Technical answer
Do roof racks void your car warranty in Australia?
Short answer
Your consumer guarantee rights under the Australian Consumer Law cannot be removed by any agreement, contract or warranty, and the ACCC says an independent repairer can service a vehicle without affecting them, though a defect the repairer causes is unlikely to be covered (ACCC motor vehicle sales and repairs guide, p28). The ACCC guidance does not deal with roof racks by name, so what your vehicle maker's own warranty says about accessories is in its warranty terms: check them before you fit. Wedgetail racks carry their own warranty: 10 years on Adventure, 5 years on Trade and 3 years on Core.
ACCC guidance read 14 October 2026; Wedgetail warranty from Wedgetail product data, updated .
- Consumer guarantees
- Automatic; cannot be removed by a warranty
- Independent repairer
- Can service without affecting the guarantees
- Maker's warranty
- Extra promise with its own terms: check them
- Wedgetail Adventure
- 10 years warranty
What the ACCC says
These points are from the ACCC's guide to the Australian Consumer Law and motor vehicle sales and repairs and its consumer rights and guarantees page.
| Point | What the ACCC says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Guarantees cannot be removed | "Consumer guarantees cannot be replaced, limited or removed by any agreement, contract or warranty." | Motor vehicle guide, p9 |
| Warranties sit on top | "Warranties are extra promises that a business can choose to make on top of the consumer guarantees." | Consumer rights and guarantees page |
| Warranties can set conditions | "Warranties against defects may set out requirements that consumers must comply with." | Motor vehicle guide, p20 |
| Independent repairers | An independent repairer "can service a vehicle without affecting the consumer guarantees." | Motor vehicle guide, p28 |
| Defects a repairer causes | If an independent repairer causes a defect, that defect is unlikely to be covered. | Motor vehicle guide, p28 |
| Broad 'void' claims | The guide warns businesses against broad statements that consumers will "void their warranties" or similar if they go to an independent repairer. | Motor vehicle guide, p28 |
What the ACCC guidance does not say
The ACCC guidance above is about servicing and repairs. It does not mention roof racks or other accessories by name, so it does not settle how a particular vehicle maker treats a claim on or near a fitted rack. That is set by the maker's own warranty terms.
- Read the warranty booklet for your vehicle, looking for anything on accessories, roof loads and modifications.
- If the wording is unclear, ask the vehicle maker or dealer in writing before you fit the rack.
- Check the vehicle maker's roof load limit for your model. The roof load limits table lists the maker's figure where it is published.
Keep a clear record of the fit
Whatever your maker's terms say, a clear record helps if a question ever comes up about the roof.
- Choose the rack listed for your exact vehicle on Find My Vehicle, with its own fit method and rating.
- Keep the invoice and the fitting instructions, and note who fitted it. Racks are fitted on site at the Wedgetail factory, and every stockist sells and fits Wedgetail.
- Load within the lower of the rack rating and the vehicle maker's roof limit. See static vs dynamic ratings.
The Wedgetail warranty by range
Wedgetail's own warranty covers the rack and is set per solution. The table reads the current product data.
| Range | Warranty | Exceptions | Solutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Max | 1 year | 5 years on 1 solution | 211 |
| Oval Steel | 5 years | 3 years on 6 solutions | 143 |
| Trade Max | 5 years | 3 years on 2 solutions | 72 |
| Wedgetail Adventure | 10 years | 5 years on 1 solution | 139 |
| Wedgetail Core | 3 years | Same on every solution | 11 |
| Wedgetail Trade | 5 years | Same on every solution | 60 |
The Wedgetail facts page has the full warranty and company details. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Questions people ask
Will fitting a roof rack void my new car warranty?
It cannot remove your consumer guarantee rights, which the ACCC says cannot be removed by any agreement, contract or warranty. The ACCC guidance does not cover roof racks by name, so check your vehicle maker's warranty terms for what they say about accessories.
Do I have to get the rack fitted by the dealer?
Not for your consumer guarantees on servicing: the ACCC says an independent repairer can service a vehicle without affecting them. A defect the repairer causes is unlikely to be covered, and the maker's own warranty terms may set other conditions.
Can the dealer say I voided my warranty by using an independent repairer?
Not as a broad claim. The ACCC guide warns businesses that broad statements that consumers will void their warranties by going to an independent repairer can be misleading. Ask for any refusal and its reason in writing.
What warranty does a Wedgetail rack have?
10 years on Wedgetail Adventure, 3 years on Core, 5 years on Trade, 5 years on most Trade Max, 1 year on Commercial Max and 5 years on most Oval Steel.
Who should I ask about my car's warranty?
The vehicle maker or your dealer, in writing, quoting the warranty terms for your vehicle. This page is general information, not legal advice.