Do imported cars have a warranty?

Since changes to car import laws came in 2023, it has become increasingly popular to seek out a vehicle from overseas and bring it over rather than buying a new or used one locally.

The changes to the Road Vehicle Standards Act mean that a wider range of vehicles can apply to be imported via the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles (SEVs) scheme. This essentially means that if the car wasn't sold in Australia, you can apply for it to be approved for importation.

What was once a bit of an enthusiast exercise has morphed into a source for the average car buyer to look for family vehicles from overseas as an option.

However, if you import a near-new vehicle, is it still covered under warranty? And will you be footing a big bill for servicing? We explore.

Unfortunately, in most cases, your factory warranty will be voided if the car is imported from another country.

Kristian Appelt, Director at Iron Chef Imports, says that there is a chance that the brand may or may not honour the factory warranty.

"As a general rule, no [the warranty is not valid], their terms will state it is only applicable in the country where the vehicle is sold new," said Appelt.

"If warranties were honoured for vehicles that have moved overseas, the vehicle would need to go to the Australian branch for repairs. It's a common misconception that the cost of warranty repairs is borne by the dealer selling the car.

"In the case of new cars, it's the manufacturer that picks up the tab, so there is no logical reason why warranties cannot be honoured when the vehicle moves overseas.

"In some cases, manufacturers will still come to the party [and honour the warranty] to avoid potential reputational damage."

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has a similar warning on its website.

"[Consumers should be aware that] if the seller is based overseas, there may be practical and legal difficulties in enforcing their rights against an overseas business."

However, it might not be the end of the world and you may still qualify for a different type of warranty.

Similar to a second-hand vehicle, you may qualify for what is called a statutory warranty on an imported vehicle.

"For dealers selling imported cars, the normal statutory warranty applies in the same way it does with any other vehicle already here. Most dealers will offer extended warranties at additional cost to the buyer for peace of mind," said Appelt.

Only certain-age cars and kilometre vehicles will be covered by the statutory warranty. To find out more about used-car warranties, read our story here.

"If a private citizen imports their own vehicle with the assistance of a broker, then they are not covered by a warranty; although again, there are third-party warranties available for these situations."

Third-party warranties work the same way as insurance, except they’re essentially insurance for mechanical and electrical issues your vehicle may face.

Yes, you can. However, while your vehicle may have been sold with a capped-price servicing overseas, it would not be honoured in Australia. That doesn't mean it's going to be extraordinarily expensive to have your vehicle serviced elsewhere.

"[Getting your vehicle serviced at a dealership] can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and dealer to dealer. European manufacturers, in particular, don't seem to have a problem with imported models, as there are very few differences between them and locally delivered vehicles," said Appelt.

"Parts for imported cars are readily available online, and while some imported makes and models may be unfamiliar, most will share engines and other parts with locally delivered models. For servicing work, I order in the parts I need and then go to Ultra Tune to get them fitted."

Vehicle recalls can become slightly more complex when your car is imported. We covered everything you need to know comprehensively here.

Zane Dobie comes from a background of motorcycle journalism, working for notable titles such as Australian Motorcycle News Magazine, Just Bikes and BikeReview. Despite his fresh age, Zane brings a lifetime of racing and hands-on experience. His passion now resides on four wheels as an avid car collector, restorer, drift car pilot and weekend go-kart racer.

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