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When the warranty that came with the car runs out, then what?

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When your car warranty runs out, then what?

When buying a vehicle, it typically has some sort of warranty connected to it. The warranty may vary in length and what it covers, but it protects a driver from spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on expensive fixes when caused by manufacturer defects. 


For any driver who is eyeballing their current warranty and sees it is set to expire soon, they need to take advantage of the current warranty and then consider looking into an extended vehicle warranty. Each driver needs to make their own decision, but understanding what an extended vehicle warranty can do and how to use it remains extremely important. 

Take the Car In Before the Warranty Runs Out

A vehicle warranty covers different elements of the vehicle. Usually all of this sits under the hood, but it does depend on the kind of vehicle driven and the warranty itself. Some vehicles have different warranties that run out at different year and mileage points.

Either way, it is a very good idea to take the vehicle in right before the warranty is set to expire. Not all problems are readily noticeable. Sometimes there might be a problem building under the hood but no apparent signs are displayed while driving.

Due to this, it is important to have the vehicle looked at. A problem might be detected that is still covered by the warranty. By catching it now, the warranty is still good and covers the associated expenses. 

Is an Extended Vehicle Warranty Right?

An extended vehicle warranty can be purchased after the buy date of the vehicle. With this extended warranty, it does become possible to increase the overall protection of the car.

Now, an extended vehicle warranty is not something that lasts forever. Like a regular manufacturer's warranty, it has an end point, whether it is years, mileage, or whichever one comes first.

It is important for a vehicle owner to determine if the new warranty is right. Essentially, they need to consider whether or not their vehicle is going to break down during the course of the extended warranty. Insurance covers accidents and repairs associated with this, so that is not at issue. What is at issue is something breaking on the vehicle due to age, wear and tear and just failing to work properly. 

What to Look For in an Extended Warranty?

So what points should be considered?

  • A driver needs to look at the vehicle they drive.
  • The cost of the vehicle.
  • The cost of the extended warranty.

With several years of driving under an owner's belt, if they have run into several different problems while driving the vehicle, purchasing an extended warranty may be smart. They can talk with the dealer about the manufacturers extended warranty or search for a third-party offering online. 

Now, if they have not yet had problems, it doesn't mean something might break on the next turn. Modern cars are built extremely well, but they are also more expensive to fix than older vehicles. Newer vehicles rely heavily on computer aided technology, and whenever a computer is involved, the repair cost tends to skyrocket (instead of replacing a built on a 90s car, it requires a belt and a computer chip, which drastically increases the cost).

Looking at the vehicle and doing some research on possible problems can help an owner determine if they should go for the warranty. According to Consumer Report, the average extended warranty sits at $1,200, with more for more expensive vehicles. If the potential repair costs exceed this price tag, it is a good idea to get the warranty. 


Click HERE to request a free quote from True Auto and find out how we can make you and your vehicle a priority. If your current warranty is about to expire, please consider True Auto for your future automobile extended warranty. 

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Topics: car warranty, Warranty, Best Extended Car Warranties, Auto Warranties, auto car warranty, vehicle warranty, auto warranties used cars, car warranty quote, used car warranty, extended warranty options, Insurance car warranty

Lemon Law: What You Need To Know from an extended warranty company

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Toyota Truck

 

 

When life gives you lemons, the common advice people give is to make lemonade. However, when it comes to automobiles and other consumer items that turn out to be lemons, the result may not be so sweet. If you have purchased a defective car or other product that is not functioning properly, you may have heard of the “lemon law” and wondered if you could get an explanation about it might protect you as a consumer.

 

Lemon laws are federal and state statutes that fall under the category of consumer protection laws. Each state sets up its own lemon laws, which vary in the ways that they are set up to protect people. In order to qualify, the car typically must have a major defect while still under warranty coverage and that cannot be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts. For example, your car might be considered a lemon if it failed within the first two years or 24,000 miles and has been in the repair shop for 30 days out of a year. Consumers with cars that qualify are subject to getting a refund or a replacement vehicle.

 

Basically, the lemon law covers three aspects of consumer protection. First, the law will specify what types of vehicles are covered, such as motorcycles, mobile homes or cars. Second it will note the period of coverage, such as a certain number of years or the number of miles on the vehicle’s odometer. Third, the lemon law specifies how many times you have tried to get the car repaired and how long it was out of service during these repairs.

