
A service is also mainly an inspection, so if you book the wrong one, it will duplicate large parts (but not all) of the MOT test inspection. Some kind of service is needed in addition to the MOT each year, because it includes changing some 'service items' and stripping down some key safety components.
A service is different at every garage, and if it is based on guidelines from the car manufacturer, it will vary from car to car and year to year. But it should always include oil and oil filter change, and a wheels-off brake inspection, at minimum.
If you car is out of MOT then you can only drive it to an MOT station (garage or workshop with MOT licence) for a pre-booked MOT test appointment.
You can have your car MOT test 28 days before the MOT expiry date without losing any of the current MOT. If you do this, then when it fails, provided it is still roadworthy then you can drive the car on the existing (old) MOT, although we don’t recommend it. For example, if the car fails because of a problem with a headlight that cannot be fixed the same day, then you may decide that you want to drive it home in the daylight while you wait for a part to be ordered. If your car fails the MOT test, and the old test certificate has expired, you cannot legally drive the car.
Book your test for two weeks before your MOT expires. If your car fails, or the garage does something you are not happy about, or a part you need has to be ordered in, you can then continue to use your car (if it is roadworthy) on the existing MOT and rebook (possibly at another garage) for repairs.
Garages are legally allowed to charge up to £54.85 for a car MOT test. But garages don't have to charge that amount, so it's nice to get a discount. But beware below £30 and the garage loses money, so they will want to find repair work or charge more for the repair work, not just to recoup the losses on your MOT but on MOTs that passed too!
You should check the wipers, tyres and lights. If you just need wipers or bulbs, fitting them yourself will save a lot of money. If you need tyres, it's better to buy them in advance to get the right tyre at the best price. Contact MotorEasy for advice and the best deals.
MotorEasy pick workshops based on the recent mechanical performance - on MotorEasy monitored bookings - let our engineers pick the workshop for you.
If your annual service falls due within 8-12 weeks of your MOT or you do low mileage then booking MOT and servicing through MotorEasy at the same time will save you money and time. We won't charge you twice for the work in the MOT and service that overlaps.
Call MotorEasy and we will have the workshop take the car back immediately to resolve the problem.
Cars registered prior to 1960 are exempt from MOT testing in the UK.
What should a service cost and how often do you need your car serviced? What do garages do in a car service? Let Us Explain...
When a car is designed, the manufacturer sets out a service schedule for the car, which they believe will keep it running reliably and safely.
Typically a manufacturer service schedule consists of 65-85 checks (see table of examples later) and 5 - 15 changes to your car. It will be slightly different for each car, depending on the engine, transmission, age and mileage. In order that the original manufacturer warranty is not invalidated, this service schedule must be adhered to, while the car is under warranty.
As well as the services being very similar, there is an enormous amount of overlap between any given service and the MOT test. motoreasy estimate that 75-85% of a typical service is covered by the MOT test.
So for cars that are out of their original manufacturer warranty, garages design their own services, which broadly match the following five categories, that get more expensive with each step:
- Oil & Filter Change
- Basic or Interim Service
- Full Service
- Major Service
- Manufacturer Service
Oil & Filter Change
An oil and filter change is one of the most crucial parts a service and is one of the few things included in all services. It helps to ensure your car continues to run reliably and helps fuel efficiency.
Garages have a ‘duty of care’ to customers when they work on their car. So all reputable garages will complete a Visual Safety Inspection when they work on a car, which identify any obvious safety concerns with a car, even if it is just booked in for an oil and filter change. But they will not be able to complete a full brake check with this kind of service and that is, in motoreasy's view, a crucial check to have at least once a year.
Basic or Interim Service
Each type of service builds on the previous level. So a Basic service typically includes an oil and filter change and visual inspection.
But it usually adds a top up of all the key fluids in the engine bay (washer fluid, brake fluid, anti-freeze, steering fluid) and a check of up to 35 key components.
A good garage, performing this kind of service, will usually check the brakes and manufacturer guidelines so that they can recommend any additional work that your car may need. Sadly not all garages do though.
Full Service
A full service will include the basic service work, and typically add an extra 15-30 checks of the car’s components compared to the basic service. But a number of the checks will already be covered by the MOT test (if you are having it done at the same time).
