Solar Maintenance After Your RTO Ends: What Changes

Key Takeaways:
Once your Rent-to-Own (RTO) term ends, the system is fully yours, but GetSolar's free maintenance and performance guarantee end with it. Your panels themselves keep their 25-year performance warranty and 12–15 year product warranty regardless of ownership, and your inverter's 10-year warranty can often be extended for a few hundred ringgit if you apply before it expires.

If you're nearing the end of your 10-year Rent-to-Own plan, or you've just made your final payment, you're probably wondering what actually changes. Ownership transfers to you, but so does responsibility for upkeep. Here's exactly what stays covered, what you'll need to pay for, and what to check before your last instalment clears.

What Actually Changes the Day Your RTO Term Ends?

Ownership transfers to you immediately and your monthly auto-debit stops. From that point, the system is yours entirely.

The panels themselves are still young. Even after ten years, most systems are still producing in the region of 94-95% of their original output. You'll inherit a system with 15 years or more of useful life left.

For the full list of what's included while your contract is still active, see our breakdown of what GetSolar's RTO plan covers.

Do Your Panel and Inverter Warranties Still Apply After RTO Ends?

Yes. Manufacturer warranties are tied to the equipment, not to your contract with GetSolar, so they continue on their original schedule regardless of who owns the system.

That last row matters most. If your inverter's 10-year warranty and your 10-year RTO term end close together, check its expiry date before your final payment. For a full explainer on how these categories differ, see our guide to solar panel warranties in Malaysia.

Mini-takeaway: Your panels are protected for 12–25 years no matter who owns them. Your inverter is the one component worth double-checking.

What Happens to Free Maintenance and the Performance Guarantee?

Free maintenance and the performance guarantee are contract benefits, not tied to your hardware. They end with your final payment.

That means:

• No more scheduled preventive visits every 1 to 1.5 years from GetSolar
• No more free corrective repairs if a fault develops
• No more compensation if your system underperforms its guaranteed output

You can still request GetSolar to service the system after your term ends. The difference is you'll pay per visit instead of it being bundled into your monthly fee.

How Much Does Maintenance Cost Once You're on Your Own?

Expect to pay somewhere between RM500 and RM1,000 a year, covering a professional cleaning visit (RM150–RM300) and a periodic inspection (RM200–RM400). We break down the full cost structure, including what a typical visit actually covers, in our solar panel maintenance cost guide.

The bigger cost to plan for is inverter replacement, typically RM3,000–RM6,000, needed once every 12 to 15 years. If your original inverter warranty is still active when it fails, this cost may be covered.

Can You Extend Your Inverter Warranty Before It Expires?

Often, yes. Several inverter brands used across GetSolar installations allow homeowners to extend coverage beyond the standard 10 years, up to 20 years in some case. Fees can range typically between RM700 and RM1,500 depending on system size and the length of the extension.

These extensions usually need to be applied for at least a year before the original warranty expires. If your RTO term and your inverter warranty are both running out around year 10, this is worth actioning early.

RTO Term-End vs Early Buyout: Why the Difference Matters

Everything above describes what happens when you complete the full RTO term. If you choose to buy out early instead, free maintenance and the performance guarantee end immediately on the buyout date. Product warranties on the panels and inverter still carry over either way.

If you're still weighing a 5-year plan against a 10-year plan, or wondering whether an early buyout makes sense for your situation, our 5-year vs 10-year RTO comparison walks through the trade-offs in more depth.

For a deeper look at how the RTO model works end to end, see our complete Rent-to-Own guide.

Your System Doesn't Retire When Your RTO Does

Your system’s journey doesn't end when your Rent-to-Own term does. With at least 15 more years of clean energy savings ahead, spending RM500 to RM1,000 annually on maintenance is equivalent to paying just one month of a regular TNB bill.

Treating basic upkeep as a smart investment rather than an expense keeps the asset you now own delivering peak performance for decades to come.

Check out our free solar calculator to calculate your potential roof savings, or chat with the team on WhatsApp whenever you're ready.

FAQs

Do I need to do anything when my RTO term ends?
Not immediately. Ownership transfers automatically and your auto-debit stops. The one thing worth checking in advance is your inverter's warranty expiry date.

Will GetSolar still service my system after my RTO ends?
Yes, servicing is still available, but on a per-visit basis instead of being bundled into your monthly fee.

What warranty do I still have after 10 years?
Your panels keep their 25-year performance warranty and 12–15 year product warranty. Your inverter's 10-year warranty may be close to expiring, so check the date and consider an extension beforehand.

Is the performance guarantee gone completely once my RTO ends?
Yes. The performance guarantee is a contract benefit tied to your monthly payment, and it ends with your final payment, whether that's at natural term-end or an early buyout.

How do I extend my inverter warranty?
Contact GetSolar before the original warranty expires, ideally about a year ahead. Extensions typically cost RM700–RM1,500 depending on system size and coverage length.