Vehicle Repair Disclaimer Template (UK)

Give the warranty an actual scope and duration

A vague promise of "a limited warranty" with no duration is not something a customer can rely on. This template asks the garage to state the actual warranty period — for example, three months or a mileage limit, whichever comes first — and what it covers: defects in the parts and labour for the specific repair performed, under normal use.

It also states what the warranty doesn't cover — damage from accidents, misuse, neglect, or an unrelated fault the garage didn't diagnose or repair — so both sides know the boundary rather than discovering it in a dispute.

Know what the Consumer Rights Act won't let you exclude

Three protections under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 cannot be excluded or restricted by a disclaimer, however it's worded: the duty to perform the service with reasonable care and skill under section 49, liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, and the requirement that any goods (parts) supplied as part of the service are of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described. A disclaimer that tries to exclude any of these is simply not binding on the customer to that extent — it doesn't matter how the wording is dressed up.

Disclose parts sourcing

If the repair uses aftermarket, reconditioned, or used parts rather than original-equipment-manufacturer parts, say so. It's a reasonable and legitimate choice in many repairs, but a customer who finds out afterwards — rather than being told upfront — has a legitimate complaint regardless of whether the part itself was a sensible one.

Keep the customer's own responsibility reasonable

It's fair to ask the customer to disclose known pre-existing issues and give accurate information about the vehicle's history and use, since the technician's diagnosis and repair depend on that information being accurate. This template keeps that expectation but frames it as a two-way arrangement rather than shifting risk onto the customer wholesale.

Address belongings left in the vehicle and any storage policy

Customers often leave personal items in a vehicle during a repair. A brief clause on the garage's responsibility (or lack of it) for property left in the vehicle, and its policy on storage fees for a vehicle not collected promptly after the customer is told it's ready, closes two common sources of dispute the source template ignores entirely.

Pair the disclaimer with the work order, not instead of it

A disclaimer signed on its own, without a written estimate and recorded authorisation, only tells the customer what the warranty covers — it says nothing about what was actually agreed for the job itself. Signing this disclaimer alongside the garage's work order, rather than as a stand-alone document, keeps the estimate, the authorisation, and the warranty terms consistent with each other.

Section-by-section guide

Vehicle and services

Identifies the vehicle and the repair services actually performed.

Warranty scope and duration

States a specific warranty period and what it covers.

Warranty exclusions

States what the warranty does not cover.

Parts sourcing

Discloses whether non-OEM parts were used.

Customer responsibility

Asks for accurate vehicle history and known pre-existing issues.

Statutory rights preserved

States that the disclaimer does not exclude the reasonable-care-and-skill duty, negligence liability for death or personal injury, or satisfactory-quality rights for parts supplied.

Property and storage

Addresses personal property left in the vehicle and the garage's storage policy.

UK compliance notes

These protections apply regardless of what the disclaimer says.

• Don't try to exclude the reasonable care and skill duty

  A contract term excluding a trader's liability for performing a service without reasonable care and skill is not binding on the consumer.

  Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 57

• Never exclude liability for negligence causing death or personal injury

  This cannot be excluded or restricted by any contract term or consumer notice.

• Don't exclude satisfactory-quality rights for parts supplied

  Where goods are supplied as part of a service, statutory quality, fitness-for-purpose and as-described rights apply and cannot be excluded by a disclaimer or a 'no refunds' style notice.

How to complete the disclaimer

1. Describe the vehicle and services. Identify the vehicle and the repair work actually performed.
2. Set the warranty terms. State the actual warranty duration, scope and exclusions.
3. Disclose parts sourcing. Note whether non-OEM parts were used.
4. Add storage terms. State the policy for vehicles not collected after repair.

Frequently asked questions

Related templates

• Vehicle Repair Work Order Template (UK)
• Vehicle sale receipt Template (UK)