You may think that a basic bumper to bumper auto warranty covers everything between the front and the back end of your car. But does it? If not, will an extended auto warranty give you the coverage that you need?

You may think that you have extensive coverage, but review the fine print to see what isn’t covered. Unfortunately, certain incidentals aren’t covered by any auto warranty. But, a lot of warranties don’t have these items listed clearly, which can mean you may be paying for services that you are actually covered for. It is hard when these items aren’t stated clearly on your contract, which means it is essential for you to review your document thoroughly.

In Auto Advantage’s booklet which explains the service agreement for bumper to bumper new car warranties, there is a section titled “What is Not Covered”, which makes things easy for the consumer. Also included on the same page is what is included in your coverage:

This program covers all the major components on your vehicle… Bumper to Bumper Coverage provides Mechanical Break-down coverage for repairs/replacements of ALL original equipment, manufacturers factory installed mechanical and electrical operating parts and assemblies on the covered vehicle…

Knowing what you are covered for is half the battle, but you also want to make sure you are covered for a certain amount of time. With Auto Advantage you can be covered anywhere from three months to fourteen years, it’s up to you. Mileage is also flexible.

An extended auto warranty will offer you many options as well as peace of mind about the automobile that you are purchasing.

Auto makers realize that many drivers put safety as one of their highest priorities. The more traffic on highways and interstates, the larger our cities grow, and the more traffic becomes more of a problem.  Accidents and vehicle damage are inevitable when on the road with your car or truck.  With auto maker’s striving for safety and innovation, auto extended warranty purchases make more sense that ever.

 

With consumer’s first priority being safety, they know that it would be in their best interest to be prepared for an incident. A vehicle collision or mechanical failure can increase the chance for serious injury. With cars being built with better safety features, an auto warranty can also be a protective measure that protects your pocketbook.  Auto manufacturers are working to be innovative.  One example of this might be Ford’s new seat belt concept.  Ford feels that redeveloping their seat belt system should be one of all auto makers’ highest priorities.  The responsibility should not only be held by the manufacturer, drivers should also look for ways to drive less aggressively to keep our nations roads safer.  Just as it is the choice of a car buyer to try to keep themselves out of trouble on the road, it is also their choice to auto warranty to help maintain the vehicle’s continue safe performance.

Many consumers that believe they have to spend big money for a luxury car may not want to consider the autos on this list.  That is clearly their loss.

 

If you want to pay over $37,000 for a BMW Z4 Roadster and you can cruise around town in a two seat roadster that will allow you to control the drop top automatically while listening to your favorite music with a superb ten speaker audio system.

 

The $35,000+ Lincoln MKX crossover utility vehicle (CUV) has many standard features like heated memory mirrors, leather-wrapped wheel with wood accents, and 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS. Options include a voice-activated DVD-based navigation system.

 

The Volvo XC70, at just over $36,500 is a mid-sized wagon and is loaded with many advanced safety and security features like hill descent control and side curtain airbags.

 

This list was derived from Strategic Vision’s Total Value Awards list. This list measures classes of cars including their reliability, manufacturer’s auto warranty, and future cost of extended auto warranty, solid resale values, and ownership experience.  Only cars with the highest scores were counted.

Vincentric, a research firm helped by providing maintenance costs calculated over a 5 year period. The vehicles with the lowest costs, including oil changes, wheel alignments, wiper blades, etc. made the list.  Finally, the list was capped at vehicles that were under $50,000 which allowed a wide range of vehicles, from coupes to large cars.

With vehicle manufacturer’s current drive for safety innovation, extended auto warranty coverage requirements are changing rapidly.  Honda, one of most safety conscious vehicle manufacturers is proving that they have what consumers are looking for in vehicle safety standards.  Honda’s distribution of many of their 2007 and 2008 models include safety feature packages that sty within this frame of mind.  As drivers look at the many protective qualities of the newest cars and trucks, the other concern for consumers is vehicle care and extended warranty coverage.

Safety for inhabitants of a vehicle during a collision runs parallel to auto warranty coverage.  A driver can access more available safety features and auto warranty coverage flexibility than ever before. Consumers should be researching car warranties to protect the safest cars and trucks being built so far so that they can guarantee the upkeep and safety implementation for their vehicles whenever the need should come.

Lexus’ new pre-collision system is an important innovation to current automobile manufacturing and design.  Toyota/Lexus, in an effort to put safety at the forefront and add it as a strong selling point, are creating systems in cars that prospective vehicle buyers are demanding.  They are clearly on the bandwagon for safety and innovation. Vehicle buyers should research new car warranties to protect the new safety innovated cars being produced today.  This will help to build confidence in their cars and continually guarantee their upkeep and safety implementations when the needs arise.

