Mechanical Protection is an optional service for eligible used-car transactions between private sellers in Spain. It is designed to provide support to the buyer in the event of certain mechanical breakdowns occurring after the sale. The service is provided and managed by our partner, NEAT Services. Wallapop helps sellers offer it in their car listings. Our partner, NEAT Services, is responsible for activating the service, reviewing claims, and making reimbursement decisions in accordance with the terms of service.
Choosing a car with “Mechanical Protection” can give you peace of mind after your purchase. If a specific breakdown occurs during the coverage period, this service can help you reduce unexpected repair costs by reimbursing approved parts and labor, up to the applicable limits.
What the service includes
Mechanical Protection starts only after valid buyer activation. Once activated, it lasts for 3 months and helps with certain covered mechanical breakdowns, subject to the service terms.
Protection duration: 3 months from successful activation.
Maximum reimbursement: up to €3,000 during the protection period.
High-voltage battery cap: up to €1,000 maximum.
Repair limit: maximum of 1 approved claim during the protection period.
Parts and labour: reimbursement may cover validated repair costs for eligible issues.
Coverage over time
The maximum amount depends on when the issue happens after activation.
| Time after activation | Maximum reimbursement amount |
| Week 1 | Up to €300 |
| Week 2 | Up to €750 |
| Weeks 3–4 | Up to €1,500 |
| Months 2–3 | Up to €3,000 |
The applicable limit depends on when the breakdown happens and whether the issue meets the service terms.
Parts and issues covered
Coverage is limited to parts and components expressly included in the service terms.
-
Engine internal covered parts: such as engine block, cylinder head, head gasket, crankshaft, camshaft, connecting rods, pistons, rings, valves, guides, hydraulic tappets, timing chain or belt with related tensioners and sprockets, oil pump, flywheel, internal gaskets and seals.
Peripheral accessories and components not expressly listed are excluded.
-
Gearbox: eligible internal gearbox components for manual or automatic systems:
Manual: casing, shafts, gears, synchronisers, internal bearings, internal forks, internal gaskets and seals.
Automatic: casing, planetary gear sets, torque converter, internal shafts, internal clutches and drums, hydraulic valve body, internal gaskets and seals.
Axle, transmission, and driveshafts: axle, differential, bevel gear, driveshafts, CV joints, internal bearings and housings, internal gaskets and seals.
Engine electronics: electronic components directly and exclusively linked to engine operation and essential for vehicle movement.
Cooling system: internal elements directly linked to engine cooling, excluding wear parts and peripherals.
Hybrid traction components: specific hybrid components directly linked to vehicle traction.
-
High-voltage battery: subject to a maximum cap of €1,000. This cap applies only in case of proven failure resulting in capacity loss below the manufacturer-defined minimum thresholds. Capacity must be measured by a qualified professional and documented. Diagnostic operations are not covered if no failure is found.
When does coverage apply and what is excluded?
NEAT Services only steps in if a breakdown meets all of the following conditions:
It results directly from an internal failure of an eligible part.
It causes the vehicle to be fully immobilized.
It makes it impossible to drive the vehicle safely and normally.
It reveals that the vehicle did not match, in an essential respect, the condition declared when the service was activated.
Additionally, the service does not cover:
Issues that existed or were identified before valid activation
Issues reported after the protection period ends
Vehicles that do not meet eligibility or activation conditions
Routine maintenance, wear and tear parts, or preventive repairs
Damage caused by accidents, misuse, improper use, external events, or natural disasters
Repair costs exceeding the applicable financial caps
Any component or scenario not expressly listed as covered in the service terms
How to activate the service after buying the car
If you bought a car that was sold with Mechanical Protection, you must activate the service so the 3-month protection can begin.
Get the activation link or QR code from the seller. The seller receives it from NEAT services after purchasing the service.
Open the NEAT services activation form using the link or QR code.
Complete the activation form and provide the required information.
Upload the required documents.
Submit the activation request and wait for confirmation from NEAT services.
You will usually need these documents to activate:
Purchase contract.
Vehicle registration document or permiso de circulación.
Identity document such as DNI, NIE, driving license, or passport.
The purchase contract should include buyer details, seller details, vehicle make and model, registration number, purchase price, and the date and time of signing.
Activation deadline: You must complete activation within 14 days after the car purchase. If this deadline is missed, late activation is generally not possible unless a technical issue is reviewed through the support path.
If your answers about the car condition do not match the seller’s declarations made when the service was purchased, activation may be rejected or the service may be void.
How to create a claim or repair request
If a covered mechanical breakdown happens after activation, NEAT manages the claim process.
