June 17th, 2012 by Hal Moses
When you buy a new car, it always comes with a warranty from the manufacturer. The question is, what about used cars? What do you do if you purchase a used car and cannot afford paying the cost for an expensive repair? If you find yourself asking this question, it may be smart to purchase an extended auto warranty. It is possible to purchase a used car that still is under warranty, but when that warranty is up, you must pay the cost of repairs. Therefore, an extended warranty is a smart investment.
A common myth is that car insurance covers repairs and breakdowns. Auto insurance only covers the cost of repairs when you get into an accident. An extended auto warranty covers the cost of repairs and breakdowns that are not associated with an accident. Making the payments for repairs out of pocket can be very costly once you factor in the cost of labor and parts.
So how do you pick a company to purchase an extended warranty from? A quick search on Google provides you with millions of results. However, it is not wise to just pick a company right away. It is very important to find a company that is reputable. An aftermarket auto warranty company can be a good place to purchase an extended warranty from. Just make sure when you select the company that you check out the company’s ratings on the Better Business Bureau’s website before making a purchase.
May 29th, 2012 by Hal Moses
A car is a huge investment. The cost of the investment is not just the sticker price on the window of the car. The cost of gas, insurance, maintenance, depreciation, and an auto warranty are all included as well.
Fortunately, cars that are made today are designed to run for about 15 years and over 100,000 miles.
Even though some costs, like new car warranties, insurance, and fuel cannot be controlled by the consumer, the owner of the car can maintain it properly in order to improve the car’s value when the time comes for it to be traded in.
A properly maintained car can add thousands of dollars more to its sale price. The money you get from selling it can be put towards purchasing a new car.
Studies show that approximately 50 percent of motorists keep their vehicles for one to four years. Therefore, people should be aware of their car’s true value when it is time to sell it.
Overall, it is smart to take good car of your car. Purchase an auto warranty so that you can make necessary repairs and properly maintain your vehicle without hesitation. When it is time to sell your car, you will be happy you took good care of it.
May 25th, 2012 by Hal Moses
Getting an auto warranty is not always simple. In a recent study done by leading automobile industry analysts, it was discovered that consumers do not have the basic information about how to choose a good auto warranty deal. Therefore, people should be careful when buying a warranty.
An auto warranty is a guarantee that is given to a consumer when a car is purchased. It provides coverage for repairs and maintenance of the car when damage occurs during the warranty period. However, when buying the warranty, there are three important things to remember:
1. Know the period of the warranty. Generally, a warranty is provides coverage for a period of two to five years, depending upon the brand of car that you buy.
2. Know the services that are included in your warranty. Services such as regular check-up, availability of accessories, and replacement of parts should be included in the warranty. If these services are provided, the warranty can really benefit you.
3. Know about the dealer you are purchasing from. The dealer needs to have a license in order to provide the warranty.
Remembering these tips when you buy an auto warranty will help you to get a good deal.
May 22nd, 2012 by Hal Moses
A vehicle’s trade-in value is determined by how preferable the used car is in the market. A car in good condition, with an accident-free history, and has not had many owners will have a higher trade-in value. One of the most important factors in trade-in value is whether it was correctly and regularly serviced. If the vehicle’s owner had an auto warranty, it was most likely serviced properly and regularly because the owner did not have to may for many of the repair and maintenance costs.
Appraisers determine the value of a vehicle that is being traded-in based upon many things. They will take into consideration whether or not maintenance was properly and regularly done on the car. Also, they will consider any major repairs that were done on the vehicle. Cars that were under a warranty tend to have less mechanical issues due to the owner not having to worry about the cost of repairs and therefore performing repairs in a timely fashion. Dealers want to sell these vehicles on their lots because they are reliable. Reliability is important to people who are looking to buy a vehicle that is used.
To ensure that your vehicle has a good trade-in value, get your car serviced regularly and get necessary repairs done in a timely fashion. If you want to avoid excessive maintenance and repair costs, it is a good idea to buy an extended auto warranty.
May 18th, 2012 by Hal Moses
A horrible thing to hear when you get your vehicle repaired is “It isn’t covered by your auto warranty.†Many times, motorists find themselves confused because they just assume that specific repairs are covered by their warranty. A little bit of education is needed to understand more about their auto warranties.
People need to realize that an auto warranty is not an entitlement. It is an agreement you make with the car manufacturer. Your job is to fulfill certain maintenance requirements that the manufacturer sets. If you do your part, the manufacturer will perform repairs as a result of a failed part or defect.
The main question is, what parts are covered by the warranty? The auto manufacturer needs to cover the parts that it makes. Such parts include engines, transmissions, suspension, computers, steering, chassis wiring, instruments, and other parts that they manufacture are covered. Maintenance items and wearable items are not always covered by a warranty. Such items include hoses, filters, belts, tires, and brakes.
Another question is, what about the parts that aren’t made by the car’s manufacturer? Items like conversion components and stereo systems have a warranty through their manufacturers. These can be located in the paper work that you got when you bought the car.
The most important thing you can do to avoid misunderstandings about auto warranties is to educate yourself. Make certain that you read through all of the fine print on your warranty.
