Can you extend your car warranty?
A warranty is effectively an insurance policy that covers against damage to parts of a car. If it’s a new vehicle, buyers benefit from a manufacturer’s cover. That provides protection against faulty parts for at least three years, meaning that if anything goes wrong with the car as a result of faulty parts, it will be repaired at no cost to you.
It’s also possible to arrange similar cover on a used car, either through the dealership that sells the car, or by shopping around for the most appropriate policy.
Whether it’s a new or used car, what most people want to know is ‘can you extend your car warranty when it runs out?’ The good news is that it is possible to arrange replacement cover.
A warranty extension can provide essential cover as the car gets older and more likely to suffer faults, which can be a major concern. Although the price of an extended warranty can be a strain on the finances, it will still be a major comfort compared to what would happen if your car was off the road because you couldn’t afford to pay for repairs.
The types of extended warranty
When it comes to taking out extended car warranty, there are three options available. The first of these is to pay for an extension to the cover that came with the car. Manufacturers will provide protection with a new car. When that ends, it’s possible to pay a premium to arrange an extended warranty. You can do that before the manufacturer’s original cover runs out if you want to make sure there’s no gap in cover.
The second option is to buy the policy from the dealership that sold the vehicle. This is the most straightforward way to arrange the cover. It may not be an exact match for what’s on offer from the manufacturer, so it’s important to check the cover before signing up. However, that might not be the best deal. In many cases, it will be worth shopping around.
The third possibility is to use a comparison website or to contact various suppliers, either by visiting their websites, calling them or visiting their offices.
This type of policy may be cheaper than simply extending the manufacturer’s policy. However, as with any form of insurance, it’s crucial to ensure that the cover on offer is not only affordable but also provides the protection you need.
Whichever option you choose, there will be various options when it comes to deciding the period of the cover and what the warranty will pay for.
What will be covered?
A car has around 5,000 parts, so clearly there’s plenty that can go wrong. You won’t be surprising to learn that there is a higher likelihood of problems arising in an older car.
Budget is important, but opting for the cheapest option may be a false economy if the warranty excludes the parts that are most likely to break down.
It’s normally possible to decide the level of cover by adding in certain parts and excluding others. It’s important to be protected against the breakdown of big components that will be expensive to replace. That will normally mean ensuring that the items covered include the engine, transmission, suspension, steering and the electrics.
What factors will affect the cost?
Cover will only be valid if you don’t exceed an agreed mileage. Drive too many miles and the cover will no longer be applicable.
The age of the car is another important factor. With older vehicles, there is a higher risk of parts breaking down.
