Budget-friendly car maker Dacia launches seven-year warranty – and it’s available for used vehicles too

Dacia, the popular budget-friendly car maker, has launched a new warranty programme offering up to seven years cover for cars – even those that are already on the road and have likely racked up thousands of miles.

The Romanian manufacturer – now part of the Renault Group – has introduced a new scheme that adds to its existing three-year/60,000-mile warranty.

Called Dacia Zen, it provides cover for up to seven years, as long as the owner has the vehicle serviced each year to allow for the warranty to roll-on.

And it’s not just for new models – those with Dacia under six years old and less than 75,000 miles can get it too.

Budget-friendly car maker Dacia has announced a new seven-year warranty programme – and owners of its older vehicles are eligible for it too

When a Dacia reaches the end of its standard three-year warranty, customers who have their car serviced at a franchised retailer every 12 months (or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first) will benefit from another year of extended cover. 

For existing Dacia drivers with older models, the maker says that owners won’t be penalised if they have used non-official retailers to maintain the car in the past, just as long as the car has been serviced annually.

The warranty covers the cost and repair of most main defects that haven’t resulted from the vehicle being in an accident.

And it will be available for Dacia’s first electric vehicle (EV), the Spring, which arrives later this year.

The Romanian manufacturer has introduced Dacia Zen as a bolt-on to its existing three-year/60,000-mile warranty. It provides cover for up to seven years, as long as the owner has the vehicle serviced each year to allow for the warranty to roll-on

The scheme will be available across all new models, including the forthcoming Spring EV – the brand’s first electric car, which starts from just under £15,000 in the UK

While Dacia’s Zen programme is mightily impressive for a low-cost car maker, it’s not market leading.

It’s a compelling rival to Kia and MG’s seven-year/100,000-miles warranties and falls short of Peugeot’s eight year/100k mile offer.

The longest warranties of all come from Japanese sister brands Lexus and Toyota and a colossal 10 years or 100k miles.

Like Dacia Zen, these warranties all require servicing to be carried out at a main dealer. 

By doing so, manufacturers can guarantee an after-sale revenue stream and by using certified parts should improve the reliability of their vehicles.

Any Dacia under six years old and less than 75,000 miles is also eligible for the scheme. The company says that owners won’t be penalised if they have used non-official retailers to maintain their cars in the past, just as long as the car has been serviced annually

‘Dacia Zen offers a level of protection that is near to that of a new car warranty, even though it can be applied to vehicles that have been on the road for several years and clocked up thousands of miles,’ the company says.

And Steve Whitcombe, head of Dacia UK aftersales, adds: ‘Owning a Dacia is all about adventure, but that doesn’t mean that owners should have to worry about the unexpected. 

‘The reliability and durability of our vehicles is well documented, but Dacia Zen gives our customers even more reassurance. 

‘In the unlikely event of an issue, Dacia Zen means they won’t have to pay out for any repairs and can spend the money on the things that they really want and enjoy.’

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk