Many used car vehicle owners fail to understand the benefits of a used car warranty simply because many are not aware that they are entitled to one when buying a used car from a dealer.  Many people are in fact not aware that they can get a used car warranty, and many assume indeed that the used car often enough does not come with warranty coverage simply because it is a used car.

On the contrary however, many states insist that used cars be sold with a buyer’s guide that stipulates full details on the warranty coverage provided with the car.  The types of used car warranties vary, so that the unsuspecting individual purchasing the car must be wary of the type of coverage that he or she is getting.

Most used car warranties are limited, offering coverage to only the most basic parts of the vehicle.  It is very rare to find used cars being sold with fully comprehensive warranties unless it is in fact a used new car – that is to say, if the manufacturers warranty is still valid then it may or may not be directly transferable to the new vehicle owner.

When purchasing a used car, it is often quite easy to overlook the importance of the used car warranty.  This is because a lot of people are under the impression that only brand new cars are entitled to warranties, so they do not ask questions and the persons or dealers selling the used car do not offer answers.

On the contrary though, it is often the law to have at least minimum coverage for the used car, and it is the responsibility of the person or dealer selling the car to provide this used car warranty coverage to you.  Often they do so but fail to inform the inexperienced person purchasing the used car that they automatically have warranty coverage and what having used car warranty coverage would mean to the vehicle owner.
The used car warranty can come with a variety of features which would find variations in both coverage type and mileage coverage.  Most used cars only get mileage coverage for about fifty thousand miles, but some used car warranties allow up to one hundred thousand mile coverage based on the type of vehicle and its present condition.  Other warranties provide coverage for all the parts of the car that easily wear and tear, while others still would provide coverage for breakdown repairs.

A used car warranty is the warranty which provides coverage for auto vehicles that are considered used.  Many people think of a used car as being one which is battered and old and has passed from owner to owner in an attempt to find a resting home, but a used car is indeed one that has been used at some point or another – not necessarily transferred to more than one owner or not necessarily old and battered.  In fact, most used cars sold by auto dealers are in fact new cars that may have only been driven a few miles and returned for one reason or another.

The used car warranty covers the used vehicle as long as it meets certain requirements, which would deem it as being safe and fit for the road.  One of the criteria as judging the safety of a vehicle is its age.  A vehicle’s age is not only measured by the registration number of the vehicle, but also by its mileage meter.  If a vehicle is more than ten years old or has been used over fifty thousand miles, then getting a used car warranty would be very difficult because you vehicle would have moved out of the acceptable age limit for safe coverage. 

Investing in a used car is often not much of an issue with the average person who cannot afford anything but the used car. Not many appreciate just how risky the used car purchase can be. The used car is one that has been through the hands of one or more prior owners, and you have no way of identifying just how badly abused it was. Many people would replace the really worn parts of the car or apply shinny paint jobs to the body to make it look good, but truth is you will not know the real condition of your used car until you have driven it for a week or more yourself. I know because I speak from experience. Thankfully though my used car purchase included a used car warranty in the purchase agreement, so I was not completely out of sorts when I had to carry out maintenance repairs on my car within the first month of its purchase (on top of the loan that I was already paying for this car).

My used car warranty was a limited warranty (it still covered my maintenance though). Used car warranties can also provide full coverage for your used car, or they may be unwritten warranties which are implicitly implied in some states.

The used car warranty law is a remedy for local purchasers or lessees who do not have a manufacturer’s warranty on relatively new cars. The used car market has been rapidly increasing with the demand for affordable cars. For many, a brand new car can exceed a budget.  However, a used car can be obtained in top condition at much cheaper prices. As such, used car warranties and used car warranty laws have been devised to assist consumers.

 

When purchasing a vehicle the used car warranty law, or the used car lemon law, can be obtained from the dealer. It should be examined before the time of purchase. It is your right to understand the terms and conditions of the warranty, as well as what you are entitled to under the used car warranty law. Even if the dealer does not give you the written lemon law warranty, under the law you are entitled to all its benefits.

 

Some of the main parts that should be covered by the used car warranty law are the engine, the transmission, drive axle, brakes, steering, radiator, alternator, generator, starter and the ignition system (excluding the battery).

 

Most times, an individual who purchases a used car doesn’t pay much attention to the details of his used car warranty.  But in fact, used car warranties can be either full warranties or limited warranties, which cover on specified parts of the used car.  It is often to find that the coverage for limited warranties – and even full warrantees – can vary from dealer to dealer. 

