Car warranties provide motorists with a lot of reassurance, after all they are insurance products for a vehicle which can (and inevitably will) go wrong. They protect you from footing the bill of a surprise and often expensive repair costs as well as occasions when your car simply needs some TLC due to general wear and tear.
However there are some grey areas to be aware of regarding car warranties. Here, stockists of car radiators Advanced Radiators debunk the most common myths to ensure you don’t trip up when looking into these policies:
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1. You must have a car warranty: Whilst common, is not compulsory to have a car warranty. Usually new cars come with a standard warranty which lasts for three years and up to 60,000 miles. After this it is your decision whether you would like to purchase an additional car warranty, or if you are prepared to accept the risk of an unexpected repair bill.
2. You need car warranty to obtain finance for a vehicle:
This is untrue- you can obtain finance for a vehicle if you do not have car warranty, although some salesmen will try to convince you otherwise and sell you a warranty alongside your car as they often receive commision for doing so. Don’t get drawn in by sales pitches like this as having a car warranty is not mandatory.
3. There’s no need to do research because all car warranties are the same:
There are many car warranties out there and they all offer different things. Some warranties are more comprehensive than others so read the small print to find out what you’re actually covered for. When deciding what to go for consider things like the make and value of your car as well as how much driving you’re likely to be doing.
4. Car warranties can only be bought from the dealership where you bought your car:
There are many companies out there that offer car warranties at different prices and with different incentives. It is possible that the dealership from which you purchased your car may offer you a good deal, however you should still shop around and do your research to find a car warranty that will benefit you and your vehicle.
5. A full-service history is required to obtain warranty:
This isn’t true, you do not need to provide a full-service history to purchase a warranty, however you should ensure that your car is in good condition and has been looked after in accordance with the manufacturers schedule.
6. You don’t need to maintain your car if you have car warranty:
You are still responsible for the maintenance of your car even if it is covered by a car warranty. To keep on top of routine maintenance you should follow advice outlined in your driver’s manual.
7. Every problem with a car is covered by the warranty:
With a manufacturer warranty, or some comprehensive aftermarket warranties this is almost true, but there are always exceptions and exclusions – you should check the terms and conditions to know where you stand and make sure you read the small print before signing up.
8. Car warranty for wear and tear breakdowns and warranty for mechanical breakdowns fall under the same category:
Wear and tear refers to the normal degeneration of a car whereas mechanical breakdown is an issue that occurs due to a manufacturing error. Bear in mind that breakdown cover is not the same as a car warranty- breakdown cover will simply take your car to the garage – it will not pay for the bill you’ll be handed when the work is done.
9. It’s OK to take out warranty and then get a car fixed which had a fault beforehand:
You cannot claim for repairs on faults which occurred before you took the warranty out- your car should be in the best condition possible before taking out a warranty. You will find that many providers will not pay out on claims made within 90 days to avoid drivers taking out a warranty on a car that had existing problems.
10.There’s an age limit on cars to receive warranty:
It is true that if your car is over 10 years-old and has more than 100,000 miles on the clock you may struggle to find a warranty to cover it. There are a few companies out there that will offer car warranties to vehicles up to 12-years old but you will be faced with a higher cost and if your car is older than this then you may well find it impossible.
