Our 2-Year/24,000-Mile Repair Warranty Explained

Most drivers assume a dealership warranty automatically beats an independent shop warranty. In practice, the opposite is often true. A standard dealership repair warranty in California runs 12 months or 12,000 miles. Perry's Quality Auto warranties every repair for 2 years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. That's double the coverage, on the same kinds of work, in writing on every invoice. Here's exactly what that warranty covers, what it doesn't, and why it matters.

Is a Warranty on Auto Repairs from an Independent Shop as Good as a Dealership Warranty?

For repair work (as opposed to new-vehicle factory warranty), yes, and frequently better. Independent shops compete on warranty terms because they don't have a manufacturer's brand to lean on. A shop that wants long-term customers offers strong warranty terms in writing and stands behind them.

Dealership repair warranties (separate from the original factory warranty on a new car) typically run 12 months or 12,000 miles. Some dealerships extend that to 24 months on specific OEM parts, but only on parts, not on labor. Perry's standard warranty is 2 years or 24,000 miles on both parts and labor for every repair performed at our shop. That includes labor to remove and replace any part that fails within the warranty period.

The other thing to know: independent-shop warranties are enforceable under the same California Bureau of Automotive Repair rules that govern dealer warranties. A written warranty from a licensed automotive repair facility (which Perry's is, license number on file) carries the same legal weight as one from a dealership.

What Does a 2-Year/24,000-Mile Auto Repair Warranty Cover?

Our standard warranty covers two things in clear terms:

Parts: Any part we install fails due to manufacturer defect or premature wear, we replace it at no charge for 2 years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Labor: The labor to remove and reinstall the failed part is covered for the same 2-year/24,000-mile period. This is the part most warranties leave out. A parts-only warranty leaves you paying labor on a comeback, which often exceeds the cost of the part itself.

Covered repair categories include (this list is not exhaustive):

Brake service: pads, rotors, calipers, master cylinder, brake hoses, brake fluid service.

Cooling system: water pump, thermostat, radiator, hoses, coolant flush, fan motor, and fan clutch.

Air conditioning: compressor, condenser, evaporator, expansion valve, blower motor, blend door actuator.

Engine: timing components, gaskets, seals, sensors, fuel system, ignition system, valve cover service.

Transmission: external repairs, solenoid replacement, fluid service, cooler service, mount replacement.

Suspension and steering: control arms, tie rod ends, ball joints, sway bar links, shocks, struts, alignment.

Electrical: alternator, starter, battery, sensors, wiring repair.

Drive axle: CV axles, U-joints, output shaft seals, differential service.

Specialty Work and Jasper Engines/Transmissions

Some repairs carry warranty coverage that exceeds our standard. Jasper-remanufactured engines and transmissions are backed by a 3-year/100,000-mile nationwide warranty from Jasper, transferable to any subsequent owner, and honored at any Jasper-affiliated shop in the United States.

If we install a Jasper engine or transmission for you, you get:

Jasper's 3-year/100,000-mile nationwide factory-backed warranty on the rebuilt unit.

Our 2-year/24,000-mile warranty on the installation labor and any peripheral parts (mounts, gaskets, sensors) we install during the job.

Combined, that's the strongest warranty available in independent automotive repair for major drivetrain work.

What the Warranty Does Not Cover

Being clear about exclusions matters. Our warranty does not cover:

Wear from misuse or accident: If brake pads we installed wear prematurely due to a stuck caliper that wasn't repaired (which we would have recommended), the wear is on the underlying issue. Damage from accidents, off-road use, or modifications beyond manufacturer specification is not covered.

Parts you supply: If you bring in a part for us to install (sometimes called a "tire and tag" or "customer-supplied parts" job), we'll install it but the part warranty is between you and wherever you purchased the part. We warranty our labor to install correctly; we do not warranty parts we did not source.

Normal wear items beyond the warranty window: Brake pads installed two and a half years ago that wear out at 26,000 miles aren't covered. The warranty has a defined end point.

Pre-existing conditions not addressed by the repair: If we replace a valve cover gasket and the engine subsequently develops an unrelated rear main seal leak, the new leak isn't covered by the valve cover repair warranty.

Damage from neglect after the repair: If your AC starts losing refrigerant again from a different leak point and you continue driving the system flat instead of bringing it in, damage to the compressor from low refrigerant is not covered.

What "Mechanic Warranty on Repairs" Actually Means in California

California has specific consumer protections for auto repair work. Under the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) regulations, every licensed automotive repair facility is required to:

Provide written estimates before authorized work begins (Title 16 CCR section 3353).

Obtain written or recorded customer authorization for work, with separate authorization required if the estimate exceeds the original by more than 10 percent.

