Buying a new car is a responsibility and should be treated as such. Regardless of whether you are buying it for use or for a collection, you need to diligently ensure that your investment is protected at all time. Most people get caught up in the shopping and buying aspect rather than the maintenance aspects.
Not only is it important to regularly service your car and have the fluids changed, but it’s also necessary that you keep it, and yourself, protected in the long run. Wear and tear are inevitable and father time remains undefeated in all fights. This is why it’s important that your car has the right warranty to keep you protected from any unexpected repair costs or stress that goes with it.
While the standard warranty offered by your car manufacturer may seem generous, it doesn’t even come close to adequate protection. Today, we’ll be discussing these shortcomings and will analyze the advantages that extended warranties provide and whether they are able to offer the adequate coverage that one should expect when paying such a large amount of money for a car.
STANDARD WARRANTIES
Most car manufacturers will offer a standard warranty that provides coverage for 3 years or 36000 miles, whichever comes first. The first reason this would be inadequate is that most issues that pertain to the critical components of your car will pop up after the 5-year or 50000-mile mark. When you factor that such repairs usually cost in the thousands, you have an added reason as to why the standard warranty will not provide you protection from unexpected repairs and their costs.
EXTENDED WARRANTIES
By contrast, extended warranties provide coverage for at least 5 years or 50000 miles, whichever comes first. Some car manufacturers go beyond that threshold, but depending on the type of car, the extended warranty provides adequate coverage and protection, based on that specific car’s past statistics.
There are two types of extended warranties that you could look into. The first option is extended warranties offered by the car manufacturer itself. Depending on the manufacturer, these are based on different plans and coverage types. The second option is independent warranty providers.
Personally, we would advise that you opt for the car manufacturer’s own extended warranty options. The biggest reason for this is that under the car manufacturer’s coverage, you would have access to all service centers across the country, and are bound to get added benefits especially if you use the dealership you purchased the car and extended warranty from.
If you were to opt for an independent warranty provider, then you would be restricted to using mechanics and service centers that the provider has arrangements with. You have no way of knowing the level of skill and experience that any of these independent contractors possess and whether they would do a satisfactory job in your car.
DO I GET VALUE FOR MY MONEY WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY?
Let’s take an example of Audi motors. Most critical component parts start at the $2000 range and labor costs for such a brand will also be significantly higher than what you would find in the market. This would mean your repair bill would be in the thousands and it would most definitely be an unexpected cost, which means you first have to deal with the shock of such a large expense suddenly popping up.
If you were to opt for an extended warranty, you would be paying a nominal amount of money on a monthly basis, or even if you purchase out of pocket, you’ll definitely be paying a lot less than what it would take to repair your car out of pocket.
Even if your extended warranty costs $2000, then you’d be covered for the very first repair that you would need to get done. That alone should prove the value of purchasing an extended warranty. Value cannot solely be calculated on how much you can make or enjoy, but also on how much foreseeable expenses you can curtail and avoid in the long run. On this reasoning alone, the extended warranty is worth your dollar.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF EXTENDED WARRANTIES
First and foremost, with an extended warranty you would experience a level of convenience and ease that the standard warranty would not. All you need to do if your car is acting funny is to take it to your nearest dealership and then let them take care of the repairs. You won’t be seeing a bill for parts or labor, meaning you’re free from financial stress, which we all know is the worst kind of stress one can experience.
There’s also the added benefit of your car’s resale value significantly increasing as any potential buyer could rest assured of the fact that the vehicle he is about to purchase has been worked on by reliable personnel. However, this is mostly true if you opt for the car manufacturer’s extended warranty. Independent service providers just might even make your resale value go in the opposite direction. Car manufacturer extended warranties are also transferable, which factors into the increased resale value.
Also, if your car manufacturer is offering other services, such as towing and hotel and meal coverage, then you’re just getting added convenience and ease in your entire vehicle ownership experience.
OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER
If you’re still unsure, then you need to ask yourself some key questions regarding this entire arrangement. Are you on a fixed budget and can’t make extra payments? How well prepared are you for any unexpected repair costs that might pop up? Can you manage without a car if it were to be repaired independently, which is bound to take more time?
Depending on how you answer these questions and factoring in everything else we have discussed today, you will have to come to a decision yourself as to what step you wish to take.
CONCLUSION
As you can see from the above, the advantages of extended warranties are numerous and are bound to save you tons of stress and money in the process. To learn more about your warranty options, or other important car-related issues, head on over to chicmoto.com.