 

If you think that your car is a lemon, contact the attorney general’s office for your state to see if your particular situation is covered under the law. If your state’s lemon laws do not apply to your vehicle, you may be afforded protection under the national lemon law, also known as the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act.

 

You will need to make detailed records of the types of repairs you attempted to make, and how long the vehicle was unavailable for you to operate. Contact the manufacturer or your dealer and mention that you are thinking of using the lemon law to make a claim on the car. If you cannot get satisfaction from the dealer or manufacturer, it’s prudent to contact a lemon law lawyer to assist you.

 

It can be frustrating trying to deal with a lemon car, with the time and effort you make to try to get it fixed as well as having to arrange for alternative transportation while the car is in the shop. Fortunately, the lemon law is designed to minimize the hassle and get you back on the road with a replacement car or a refund to buy another vehicle yourself.

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Topics: Best Extended Car Warranties, Auto Warranties, auto extended warranty, extended auto warranty, vehicle warranty, automobile warranty, car warranty quote, used car warranty

How Much Should I Pay For Extended Warranty? - PriusChat Forums

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happy familyWhen getting your car extended warranty, you are going to want to ask yourself a few questions, namely: How old is my car? Does it have manufacturer warranty on it? How long am I planning to have the vehicle? Lastly, how much wear and tear am I going to see on this car?

How you answer will tell you how much you specifically are going to want to, and should, pay for your car’s extended warranty.

Now, the lower the mileage on your car, the lower the cost of warranty. As you use a car, the warranty price will go up, and the manufacturer warranty will run out. So, always check for manufacturer warranty. Usually it will cover the first 3 years or 36,000 miles. Buying an extended warranty is for the purpose of extending the duration of that warranty, or for getting additional coverage. Some vehicles will have great manufacturer warranty, others will cover the bare minimum, like faulty parts. Look for exclusionary policies that give you short list of what they don’t cover, as that means the cover everything else.

If you plan on holding on to the car for say 2-3 years, and the manufacturer’s warranty is pretty decent, you might be set. If you do get extended warranty, make sure to check if the warranty can be transferred.

The length of time you might foreseeably be holding on to your vehicle will also tell you how much wear and tear you might see happening. Good extended warranty should cover you for this.

When shopping around for your car’s extended warranty, you’re going to be looking for a) an exclusionary policy, b) one that has nationwide coverage where you to choose where you go (and lets you pay directly to the repairer), and c) says who covers additional expenses like time and labor costs of the repairer. Buying warranty through your dealership might not be the best, as they often are just in-between sales persons.

The Toyota Prius, being a hybrid, can start adding up in out-of-pocket expenses once your 3-year manufacturer warranty runs out. Get it covered before that happens. As with all things, you do get what you pay for, and so you’re going to have to weigh what you really need covered, versus excess stuff. $2200-$3
000 is certainly reasonable for a 7-8 year warranty, especially if you get roadside assistance and car rental reimbursement.

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Topics: car extended warranty, Best Extended Car Warranties, automobile warranty

5 Extended Warranty Tips

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 Auto Warranty

The average new car costs over $25,600. With that cost, owner expect trouble free operation and longer vehicle life. So why are many turning to extended warranty plans? The answer is simple:they want to protect their investment. Here are a few simple tips you should keep in mind when considering an extended warranty.

1. Decide Whether You Really Need It

Most Manufactuers offer at least 3-year/36,00 mile bumper-to-bumper protection on their new products. In addition, many offer extended warranty coverage on engine and powertrain components and limited warranties on certified used cars. In most cases, these plans offer consumers excellent protection. However, if you drive more than 12,000 miles per year or plan to keep your vehicle for a long time, then an extended service plan might offer the kind of security you are looking for. 

Keep in mind it is less expensive to purchase the plan while the vehicle is still covered by the manufactuer's warranty. 

2. Choose a Provider

There are three basic organizations that offer extended warranties; automobile manufacturers, new and used car dealerships, and independent companies or third parties. As usual, it is up to the consumer to decide which is best for their circumstances, but here are a few of the pros and cons of each:

