Right to repair: what Europe changes for your appliances
6 November 2026 · 6 min read
Choosing repair over replacement should earn you 12 extra months of warranty. Manufacturers required to repair, spare parts at a reasonable price, a European quote form: here is what Directive 2024/1799 provides, and where Belgium stands.
A directive applicable since 31 July 2026
European Directive 2024/1799 “on promoting the repair of goods” dates from 13 June 2024. According to the European Commission, Member States had to transpose and apply it by 31 July 2026 at the latest.
It addresses two different moments in an appliance's life: during the legal guarantee, and afterwards.
During the guarantee: 12 more months if you repair
Today, if your appliance breaks down within two years, you can ask the seller for a repair or a replacement. The directive rewards repair: when repair brings the item back into conformity, the guarantee is extended once by twelve months.
Where does Belgium stand? On its page about the guarantee law, updated on 15 September 2026, the FPS Economy still describes the current rule: the guarantee is suspended during the repair, then resumes where it stopped. The 12-month extension does not appear there. Belgium is late: the European Commission sent Belgium and 17 other countries a letter of formal notice for incomplete transposition. The Council of Ministers approved a draft law in July 2026, but as of this article we could not find its publication in the Belgian Official Gazette. Until then, do not present the 12-month extension as an established right when dealing with the seller.
After the guarantee: manufacturers must repair some appliances
This is the big change. For certain products, you can ask the manufacturer directly for a repair, even after the legal guarantee has ended. The repair is carried out:
- free of charge or at a reasonable price;
- within a reasonable time;
- possibly with a loan appliance during the repair;
- or, if repair is impossible, with the offer of a refurbished appliance.
This obligation does not apply to everything. It covers products for which European rules already set repairability requirements, listed in Annex II of the directive:
| Products concerned | EU regulation |
|---|---|
| Washing machines and washer-dryers | 2019/2023 |
| Dishwashers | 2019/2022 |
| Refrigerators and freezers | 2019/2019 |
| Displays and televisions | 2019/2021 |
| Vacuum cleaners | 666/2013 |
| Mobile phones, cordless phones, tablets | 2023/1670 |
| Tumble dryers | 2023/2533 |
| Goods with batteries for light means of transport (e.g. e-bikes and e-scooters) | 2023/1542 |
| Welding equipment, servers and data storage | 2019/1784, 2019/424 |
The manufacturer only has to repair “to the extent provided” by these regulations. It is not required to do so if repair is impossible.
No more obstacles to independent repair
For these same products, the directive prohibits manufacturers from several practices:
- blocking repair through a contract clause or a hardware or software technique, unless there is a legitimate reason;
- preventing an independent repairer from using original, second-hand, compatible or 3D-printed parts (if they comply with the law);
- refusing a repair solely because another repairer has already worked on the item.
Manufacturers must also sell their parts and tools at a reasonable price that does not discourage repair. And they must publish indicative prices for common repairs online.
You remain free: the directive states that you can have your appliance repaired by the repairer of your choice.
A standard European quote
The directive creates a “European repair information form”. The repairer may give it to you (it is not mandatory). If they do, the form is free and states in particular:
- the defect and the proposed repair;
- the price, or the maximum price;
- the repair time;
- whether a replacement appliance is available, and at what cost.
Only exception: if a diagnosis is needed to draw up the quote, the repairer may charge for it, provided they tell you the cost in advance.
Coming soon: a European platform to find a repairer
The Commission must set up the interface of a European online repair platform by 31 July 2027 at the latest. It will help you find repairers, sellers of refurbished goods and community repair initiatives.
Each Member State must also adopt at least one measure to promote repair and notify it to the Commission by 31 July 2029 at the latest.
What you can do right now
- Appliance less than two years old broken? Ask the seller for a free repair as soon as you discover the defect: your contract may require you to report it within two months.
- Guarantee over? If the appliance is in the table above, ask about the manufacturer's repair service.
- Before accepting a quote, ask for the maximum price and the repair time in writing.
- Keep the repair invoice with your proof of purchase: it proves the dates.
To go further, read our article Broken appliance: before buying again, check what still protects you.
The Garanti habit: Keep your proof of purchase and repair invoices in Garanti: if something breaks or the seller refuses, your claim file is ready in seconds. Try it free
Also read: Appliance broken? Check your protection before buying a replacement
Sources
- Directive (EU) 2024/1799, official text (EUR-Lex): Articles 4, 5, 7, 13, 16 and Annex II
- European Commission — Directive on repair of goods
- FPS Economy — The guarantee law (updated 15 September 2026, French)
Written by Pierre Leonet, founder of Garanti, on 6 November 2026. It will be updated once the Belgian transposition law is published. General information, not advice on an individual case.
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