Hi,

I’m searching for my 1st used RR, and am searching Autotrader with “Manufacturer Approved”, obviously giving me results from LR dealers.

I’m looking at cars that are ~2020, so not within an initial 3 yr warranty.

My question is: “Is there a benefit/reason to buy from a main LR dealer when out of initial warranty?” vs de-selecting the Manufacturer Approved option, and having more choice, and typically lower price?

2nd related question is” “Can I only get a LR extended warranty by buying from a LR main dealer?” Or can I buy from XYZ garage and buy the warranty separately? I know there are lots of threads about various warranties, but I want to know if I HAVE to buy from a main dealer, in order to go the LR extended warranty option.

Thanks for advice!

With Approved used from a LR main agent you are in a stronger position due to the higher standards they have to meet - one of which is their Approved used warranty is better and covers most things and if you don’t “feel the love” you can give it back. Yes there are good independents out there but with a main agent you get more clout and if all else fails LR customer service will step in and take a very dim view with black marks against dealers.

Personally I wouldn’t buy any vehicle of substantial value from anywhere else other than a main agent - it’s a totally different matter if your looking at something sub £20k 2021 L405 Vogue SE 4.4 V8 DIESEL ~ #17

Main dealers will sell Approved Used vehicles up until about 4.5 years old or just outside of original manufacturer warranty.

Anything 5+ years will typically be independents only.

So, the age you're looking at, I'd 100% opt for an Approved Used vehicle.


Just a point on warranties - LR customer service will give you diddly squat assistance with a warranty claim and a dealer. With any warranty claim, it will always be an uphill battle. And the warranty comes from Land Rover UK, so in fact it is the other way around - someone on the end of an email chain tells the dealer what they will and won't approve, and the dealer then has to be the bearer of good or bad news (and in the case of bad, look like they're the ones providing a bad service). Once the Approved Used warranty ends, Land Rover drop the claim limit down to £3,000 and provide extortionate renewal prices - so the warranty is basically worthless - £3k on a car like these is pretty useless.

They'll also employ tactics such as if your vehicle only has a couple of months warranty to run, they'll give you a date to bring the vehicle in that miraculously is after the expiry date of your warranty.

If 5+ years, only opt for a dealer who have a mechanical inspection undertaken and the report available for you to see. Also check the warranty available - they will have claim limits which will be lower than the Approved Used, but likely considerably higher than the £3k Land Rover drop it to. My premium stock carries a £10k claim limit, which is more like it on vehicles like these. 2015 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 SDV8

That’s not quite correct, LR extended warranties are available to 10 years old and 100k miles, there are two extended warranty types and it is only the Select Extended Warranty that has a limit of £3k - the other doesn’t. Also don’t forget the LR Roadside Assist and Recovery, many aftermarket warranties don’t have that.

Also main agents are selling pre owned vehicles at up to around 8 years old - the qualifying requirements are condition, service history and whether it’s been undertaken by LR. I recently sold a LR vehicle - a 65 plate which had full LRSH and this was retailed by the main agent.

For those that are interested their mark up was £7k that covered a full service, pads and discs all round, premium tyres, replacement of a faulty reverse camera, wheel refurb, inspection and the Approved Used Warranty. Plus their profit and salesman’s commission - I thought their mark up was reasonable given their costs and it was a main agent. 2021 L405 Vogue SE 4.4 V8 DIESEL ~ #17

Thanks for replies. I think the answer to my 2nd question is implied, but to check - is it correct I could only get the LR warranty (the one with cover over £3m) if I buy an approved used car from LR? So I can’t buy from XYZ Indy dealer and then but LR warranty from LR (obvs assuming car is under 100k miles etc)

Reason I’m asking is for the car I’m searching for - 2020-21 AB D300-350 or TDV8 with low mileage - only 4 come up on Autotrader from LR dealers. But if I expand search to Indy dealers, more cars come up. These are expensive cars, so I’m nervous of buying one outside of the LR main dealer network. Hence the question about being able to buy full LR warranty.

Thanks

Yes, you are referring to an Approved Used Warranty - the other is extended warranty.

FWIW I wouldn’t buy a RR of that value from any other than a main agent - any replacement parts including pads and discs are genuine - independents generally go for the cheapest - this matters particularly with brake parts as the “OEM” ones I’ve used on other LR vehicles have been dreadful.

Just one thing to bare in mind a lot of independent stock are trade ins sourced from main agents - they have been treaded out and not retailed for a reason - usually because they have not met the required standards e.g. body work repairs, lack of service history or failed the inspection, sourced from an auction, We buy Any Car etc etc 2021 L405 Vogue SE 4.4 V8 DIESEL ~ #17

Thanks again. That point about “being traded out” is very helpful - I was wondering how a £50k+ car ends up outside the dealer network!

I’ll keep looking for an approved car in the spec/mileage (and colour combo SWMBO will approve😊) 👍🏻

Thanks!

Vogue wrote:

Yes, you are referring to an Approved Used Warranty - the other is extended warranty.

FWIW I wouldn’t buy a RR of that value from any other than a main agent - any replacement parts including pads and discs are genuine - independents generally go for the cheapest - this matters particularly with brake parts as the “OEM” ones I’ve used on other LR vehicles have been dreadful.

Just one thing to bare in mind a lot of independent stock are trade ins sourced from main agents - they have been treaded out and not retailed for a reason - usually because they have not met the required standards e.g. body work repairs, lack of service history or failed the inspection, sourced from an auction, We buy Any Car etc etc

Consistent clear advice to buy from LR main dealers - thanks.

And thanks re tip for approved used LR site.

Have to say I love AT tracker plug in for seeing price drops on AT site though 👍🏻😉

Consistent clear advice to buy from LR main dealers - thanks.

And thanks re tip for approved used LR site.

Have to say I love AT tracker plug in for seeing price drops on AT site though 👍🏻😉

smitht2 wrote:

Thanks again. That point about “being traded out” is very helpful - I was wondering how a £50k+ car ends up outside the dealer network!

I’ll keep looking for an approved car in the spec/mileage (and colour combo SWMBO will approve😊) 👍🏻

Thanks!