Manufacturer

  • Pros: Factory-backed dealer repair network nationwide. No haggling about repair,price, or components.
  • Cons: Highest upfrnt costs, and dealer network might be limited in your area.
Dealer
  • Pros: Lower up-front cost:but plan and service car at same place.
  • Cons:Usually only one service point. If they can't fix it, who do you call?
Independent
  • Pros: Lowest cost (usually between 30-50 percent less than manufacturer plan), most coverage choices, dealers, or local repair shops. Third-party warranty programs are usually their only business.
  • Cons: shop coverage might not be as promised. Some are 'here today, gone tomorrow" companies.
3. Know What to Watch Out For
Signs of a good plan:
  • Corporate credit card to pay for services
  • ability to choose dealership or independent repair shop
  • Warranty is transferable
  • Trip-interruption coverage
  • Free loaner car
  • BBB certified
Signs of a bad plan:
  • Out of pocket to cover repairs
  • Specific caps on repair costs
  • Large number of exclusions
  • Dealership pressure to purchase plan
  • Non-transferable
  • Company lacking strong track record of customer satisfaction
4. Select the Right Plan

Do you want bumper to bumper coverage? This is the most expensive up front option, but it offers the most coverage.
Selecting higher per-repair deductibles can decreases the initial cost of the plan, but if your vehicle ends up being trouble-prone, it can be more expensive  in the long run.
Read the fine print of the plan. What is covered and what isn't? Where can you have the repairs performed? Do you have to pay cash up front for the repair? Each plan/provider is different. Make sure the plan you select is right for your needs.
Some plans offer perks like roadside assistance, car rental reinbursment, and travel expenses, such as food and lodging, if your vehicle becomes disabled while you are on a trip. These services can come in handy if you travel for business or commute long distances to work.
Finally, call the customer service number. See how long the wait time is before you talk to a claims adjuster. Note their demeanor and willingness to discuss the plan.
5. Know the Bottom Line
Like all services, you get what you pay for in extended warranties. If you look for the most inexpensive plan out there, you probably aren't getting the coverage you need. But paying more isn't necessarily better. You have to read the fine print, make sure your needs are met, and feel confident that the plan will be there to protect you when repairs arise.
Click me
Bilek, Mark. "5 Extended Warranty Tips" 21 October 2005. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://auto.howstuffworks.com/buying-selling/cg-extended-warranty-tips.htm> 11 September 2012.
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Topics: extended car warranty companies, Warranty, Best Extended Car Warranties, Auto Warranties, auto extended warranty, auto car warranty, extended auto warranty, vehicle warranty, extended car warranty

Toyota recalls inspire regulations to standardize push-button ignition

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describe the imageLast year, Toyota had to recall 2.3 million vehicles for an issue that caused accelerator pedals to get stuck, leading to sudden unintended acceleration. Popular Mechanics reports that this problem caused a number of accidents, but while the issue has been handled, unintended acceleration can be caused by any number of things - such as defective throttle cables, cruise controls or even floor mats.

A new rule recently proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests that all vehicles equipped with push-button ignitions should be standardized so drivers will be able to easily turn off their vehicles in the event that their vehicles are accelerating unintentionally or if they leave the engine on, according to Bloomberg.

"At issue are drivers' inability to stop a moving vehicle in a panic situation, and drivers who unintentionally leave the vehicle without the transmission being 'locked in park,' or with the engine still running, increasing the chances of vehicle rollaway or carbon monoxide poisoning in an enclosed area," the regulator said in the proposal, the news publication reported.

The rule sets out to standardize the amount of time a driver must hold down a push-button ignition to disengage the engine. Even if the proposal becomes law, drivers will still be at risk of accidents, which is why it can be wise to purchase an extended car warranty/VSC. This way, drivers won't have to worry about the cost of repairs should they get into a car wreck.

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Topics: Best Extended Car Warranties, auto extended warranty, extended car warranty, automobile warranty

What are the Best Extended Car Warranties

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describe the imageYou have decided that an extended warranty (or vehicle service contract) is needed for your vehicle, so now is the time to find the right company to take care of you.  So... What are the Best Extended Car Warranties and from whom do they come from?

First, you want to make sure that the extended warranty that you purchase has a few necessities.  In fact, all of the best extended car warranties have the following features:

1. They cover "wear and tear" - This seems like a guarantee, but many companies will not cover a covered component if it "wears out". 

2. It is with a nationally recognized administrator.  This simply means that the dealership that you take your vehicle to knows who they are and have worked with them in the past.

3. There is a solid insurance company standing behind the policy to insure that your claims will be handled and you will get taken care of no matter who goes out of business.

4. There are no "hidden" cancellation fees.  Some dealers will hide undue cancel fees in the contract that are not warranted or fair.

 

To get a quote on one of the best extended car warranties from a company that has all of these features and more, just click here.

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Topics: Warranty, Best Extended Car Warranties, Auto Warranties

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