Having an extended warranty for used cars is the best protection a person can have against costly repairs.

There is more a person can do to minimize the need for repairs to their used vehicle and possible extend its life and raise its value. In addition to having an extended warranty, regular maintenance is essential to the vehicle’s longevity and in keeping it out of the repair shop.

Extended warranties and regular maintenance are essential for longevity

Following these steps to keep a car, truck, or SUV running its best:

• Avoid aggressive driving like slamming down on the gas to accelerate and hard braking. This will extend the life of the brakes, suspension, tires, transmission, and engine.

• Avoid driving in city traffic and for very short distances as much as possible. This extends the life of the brakes, transmission, and the engine.

• Keep the vehicles exterior and paint clean by regularly washing and waxing the vehicle. Removing pollution, sludge, and road salt will prevent rust and the corrosion of metal parts.

• Use seat covers and floor mats, condition leather seats, and keep your interior clean. Doing so prevents wear and tear and extends the life of the vehicle’s interior.

• Add thousands of miles to the life of the vehicle’s tires by keeping them properly inflated and rotating them regularly.

• Change the oil and filter in the vehicle according to the vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedule. This can add years and thousands of miles to the life of the vehicle’s engine. *This is possible the most important maintenance task.  

• Replace the vehicle’s thermostat and change the engine’s coolant based on the vehicle’s maintenance schedule. Doing this improves the vehicle’s performance, prevents overheating, and extends the life of the cooling system and engine.

• Change the vehicle’s transmission fluid and filter regularly based on the recommended service intervals. This extends the life of the transmission.

• Regularly replace the air filter, drive belts, and the spark plugs to improve the vehicle’s gas mileage and extend the life of the exhaust system and the engine.

• Replace the water pump and the timing belt based on the vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedule. This helps prevent damage to the engine’s internal components and prevents overheating while improving engine performance.

Even the most rigorous preventative maintenance schedule cannot prevent all repairs. Vehicle owners should have an extended warranty for used cars to help mitigate the cost of unexpected repairs. 

Having a vehicle break down can be inconvenient and expensive.  Auto warranty companies, such as True Auto Protection, provide a sense of security from such expenses but one should keep their vehicle in peak operating condition.  By doing so, potential problems may be spotted early and actions taken to prevent more costly repairs.

How to Make Your Vehicle Serviceable:

1. The Service Manual is Your Guide

A vehicle's service manual can be a valuable resource to obtain information.   Drivers can learn about the individual manufacturers' recommended service intervals, when parts such as wipers and brakes should be replaced and about the vehicle warning alerts.

Reading the service manual can be of assistance in planning for the cost of repairs and general maintenance. 

2. Watch the Dashboard

Drivers should never ignore the warning lights on the dashboard.   They can be the first indicators of trouble with the car.   Taking action when the lights appear may initially cost money.  But it is important to know that spending this money now can prevent much more expensive repairs at a later time.

3. Know The Timing Belt

The timing belt is a major engine component.   If it malfunctions, there can be serious, expensive damage to the vehicle's engine.   Depending on the type of car, replacing the timing belt can and will differ.   Check the service manual or research online to tell how the timing belt is going bad, or how the timing belt should be replaced.

4. Monitor the Tires

Tires play a significant role in vehicle performance and safety.   Drivers must ensure their tires have sufficient tread and are properly inflated to the manufacturers' recommendations. They should also be aware of the tires expected usable mileage.   Once the tires have exceeded this limit, they should be replaced.  

Take the average miles driven to calculate the remaining tread life for tires.   Doing so can help the driver budget their funds for tire replacement.

5. Drive Sensibly

While this may seem like common sense, it should be noted.    Do not make sudden starts or "burn rubber" upon acceleration.   Do braking gradually when stopping the vehicle.  Do not overload the vehicle with cargo beyond the recommended levels.

Drivers who take the time to learn about their vehicle and drive rationally can save money on costly, unnecessary repairs.   They can enjoy years of service from their vehicle.  

For drivers who are tougher on their vehicles, an Extended Warranty might be a wise investment.   Often times, extended warranty companies cover new and used vehicles; not to mention all makes and models -Acura, Chevrolet and Dodge, as well as Hyundai and more. 

How exactly do you go about pricing a new-to-you used car?

Nothing beats the feeling of driving away in a new car. Even if the vehicle is technically used, when new to you, it offers an entire world of new opportunities. But how should someone price a new to them used vehicle? After all, it is not like going directly to the car manufacturer's website and pricing a vehicle before heading out to the dealership. Buying a used car requires a bit more investigating, but it also lends itself to helping car buyers save a considerable amount of money. 