Take the car to a mechanic or repair shop so the issue can be diagnosed.
Get a repair quote or invoice that describes the mechanical issue and cost.
Open the NEAT services claim form provided with your activation confirmation.
Submit the claim with the required documents, including the quote or invoice.
Wait for NEAT services to review timing, documents, coverage conditions, and repair cost.
If asked, complete the repair and send the final invoice so reimbursement can be processed if the claim is approved.
NEAT services may validate the quote, adjust it if the price seems too high compared with market rates, or reject it if the issue is not covered in service terms.
Important timelines
| Timeline | What it means |
| Within 14 days after the car purchase | The buyer must activate Mechanical Protection through NEAT services |
| From successful activation | The 3-month protection period starts |
| Week 1 after activation | Maximum reimbursement up to €300 |
| Week 2 after activation | Maximum reimbursement up to €750 |
| Weeks 3–4 after activation | Maximum reimbursement up to €1,500 |
| Months 2–3 after activation | Maximum reimbursement up to €3,000 |
FAQ
Is Mechanical Protection the same as Wallapop Protection?
No. They are different services. Mechanical Protection is an optional service for eligible C2C car transactions and is provided by NEAT services.
Who provides Mechanical Protection and who reviews claims?
NEAT services reviews activation, claim documentation, coverage conditions, and reimbursement decisions according to the service terms.
How many claims can I make?
The service allows a maximum of 1 approved claim during the 3 month Mechanical protection period. If a claim is rejected, another different claim may still be possible later if the protection is still active and the service terms allow it.
Can one claim include more than one issue?
Yes. If one mechanic quote includes more than one eligible issue, those issues can be submitted together in one claim. NEAT will review whether all submitted issues meet the service terms.
What should I do if I cannot activate the service on time because of a technical problem?
Contact Wallapop support immediately. Technical issues should be escalated quickly so NEAT can review the case. If the activation window is missed for other reasons, late activation is generally not possible.
Why does the seller buy Mechanical Protection instead of the buyer?
The service is designed so sellers can make eligible car listings more trustworthy and attractive before the sale. The seller purchases the service for the listing, and the buyer activates it after buying the car.
Which cars are eligible for Mechanical Protection?
Eligibility depends on car listing price from €5,000 to €100,000, private passenger vehicle , GVWR/MMA below 3.5 tonnes,
Some brands are excluded, including Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, McLaren, Rolls-Royce, Maybach, Porsche, and Infiniti.
How long does Mechanical Protection last?
The protection lasts 3 months from successful activation, subject to the service terms. The buyer must complete activation within the required activation window (14 days) after the car sale.
What is the maximum amount covered?
The maximum reimbursement is €3,000 for the full 3-month protection period, subject to the service terms, covered parts, claim validation, and progressive coverage limits. High-voltage battery non-conformity is capped separately at a maximum of €1,000.
How does progressive coverage work?
Coverage increases over time from the activation date. : week 1 up to €300, week 2 up to €750, weeks 3–4 up to €1,500, and months 2–3 up to €3,000.
What parts and issues are covered?
Coverage is limited to the parts and components expressly listed in the partner terms. Current covered areas include engine internal covered parts, gearbox, axle/transmission/driveshafts, engine electronics directly linked to engine operation, cooling system elements directly linked to engine cooling, hybrid components directly linked to vehicle traction, and high-voltage battery subject to a €1,000 cap.
Any part or component not expressly listed should be treated as excluded.
What is not covered?
Issues that existed or were identified before valid activation or after expiry, breakdowns not strictly related to expressly listed covered parts, claims above the applicable caps, routine maintenance, wear parts, preventive repairs, damage caused by an accident, external event, natural disaster, or improper vehicle use, and any element not expressly covered.
What documents do I need to activate the service?
The buyer usually needs the purchase contract, vehicle registration document or permiso de circulación, and an identity document such as DNI, NIE, or passport. The purchase contract should include buyer details, seller details, vehicle make/model/registration number, purchase price, and date and time of signing.
What should I do if a repaired issue happens again?
If the same issue happens again because the repair was not done correctly or the diagnosis was wrong, you should first check the repair shop’s guarantee for that repair. The mechanic or repair shop may be responsible for correcting a faulty repair.
What if the repair quote seems too high?
NEAT may compare the quote with average market prices for the same repair. Reimbursement may be limited to the validated average market price. The buyer can then decide whether to continue with the same mechanic, negotiate the price, or choose another repair shop.
Can I open a claim near the end of the 3 month protection period?
If the issue happens during the active coverage period, the buyer should report it as soon as possible through the NEAT claim path.