Are Those Extended Car Warranty Phone Calls A Scam
You may receive a phone call offering to sell you an extended car warranty, or even asking for payment to renew an extended car warranty you dont remember buying. Its a scam.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, auto warranty robocalls are the most common telephone scam in America. The agency receives more complaints about extended car warranty scams than about any other subject.
Simply put, never respond to a phone call about a car warranty unless you placed the call. Scammers may even know what type of vehicle you drive. In some states, that information is public and easy to obtain. But no reputable car warranty company will ever call you to offer you a plan.
How Much Does An Extended Warranty Cost
Unfortunately, its nearly impossible to determine the average cost of an extended car warranty. They can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per year.
Some of this variance is reasonable. Replacing common parts on a pricey European luxury car costs significantly more than replacing the same parts on a mainstream domestic car, for instance.
Some of this variance comes from unscrupulous providers overcharging for warranties of dubious value.
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What Is A Bumper
A bumper-to-bumper warranty includes comprehensive coverage for your car. It is also called a manufacturer or exclusionary warranty since some of the components are not covered by the deal. You can purchase this warranty for your new or used car.
This warranty covers most of the repairs, except for wear-and-tear. Here you can see items that are usually covered:
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Follow The Service Schedule Specified In Your Warranty
Most warranties require consumers to have their vehicles serviced at regular intervals. Make sure to follow this schedule otherwise your warranty may be voided.
Step 1: Service your car regularly. Have your car regularly serviced and be sure to use recommended products in your car.
Step 2: Keep your service records and receipts for all services. Having a folder specifically for these records is the best way to keep them in one place so that they will be easy to find if you need to present them when using your warranty for a repair.
- Note: Many warranties cover brand specific parts and products. However, it is illegal for a warranty company to deny a claim just because you decided to use a recycled part or aftermarket part . If the part was installed incorrectly, or malfunctions and damages another part of the car, then the warranty may be voided.
Does My Car Have An Extended Warranty Heres How To Check It
While new cars come with manufacturer warranties, also known as factory warranties, used cars are oftentimes sold with extended warranties to keep you protected in case of a sudden breakdown.
If you purchased your vehicle at a dealership, you may have been offered a vehicle service contract, or extended warranty. If you bought your car privately from an individual, its highly unlikely extended warranty coverage was discussed or included. However, if youre unsure on whether or not your car has an extended warranty in place, its worth checking sooner than later.
Follow the simple steps in this guide to get the answers you need.
Think your car may still be covered by the original manufacturer warranty?
You can check when the car was first purchased by doing a check on the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System website and then comparing with how old the vehicle is and checking the mileage on the odometer. Go to our post with details of different factory warranty lengths here for more information.
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Check The Mileage On Your Car
All major car manufacturers offer warranties for a certain number of years or mileage. You can typically look up the model of your car, as well as remind yourself for how long youve had it by looking at your owners manual. Also, check the odometer to determine how many miles your car has on it. The odometer can typically be found behind your steering wheel.
To look up information about your cars warranty based on the manufacturer and year of make, you can check out this link. By inputting the info for your car, youll be able to see if the warranty has expired.
Toyota Hybrid Limited Warranties
Starting with the 2020 model year, batteries in Toyota hybrid vehicles are covered by an 10-years or150,000-mile warranty from the factory. Coverage starts from the date of first use, and is subject tothe terms and conditions of your New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Other hybrid system components, including the HV battery, battery control module, hybrid control module and inverterwith converter are covered for 8-years or 100,000-miles, whichever occurs first.
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Three: Call Your Local Dealership
With your VIN number and mileage in hand, you have all the information you need to determine if your vehicles warranty is still active. Now, all you need to do is and inquire.
If you have a good working relationship with a particular dealer, start by giving them a call. Otherwise, any dealer for your manufacturer should be able to provide you with the information you need. So if you own a Ford truck, for example, any Ford dealership should be able to tell you if your trucks warranty status is active or not.
If you cant find a VIN number in worst-case scenarios, you may have to drive to the dealership. Even in this scenario, theyll have all the necessary information on-hand to assist you.
One place you should avoid using as an information source on warranties is your vehicles manual. The manual will typically have information about the warranty terms and conditions, which seems like a natural place to look. So why should you avoid doing this?
