Quick Answer
A car warranty repairs eligible faults. A servicing plan funds routine maintenance. Neither replaces the other. Autodirect Pvt Ltd offers a documented 3 year or 100,000 km comprehensive warranty, whichever comes first, on selected vehicles it imports, covering parts and labour on eligible claims, and keeping it valid means servicing at the appointed provider on the manufacturer's schedule. Get the component list and exclusions in writing before you pay a deposit.
Key takeaways
Car warranty and servicing plans in Sri Lanka do two different jobs. A warranty pays for qualifying faults or failures under its terms, while a servicing plan covers scheduled maintenance. When buying a brand new imported car, understanding both helps you plan ownership costs and avoid unexpected repair bills.
This guide explains what each one covers, how servicing keeps your warranty valid, how to judge the cover on an imported car, and what Autodirect Pvt Ltd offers on selected vehicles it imports.
What is the difference between a car warranty and a servicing plan?
Direct Answer
A car warranty meets the cost of repairs when a covered part fails. A servicing plan funds scheduled maintenance such as oil changes and inspections. They complement each other, but neither automatically includes the other: a warranty does not pay for routine servicing, and a servicing plan does not pay for unexpected repairs.
Warranty against servicing plan, feature by feature
| Feature | Car warranty | Servicing plan |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Covers qualifying faults and failures | Covers routine vehicle maintenance |
| Typical scope | Listed mechanical and electrical components | Inspections, labour, oil and filters where the plan includes them |
| Unexpected repairs | Covered if the fault qualifies | Not included automatically |
| Routine maintenance | Not paid for by the warranty | Included as the plan states |
| Key condition | Time and distance limits, plus exclusions | Service schedule and package limits |
Some packages combine warranty and maintenance benefits. Always check the individual terms rather than assuming one includes the other. In the simplest terms: one protects you from faults, the other looks after the car.
What does a new car warranty cover in Sri Lanka?
Direct Answer
A new car warranty covers the components and faults specified in its written terms, for a defined period or mileage limit, whichever arrives first. The exact protection depends on the provider and the package, which is why the component list matters more than the headline number of years.
What does the Autodirect Pvt Ltd 3 year comprehensive warranty cover?
The Autodirect Pvt Ltd comprehensive warranty applies to selected vehicles and runs in two phases from the same start date: Year 1 is the widest cover, and Years 2 and 3 continue cover on the costliest systems. Year 1 is part of the 3 years, not an extra year on top, and eligible claims cover both parts and labour.
The two phases of the comprehensive warranty, and what each one covers
| Phase | Period | Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | First 12 months or 40,000 km | The widest phase: engine, transmission and clutch, differential and turbocharger, fuel system, steering, suspension, cooling, brakes and ABS, air conditioning, electrical and electronic parts including ECUs and sensors |
| Years 2 and 3 | Up to 3 years or 100,000 km | Cover continues on the costliest systems, including the drivetrain, core engine components and the hybrid system where the car has one, with the full list set out in the warranty certificate |
Two details worth noticing. Year 1 includes the turbocharger and air conditioning, which basic plans often leave out, and in Sri Lanka's heat the air conditioning is the system owners use hardest. And because eligible claims cover parts and labour, a covered failure does not leave you paying the workshop bill around a free part.
Components can vary by model, so check the certificate for your car. The full component list, phase by phase, is in the 3 year comprehensive warranty guide, and what a comprehensive vehicle warranty covers explains how to read any warranty's terms.
Is the warranty transferable if you sell the car?
Yes. The Autodirect Pvt Ltd comprehensive warranty is transferable to the next owner, subject to the conditions set out in the warranty document. That matters at resale: a car with documented, transferable cover remaining is an easier sell than an identical car without it, so keep the certificate and service records together for the next owner.
What is not covered by a car warranty?
Every warranty has exclusions, and these stay with the owner in the Autodirect Pvt Ltd programme as in the rest of the industry:
- Normal wear and tear.
- Accident damage and misuse.
- Unauthorised modifications.
- Consumable items and tyres.
Accident damage is a matter for your motor insurance, and your own warranty document lists the exact exclusions for your vehicle.
How long does a new car warranty last?
Most warranties end at the earlier of two caps: a set number of years or a set distance, and whichever you reach first ends the cover. A car driven 15,000 km a year reaches three years at around 45,000 km, so the time limit arrives first. A car driven 40,000 km a year reaches 100,000 km in two and a half years, so the mileage limit arrives first.
Before purchasing, confirm when the warranty starts, which mileage limit applies to each phase, and whether any components have separate coverage conditions.
What does a car servicing plan include in Sri Lanka?
Direct Answer
A servicing plan funds scheduled maintenance, not repairs. What it includes depends on the package, so treat the lists below as typical examples rather than the terms of any specific plan.
What a servicing plan typically covers
Depending on the package, scheduled maintenance includes:
- Engine oil and filter changes.
- Fluid level and condition checks.
- Brake, tyre and battery inspections.
- Routine diagnostic and vehicle inspections.
- Labour for the scheduled tasks.
What can cost extra?
Items and work outside the agreed package may incur additional charges:
- Replacement parts such as brake pads and batteries.
- New tyres.
- Repairs after accident damage.
- Work outside the scheduled service.
Before choosing a plan, ask how many services it covers, the distance or time limits, and whether unused services expire.