May 17th, 2012 by Hal Moses
If you are going to buy a used car, it is important to find out as much as you can about the car you are going to buy. The car could have many issues that are not detectable just by looking at it. In order to really know about the car that you are buying, you should get a vehicle history report. This will provide you with information from RMV’s, DMV’s, and police reports about the car you are planning buying. Here are some important things to keep in mind when looking at the vehicle report:
1. Look to see how many owners the car has had. It is better to get a vehicle that has had fewer owners because it is more likely that the car has been well taken care of. Although, they are not expensive, rental cars will have endured a large amount of abuse.
2. In addition, look at the locations that the car has been in. This is important because certain climates are harsher on vehicles. For example, winter conditions are difficult on vehicles due to salty roads. Floor regions and excessive heat are also harsh on cars.
3. Lastly, be certain that the description and name on the history report match the car that you are considering buying. This can help you to avoid certain types of fraud, such as vehicle identification number cloning.
4. A used car is a good way to save money and still get a good car. As long as you do your research, you can be much more sure that you are making a good purchase. Also, it is important to take into consideration the expenses maintenance costs, used car warranties, and auto insurance. An auto warranty is a great way to get peace of mind when buying a used car.
April 30th, 2012 by Hal Moses
There are things that you should do before buying a used or new car. Here are some helpful tips that can save you money when you shop for cars:
First, think about purchasing a used car. New cars lose approximately 30% of their value as soon as you leave the dealership with them. However, the value of used cars does not decrease right away.
Next, consider buying a used car that is a gas saver. There are a lot of choices for fuel-efficient cars, such as hybrid cars. With the variety of options that are available, it is not always necessary to buy a gas-guzzler.
Also, try to save up for the down payment for your vehicle. A lot people make a smaller down payment on their car. This generally results in costly payments during the first four years of owning the car. If they are able, consumers should try to put at least 20% down.
Finally, be sure to purchase an auto warranty after you purchase the car. If you decided no to purchase one, you will find yourself making unnecessary payments for maintenance and repair costs.
If you follow these helpful tips, you can save money when you are car shopping. Make sure you do your research before making the purchase.
April 29th, 2012 by Hal Moses
Many people get attached to their vehicles and find themselves always concerned about how their cars look and run. It is okay to care for your vehicle, however it is still smart to avoid paying unnecessary and excessive expenses to take care of it. Here are a few tips to help you avoid paying excessive car expenses:
1. It isn’t always necessary to fill your tank with premium gasoline. Often times, regular gasoline, which is cheaper, will work for your vehicle. The reason there are octane ratings is so that you can avoid engine knock. If regular gasoline does not cause your engine to knock, then it is okay to fill your tank with it.
2. There are many people who think that it is necessary to get their oil changed every 3,000 miles. However, a lot of manufacturers make the recommendation to get your oil changed every 5,000 to 7,5000 miles. An oil change every 3,000 miles is usually only necessary if you are hard on your vehicle.
3. Many people have the tendency to waste money when they bring their cars to the dealer for repairs. A lot of independent shops and mechanics do a good, quality job on repairs and they are usually less expensive than repairs done through a dealer. Buying an auto warranty will be a big help on saving you money on repair costs.
April 16th, 2012 by Hal Moses
A bumper-to-bumper auto warranty offers the most inclusive coverage for your car. Like any other warranty, there are things that are not covered by this type of warranty. Therefore, you must do your research and be sure you know what is and is not included in the coverage of the auto warranty that you decide to purchase.
The good thing about a bumper-to-bumper warranty is that it covers many major repairs in addition to minor issues that you have with your vehicle. Another benefit that comes with buying a bumper-to-bumper warranty is that many manufacturers offer things such as free gas, towing service, roadside assistance, car rental refunds, periodic maintenance, the occasional wear and tear, or coverage for problems that occur with electronic equipment.
Generally, bumper-to-bumper coverage doesn’t cover things that are covered by other kinds of auto warranties. For example, it might not provide coverage for rust, emission control equipment, or tires, while other kinds of warranties may provide coverage for these things. More often, the exhaust system, break pads, wiper blades, belts, aftermarket accessories, drums, light bulbs, hoses, rotors, and damage that is caused by intentional abuse or an accident will not be included in bumper-to-bumper coverage.
In addition, be sure to keep in mind that some manufacturers will only provide coverage if you agree to bring your car to the dealer’s repair shop for any mechanical work that needs to be done. Therefore, before making the agreement to a manufacturer’s warranty, it may be a good idea to research an aftermarket auto warranty company to make price and coverage comparisons. After you complete your research, you will be more likely to buy a warranty that is best suited to your needs.
March 24th, 2012 by Hal Moses
Buying an auto warranty can be complicated if you do not know enough about them. Therefore, it may be smart to hire a professional auto consultant before finalizing the warranty. The consultant will offer a number of tips to make the most of the warranty. The first important tip is to avoid warranties that are loaded with offers. Auto dealers tend to offer fancy warranties to their consumers, but usually they lack execution of these offers. This usually ends up misleading the consumer. Therefore, go for a warranty that is flexible and has a shorter duration. This will allow you to assess the performance of the service provider and switch agencies if the service that is provided is not at a satisfactory level.
Auto dealers have tie-ups with at least three different independent agencies for their auto warranties. Therefore, evaluate at least five different auto warranty offers before making a final decision of which one to use. The evaluations are available to you at your auto dealer. Also, keep track of the laws that govern the warranty. There are different laws for new car warranties and used car warranties. Therefore, do your research before making a purchase.