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China Legal Guides · National framework

Automotive Three-Guarantees Rights in China

A practical guide to repair, replacement and return rights for household vehicles in China, including EV batteries, repair counts, downtime, records, recalls and disputes.

Updated12 Sep 2026
AudienceForeign businesses & individuals
Author China Legal Portal Editorial · Reviewer Hao Xu; Helin Lu · Last reviewed · 2 min read · Editorial policy · AI content policy · Disclaimer · Not legal advice — confirm current rules with counsel and authorities

At a glance

Workflow in this guide

Section sequence for this topic.

  1. Repair rights and records
  2. Early serious problems
  3. Replacement and return thresholds
  4. Recall, defect and other claims
  5. Checklist
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Working file · authority, workflow and evidence

Automotive three-guarantees analysis is vehicle- and timeline-specific. Record the buyer and household-use purpose, seller, producer or importer, VIN, invoice and delivery dates, mileage, warranty and three-guarantees periods, every reported symptom, repair order, parts replacement, downtime and current safety condition. Preserve diagnostic data before software updates or repairs alter it.

Preserve originals, serial or batch identifiers, screenshots with metadata, samples under chain of custody, inspection and repair records, medical evidence, complaints and proof of loss. Calendar contractual, statutory, administrative and litigation deadlines separately.

Subject to editorial and legal review. Product, consumer and injury claims are fact-sensitive. Urgent safety, recall, medical, evidence-preservation and limitation issues require case-specific advice.

Scope and responsible parties

The current rules apply to household automotive products sold in China. The seller bears the statutory three-guarantees responsibility and may seek recourse from producers or others. Confirm whether the vehicle and claimant fall within scope and distinguish mandatory rights from an extended warranty.

Repair rights and records

Qualifying quality problems during the repair period must be repaired without labour or material charges. Keep intake time, diagnosis, work performed, replaced parts, completion and road-test records. Downtime and repeated repairs can affect replacement or return eligibility.

Early serious problems

The rules provide specific early-period remedies for enumerated powertrain and serious safety problems, including certain battery or drive-motor issues in new-energy vehicles. Apply the exact time or mileage threshold and defect category; do not generalize from a warning light alone.

Replacement and return thresholds

Recalculate repair counts, replaced major components and accumulated repair time under the current 2022 rules, including excluded waiting or travel periods. A written request should identify the statutory ground, and the seller must respond within the prescribed period.

Recall, defect and other claims

Three-guarantees rights coexist with recall, product liability, contract and consumer claims but have different purposes. A recall does not automatically prove individual loss, and warranty performance does not eliminate liability for injury caused by a defect.

Checklist

  • VIN, invoice, delivery, mileage and periods.
  • Warranty and three-guarantees documents.
  • Complete repair orders and diagnostic data.
  • Defect, safety and expert evidence.
  • Repair-count and downtime calculation.
  • Written remedy request and response.
  • Recall and parallel-claim analysis.

Official sources

Law checked: September 12, 2026. Official Chinese texts, product-specific rules, local procedure and evidence control.

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Sources & trust

How to use this guide

Primary sources for this page (editorial source-check 2026-09-19): PRC Civil Code; PRC Product Quality Law. Confirm current rules with qualified counsel. This page is not legal advice. Official primary-source links already on this page: Beijing Market Regulation Administration: Household Automotive Three-Guarantees — https://scjgj.beijing.gov.cn/cxfw/flfgcxfw/xfzqybhl/202204/t20220411_2671107.html; CNIPA: Product Quality Law — https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2019/7/31/art_104_67810.html; Supreme People’s Court: Civil Code — https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/233181.html.

Editorial, AI and verification policies

This page is general information for orientation. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship.

Review the Editorial Policy, AI Content Policy, and Lawyer Verification Policy.

Consultation preparation

Preparation is in this guide

Use the preparation section above before contacting counsel. It is specific to this topic.

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