Extended vehicle protection plans are a great way to cover car repair costs, but extended warranties don’t cover everything. If you decide to drive your car off a cliff for a Hollywood movie stunt, the crushed radiator won’t be covered. What other situations are not covered by your motor vehicle services warranty? Let’s find out.
First Of All, What Is Covered?
It helps starting out with what is covered in an extended vehicle warranty. There are many options available. For example, plan terms can vary from 2 to 7 years of coverage. Many warranty plans will cover problems with the:
- Engine
- Transmission and transfer case
- Differential assembly
- Drive axle
- Seals and gaskets
- Steering
- Electrical
- Air conditioner
- Brakes
- Front and rear suspension
- Fuel delivery system
- Cooling system
Under each category there can be up to 40 or more components that are covered depending on the level of coverage you purchase. Get a free online warranty quote from CARCHEX now.
What Else Do I Get?
Other perks that go with nearly all extended warranties are car rental, trip interruption reimbursement, and 24 hour roadside assistance. Now let’s look at some situations where you won’t be covered.
Aftermarket Modifications To Your Car
If you make any modifications to your car that vary from the factory design, then this might void your warranty. For example, special wheels, spoilers, and supercharging your engine can all have negative effects on your warranty validity. The best advice is when in doubt, don’t modify.
Don’t Go Racing
If you use your vehicle for amateur, professional, or recreational racing, then the warranty probably will not be honored. This is because racing puts a strain on the car far beyond normal use making breakdowns much more likely.
Salvage Title Status
If your vehicle was in a serious accident and given a salvage title, then this will void your warranty. If you are looking to buy a used car, a vehicle history report often contains info about salvage title status in the car’s past.
Negligence
If you never change the oil, never replace the antifreeze, and never get regular service checkups then you run the risk of voiding your extended vehicle protection plan. In these cases, any failure of the car’s mechanics is due to negligence and not the machinery itself. In any case, it is wise to take good care of your car and get regular maintenance.
What Else Is Not Covered?
No extended vehicle warranty covers everything. Normal wear-and-tear items are not covered such as windshield wiper blades, tires, batteries and lights. Also, damage caused by traffic accidents generally is not covered. An exception might be if it can be proven that a particular component failed mechanically to cause the crash. In every case, it pays to read the warranty agreement carefully so that no confusion exists about your level of coverage.
Conclusion
Extended vehicle warranties give you peace of mind when it comes to car breakdown costs. In many situations your repairs will be covered, but in some cases the warranty will be voided. Visit CARCHEX and get a fast, free online extended vehicle protection quote today.