An extended auto warranty can protect your automobile and is well worth the money spent to warranty these new safety features.  To keep your investment on the road for many years to come and keep it functioning properly dependable new car warranties are clearly the answer.  They will allow driver’s to get the amount of coverage needed to so that important repairs can be done when necessary.

A group of state and national aftermarket associations filed a lawsuit versus the California Air Resources Board, aka-CARB that challenged their proposed regulations that requires vehicle manufacturers to extend auto warranties on emissions parts to 10 years and 120,000 miles which would keep replacements running through their dealer networks.

One of the plaintiffs, the Automotive Service Association aka-ASA, said the action by CARB to extend auto warranties for this extended term will cause massive economic damage to independent aftermarket auto warranty providers and service facilities in the California and is not likely to provide any clean air or consumer benefits.  Another plaintiff in the case, Automotive Service Councils of California, said because vehicle owners will not know whether a needed repair indicated by the malfunction indicator light is covered by the extended auto warranty, they will need to return to the dealer for almost all repairs. 

The lawsuit states that CARB provides no real evidence that extending emissions auto warranties will effectively motivate manufacturers to build a more durable emission system, or that it will motivate a driver to seek emissions-related repairs when they are indicated.

The worldwide competition frenzy between the United States’ automobile manufacturers and many Asian automotive manufacturers rages on.  Especially now, with the recent concerns over vehicle fuel efficiency ratings and global gas prices.  Statistics now show a growing competition between carmakers here in the US and abroad as industry commonsense has everybody attempting to make more economical vehicles.  The priorities of the past, such as size and luxury are no longer the status symbols they once were.  Gasoline costs are now a major factor in auto sales.  The gasoline guzzlers of the past are now being frowned upon.

Some of the new technologies create new concerns about the reliability of some of the new vehicles being built.  An extended auto warranty is perhaps more necessary now than ever.  Feeling this thing of excess or repair bills when no aftermarket auto warranty is in place is something consumers just don’t want to deal with.

The numbers speak for themselves.  Many Americans are being forced to be much more sensible about their vehicle purchase choices.  Currently, Asia still provides a more practical model line for the current global climate.  US automobile makers are attempting to hang in there but are currently just not cutting it.

If you intend to sell your vehicle at some point you should consider purchasing on of the many used car warranties available to you.  Even if you are only considering a sale, automobile warranty can protect you while you still own the car and will add considerable value to the new owner. You will be able to drive your vehicle with the peace of mind that only an auto warranty can bring.  You should also realize that the buyer is likely to want the same comfort when driving the vehicle after the purchase.

In addition, you will increase the car’s value by adding the simple words “warranty coverage” in your ad.  

Consider purchasing an auto warranty for your new replacement vehicle as well.  Down the road the extended auto warranty will most likely save you big money on repair bills.  Remember, the auto warranty you purchase today will be an investment that will surely pay off for you in the future. 

Many auto dealers offer vehicles they call “program cars” in addition to the new and used cars a consumer would be traditionally familiar with.  These program cars are sometimes an excellent bargain as they are generally near new with low miles and have some manufacturer’s auto warranty remaining.

One of the problems I find in the way dealers offer these program cars are that they don’t always tell you the whole story of where they come from.  Program cars, many times are former rental vehicles that have been turned back over from the major rental companies for sale to the consumer.  As you may already know, rental vehicles are not traditionally treated very well.  It is for this reason that if you are purchasing a program car an extended auto warranty should be an essential part of the purchase.  When purchasing any car or truck that does not show a trail of its history is a risky proposition.  And auto warranty purchase almost completely eliminates this risk.

Do your research prior to purchasing and you will almost always be pleased with the product that you purchase.

The finance office, what a hassle.  When purchasing a new car you go through all the trials and tribulations of negotiating a good price that fits your budget.  Just when you think this hellish experience is over you get planted in the seat of the finance manager.  His job is to sell you as many products as he can for as much money as possible to try and make up for the lack of profits the dealer makes on the new car sale.  It may not seem ethical but it is the way it is done. 

The products they offer in this ”aftersale chamber of horrors” are for the most part completely unnecessary.  Each of them is made more attractive in many cases by including them in your automobile financing which makes it seem more affordable.  One of the few products you are offered that actually makes sense is an extended auto warranty.  An aftermarket auto warranty can be offered on almost any car or truck.  New car warranties and used car warranties are both available.  Even the Better Business Bureau, who is for the most part anti warranty, recommends purchasing one on an automobile.  Invest in a quality auto warranty program now and save big on repair bills later.