Every new or certified pre-owned vehicle comes with a manufacturer’s warranty, which enables you to repair or replace your vehicle’s parts without having to incur the costs. It is essentially a promise from your manufacturer or dealership to be responsible for any defects on your vehicle over a certain period of time and within a given mileage. Every dealership or vehicle manufacturer has unique warranty offerings and validity. When buying a vehicle, ensure you understand the terms and limitations of its warranty. Read on to find out what your manufacturer’s warranty covers, when an extended car warranty might be necessary and what it entails.
Manufacturers’ Warranty
A manufacturer’s warranty covers the vehicle’s mechanical and electrical parts when they breakdown or malfunction prematurely due to factory errors. Most vehicle warranties last for three years or 36,000 miles, although the period may be longer depending on the brand. Since the warranty cover problems due to manufacturer’s fault, it does not include issues arising from normal wear and tear or poor maintenance. Below are some of the elements covered under the different types of manufacturer’s warranty.
- Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty. This warranty covers any flaws in all factory-installed parts of your car. This includes air conditioning systems, electrical components, safety elements like airbags, steering, batteries and high-tech systems like GPS and cameras.
- Powertrain Warranty. Covers your vehicle’s powertrain, including the engine, axles, transmission, seals, gaskets, transfer case and drive shafts. This warranty is usually longer than the bumper-to-bumper warranty and may last between 5 years or 60,000 miles, and ten years or 100,000 miles.
- Corrosion Warranty. The corrosion warranty covers corrosions like rust. It also includes external damage to the car due to salt, accident and other corrosive environmental factors.
- Federal Emission Warranty. If your car doesn’t meet the Environmental Protection Agency requirements, this warranty covers any repairs needed to make the vehicle compliant.
- Roadside Assistance Warranty. If your car breaks down when traveling, this warranty covers towing costs and any tire damage.
Extended Warranty
If your manufacturer’s warranty expires, you can purchase an extended car warranty (also known as a vehicle service contract) from your car’s manufacturer or a third-party dealer. You can either buy the extended car warranty before or after the expiry of your manufacturer’s warranty. Usually, the rates depend on your car’s life. The warranty covers repair and maintenance, allowing you to benefit from it after your existing manufacturer’s warranty has expired.
There are numerous extended car warranty plans to choose from, in which the most costly it is, the more coverage it provides. This type of warranty covers:
- All primary car systems if you buy a bumper-to-bumper extended warranty
- Powertrain
- Roadside assistance
- Corrosion
- Normal wear and tear
To avoid voiding your car warranty, ensure you perform regular maintenance on your car, only use dealer authorized car fluids, spare parts and avoid modifying your car. Contact Valley Automall today for all your vehicle needs, including repairs and purchase of either new or used vehicles.