Why Garages are right to say no to fitting customer-supplied parts
For a customer looking to reduce the cost of a repair to their vehicle, purchasing a part themselves and asking a garage to install it may seem like a way to save money. However, agreeing to fit a customer-supplied part can create many risks for an independent garage.
When a garage sources the required part for a vehicle, it is through trusted, reputable suppliers. There is confidence in the quality of the part and that it is safe to be installed on a vehicle. However, if a customer supplies their own parts, there is little knowledge of where that part has come from, its quality and whether it is suitable.
Independent garages are able to ensure that the parts that they purchase for a vehicle are the correct ones for the exact make and model of the vehicle they are working on and that they will perform as expected once installed.
When a garage carries out work on a vehicle, they are responsible for ensuring the vehicle is in a safe condition to be driven. However, when a customer supplies their own part to be installed, there is no guarantee it will function as intended, and it may pose a risk to the vehicle and customer.
Even if a garage states to a customer that they do not accept responsibility for any risks associated with fitting the part a customer has supplied, this does not remove the liability from the garage if there is a fault with the vehicle after the service – regardless of whether a waiver is signed by the customer.
A customer may not always understand why an independent garage may refuse to fit a part that they have supplied; however, refusing to carry out the repairs is the safest decision. It protects the garage, its technicians and the customer.
The Independent Garage Association has collaborated with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to launch the video Unsafe Car Parts: What Garages Want Drivers to Know to highlight the consequences of installing parts supplied by a customer.
The IGA continues to work closely with the IPO to raise awareness of the risks associated with customer-supplied parts. Garages are encouraged to consider the potential safety, quality and liability risks before installing parts supplied by a customer, particularly where the origin or quality of the part cannot be verified.
