Consumer Watch: Aftermarket shake-up good news for motorists
By Georgina Crouth
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From July 1 next year, owners of vehicles under warranty can take their cars to any competent workshop for repairs or services without risking voiding their warranty.
The Competition Commissionâs final guidelines for competition in the automotive aftermarket are good news for consumers, smaller players and new entrants to the market. Dealers, manufacturers and insurers are unlikely to be thrilled about the guidelines because more competition will threaten their monopoly.
The new regulations, issued by the commission after what it called a lack of co-operation by stakeholders in the sector, are the product of three years of consultation.
Officially, Masks Are Recommended at Car Dealerships, but Not Everyone Complies Sebastian Blanco
Due to a lack of a national mandate, states and counties are making their own decisions about whether masks are required where cars are sold.
Both the National Automobile Dealers Association and AutoNation have detailed, official mask policies in place.
But that doesn t mean everyone you meet at a dealership will be wearing a mask. Just ask Twitter about that.
As state governments mask mandates have gone in and out of implementation over the course of 2020, and masks themselves have become a political issue, car shoppers have had to navigate a patchwork of mask enforcements and culture. Some, but not all, states require masks to be worn in commercial establishments. That includes car dealerships, and the lack of a national mandate can mean that customers not having a clear right, when going in for service or to buy a car, to not come in contact with an unmasked per