Vauxhall has just announced that its cars are now covered by a lifetime warranty from the first day of registration.

The warranty will apply to the first owner of any Vauxhall registered after August 1 2010 and will cover the car until it reaches 100,000 miles, no matter how many years that takes.

A further programme is planned which will enable the second owner of the car to purchase the lifetime warranty.

‘With the Vauxhall Lifetime Warranty, we are making a strong statement of confidence in the quality of our products and a clear intent to provide the very best customer service in the UK,’ said Duncan Aldred, managing director of Vauxhall Motors.

Most mainstream car brands only offer a three-year warranty, while a few, such as Toyota, Hyundai and Kia, offer five or seven years' cover.

The comprehensive new OEM warranty cover includes powertrain, steering system, brake system and electrical equipment throughout the life of the vehicle.

To maintain the Lifetime Warranty, owners simply need to visit a Vauxhall retailer annually for a free vehicle inspection.

"Great design, engineering excellence and innovative thinking come as standard with every new Vauxhall so a lifetime warranty, with its boost to the customer ownership experience, is a natural extension to the appeal of our products,’ added Aldred.