What is the EU Right to Repair Directive?

The EU Right to Repair Directive (Directive 2024/1799) was formally adopted in June 2024. It requires manufacturers of covered product categories to provide spare parts, repair manuals, and repair services at fair prices for a minimum period after sale. Member states must implement it in national law by July 31, 2026.

Which products does the EU Right to Repair Directive cover?

The Directive covers products already regulated under EU Ecodesign rules: smartphones, tablets, laptops, washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, televisions, vacuum cleaners, and more. Tablets and laptops are phased in from 2027.

What rights do EU consumers get under the Right to Repair Directive?

EU consumers gain the right to request repairs beyond the standard warranty, to access repair services at non-discriminatory prices, to buy original spare parts from the manufacturer, and to receive a loan device during repairs. Manufacturers cannot void warranties for third-party repairs using genuine parts.

When does the EU Right to Repair Directive take effect?

The Directive must be transposed into national law by July 31, 2026 in all EU member states. From that date, the new repair rights are legally enforceable for consumers in all 27 EU countries.

Should You Repair or Replace Your Washing Machine? A 2026 EU Guide

Your washing machine stops working. The instinct is to buy a new one, but that costs €400–€1,200, and the broken one goes to landfill. The repair might cost €80–€250. So which is the right call?

The answer depends on three things: the fault, the age of the machine, and its RepairScore. This guide walks you through the decision, including how the EU Right to Repair Directive (coming into full force by July 31, 2026) changes your rights and the availability of spare parts.

The 50% Rule: The Starting Point

The most widely used rule in appliance repair is the "50% rule": if the repair cost exceeds 50% of the price of a comparable new machine, replace it. If it's below 50%, repair it.

New machine price	Repair threshold (50% rule)	Verdict
€400 (budget)	€200	Repair if fault ≤ €200
€600 (mid-range)	€300	Repair if fault ≤ €300
€900 (high-end)	€450	Repair if fault ≤ €450
€1,200 (premium)	€600	Repair if fault ≤ €600

✅The 50% rule is a starting point, not a hard rule. A 2-year-old premium machine is worth repairing even above 50%. A 12-year-old budget machine may not be worth repairing at 30%. Use age as a multiplier.

Factor 1: Age of the Machine

The EU Ecodesign Regulation requires washing machine manufacturers to guarantee spare parts availability for a minimum of 10 years from the date a model is placed on the market. This means if your machine is under 10 years old and was sold after March 2021, the manufacturer is legally required to have the parts.

Machine age	Repair recommendation	Reasoning
0–3 years	Always repair (or claim warranty)	Still under 2-year EU legal guarantee; manufacturer is liable for faults
3–7 years	Repair if fault is < 50% of replacement cost	Prime repairability window; parts widely available, machine has years of life left
7–10 years	Repair minor faults; replace on major faults	Parts available under Ecodesign rules, but efficiency improvements in new models start to matter
10–15 years	Repair if low RepairScore model; consider replacing	Parts may still be available but manufacturer support varies; energy efficiency gap is significant
15+ years	Replace unless sentimental or high RepairScore	Parts availability not guaranteed; energy use may be 30–50% higher than modern A-class machines

Factor 2: The Fault Type

Not all faults are equal. Some are cheap and easy to fix. Others are terminal.

Fault	Typical EU repair cost	Recommendation
Drum bearing failure	€150–€350	Repair on machines < 8 years; otherwise borderline
Motor failure	€120–€300	Repair on machines < 7 years
Door seal replacement	€40–€80	Almost always worth repairing
Pump failure	€60–€150	Almost always worth repairing
PCB / control board failure	€150–€400	Borderline, check part availability first
Drum spider arm cracked	€100–€250	Repair if machine < 10 years
Heater element failure	€50–€120	Almost always worth repairing
Door lock failure	€30–€70	Always repair
Water inlet valve	€30–€80	Always repair
Complete motor + drum damage	€400–€700+	Replace, likely exceeds 50% rule

ℹ️Always get a written quote before committing to a repair. In the EU, repair technicians are not permitted to charge for a quote that was never carried out if the customer decides not to proceed, this is a consumer protection right under national implementations of the EU Consumer Rights Directive.

Factor 3: The RepairScore of Your Machine

RepairScore rates every washing machine in our database on a 0–100 scale. Machines with higher scores have more available spare parts, easier disassembly, better manufacturer support, and higher community repair success rates. A machine with a high RepairScore is worth repairing even on a borderline fault. A low-scoring machine may not be.