Return replaced parts to the customer on request (with limited exceptions for warranty exchange parts).

Honor written warranties as enforceable consumer contracts.

Provide written invoices that list all parts and services performed.

Perry's complies with all of these as standard practice. The 2-year/24,000-mile warranty isn't a separate program; it's printed on every invoice we issue and applies automatically to every repair.

What 24,000 Miles Means: Real-World Coverage

The average California driver puts about 13,000 miles per year on their vehicle. Twelve-month/12,000-mile warranties expire on schedule almost exactly when the average driver hits the time and mileage limit at roughly the same time. Two-year/24,000-mile warranties cover almost two full years of typical driving.

For drivers who drive less than average (retired drivers, work-from-home drivers, second-vehicle households), the 2-year time limit will likely expire before the mileage. For higher-mileage drivers (commuters, delivery drivers, rideshare), the 24,000-mile limit will likely hit first. Either way, our coverage extends meaningfully past the "12 and 12" baseline used at most shops.

Auto Repair Warranty Coverage: How to Read Yours

Whether you're considering Perry's or any other shop, here's what to verify on the warranty:

Is it in writing on the invoice (not just verbal)?

Does it cover both parts and labor (not just parts)?

What's the time limit? What's the mileage limit?

What's specifically excluded (most warranties have a few exclusions; that's normal)?

Where is the warranty honored: same shop only, or a network?

What's the process if a warranty claim becomes necessary?

If you can't answer those questions from the warranty document, ask the shop to clarify. A reputable shop will give you straight answers. At Perry's, every one of those answers is printed clearly on our invoice, and our team will walk you through it if anything isn't clear.

Why Independent Shops Can Often Offer Better Warranties

Counter-intuitive but true: independent shops can often offer stronger warranties than dealers because their repair quality and parts selection is under their own control, not under franchise warranty cost recovery pressure.

At a dealer, warranty work is processed through manufacturer claim reimbursement, which is typically below dealer retail labor rates. Service advisors and technicians are sometimes incentivized to flag work as non-warranty even when the issue is borderline. The result: customers experience inconsistent warranty enforcement.

At an independent shop, warranty work is purely a relationship and reputation matter. We made the diagnosis, we recommended the repair, we did the work, we sourced the parts. If something fails inside the warranty period, the fix is on us. There's no third-party reimbursement scheme distorting the incentive.

This isn't a knock on dealers; it's just how the economics work. It's also why long-running independent shops tend to have stronger reputations for warranty service than the average new-car dealer service department.

Bottom Line

Perry's Quality Auto warranties every repair for 2 years or 24,000 miles on parts and labor, in writing, on every invoice. Specialty work (Jasper engines and transmissions) carries the supplier's longer nationwide warranty in addition. We comply with all California Bureau of Automotive Repair regulations and stand behind our work.

If you have questions about a specific warranty scenario or want to compare our warranty to a dealer quote, call (805) 522-5769. See our warranty page for the full written policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a warranty on auto repairs from an independent shop as good as a dealership warranty?

Yes, and frequently better. Dealership repair warranties (separate from the original factory warranty) typically run 12 months or 12,000 miles, often on parts only. Perry's Quality Auto warranties every repair for 2 years or 24,000 miles on both parts and labor. That's double the coverage on the same kinds of work, in writing on every invoice.

What does a 2-year/24,000-mile auto repair warranty cover?

Our warranty covers both the parts we install and the labor to install them. If any part we installed fails due to defect or premature wear within 24 months or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first), we replace the part and re-perform the labor at no charge. Covered categories include brakes, cooling, AC, engine, transmission external repairs, suspension, steering, electrical, and drive axles.

Does mechanic warranty on repairs include labor or just parts?

It depends on the shop. Our warranty at Perry's Quality Auto includes both. Many shops offer parts-only warranties, which leave you paying labor on a comeback (often the larger cost of the two). Always verify whether labor is included before authorizing a repair.

What is the 24,000-mile repair warranty?

It's our standard warranty: every repair performed at Perry's Quality Auto is covered for 24 months or 24,000 miles of driving (whichever comes first), on both parts and labor. The coverage is automatic, applies to every repair, and is printed on every invoice. The average California driver hits 24,000 miles in roughly 22 to 24 months, so the warranty effectively covers about two full years of typical driving.

What is not covered by your warranty?

Wear caused by misuse or accident, customer-supplied parts (we warranty installation labor but not parts we didn't source), normal wear past the warranty window, pre-existing or unrelated subsequent issues, and damage from continued operation of a system that's developed a new fault. Jasper-installed engines and transmissions carry an additional 3-year/100,000-mile nationwide manufacturer warranty.