Motorists must be free to choose where they get their car fixed .
That’s the message from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
The watchdog says reports of drivers being blocked from using independent garages have sparked concern.
It’s told importers and distributors to review their arrangements by August or face possible sanctions.
Craig Whelan is Director of Antitrust for the CCPC - he says businesses found to be in breach of competition law could face criminal prosecution:
"We've received lots of complaints from motorists who are saying that they've taken their car to get serviced and have been told their warranty has been rendered void. Simply because in the past they took it to an independent garage rather than to an authorized dealership."
"What we're doing now is warning the industry that this potentially breaks competition law, seeking information from the industry and and also asking consumers who've experienced this to get in touch with us."
