🔧 Do I have the right to demand a repair instead of a new item?

With conditions

Quick answer

Yes, you can demand a repair — and the widespread myth that "once the 2-year guarantee ends there is nothing you can do" becomes false from 2026. Under the EU Directive 2024/1799 (the "right to repair"), whose rules apply in the member states, including Lithuania, from 31 July 2026, manufacturers must repair certain products even when the consumer no longer has a legal guarantee. The list covers the most failure-prone appliances: washing machines, refrigerators, dishwashers, televisions, smartphones and tablets. In addition, a two-year quality guarantee already applies, and if the consumer chooses a repair instead of a replacement, the liability period is extended by a further 12 months. Most importantly, and often overlooked: the new rules introduce a common European repair form with a transparent price and a platform to find repairers, so refusing to repair becomes harder, and repairing an item often makes more sense than buying a new one.

📋 The rules

Goods carry a 2-year legal quality guarantee; during it the seller answers for any non-conformity
Choosing a repair over a replacement extends the seller's liability period by 12 months
From 31 July 2026 makers must repair certain products even after the legal guarantee ends (EU Directive 2024/1799)
Must be repairable: washing machines, fridges, dishwashers, TVs, phones, tablets and other listed products
A European repair information form with price and terms and an online repairer platform are introduced

🔓 Exceptions

A repair can be demanded only for a non-conformity or fault, not for damage the consumer caused or normal wear
If a repair is impossible or disproportionate, the consumer may choose a price reduction or to end the contract and get a refund
The duty to repair after the guarantee applies only to the products listed in the directive, not to all goods

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Here the risk falls on the seller and maker who dodge the repair or guarantee the law requires. If, during the 2-year guarantee, the seller refuses to fix a fault, the consumer can demand a free repair, a replacement, a price reduction or end the contract and get the money back. Often overlooked: a dispute with the seller is handled out of court and free of charge by VVTAT, and failure to comply with its decision is made public and can bring administrative liability. From 31 July 2026 a maker that refuses without grounds to repair a listed product faces a supervisory response, because that is now a breach of the law, not a matter of goodwill. The consumer should keep the proof of purchase and correspondence: without them the guarantee period is harder to prove, and it is precisely a lack of evidence that most often sinks an otherwise valid claim.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Can I demand a repair rather than a new item?

Yes, where goods are non-conforming the consumer may choose a repair or a replacement, and the seller must carry out the choice unless it is impossible or disproportionate. If you choose a repair, the seller's liability period for that same item is extended by a further twelve months.

What changes on 31 July 2026?

From that day the EU "right to repair" rules start to apply, under which makers must repair certain products even after the legal guarantee ends. The list includes washing machines, refrigerators, dishwashers, televisions, smartphones and tablets.

Is a repair always free?

During the two-year guarantee, fixing a fault caused by a non-conformity is free for the consumer. After the guarantee a repair may be paid, but the new rules require a transparent price and terms so the consumer can weigh whether repairing is worthwhile.

What do I do if they refuse to repair?

First send the seller a written claim, enclosing the proof of purchase and a description of the fault. If you get no reply or an unsatisfactory one, the dispute can go to VVTAT, which handles consumer and seller disputes out of court and free of charge.

Does the guarantee cover used and discounted goods?

Yes, the quality guarantee also covers used and discounted goods, but it does not cover the specific defect for which the item was discounted and about which the buyer was clearly informed. For other faults not disclosed in advance the seller remains liable.

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