As with the basic service, if the car needs any repair work, or the manufacturer guidelines recommend extra maintenance work, this will be an additional cost.
Major Service
A major service will have everything covered under a full service, but typically also include changing spark plugs or fuel filters and some other wear/service items recommended in the manufacturer schedule.
This doesn’t mean there won’t be additional repair or maintenance work to add on, but it means some things are already included (whether you need them or not).
This service should be the closest to a manufacturer service but will not be unique to your car.
Manufacturer Service
A manufacturer service price, confirmed at the point of booking, should be bespoke to your car. It should include all wear/service/maintenance items your car needs.
The only additional work you should be quoted for when the car is in the workshop, should be ‘surprise’ repair work.
If you want a manufacturer service, then while under EU Block Exemption rules you should be able to get it completed at any garage, you should probably go to a main dealer franchise. motoreasy 's experience is that other garages will say they have given you a manufacturer service, but will almost always cut some corners.
Example Manufacturer Service Checks Schedule
The following is a typical example of a car service schedule. Items in yellow are not covered by the MOT, but most of the other checks listed are covered by the MOT:
| Service Area | Task |
|---|---|
| Fault diagnosis trouble codes | Check & report issue if found |
| Instruments/warning lamps | Check & report issue if found |
| Switches/controls | Check & report issue if found |
| Horn | Check & report issue if found |
| Interior lamps | Check & report issue if found |
| Front wiper blades | Check & report issue if found |
| Front screen wash | Check & report issue if found |
| Rear wiper blade | Check & report issue if found |
| Rear screen wash | Check & report issue if found |
| Headlight wash/wipe | Check & report issue if found |
| Instrument illumination | Check & report issue if found |
| Direction indicators/hazards | Check & report issue if found |
| Lighting system | Check & report issue if found |
| Headlight levelling system | Check & report issue if found |
| Headlights | Check & report issue if found |
| Engine oil leaks | Check & report issue if found |
| Engine oil | Drain/refill |
| Engine oil filter | Renew |
| Manual transmission oil leaks | Check & report issue if found |
| Manual transmission oil | Check/top-up |
| Auto transmission oil leaks | Check & report issue if found |
| Steering joints | Check & report issue if found |
| Steering rack/box | Check & report issue if found |
| Steering column couplings | Check & report issue if found |
| Suspension joints/seals/gaiters | Check & report issue if found |
| Drive shaft joints/seals/gaiters | Check & report issue if found |
| Chassis and body nuts/bolts | Tighten |
| Road springs | Check & report issue if found |
| Shock absorbers/mountings | Check & report issue if found |
| Brake pipe corrosion | Check & report issue if found |
| Fuel tank leakage | Check & report issue if found |
| Fuel system leakage | Check & report issue if found |
| Road wheels | Remove/refit* |
| Front brake pads | Check & report issue if found |
| Front brake discs | Check & report issue if found |
| Rear brake pads | Check & report issue if found |
| Rear brake discs | Check & report issue if found |
| Rear brake drums/linings | Check & report issue if found |
| Parking brake cables/linkages | Check & report issue if found |
| Brake hydraulic system | Check & report issue if found |
| Parking brake | Adjust |
| Brake flexible hoses | Check & report issue if found |
| Tyre condition | Check & report issue if found |
| Tyre pressures | Check/adjust |
| Battery electrolyte level | Check & top up |
| Battery condition/specific gravity | Check & report issue if found |
| Brake fluid reservoir | Check & top up |
| Clutch fluid reservoir | Check & top up |
| Power steering system | Check & report issue if found |
| Engine coolant level/anti-freeze strength | Check & top up |
| Coolant/heater hoses | Check & report issue if found |
| Radiator | Check & report issue if found |
| Auto transmission level | Check & top up |
| Air filter | Check & clean if required |
| Auxiliary drive belt/s | Check (history/schedule) |
| Air conditioning | Check & report issue if found |
| Engine electric cooling fan | Check & report issue if found |
| Central locking system | Check & report issue if found |
| Alarm/Immobiliser | Check & report issue if found |
| Vehicle locks/hinges | Check & lubricate if required |
| Road wheel nuts/bolts | Check & tighten if required |
| Bonnet latch and lock | Check & report issue if found |
| Steering free-play | Check & report issue if found |
| Clutch operation | Check & report issue if found |
| Vehicle suspension operation | Check & report issue if found |
| Engine performance | Check & report issue if found |
| Transmission | Check & report issue if found |
| Brakes | Check & report issue if found |
| ABS function | Check & report issue if found |
| Instruments | Check & report issue if found |
*motoreasy , when managing your booking, always ask for brake measurements, to ensure this is done and to give you an accurate estimate of the life left in your brakes.