Tracking Down the Right Vehicle

When shopping for a used vehicle, it is important to take note of having an idea for what kind of vehicle make and model you want. Do your research through services like Consumer Report and other vehicle review websites in order to determine what vehicles run into the fewest problems. Some vehicles are constructed to last a very long time, while others are designed more to impress immediately, but don't necessarily have a very long shelf life. For someone on the market for a used truck, they should look up how used Fords, Chevys, Toyotas and others fair over an extended period of time. This way, it is less likely the person will need to spring for expensive repairs immediately upon buying the truck (or shortly after). 

Once someone starts looking at the vehicle style they are interested it, they need to write down all of the general specs of the vehicle when one interests them. This doesn't just include the make, model and year, but also trim variations and any added upgrades. They should look at the tires to see if these need to be replaced soon. Also, they should take note if the wheels are steel or aluminum. Steel wheels are far less valuable than the aluminum wheels. Once all of this information is obtained, they can plug it into a service such as Kelly Blue Book. KBB provides some of the most accurate pricing information on used vehicles. Here, the individual simply needs to plug in all of their findings, note any damages or upgrades and if they are buying from a dealer or independent seller. This way, they are able to come up with what the average vehicle is going for. 

Get the Car Fax

If the price is right and a potential buyer has found a lone vehicle they are interested in, it is time to check the Car Fax. To obtain this information, the VIN is required. The VIN can be found on several areas of the vehicle, ranging from the lower driver's corner of the windshield to the interior, driver's door panel or the glove box. The VIN records all work the vehicle has received, accidents and other possible problems. If the vehicle has seen a large number of drivers over a short period of time, it might reflect serious problems under the hood. It does cost money to obtain the Car Fax, but it is always a good decision before purchasing a vehicle as it gives the best idea at what it should cost.

Buying From a Dealer or Independent Seller

There are pros and cons with each. When buying from a dealer the vehicle is going to cost more, but usually comes with some sort of vehicle warranty. Typically there are fewer potential problems connected with the vehicle. On the other hand, an independent seller can offer a better price, but there is no warranty and there is always the problem of an expensive repair down the road. Always have the vehicle inspected when buying from independent sellers. 

If you are looking for a company that specializes in Automobile Extended Warranties, look no further than True Auto Vehicle Breakdown Protection. Coverage plans will protect your new, used and new-to-you used vehicle.  

Water Damage

Auto warranties are an important part of life. In fact, they're more-or-less required of manufacturers and dealerships, though that hasn't stopped independent companies from jumping in and helping. Here are the most important things to know about what the best auto warranty companies.

They Offer Clear Terms of Agreement

Nobody wants to have a breakdown and find out that a tiny sub-clause deep in the fine print means that the failure of the part wasn't covered and they're out of luck. Unfortunately, this is exactly what some predatory warranty groups will do. The best auto warranty companies will offer you clear, straightforward terms of agreement that lay down exactly what the warranty does and does not cover.

However, it's also important to keep in mind that lack of coverage from a company doesn't necessarily mean a lack of protection for the vehicle - many repair shops, for example, will offer a warranty on the work they do and take responsibility if something goes wrong.

They Make Payments to Mechanics Easy

Perhaps it's been a tough month, and everything seems to be going wrong at the same time. Then a call is made saying that the mechanic doing that two thousand dollar fix needs to be paid up-front, with reimbursement to be made at an unspecified date in the future. Well, that would be nice if all the bills hadn't dropped the bank account to just two hundred dollars...

This type of scenario isn't offering peace of mind or protection - which is why the best auto warranty companies specifically avoid it. Instead, they provide payments directly to the mechanics in order to ensure that you get the help you need. Anything less just isn't acceptable.

They Offer Plans to Fit Your Budget

Most extended warranty plans are fairly straightforward - the more you pay, the better your coverage. However, many people either can't or won't pay for truly comprehensive coverage, so it's important to have many other options available. The best auto warranty companies will have the following plans available:

• The Basics: This type of plan covers the parts most likely to wear out and need replacement - brakes, transmission, and so on. It may not cover the nicest aspects of a car, such as a high-quality surround sound system, but it will ensure that the vehicle can keep running and get where it needs to be. This is usually one of the most affordable options available.
• The Complete Package: These plans cover just about everything within the vehicle. There are some parts that extended coverage plans won't offer a warranty for - many of these parts either have warranties of their own or are both likely to fail and not a major component of the vehicle. Still, this does offer peace of mind.
• The Choose-Your-Own-Care Plan: As the name implies, this is a type of plan that provides a warranty for certain parts within the vehicle - as chosen by the person buying the coverage. These plans can be a bit risky if something goes wrong and they don't cover it, but they do serve as a good option for people who understand vehicles and perform maintenance themselves. In other words, it's a plan for experts - or those who have the advice of an expert, at least.

The Best Auto Warranty Companies Serve You

You are the customer - not the mechanic's shop, not a parts supplier, and not a vehicle dealership. Therefore, it's only right that the best auto warranty companies focus on helping you and meeting your needs - and that's why True Auto offers straightforward, comprehensive, and affordable coverage to protects your vehicle.