Score 80–100 (Excellent): Repair almost always makes sense, parts widely available, repair success rates high
Score 60–79 (Good): Repair is usually the right call within the 50% rule
Score 40–59 (Fair): Check part availability before committing; some models have supply gaps
Score below 40 (Poor): Replacement may make more sense, parts scarce, repair success rates lower

Check your washing machine's RepairScore

How the EU Right to Repair Directive Changes Things from July 2026

The EU Right to Repair Directive (2024/1799/EU) must be transposed into national law across all EU member states by July 31, 2026. For washing machines, this means:

Manufacturers must provide spare parts and repair manuals to any EU-authorised repair technician, not just their own service centres
Manufacturers cannot design products to prevent repair by independent technicians
After the 2-year legal guarantee expires, manufacturers must offer a 1-year repair guarantee: if they repair your product, the repair itself carries a 1-year warranty
A new EU repair platform will list authorised repairers in your area (going live progressively from 2026)
Parts pairing software restrictions (where a replacement part is electronically locked to a specific device) are prohibited for new product categories covered by the Directive

💡The Directive covers washing machines specifically under the Ecodesign Regulation scope. From July 2026, you cannot be refused spare parts for any washing machine covered under EU Ecodesign rules simply because you're using an independent repair shop.

The Environmental Case for Repair

Manufacturing a new washing machine produces approximately 300–500 kg of CO₂ equivalent (cradle-to-gate). The EU's own Life Cycle Assessment data shows that repairing a washing machine rather than replacing it saves an average of 180–400 kg CO₂e per event, depending on the machine's age and energy efficiency gap.

Modern A-rated washing machines use approximately 50–55 kWh per 100 cycles. Older B/C-rated machines may use 60–80 kWh. The energy difference is real but rarely offsets the carbon cost of manufacturing a new machine unless the old machine is more than 15 years old.

✅Rule of thumb: if the energy efficiency gap between your current machine and a new A-class model is less than 20 kWh per 100 cycles, the carbon savings from repair outweigh the efficiency gain for at least 8–10 years of continued use.

Step-by-Step: Making the Decision

Look up your machine's RepairScore at repairscore.eu/search
Get a repair quote from a local EU-authorised repair technician (you're entitled to a quote before committing)
Apply the 50% rule: compare the repair cost to the price of a comparable replacement
Adjust for age: if the machine is under 3 years old, assert your EU legal guarantee first, the manufacturer must fix or replace it free of charge
Adjust for RepairScore: if the score is above 70, favour repair even at 55–60% of replacement cost
Check the EU's Energy Label repairability class (the wrench icon A–G), an A-class machine is worth prioritising for repair
If you decide to repair: use RepairScore's Repair Shops finder to locate authorised EU repairers near you

Use the Repair-or-Replace Calculator

Most Repairable Washing Machines (Quick Reference)

If you're buying a new machine and want to avoid this decision in future, here are the top-scoring washing machines in our database:

Model	RepairScore	Notable repairability features
Miele W1 (series)	88/100	Miele's 20-year design life target; parts available for 15 years post-discontinuation
Bosch Serie 8 (WAV28)	82/100	EcoSilence motor with 10-year warranty; broad EU service network
AEG 9000 ProSteam	80/100	Electrolux group EU parts network; good iFixit documentation
Samsung WW11BB/WW9B series	74/100	Improved EU parts programme under Ecodesign rules; wide service coverage
LG FWV796WTSE	72/100	ThinQ platform with remote diagnostics; decent EU parts access

See the full washing machine ranking

FAQ

Is it worth repairing a washing machine that is 10 years old?

Yes, in most cases, especially if the fault is minor (pump, seal, valve) and costs under €150 to fix. A 10-year-old machine may have years of life left. Check the RepairScore to gauge parts availability and use the 50% rule. Under EU Ecodesign rules, manufacturers are required to provide spare parts for 10 years from when the model entered the market, so parts should still be available.

Who pays for the repair if my machine breaks under 2 years?

The manufacturer or seller does. Every product sold in the EU comes with a 2-year legal guarantee (in some countries this is longer, France offers 2 years from discovery, Belgium 2 years, the Netherlands 3 years in practice). If the machine breaks within 2 years of purchase, the seller must repair it, replace it, give you a price reduction, or issue a refund.

Can I repair my washing machine myself?

Yes. Washing machines are one of the more DIY-friendly home appliances, drum seals, pumps, door locks, and heater elements can often be replaced by a confident DIYer with basic tools. The EU Right to Repair Directive also requires manufacturers to make repair manuals available to consumers, not just technicians. Check your model's iFixit guide first.

How much does a washing machine repair cost in the EU?

Call-out + labour costs typically range from €60–€120 in Western Europe (Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium) to €40–€80 in Southern and Eastern Europe (Spain, Italy, Poland, Portugal). Parts costs vary by fault, see the fault table above. Budget €100–€300 total for a typical repair.