Warranties
Extended Vehicle Warranty Plans: Should You Get One?
A used car warranty can save you many thousands of dollars in repair costs depending on the type of warranty you purchase as well as the type of vehicle you’re covering. When buying an extended used car warranty, first and foremost you want to make sure you purchase it from a company with a good track record of service and who doesn’t often dispute claims. Like many other services, a warranty is only as good as the company it is purchased from. Last minute hassles are the worst thing to experience in a time of need - especially after you have spent good time and money putting in place the tools needed in avoiding these problems. A used car is an investment - a used car warranty is supposed to protect that investment.
How To Get A Used Car Warranty
Despite what many people think, a used car warranty can be purchased outside of your dealership and is not something that comes only from a manufacturer on delivery. Used car warranties are often purchased from aftermarket warranty companies and are pretty reasonably priced in comparison to some of the repair costs you’re likely to encounter with your used car. A used car warranty can generally be purchased between $800.00 and $1,800.00 (sometimes even less) depending on the amount of coverage you’re looking for and being good for a limited amount of time and/or vehicle mileage. Most companies offer a standard or power-train warranty which will cover most major repairs including your engine, transmission, rear-end, and other major mechanical devices - which is fine if you’re only worried about those major expenses. Other higher levels of coverage warranties can cover everything from electrical problems to a broken window. With the technology of today’s vehicles in which most electronic systems control much of what functions in newer vehicles, a full coverage warranty is a good idea . With most warranty companies you have the choice of what parts of the vehicle you would like covered by picking a choice of packages for your vehicle. Remember, full bumper to bumper coverage is recommended for newer vehicles or those made within the last 10 years, say 1998 and up.
How A Used Car Warranty Works
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When you have a used car warranty and an issue arises, many warranty companies (or at least the good ones) will allow you to bring the vehicle to the repair shop of your choice. Keep in mind some companies require you to go to a service station within their network. This is likely something you’ll want to check on in your contract or at purchase. Eitherway, the auto repair shop will inspect your vehicle and inform you of what repairs you’re looking at. The vehicle owner then needs to call in the warranty company and notify them of a claim. After you have notified the warranty company, most warranty companies will first discuss the repairs with the repair shop. If minor, they may authorize it over the phone - otherwise, they may send a representative down to inspect the vehicle. Most warranty companies will not send out an on site adjuster unless the vehicle has a record of excessive repair history or the repair is costly. Either way - this always depends on the situation, company you use, and is very much at the discretion of the warranty company. Most importantly, in most cases they will give an authorization to the repair shop which means you do not have to pay and get reimbursed. This is another reason why you want to be sure to select a well known warranty company as when you do, their likely to already have a relationship with the repair shop your visiting. This makes payment between the warranty company and repair all the more easier and keeps you out of the loop of the cost process.
Most important Part of Your Warranty Purchase
After you have chosen a good used car warranty company and choose the package that fits your needs and vehicle use habits, the purchase process will include a well defined contract detailing exactly what will and will not be covered under your plan. Do not wait till the last minute when a problem arises to read the coverage definitions and fine print of the contract. These contracts define just about every possible situation, types of parts used for replacement, and procedures for making claims. Finding a problem in the agreement will do you no good months later when you’re broken down and in need of immediate repairs. Make sure you read this document thoroughly before tucking it away in the glove compartment until it is needed as you should have at least 30 days to make changes or even cancel the policy if desired. Most warranty companies make their best dollars on customers that do not fully understand their coverage or do not follow through on repair claims.
Recommended Used Car Warranty Companies
UsedCarSavings.com refers all inquiries to our reputable used car warranty company and process these inquiries independently . Call (631) 587-7050 for more information.
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