Lets say you have a 2006 Ford Impala with more than 100,000 miles and you want to purchase an extended warranty for it. The search may not come too easily. Finding a reliable warranty provider may prove to be a challenging task due to mileage restrictions that some companies have on their policies, which can exclude high mileage vehicles. More and more companies do not extend coverage to vehicles that are already above a certain age range or mileage point. The reason is obvious: Warranty companies want to reduce their liability.
Factors that affect the price of the warranty
Doing your own research is necessary if you want to find the best extended auto warranty for your car, whether its old or new. Their prices greatly differ, and these prices are based on various factors.
· The amount of coverage you want in your policy
· The duration of the policy
· Who is selling the policy, i.e. auto dealerships, third-party companies
Types of coverage
1. Powertrain coverage. If there are any problems with the engine, transmission, and drivetrain, the warranty will shoulder the repair cost.
2. Powertrain plus major components coverage. For a warranty at a low price, you can insure only the major components of the vehicle.
3. Factory-like coverage. Not all companies offer this, but Auto Warranty One does. This covers majority of the parts in the vehicle, and is in the middle of having good coverage at still a reasonable price.
4. Comprehensive or bumper-to-bumper coverage. The best coverage there is (and also the most expensive), virtually every part of the vehicle is covered against breakdown. This means any repairs needed will be fixed or replaced, excluding a few items like general maintenance needs.
Secret list of noncovered vehicle extended warranty repairs
Unless you read the fine print of the policy, you may miss out the following repairs that are NOT covered by most warranty companies. Even if you purchased the bumper-to-bumper warranty, these repairs may still not be claimable. If any of these is going to be a problem, check with the insurance agent before signing a deal.
1. Any breakdown due to normal wear-and-tear. You can have it included by purchasing the wear-and-tear option but only up to a certain mileage restriction.
2. Any breakdown due to lack of proper fluid levels. Make sure to have the service technician check your engines fluid levels and keep a record of the inspection.
3. Any breakdown resulting from commercial-related activities. If you are using the vehicle for this purpose, you have to pay extra for the commercial rider.
4. Any breakdown due to failure to maintain your vehicle as recommended under the manufacturers specifications.
5. Any breakdown caused by towing a trailer that exceeds your vehicles recommended weight limit. You have to purchase the additional trailer-tow package to claim.
6. Any breakdown due to a pre-existing condition before the actual purchase of the vehicle. Make sure to fully inspect the vehicle for any problems as this may affect your claim.
Finding the best warranty
Before you see your auto dealer or warranty company agent, make sure to do your own research first. You can find many car owner reviews online, such as TopConsumerReviews.com, to help you compare the companies. Check your repair history and see what your most frequent cause of breakdown is. You can also add up the repair costs you have spent in the past without a warranty. If you paid $500 for out-of-warranty repairs, compare that to cost of the extended warranty. Also, as previously mentioned, an extended warranty has different tiers that have various prices and amounts of coverage. Read the fine print and highlight the items that are and arent covered.
