A guide to extended warranty for cars

An extended warranty is an agreement offered to consumers when they buy new items in addition to the ordinary warranties. An extended warranty can also be referred to as a service agreement, maintenance agreement or service contract. The warranty can be offered by its administrator, retailer or manufacturer of the product in question. The consumer pays extra for the warranty. In some cases, it is expressly stated in the contract that the buyer will have to deal with the manufacturer in the first year of purchase.

Car Warranties

Repairing your motor vehicle can cost you a lot of money. An extended car warranty can help you save a lot of money especially when it comes to repairs you had not planned for. Your vehicle is a very important investment that should be protected. A service contract should be secured before the normal warranty from the manufacturer expires.

Standard vehicle warranties

A standard car warranty guarantees that any defects in your car within a specified period of time will be fixed by the seller. The buyer has a right to enjoy the vehicle within the specified period without having unusual problems. Car manufacturers provide comprehensive warranties, although the warranty period will vary with the age of the vehicle and mileage.

Second-hand vehicles bought from licensed dealers also have warranties. The warranty issued also depends on the age of the vehicle and distance it has covered. In some situations, the warranty conditions are also affected by the price of the vehicle. The warranty period is specified among other conditions of the contract. Routine servicing of the vehicle is not covered by the standard warranty.

An extended warranty

This is an extension of the standard warranty for a given period of time. Service agreements are available for a number of products. The conditions applicable for each product are different. The service warranty for your vehicle should ideally cover a variety of problems including both mechanical and electrical. Roadside service may also be included in the contracts. Before you agree to the contract, it is necessary to read properly and understand it. You should get value for the money you pay.

How the warranty works

It is common for vehicles to develop problems when least expected. This can have very serious financial implications to you. Unless you have the funds for the repairs, your vehicle may have to be grounded for some time. This can be very inconveniencing. Having an extended warranty is insurance against possible major repair expenses in future.

You can arrange for the warranty at the time of purchasing the car. It can also be done afterwards but before the standard warranty expires. The extended warranty will take effect after the expiry of the standard guarantee. The two do not overlap and you pay only for the extension period.

Modern vehicles are complex. Their operations are computer aided to enhance performance. Consequently, repairing them is not easy. More time and sophisticated spare parts are required for the job. This pushes the cost of repairing a vehicle beyond the reach of many car owners. Your extended warranty will shield you from the financial burden resulting from your car failure.


Reasons for a maintenance agreement

- A maintenance agreement offers the car owner the following benefits.
 

- It protects your investment in the vehicle. When the agreement is in place, your vehicle is protected from a wide range of problems. You will not be required to make any extra payments to cater for the repairs.

- You will have peace mind in the knowledge that your car will be repaired again in case it develops serious problems. If you do not have the warranty, you can have serious financial problems.
 

- You can choose to pay for high or low kilometre cover.
 

- Payments can be made at your convenience. You can select a plan that suits your financial plans. You can either choose to pay the whole amount upfront or pay in instalments.
 

- In case you decide to sell the vehicle before the extended warranty expires, you can get a pro-rata refund of the remaining period of your cover. The warranty can also be transferred if you sell privately.

- You can select the roadside assist service you want. This is optional depending on what the car owner wants. Make sure the warranty suits your driving needs.


Carsfresh: Warrantywise, provider of the UK's Best Used Car Warranty, just revealed the Top 5 Most Expensive Repair Bills they paid for their customers in October 2014.

This is the very real cost associated with car repair bills, which could well put a dent in holiday plans or that home improvement you were hoping to undertake, if you don't have the protection in place.

Warrantywise offer you the opportunity to get a quote for your vehicle and have some special promotions running before the end of the month.


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