The CEO of Midas NZ is leading the charge for a law change he believes will stop Kiwi drivers being misled by their dealership.<\/p>\n
Kiwi drivers keep taking their vehicles back to the dealer for servicing because they assume they have to. But is that correct?<\/p>\n
\n In an August 2026
\n survey conducted by vehicle servicing and repair group Midas NZ, most Kiwis who bought their car through a dealer (60%) believed taking their vehicle to another mechanic for a service would void their warranty.\n <\/p>\n
Among those who believed that, nearly two-thirds (65%) said that information came from the dealer. But that\u2019s not actually the case.<\/p>\n
Buying a car from a dealer does not mean you lose your consumer rights when you choose an independent workshop to service the car. Your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act cannot be removed simply because you have your vehicle serviced elsewhere. <\/p>\n
The key is servicing that meets the manufacturer\u2019s requirements, including the service schedule, specified parts and fluids, with records of the work performed.<\/p>\n
Jason Wilson Midas CEO and Northcote MP Dan Bidois meet to discuss Choice of Repairer bill<\/p>\n
Motorists have more choice than they think<\/p>\n
Things have changed since the days of a local garage changing the oil in an everyday Toyota or Holden. Modern vehicles rely on manufacturer-controlled software, diagnostic codes and technical information. <\/p>\n
Without access to that information, independent repairers may be prevented from performing some repairs that they could be technically capable of carrying out.<\/p>\n
Midas NZ CEO Jason Wilson believes Kiwi motorists deserve a better shake of the dipstick.<\/p>\n
In addition to his day job, Wilson is a member of the Industry Leaders Group and a mentor for training mechanics. The group is pushing MPs for law changes that support consumer rights and competition in the servicing and repair industry.<\/p>\n
Wilson says the assumption that drivers are tied to their vehicle dealer for servicing \u2013 before and after the manufacturer warranty period \u2013 is a myth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you buy a new car, the dealer sells you a service package and a warranty package. The misconception is, you don\u2019t have to take it back to the dealer for a service. You are entitled to make your choice of where you take it,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is telling the customer that going elsewhere would void their warranty? That\u2019s where the misconception comes in.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Choice of Repairer law change<\/p>\n
While independent workshops can service the vehicle, they have to follow dealer and manufacturer specifications. At Midas, for example, they have a logbook service that supports what they do.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith that, we have to be part of the MTA, we have to have trained mechanics through the MITO (Motor Industry Training Organisation) process. So we can do it under the Consumer Guarantees Act.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are two sides to that law. Under the Act, dealers cannot tell customers they have to go to the dealer to follow the manufacturer\u2019s procedures.<\/p>\n
Wilson says it\u2019s about fairness.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all in a cost-of-living crisis \u2013 and for the motorist, our costs are less than a dealer. Our rent is cheaper, we don\u2019t have the big flashy buildings, our labour rates are fair,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have the big corporates that report back to the CEOs in China or the US; we are owned here in New Zealand. Yes, we work with Midas Australia, we work with Midas US \u2013 but we\u2019re locally owned and operated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wilson is an outspoken advocate for the Choice of Repairer movement, which seeks to change legislation to permit fairer access to vehicle repair data for independent workshops.<\/p>\n
He says cars are \u201cgetting more and more savvy\u201d, to the point \u201cthey\u2019re basically 5G phones on wheels\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we\u2019re asking for is easier and more consistent access to the data to repair these vehicles,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn some cases, we find that the manufacturers are setting the vehicles up so when we get to a certain point, the data says an independent workshop can\u2019t hit that service button, we have to take it to a dealer to complete the job.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Industry Leaders Group, which is pushing for the law change, has a board including several other Independent workshop franchise CEOs and leaders, as well as parts suppliers. Australia passed similar legislation around three years ago, and Wilson says it\u2019s working well.<\/p>\n
\u201cMotorists need both the confidence to choose their repairer, and workshops that can access the information needed to complete the job. The proposed Choice of Repairer legislation addresses that second barrier: access to manufacturer-controlled service and repair information,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s confidence the new law will pass in the next parliamentary term.<\/p>\n
Wilson says the present champion of the proposed legislation is National\u2019s Northcote MP Dan Bidois, but most of the parties in the House now have expressed support.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, it comes down to fairness,\u201d he says. \u201cThis gives the public the option to go, I can take my car to an independent workshop and know it is going to be fixed as per dealer specs, and it\u2019s going to cost me less.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe past two years have been tough. Groceries and mortgages are expensive, the fuel crisis has hit hard. <\/p>\n
\u201cAll I want to do is save Kiwis money and give them security that they can go to a workshop, get their car serviced, and have a few more dollars left in the pocket to buy food.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ready to make the switch? Find your nearest Midas workshop or book your next service at midasnz.co.nz<\/a><\/p>\n To learn more about the proposed Choice of Repairer legislation and what it could mean for Kiwi motorists – visit choiceofrepairer.co.nz<\/a> <\/p>\n