While most individuals are fooled into thinking that they have full warranties, often too late do they find that their used car warranties are lacking in one way or the other.  A full warranty should carry an implied warranty with no constraints on time validity, service should be guaranteed to the owner so long as the warranty is valid, and should be of no additional costs to the owner. 

For limited warranties, only certain named parts of the vehicle are covered.  Even for full warranties you can find that clauses are inserted, which specify you to pay in part or full for certain defects, or failures.  A limited warranty implies more hassles, so you must exercise extreme caution when buying a vehicle with a used car warranty that offers only limited coverage.

 If you have ever tried to get a used car warranty, you will realize exactly how difficult and time-consuming this is. 

 

With a used car warranty, mileage becomes a major factor in deciding whether or not you would be able to qualify for coverage.  Most companies that do offer used car warranties insert a mileage clause into their contracts which cover you up until a certain mileage, or not at all if you are over the mileage.  If you think that the mileage on a used car is the biggest issue, then you try finding a warranty to cover a used car over ten years old!  Practically impossible I tell you.  Nonetheless, it is only good business sense that companies would not want to cover vehicles over ten years old.

 

Apart from the mileage issue, another major problem with obtaining a used car warranty is the type of coverage that you can get.  Most service providers of used car warranties only offer bumper-to-bumper warranties.  This is the more popular warranty service provided, and it only covers your car against mechanical breakdowns.  Unfortunately, mechanical breakdowns are not the only things that can go wrong with your used car –you also need protection against the wear and tear on a used vehicle.  The good news is that this is not as difficult to obtain as it is to obtain a used car warranty for a ten year old vehicle!

Most people who invest in used cars do so because they cannot afford the short-term costs of a new car.  But most often overlooked when buying a used car are the long-term costs associated with the purchase.  Consider carefully your options when next viewing new and used car options, and consider the differences in a new car warranty versus a used car warranty.

 

While a new car provides one with hassle-free maintenance for the first few years, a used car requires maintenance from the day it is bought.  A major factor to consider in a car’s maintenance is its warranty.  New cars come with factory warranties, which cover the wear and tear for most purposes, while the options of extended warranties are applicable

to most, if not all, new car purchases.  On the other hand, a used car warranty does not offer the options of extended warranties nor does it cover extended periods of time (these are short term warranties only).  So while a used car might be warranted to cover a period of six months after ownership transfer, it is most likely that the car would have been maintained so that problems only begin to arise after nine months of usage.  Unfortunately then, it is the owner of the car who will be responsible for the expenses, as

the warranty is no longer valid – as opposed to a new car warranty.

 

The first step you need to take when facing difficulties with your used car is to read your warranty documents carefully. This will give you a clear idea about the coverage of the warranty and whether it would cover the damages or not. In a number of cases, it might turn out that you misinterpret certain conditions or factors of your used car warranty.

 

After going through the used car warranty document, if you are confident that you are able to get coverage, then you can make an effort to resolve the issue by contacting your dealer. You can also send a copy directly to the manufacturer for further assistance, but do make sure that you send the letters by certified post with an appeal for a return receipt. By doing this, you can maintain a record of the letters that are sent and received.

 

You can also obtain help from local or state consumer protection offices by getting their opinion regarding your used car warranty. Such organizations help consumers by providing them with appropriate guidance for a very low fee. You can show them your warranty documents and they should be able to tell you what exactly you might be able to claim.

 

You save a lot of money when you buy a used car, but you should always ensure that you have a used car warranty to go with it, since a used car comes with its own drawbacks. In case you purchase an almost new car, then you might also get an original factory warranty along with it. This will give your car coverage for the remaining amount of time on the stipulated warranty from the period when it was originally bought. Make sure that you purchase a used car warranty the moment the factory warranty on your car expires.

 

A lot of people who buy used cars assume there is nothing they can do with the dealer’s agreement. Purchasing a warranty is not only to their advantages but it makes sure they are getting the most out of their money. For example, a dealer gives you a 90-day warranty on your car – there’s usually a loophole somewhere on the warranty. Suddenly the car breaks down after the warranty expires. Now you have to spend a large sum money to fix it?

 
While this fact is not always necessarily true, there is always a way to protect yourself. For instance there are federal and state statutes to relieve the consumer who is stuck with a bad automobile after they’ve bought it. Such statutes are usually called “Lemon Laws”.

 

There are different statutes covering different problems in different states, however the laws are different from one state to another. For example, a consumer is fully refunded or given another car if the problem cannot be repaired after four (4) attempts, or if the car cannot be used again after a month on the first year or before 12,000 miles driven.

 
Knowing this you should consider all things before buying a used car. Checkout the warranty, and the statutes for your state. Be smart, knowledgeable and be protected.