Auto Repair Extended Warranty

The cost of an auto repair can do damage to any family's budget. Instead of paying out of pocket for every appointment, consider the benefits that come with an extended warranty.

No matter what type of auto repair is necessary to keep a vehicle running, it comes with a cost. The labor costs money. The parts cost money. By the time the bill arrives, it can be overwhelming. Sometimes a technician can find more than one problem that needs to be fixed. Instead of putting the cost on the credit card or taking money out of savings, think about investing in an extended warranty.

How It Works

An extended warranty can be purchased through a dealership's sales department, an auto repair shop, or even online. A customer will pay an upfront cost for the warranty or the payments will be spread out over several months. In the case of a new car, the extended warranty can be added to the monthly car payment for convenience.

An extended warranty is not the same as the manufacturer's warranty. The manufacturer guarantees a vehicle, or specific parts of a vehicle for a specific amount of time (or mileage). It is free and come with the vehicle. Extended plans tend to cover more and last for a longer amount of time (and more miles). The costs are different from company to company and plan to plan.

Out of Pocket Expenses

With an extended warranty, auto repair costs are not necessarily gone completely. Some companies set up a deductible that needs to be met before they will begin to pay for the repairs. In other instances, the warranty will pay a percentage of the cost. All of this information is included in the contract and extra paperwork provided to the customer.

If a vehicle is taken to an approved auto repair shop, the customer may pay less out of pocket. Instead of paying for the repairs and putting in a request to be reimbursed, the shop will request payment directly from the warranty company. This saves lots of hassle as the work is completed and the customer does not need to worry about anything else.

Important Things to Consider

When it comes to auto repair, not all facilities are the same. This is also true for extended warranty plans. Different companies offer warranties. Within each company there are different plans that cover more or less of the vehicle. The cost directly relates to the coverage. One of the most important parts of choosing the right extended warranty is taking the time to read about each one.

Find out how much the potential out of pocket expenses could be for common vehicle issues. Find out if the vehicle needs to go to a specific facility for repairs. The more knowledge a consumer has, the more likely it will be that an extended warranty will be beneficial.

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