Registering an Imported car and VW Assist

[orca]

A tale of woe.

I got my local VW dealer to register my car with VW UK at the beginning of December. 

A couple of weeks ago I decided to phone VW Roadside assistance to check that they had my details but they didn't have my details.  So I rang the dealer up and they said they definitely sent the details to VW UK.  They said that I could pop back and do it again.

I went to the dealers today to get them to register the car again and was told that there is no need to register imported cars anymore as VW have in the last month changed their warranty system to a global system (whatever that means).  I then asked about the VW assist.  If VW don't have my details then they can't send me my VW assist card.  I was told that you don't get VW assist with imported cars.  I know that some people in this forum have!

Is this all true or is the dealer trying to fob me off and deny me my roadside assist?

[JonnyG]

I registered my import last October.  I did it myself by faxing and e-mailing all required docs direct to VW UK.

I had no problems except I did'nt receive a VW Assist Card (which I did with previous import)

I rang VW UK a week after sending the docs and they confirmed I was registered etc.

I rang the VW Assist number two weeks later and they told me I was fully registered but that they don't send out VW Assist Cards anymore.  All I needed was my reg. number etc whenever I needed them.  I asked how long my import was covered and he said there was no record it was an import so I would get the same as UK supllied car 

I'd bypass your delaer and ring VW UK direct, and get them to confirm you are registered.   If they confirm you were registered by your dealer, then ring the VW Assist number and get them to confirm too - but don't expect a card.

What your dealer says sounds a bid dodgy to me - how would VW UK know your registration number ?  and all the data about your car ?  and unless they've changed their policy very recently you should definitley get 1 years VW Assist (from the date of the PDI in your sevice book)

[orca]

I'll give VW UK a call in the week.

Cheers

[ccaasjf]

Hiya,

Did mine direct with VW UK, faxed details.

Make sure they do the VW Assist bit, I had to keep on at them, finally I got registered, no VW Assist card, checked by phoning the VW assist help line.

Hope this helps
Simon

[Robin]

Sounds like you all got lucky during the chaos when VW Assist transfered to RAC.  Apparently The AA didn't transfer any details to RAC, so they were just taking punters word for it.  I tried checking with VW UK last year and got refered to the below:-

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/company/faq#newcar
"Personal imports originating from Western Europe will generally be covered by a service called "Mobility Guarantee" from the country which supplied the car. Mobility Guarantee is limited in terms of the cover and duration it provides (12 months) and details can be found in the vehicle information wallet. Generally this service covers failure due to mechanical or electrical failure of the vehicle and does not provide help for such things as punctures, accident recovery, out of, or wrong fuel or lost keys. We therefore strongly recommend that you purchase our comprehensive Volkswagen assistance cover. For more information, please contact 0500 275 577."

Still might be worth checking you've definately got full VW Assist cover and not Mobility Guarantee.

I ended up having to pay £145 for two years VW Assist, not too bothered due to the saving off UK list price ....