8 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Motor Warranty

8 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Motor Warranty

Before buying an extended warranty insurance, ask the questions below to ensure you’re getting the best motor warranty. These questions help you avoid surprises and buried costs when purchasing a motor warranty. 

  1. Do I require a Motor Warranty?

An extended warranty insurance is most useful for vehicle owners not planning to sell their car before the expiry of the manufacturer’s warranty. Manufacturers often cover defective parts or mechanical breakdowns for a specific period. Insurance companies sometimes benefit by protecting items not offered by the manufacturer’s warranty, saving owners money if these parts fall through. And once the dealer’s warranty period lapses, cover from your Insurance company becomes effective. Your warranty only becomes beneficial if it gets used. The question is if you’re prepared to bear the many costs if something happens and you aren’t covered.

  1. What are the benefits of Extended Warranties?

They can cover many things, and the size of your cover will vary depending on the company you get it through. In addition, your cover is subject to the type of warranty you purchase. Warranties generally cover mechanical faults and mechanical defects, electrical faults, and electrical defects. The cover is usually specific to parts of your vehicle, such as the brakes, differential, engines and more internal damages. A Mechanical warranty won’t cover theft, accidents, maintenance, or service costs.

  1. How Long Will the Warranty Last?

The period of your cover will be mentioned in your policy. For example, it can depend on the car’s odometer reading and the age of your vehicle. Usually, warranties are valid for some years or until you reach a specific speedometer reading. For example, your producer warranty would cover your engine for the first five years or until your odometer reaches 250,000km. In addition, some options are better than others, such as unlimited warranties that protect you no matter how much you have driven or how high your odometer reading gets.

  1. How Much Will It Cost?

The price often relies on its brand, the age of your car, model, make, and more elements. To know how much a warranty could value, it’s best to compare quotes from different competitors. More substantial contracts generally cost more. The basic options often exclude required features but are usually more affordable.

  1. Who’s Backing the Policy?

Not all warranties are alike. A company that offers you one doesn’t mean they are reliable or reputable. However, you can avoid dodgy offers from companies that don’t pay out or stick to their contract with you.

Check the company’s ratings and have a thorough research. Doing this can help you choose whether the company is dependable enough to back the policy. 

  1. Are You Using Brand New or Second-hand Parts for Repairs?

Reconditioned parts aren’t harmful. Car owners may want only new features used in repairing their vehicle, but if a mechanic recommends a used or refurbished part, most respected warranty companies allow it. What’s vital here is checking whether your policy covers re-manufactured or “OEM” parts.

  1. What is Your Claims Process?

Claims processes play an essential role for any customer buying a warranty. You’ll want a service that pays out fast and is trustworthy. 

You can look at online rating sites to see how the company has benefited other customers. It’s also a grand scheme to choose a company with 24/7 helplines so you can get towed no matter what time of the day or night. 

  1. Where Will I be Responsible?

To maintain and check the validity of your warranty, you are expected to do certain things, such as regular maintenance. So, for example, it could be void if the oil hasn’t been changed at specific measures of kilometers. Sometimes, it could also become invalid when you do repairs and maintenance from someone who isn’t approved or if you fail to do maintenance at specific times. But, again, all these details will be in your motor warranty policy documents.

Skye Marshall

Ivy Skye Marshall: Ivy, a social justice reporter, covers human rights issues, social movements, and stories of community resilience.