When a manufacturer’s warranty begins to near its expiration time, Chevrolet owners preserve their peace of mind by purchasing a Chevrolet extended warranty for their vehicles.  While an auto insurance policy protects you from the expense of car repairs if you should experience an accident, an extended warranty protects your wallet in the event of an unexpected mechanical failure even when there has not been an accident.  Extended warranties are also known as extended service agreements.

When do I most need a Chevrolet extended warranty?

All new vehicles come with a warranty that is guaranteed by the manufacturer for typically three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. During this time the auto manufacturer is responsible in case of mechanical failure.  However, new vehicles are least liable to break down during this time frame. It’s after the manufacturer’s warranty expiration time when mechanical failures most often occur, leaving the vehicle owner responsible for out-of-pocket costly repairs.

What does an extended warranty do?

A Chevrolet extended warranty gives you extra protection past when the manufacture's warranty expires and protects you from the high cost of repairs when a vehicle is most apt to fail. Automotive repairs are expensive any way we look at it, costing upwards of $70 to $150 dollars per hour and that's not even including parts.  Nor do vehicle failures wait until we can afford to pay for them, leaving us hard-pressed to pay for repairs when breakdowns occur.  A Chevrolet extended warranty saves thousands of dollars in service costs, and preserve vehicle owners from the inconvenience of having their cars and trucks off the road until they can afford repairs.

How do I get a warranty? Are they expensive?

Many new car dealers offer extended warranties right off the lot, but a dealership is not the only place a Chevrolet extended warranty can be purchased. You can browse and purchase various extended warranty options online.  You don’t have to wait for your current manufacturer warranty to expire either.  Nor does a Chevrolet extended warranty have to be expensive. Even an economical warranty covers major vehicle components—the ones most expensive to repair—like engine, transmission, and drive train.  Depending on what coverage you choose, the electrical system and other components can be included in the warranty, too.

Can I get an extended warranty for my used Chevy?

Absolutely.  Buying a used vehicle is sometimes an uncertain proposition and an extended warranty also offers peace of mind to used automobile owners, too.  However, there are some limitations to how long a vehicle may be reasonably covered under an extended service agreement. That is based on the actual age of the car, not how long you’ve owned it.

Anymore tips on purchasing Chevrolet extended warranty?

• Make sure you know who will be taking and administering your claim. It’s not always the company that sold you the extended warranty.
• Your warranty should be exclusionary and detail what is not covered rather than listing all the components that are. Then you know exactly what is covered before your vehicle needs repairs.
• Decide if you need car rental expenses while you’re vehicle is being repaired and check to make sure your extended warranty covers car rental costs.

At the very least, an extended service agreement will provide engine, transmission, and drive train coverage. If you prefer more coverage beyond that, purchasing a Chevrolet extended warranty means you have control over the coverage options you want.  From there you can build a comprehensive extended warranty based on your needs and budget that provides you with optimal peace of mind in the event of unexpected breakdowns.  

You know the feeling.  Something about your vehicles broken so you have to take it into the dealership for repairs.  And call up to the garage feel that sinking feeling.  That feeling is fear.  You know that something is wrong with your car, and you know you're going to have to pay for the repair bills.  You just don't want to get taken advantage of.

What to Look For in a Mechanic:

1. Be prepared - the first thing you want to do is to call around to a few repair shops or dealerships and ask for their labor rate.  You would be surprised at the difference one dealership charges over another for their mechanics Labor rates. Next, look the dealership up on yelp. You're looking for reviews that stand out.  For instance, if the dealership has several reviews that state the customers were taking advantage of in the repair shop, then you have a red flag as that is a dealership to avoid.  If you have a dealership that you are dead set on going to, But there are other dealerships with a lower labor rate then ask your dealership if they can match that Labor rate.

2.  don't self diagnose your vehicle - tell the service advisor what the symptoms are but don't tell them what you think is wrong. If you say you think it is the alternator, then that gives them the opportunity to charge you for a new alternator even though nothing is wrong with it.

3.  if it is a major repair with a major price tag then don't be afraid to get a second opinion.  We have seen thousands of dollars shaved off a repair bill simply by taking it to another repair facility to get a second opinion.  
4.  always get your repair estimate in writing for you agree for them to perform the work.  When you have the repair estimate in writing you're able to do research on the cost of the parts. This knowledge gives you a leg up if you need to negotiate.  It also provides you with the document that proves you only approved the work on the estimate.  Sometimes repair facilities Will give you an estimate over the phone charge you for the price on the estimate but don't always perform all of the work.  In these cases and estimate that is written protects you.

5. test drive the vehicle before you pay.  In our research only 5% of people test that drive their vehicle after the repair is performed.  You have a lot more leverage with the repair center if the vehicle isn't prepared to your satisfaction when you test drive the vehicle before you pay.