Friday, February 6, 2009

Auto Repair Insurance: Extended Warranties

As mentioned above, what's covered depends on the package purchased. Some plans only cover the power train: the mechanical components of the engine, transmission, and rear-end. Others cover the power train plus some electrical components. Still others cover electrical, advanced electrical, and computer components. Some only cover what's listed in the contract. This is called a "Stated" or "Named" contract. This means that if it's not stated, it's not covered. Some cover bumper-to-bumper, similar to a manufacturer warranty, except trim pieces, upholstery, exterior components, cosmetic items, and a number of other exclusions.

The down side of manufacturer extended service plans is that they are not cheap. These plans are generally the most expensive, require low mileage standards, and necessitate servicing your vehicle at a dealer for coverage. Dealership/Third Party Plans: Extended warranties from a dealership are actually from a third party insurer. These providers are "generally" reputable, but not always. However, if there is an issue (such as the warranty provider filing chapter 11, which is quite frequent in the extended service contract business), the dealer "may" step in to cover any repairs that would have been covered under the defunct plan.

No comments:

Post a Comment