The problem with this practice is that the warranty becomes active on the date of purchase, not the manufacture date, and not the model year. Your used 2016 car may have been purchased in the fall of 2015, or it could have been sold a year later during a dealer sale. In this situation, a five-year warranty may expire in Fall 2020 or even as late as Fall 2021, depending on the terms and the actual date of purchase.
Are Scheduled Maintenance Services Covered By Warranty
No. You are responsible for properly using, maintaining, and caring for your Nissan as outlined in your owner’s manual and your Nissan Service and Maintenance Guide. Keep copies of all maintenance records and receipts for potential review by Nissan. Failure to do so could result in the denial of warranty coverage.
Evidence that required maintenance has been performed in connection with related warranty repairs should be kept as proof of such service. You can use our online Service Record Manager to help you keep track of routine maintenance, but keep copies of all maintenance receipts and records. There is also a convenient maintenance log in your Nissan Service and Maintenance Guide. We also keep vehicle history on service appointments at our Nissan dealership, which can be accessed via our online service scheduler. To learn more, contact our Service center at 875-9517.
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Factory Vs Cpo Warranties
One question that often comes up is whether a used car is covered by a factory warranty. Unless the original warranty hasnt expired yet, most used vehicles have no coverage. The only other exception is with certified pre-owned vehicles that come with some kind of new warranty coverage.
Almost all automakers have some kind of certified pre-owned program where they take slightly used vehicles, make sure they still work, and then sell them again with a new warranty.
This type of program is meant to give you more peace of mind about buying a used car. When you buy a used vehicle, its hard to know what condition its in or what issues it may have. There is always a chance that youre buying a vehicle that will require a lot of repairs to run.
Certified pre-owned programs eliminate the usual risks of buying used with the inspection process. Each automaker has a different inspection process, but almost all of them are thorough enough to check the most important systems of a vehicle.
Most CPO programs also limit eligible vehicles to ones that are a couple years old and that have a small number of miles on the engine. Better still, the CPO vehicle will also come with a new warranty that completely replaces the original factory coverage. This means you wont have to choose between a factory and CPO warranty. Instead:
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One Of The Best Features You Can Find In A Late Model Used Car Is A Factory Warranty That’s Still Active Learn How To Check The Car’s Warranty Status
Contents
If you have recently purchased a newer used car you may actually have a factory warranty still in place. For most vehicles, the factory warranty is a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty, but some like the Rolls Royce will cover four years and up to 999,999 miles for the first four years. Some cars will not allow the factory warranty to be transferred and some will charge a small transfer fee if the car is sold. This article will discuss how to know if your car has a factory warranty, how to know if you should buy a warranty, etc.
If Youre In The Market For A Used Car Youll Probably Want To Know What If Anything Might Be Covered By A Warranty In Case You Need Repairs In The Future
New cars typically come with manufacturer warranties. But if youre buying a used vehicle, its crucial to check if theres some sort of warranty and what it might cover. Youll want to examine any warranty closely to see whether its worth the extra cost, if its one youd have to purchase separately.
When we refer to used car warranties, we simply mean any kind of warranty you might get for a used car whether its backed by a manufacturer or dealer.
Buckle up as we examine some important things to know about used car warranties.
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Used Car Warranties What You Should Know
No doubt, it can be a bit trickier assessing a warranty on a used car. After, the factory warranty was previously in the name of the original or previous owner. In a situation like this, youll need to consider important factor such as:
- Is the existing factory warranty transferable?
- Does the used car dealer provide a warranty?
- Is the vehicle covered by a state-specific warranty?
Existing warranties on used cars will need to be transferred to the current owner to be of any use. In order to transfer the warranty, whomever name is on the warranty will have to write or contact the auto warranty company and inform them that the vehicle has been sold. The name of the new owner will be provided so that the warranty can be transferred. Lease transfers should take place within the first thirty days of ownership.
Some warranties are identified by the VIN or the car rather than the owners name so the warranty doesnt need to be transferred. However, some factory and dealership warranties are non-transferrable. Therefore, once the car is sold the warranty is voided.
Some states have a Used Vehicle Warranty law in place. This law requires that dealerships provide customers with a written warranty for any defects or faults that impair the vehicles safety. States that have this law are Massachusetts, New Jersey, Minnesota, and New Mexico.