Servicing and extended maintenance packages
Autodirect Pvt Ltd offers optional servicing and extended maintenance packages alongside the warranty, with inclusions, intervals and prices that depend on the vehicle. Ask for a written breakdown of the package so you can compare its cost with the scheduled maintenance you expect to need.
Remember that a warranty does not automatically cover routine servicing. Include maintenance costs in your ownership budget alongside insurance, fuel and financing commitments.
How does servicing affect your car warranty?
Direct Answer
Servicing on schedule is what keeps a warranty valid. Under the Autodirect Pvt Ltd warranty, all servicing must be done at the service provider Autodirect Pvt Ltd appoints, following the manufacturer's recommended schedule, and skipping a service or using an unauthorised workshop invalidates the warranty. Check the exact conditions in your own agreement.
Where should you service the car?
Your warranty paperwork names the service centre to use. At handover, the team walks you through the warranty and schedules your first service, as described in the handover stage of the delivery guide.
Which records should you keep?
Keep your warranty booklet, service invoices and odometer readings together. They prove each service happened on time, and gaps in them can cost you a claim. If you later sell the car, the same records support the warranty transfer to the next owner.
How do you make a warranty claim?
- Contact the appointed service provider and explain the problem.
- Follow the provider's instructions for inspection and claim assessment.
- Keep your warranty certificate, service invoices and relevant vehicle records available.
- Obtain approval before arranging repairs where the warranty terms require it.
Eligible claims cover parts and labour, and coverage depends on the component, the cause of failure, the exclusions and the claim conditions, which is one more reason to have the terms in writing from day one.
Do brand new imported cars come with a proper warranty in Sri Lanka?
Direct Answer
Yes, a brand new imported car can come with a proper warranty, and the difference between providers is whether the cover is documented. A distributor warranty is set by the brand's local distributor; an importer's warranty ranges from a verbal engine and gearbox promise to a documented comprehensive certificate with named components, limits and exclusions.
The three kinds of cover on a brand new car, and what to expect from each
| Type of cover | Who provides it | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Distributor warranty | The brand's authorised local distributor | Set by that distributor, so read the booklet |
| Importer's limited warranty | The importer | Some cover only the engine and gearbox, sometimes plus the hybrid battery, and some are only verbal |
| Importer's documented comprehensive warranty | The importer | Named components, limits and exclusions in a certificate |
What matters most is the paperwork. A certificate shows exactly what you are buying, and a warranty held in writing is easier to stand behind: the Consumer Affairs Authority can inquire into complaints when goods do not match the warranty a manufacturer or trader gave. Also look at where repairs happen and how parts reach the workshop, because a warranty is only as good as the service network behind it.
For the price and delivery side of the comparison, see why buying through a direct importer is a smarter choice.
What warranty does Autodirect offer on imported new cars?
Direct Answer
Autodirect Pvt Ltd, a direct importer and dealership in Colombo and one of Sri Lanka's top five largest vehicle importers, offers a documented 3 year or 100,000 km comprehensive warranty on selected vehicles it imports, covering parts and labour on eligible claims and transferable to the next owner, with terms that can differ by vehicle.
Before paying a deposit on any vehicle, from any seller, get these five items in writing:
Get these five in writing
A missing warranty document is one of the common mistakes to avoid when buying a new car. Confirming these details before committing lets you compare offers on protection and after-sales support, rather than price alone.
3 years or 100,000 km
A documented comprehensive warranty on selected imported vehicles, covering parts and labour on eligible claims and transferable to the next owner, subject to the conditions in the document.
Servicing and maintenance packages
Optional servicing and extended maintenance packages alongside the warranty, with inclusions, intervals and prices that depend on the vehicle.
Walked through before you drive away
A handover that takes you through the component list and books your first service date, at 15 Park Circus, Colombo 5.
Found the same brand-new vehicle for less elsewhere? We'll match the price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a car warranty and a servicing plan in Sri Lanka?
Which car importer in Sri Lanka offers a warranty on brand new imported cars?
Can I transfer a car warranty to the next owner in Sri Lanka?
Does a warranty claim cover parts and labour?
Is a comprehensive warranty worth paying more for on a new car?
How often should I service a new car in Sri Lanka?
What happens if I miss a service or use an outside workshop?
Where can I see the warranty terms before I buy?
Reviewed by the Autodirect imports team.
Get the warranty on paper before you decide
A car warranty repairs covered faults, and a servicing plan maintains the car. Get both sets of terms on paper, then follow the service schedule so the cover stays valid. Ask Autodirect Pvt Ltd for the warranty details on your preferred model, or visit us at 15 Park Circus, Colombo 5. Found the same brand-new vehicle for less elsewhere? We'll match the price.
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Dilum Rathnayaka
Managing Director, Autodirect Pvt Ltd
Dilum brings over 25 years of hands-on experience across banking, vehicle financing, leasing, credit, marketing, and direct vehicle importing in Sri Lanka. As Managing Director of Autodirect Pvt Ltd, one of Sri Lanka's top 5 largest vehicle importers, he has personally overseen the import of hundreds of brand new and near-new vehicles, and has developed deep expertise in Sri Lanka's automotive import regulations, financing structures, and personal contract plans. Autodirect's direct import model removes multi-tier distribution markups, passing genuine savings to buyers.