Rest assured, when you book with motoreasy , we will ensure your car has all the servicing it needs according to the manufacturer's guidelines, but we won’t double charge you for things also covered in an MOT (when completed on the same day).
We will offer you a repairer within 5-10 miles of your home or work. You can drop the car in, or have it recovered.
Unless you have access to your manufacturer service schedule, it is very hard. Book your service with MotorEasy and our engineers will check the servicing meets the manufacturer service guidelines.
You should have your car servicing done at a workshop that guarantees to follow the correct manufacturer guidelines for your specific make and model. This is less common than you might think - even main dealer franchises do not do always do this. Instead they do their own “full service” for a fixed price. If you book your car service with MotorEasy we ensure the correct service is done in one of our approved workshops.
No, if you keep receipts showing you have had correct servicing your cars value will be fully protected.
Annually or when your on board computer recommends. MotorEasy does not recommend long life 2 year servicing.
If your MOT and annual service are due within 3 months of each other or your only do low mileage, MotorEasy recommends having MOTand service at the same time to save money with one great value package.
All vehicle must have no modifications made to the manufacturer’s original specification (unless agreed in writing by us).
Modified Vehicles
Although it is not our intention to provide cover for extremely modified vehicles, some minor modifications may be acceptable but will need to be agreed with us before cover is finalised. If your car has had any modifications to the manufacturer’s specification that you need to declare to your road insurance company you should make us aware of these. We have listed below some different types of modification and how we view these in terms of providing warranty cover:
Modification
Aftermarket ECU/re-mapped ECU - Only if manufacturer approved
Aftermarket forced induction - No
Aftermarket ICE* systems - Yes, but not including aftermarket ICE system
Hand controls - Yes, but not including hand control systems themselves
Larger wheels than standard - Yes, provided they are no larger than manufacturer's own options
Lowered suspension - No
LPG conversion - No
Parking sensors - Yes, but not including aftermarket parking sensor systems themselves
Sports exhaust - Only if manufacturer approved
Tow bar Yes, provided fitted in line with manufacturer's recommendations
Uprated brake discs & calipers- No
* In Car Entertainment
Guaranteed Asset Protection, (GAP Insurance) protects you against financial loss if your vehicle has been declared a total loss or write off by your insurer.
If your car is involved in an accident, stolen or damage by flood or fire, and deemed a total loss, your comprehensive insurer will only pay you market value for your vehicle at the time of the incident.
This may leave you exposed to any remaining finance settlement charges or the substantial loss suffered with the vehicle value depreciation. This can be avoided with MotorEasy Gap insurance. If you have any further questions, take a look at our extensive GAP Insurance Guide. MotorEasy GAP
Cars less than 7 years old and with less than 80,000 miles recorded since new are eligible for Return to Value and Return to Invoice cover.
Vehicle Replacement Insurance covers cars less than 4 months old and with less than 500 recorded miles.
Cars and light commercial vans of less than 3,500KG in weight and with a recorded insured value of less than £50,000 qualify.
Cars/Vans must be listed in Glass's Guide, be to UK specification and not have been modified.
The claim limit is £25,000 including any insurance excess up to £500
Yes.
Return to Invoice (RTI) GAP cover is available for new or used cars purchased within the last 3 months
It covers the difference between your insurer’s payout and either the price you originally paid or the amount needed to settle your outstanding finance balance, whichever is the greater.
Please refer to your policy documents for information on how to start your claim.
Please head to the 'mail' in your account and you can send them as a new message with an attachment, or upload them to your documents and notify the team.
Please first try to reset your password using the link on the log in screen.
Contact Us
MotorEasy People
MotorEasy60 Portman Road
Reading
RG30 1EA
