Why Get an Auto Warranty?

Consumers sometimes attempt to save a few bucks by denying themselves some of the extras that come with purchasing new items. An auto warranty is not an area where this money-saving tactic should be employed. While new cars oftentimes come with a warranty as a standard feature, used car lots will sometimes include a warranty for an extra charge. Especially when one is dealing with a used vehicle, the car warranty should always be taken. The amount of money it can potentially save the consumer can be significant and can keep the car owner on the road.

Most auto warranties are specific in the areas of the vehicle they cover and to what extent. Two popular extended auto warranty types are drive train warranties and engine warranties. These may cover both parts and labor or one or the other. Of course, a warranty that covers both is best. The drive train is a particularly expensive set of devices to repair and, when it fails, there is little that can be done other than to have the work performed as soon as possible as these problems tend to get worse if left unattended and can render the vehicle useless.

An auto warranty for a new car will usually be offered in terms of either a certain amount of time or a certain amount of miles. For example, there may be a 12 month, 75,000 mile warranty on an new automobile’s drive train. These initial months and miles are the period where the vehicle will be “broken in” and this is the time when any flaws in the manufacture are most likely to manifest. With a used car, the terms will generally be more restrictive but will still be very useful toward cutting the potential expenses of the vehicle.

Some warranties, the best ones, cover minor maintenance. These may be offered by the dealer as a way to keep the customer’s repair business after the vehicle is in the owner’s hands and on the road. Dealers tend to be more expensive than regular mechanics but they also benefit from having the right parts and equipment on hand to deal with the vehicle in the fashion recommended by the manufacturer. Getting dealer servicing done under the terms of a warranty can easily save thousands of dollars for a slight increase in the initial price of the car, well-worth the extra money spent.