What Isn’t Covered in the Manufacturer’s Warranty

Whether your next car purchase is a new or secondhand vehicle, it’s crucial to have a reliable car warranty to protect you as a consumer. Yes, cars today are much more durable than ever but that doesn’t mean that they will never break down. Having a good car warranty means you have that extra reassurance in case something goes wrong. 

Car Warranties for New Vehicles

The new car warranty’s maximum mileage and duration are chosen by the car manufacturer so it’s going to be different among brands and even among models in a particular range. However, you can expect the warranty cover to last for 60,000 miles or about three years, depending on which comes first. Most motorists in the UK have an average mileage of 8,000 miles annually so in many cases, the warranty cover runs out before they reach the maximum mileage. 

There are other car manufacturers that provide much longer warranty periods to make their deals more appealing to customers. For example, Hyundai, Toyota, Subaru, Renault, and Mitsubishi offer five-year warranties for the cars being sold in the UK. But that doesn’t end there because there are manufacturers offering seven-year warranties like MG, Kia, and SsangYong. If you ever want to sell your vehicle, most of these manufacturers allow the transfer of the car warranty to the new car owner. 

What is an Extended Car Warranty?

If there are car makers that offer longer warranty periods, there are also those that are not so generous with theirs. However, it’s not something to be overly worried about because there is usually an option to extend the car warranty cover if the original duration ends. The cost of an extended car warranty depends on the manufacturer. If you’re interested in getting one, you may also check third-party warranty providers because theirs might be more affordable. Do check the cover of the policies because some may not be as comprehensive as others. You’d want one that will be worth what you pay for.

What Isn’t Covered in the Manufacturer’s Warranty?

Warranties won’t cover clutches, brakes, windscreen wipers, and tyres. These parts are considered as items that are consumable “wear and tear.” This means that if anything goes wrong with these parts, you’d have to be the one to pay for the repairs or replacement. However, there might be instances where they can be considered if they broke down prematurely due to a mechanical fault.

For a new car warranty cover, you can expect that it covers all electrical and mechanical faults, as well as guarantees against rust appearance for at least three years. With BMW, for example, they provide a three-year warranty on its new vehicles plus they have 12 years’ cover against rust. However, if corrosion is caused by stone chips, then it won’t be covered by the warranty. 

If you plan on buying an electric car, plug-in hybrid, or hybrid vehicle, the manufacturers have particular warranties for the battery packs. What’s common among them is that they assure car buyers that the battery packs will last the life of the cover without getting severe degradation. There are even some manufacturers that state that if the car’s battery pack drops below a certain level, say 70%, in five years, they will repair or replace it. 

Types of Car Warranty

The three car warranty types include manufacturer policies, dealer policies, and then there are third-party covers. Every new vehicle comes with a manufacturer warranty. Keep in mind though that you need to go through the brand’s dealer when the time comes that you need to make a claim. 

When purchasing from a franchised dealer, their warranties are usually going to be dealer-backed. For smaller companies, they often work with third-party firms for car warranties. In this case, there might be some extra charges if you’re going to take out a policy. Be sure to read through the documents before signing anything. You may also want to get a second quote from another company. Try finding a more comprehensive warranty cover with the best price. 

How to Claim Your Warranty

The truth about making a warranty claim is that it can be quite a hassle if you have no idea of the process. If you’re going to claim a warranty on a new vehicle, you can expect this to be straightforward and shouldn’t cost you anything. Some dealerships may even provide you with a courtesy car during the time that your vehicle is undergoing repairs. For a warranty claim on a used car, you won’t encounter much of a problem if you made the purchase from a franchised dealer. 

It’s with a third-party warranty that many car owners get frustrated but this heavily depends on the quality of the policy. The first step here is to have the work assessed and then quoted before the repairs are approved. So you may have to prepare yourself for a longer processing time and some inconvenience. Be ready to make two different garage bookings in case the claim takes some time to be agreed upon. 

But let’s say there aren’t any issues and the work can proceed, then the third-party warranty will require you to take your car to an approved garage where they can pay directly. Some policies allow car owners to choose their preferred garage but may require you to pay for the repairs first which they will reimburse you afterwards. Keep in mind that there are policies that put a limit on the amount they will pay for labour so check those details first before getting any policy. 

Takeaway

No matter what kind of car warranty you choose, what’s most important is that you read through all the documents first. Understand every detail, and if there are parts that seem unclear or confusing, don’t hesitate to ask the company representative to explain them to you. It’s best to have a full understanding of the policy you’ll get before making the purchase.