Can You Service Your Car And Keep The Warranty
The short answer is yes. Under the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, it is against federal law for car dealers and warranty providers to deny a claim or void a warranty if a vehicle has been subjected to proper maintenance by the owner. The only case where a warranty claim can be denied in the case of DIY servicing is if the job was performed incorrectly such that it causes damage or malfunction to the vehicle.
This is why it is always recommended to consult a technician or check the manufacturers online guide if you are unsure of what oil, fluids, or lubricants to use. Timely maintenance is also essential to ensure that your vehicles warranty isnt void. If you neglect routine maintenance or fail to perform services such as oil changes or fuse replacement, your warranty claim may be denied and your warranty could be voided for pricier parts such as your cars powertrain.
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Extended Factory Warranty Tips
All new cars and trucks come with a factory warranty. Moreover, all new vehicles will generally come with a bumper-to-bumper warranty that lasts a minimum of 12 months or 12,000 miles. However, most manufacturers now offer bumper-to-bumper warranties that last for a minimum of three years or 36,000 milesâwhichever comes first. Federal laws do make certain requirements that must be met for new car warranties regarding emissions systems and the warranties that cover them. According to federal law, vehicles must provide warranty coverage for the emission system for a period of five years or 50,000 miles.
Warranty information for your vehicle will generally be listed in a manual type book similar in appearance to your owner’s manual. While all warranty manuals may appear similar in appearance, the warranty information contained inside may vary considerably depending upon the manufacturer.
Basic New Car Warranty InformationWith all new car warranties, most major systems and subsystems of a vehicle are covered for a specific period of time and provide warranty protection against malfunction or defect for most parts on a new car.
New Car Warranty and EmissionsWhen reviewing your new car warranty, you should pay particular attention to the emissions control section. This is the part that guarantees emissions performance for your vehicle.
Always make sure you familiarize yourself with maintenance requirements for your vehicle and you have routine maintenance performed.
Does My Car Have A Warranty Discover The Different Types
A useful place to start is understanding the different types of warranties and knowing which you have .
If you recently purchased a new vehicle, it most likely came with a factory warranty, also known as a manufacturer warranty. These usually cover the first 3 years or 36,000 miles, although they do vary and below weve included more details and information so you can check your period of cover. For drivers who own pre-owned vehicles, it may still have been under the original manufacturer warranty, or you might have purchased an extended warranty if one isnt in place.
An extended warranty, also known as a vehicle service contract, is much like a warranty and provides protection for your car once your manufacturer warranty expires. Theyre not exactly the same, and you can read more about how they differ here. A vehicle service contract provides cover for certain repairs or situations within a given period, and there may be terms you need to stick to, such as performing routine maintenance checks. You can purchase this sort of cover from the manufacturer or, more commonly, third-party providers. The term of these warranties varies and depends on what you select when you take out the cover plan.
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Carchex Extended Warranty Benefits
With five protection plan levels, CARCHEX offers customizable aftermarket care. Get basic powertrain coverage or a comprehensive bumper-to-bumper extended warranty. Either way, youll enjoy the benefits of choosing a CARCHEX warranty, including:
- 30-Day Money-Back GuaranteeIf youre not satisfied with your plan or if you change your mind after purchasing, you can get full reimbursement for up to 30 days.
- Flexible repair facility optionsWith an extended warranty from CARCHEX as opposed to a manufacturer warranty, you get to choose your repair shop, mechanics, and parts.
- 24/7 emergency roadside assistanceYou cant predict when your car will break down. Roadside assistance, rental car coverage, and towing reimbursement are included in all CARCHEX plans.
- Direct paymentsRather than waiting for reimbursement, CARCHEX pays the repair shop directly. This is ideal for any customer wanting to avoid out-of-pocket fees.
- Affordable payment plansWith extended warranty plans from CARCHEX, you can pay upfront or choose a monthly payment option. Deductibles can be as low as $0.
- Free quote availableYou dont have to wait to determine the cost of a protection plan. Simply fill out our online form and get a quote on your vehicle today.
With CARCHEX, you gain some peace of mind knowing youll be covered if anything happens after your manufacturer warranty ends. Our customer Horacio S. left us this review on the Better Business Bureau website in 2019:
