I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all had the experience of acquiring a product and not quite understanding the warranty that comes along with it. It seems like just about anything that you can buy—from a refrigerator to a cell phone—either comes with a warranty or you have the option to add a warranty. When shopping around for cars, there is some vital warranty information that should be analyzed beforehand so you’ll be clear on what’s covered if something does go wrong.
New Cars
If you’re buying a new car, warranties are typically much easier to come by and are more straightforward than their used car warranty counterparts. Most car manufacturers now deliver a warranty with the purchase of a new vehicle. These standard manufacturer warranties will either cover you for a set amount of time or a specific number of miles. For example, some manufacturer warranties will cover you for 5 years and up to 60,000 miles. This means that as long as your automobile is less than 5 years old and has been driven less than 60,000 miles, you’ll be covered by your manufacturer (subject to the terms of the warranty) if something happens to go wrong.
Read the Fine Print
So what does the warranty cover? For that you’ll want to check with the auto dealer or manufacturer for detailed information on exactly what’s covered, but most are powertrain warranties. Powertrain warranties typically cover things like the engine, transmission, and other components that the manufacturer installed. If something in the powertrain breaks or stops working as it should, the manufacturer or dealership will either fix it or replace it at no cost. Don't know what a powertrain is? Call I-86 Truck & Auto Repair at 716-665-2501 and we will explain. Obviously, a warranty isn’t the same as insurance, so if you do something yourself to cause damage to the automobile or are involved in an accident, you’ll be responsible for fixing it, not the automaker or dealership.
Used Car Warranties
If you’re in the market for a used car, you may be able to get a warranty. First thing you’ll want to check is whether the used car you are contemplating already has a standard manufacturer warranty that can be transferred to you. If it can be transferred to you then you could be in luck. But you’ll need the details because the car could have 59,000 miles on it and only have a 60,000 mile warranty. But in some cases, you can find a car with low miles that still has that same transferrable warranty.
If there’s no transferrable warranty then you still have some options. One is to find a dealership that offers warranties through third party companies. This isn’t always the lowest priced option but it could be of value if you want that extra peace of mind when buying a used vehicle. The cost of a third party warranty can usually be added into the financing of your car and can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. If you decide to add a third party warranty, make sure you scrutinize the details; the specific repairs that are covered and how you’ll get service performed if something does go awry.
Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles
The last option you have if you plan to buy a used auto is to search dealerships that market certified pre-owned vehicles. Certified pre-owned mean that it has been certified by the manufacturer and is eligible for the same standard manufacturer warranty despite the car being used. This turns out to be a great find for many although there are fewer certified pre-owned cars on the New York used vehicle market.
If you need automotive service or repair—whether or not it is covered by a warranty—communicate with us at I-86 Truck & Auto Repair in Falconer.