The Long and Short of Car Warranties

There’s an old saying that “the arrow seen before cometh less rudely.” When you’ve been in an accident, the last thing you want to worry about is who is going to pay the car repair bills. Similarly, there is no convenient time for a part to wear out. Arranging for the car to be taken to an auto care shop or to the manufacturer for that part to be replaced is especially trying because there will always be a house payment, a school loan, or a child’s after-school program to cover. 

For many, opting to make a low monthly payment for a car warranty is a much more enticing prospect than to pay for repairs all at once. But knowing which warranty plan to choose, how they work, or even if you already have one on a recently purchased used vehicle can be a lot of information to uncover, and the task may seem intimidating to many. But gathered below are a few essential bits of information for those enquiring about car warranty. If you’re experiencing any kind of car trouble beyond the basic wear and tear of an oil change or brake repair, check your warranty and bring it in to our Pocatello shop.

What Does a Car Warranty Do?

Much like purchasing a warranty for your house, car warranties cover repairs on parts that will wear down and fail over time and through the natural course of the car’s operation. This is different from something like insurance, which covers the cost of unexpected events like a car crash. When you purchase a new car the cost of the warranty is often included in the sales price because the manufacturer recognizes the possibility that some parts may need to be maintained sooner than others. 

Types of Warranties

Factory Warranty

The typical warranty you get off the lot is called the factory warranty. The factory warranty typically entails: 

• Coverage on parts that are made defective due to errors in assembly
• It is in effect until a certain preset time or mileage has been reached. 

When determining how long you are eligible for your warranty, you might see language like “good for the first 5 years or 60,000 miles” on your contract. Until the car meets any of those milestones, the factory warranty will remain in place, even if you sell the car to another owner. 

How to Check Your Car Has a Factory Warranty

If you have bought a used car that is only a few years old from the time of its manufacture, your car may still be covered under the factory warranty. Knowing this is essential to your auto care. Luckily, the process is fairly simple:

• Collect your car’s VIN number and total mileage.

• Call the car’s manufacturer. This doesn’t have to be the precise factory that built your car (unless you have that information, which would be easier for them to check on). Rather, put a call into the model manufacturer.

• Speak to someone in customer service and give them the information you gathered.  

Extended Warranty

Once the factory warranty has expired, you will be eligible to purchase an extended warranty. The extended warranty includes:

• Coverage of (oftentimes fewer) parts listed on the factory warranty
• A typically higher monthly cost than the factory warranty
• Roadside assistance and general maintenance (oil changes, brake repair)

As you can see, extended warranties represent a “high risk, high reward” scenario because they are usually more expensive for less coverage. Recent studies show that fewer than half of the people who purchased an extended warranty made a claim during the terms of their contract. You can find out exactly what the extended warranty covers from the car manufacturer.

Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty

The bumper-to-bumper warranty is, as the name suggests, a full end-to-end protection plan for your vehicle. Whether you need some engine repairs, a new air conditioner compressor, or the suspension replaced, this warranty will help you. The bumper-to-bumper includes: 

• Coverage on all major vehicle systems
• Coverage for traditional and hybrid vehicles
• Coverage for electronic components like rear-view cameras and built-in GPS

While there are other, more specialized warranties like a powertrain warranty or a corrosion warranty, the bumper-to-bumper warranty is often enough for the average driver and can be got for many third-party providers.

The Best Auto Care in Pocatello

Car repairs are like paying your taxes﹘we are all going to have to deal with them, for as long as we are driving. But whether you need a regular check-up to change the oil or replace the headlights, or you need something more robust done to the car, Master Muffler in Pocatello is there for you. Give us a call today, or just drop on by and we’ll fit you in at the earliest availability.