By Kirk Steele
I was on a search for an extended car warranty for my wife’s new Genesis. I entered my search term into Google and the results were mind boggling. There was so much information I was unsure where to start. How is anyone supposed to be able to figure out what they need without spending a huge amount of time sifting through all the information?
I am lucky because I know the industry, but for someone who has no idea about this sort of thing I can see how frustrating it could be to figure out just what makes an extended car warranty a good value. I figured I would lend a helping hand by offering some advice and guidelines you can use to help you make your decision and sort through all the information out there.
One of the first things to do when searching for an extended car warranty is to take a look at your vehicle.
- Look at your manufacturer’s warranty.
- The features and extras your vehicle is equipped with.
What is the manufacturer’s warranty on your vehicle? For the Genesis the warranty is a 5 year/60,000 mile warranty with full coverage. This sounds pretty good. In fact it is one of the most extensive and longest warranties offered today.
The reality is that for most vehicles the components tend to start breaking down and need repairs just when the warranty expires. The whole idea of the warranty is to handle defects in components and not to protect from deterioration over time and with extensive use.
This is the reason it is so important to think beyond that manufacturer’s warranty and to get coverage that will protect you once it has expired. This will save you money out of pocket and also save you from all the hassles of trying to get repairs handled. It is a good idea to not wait for the manufacturer’s warranty to run out because with age and mileage on a car it is more difficult to find an extended warranty and get a good price for it. If you buy early then you will get the best price and the most extensive coverage in an extended car warranty.
Think about the extra features that your car has. What special systems is your car equipped with? Do you have any of these:
- navigation system?
- anti-lock brakes?
- backup camera?
- electronic stability control?
- blind spot information system?
- Microsoft Sync?
- hybrid fuel system?
- monitoring system for tire pressure?
- collision avoidance system?
- four wheel drive?
- turbo?
Vehicles keep getting more advanced. The idea is to make life easier with all these extra features and to make vehicles safer. In the process of doing this, though, the manufacturer’s are making it more difficult to repair these well equipped vehicles. When you read harder also think more costly.
Look over your vehicle for these extras and keep in mind that they may make your life easier, but they can be expensive to fix. This can make it even more necessary to have an extended car warranty that will offer you coverage for such things. Do not hesitate to examine your coverage contract to be sure that you have coverage for all the components. Your covered components will be listed in there somewhere and you need to know what is covered under your extended car warranty.
Once you figure out what you need for your specific vehicle you will want to consider your own needs.
- Extra features and benefits
- Price
You should know what type of additional things you would like to be included in your extended car warranty or as it is often called mechanical breakdown coverage. Each extended car warranty offers additional things in the contract. Good things that should be in a quality extended car warranty are:
- Roadside assistance available 24 hours
- Coverage for a rental car
- Protection for tires
- Trip interruption
For most people the most important extras on this list are the roadside assistance and the rental car coverage. These things are pretty much essentials because they are the ones that you will most likely get the most use out of.
Roadside assistance there for you to call when you need a tow to get it repaired and the rental car coverage ensures you will have something to drive while your vehicle is being repaired. Tire protection is great for getting tires repaired or replaced. Trip interruption is nice because it helps with meals and accommodations if you break down when away from home.
Cost is a main factor in anything we buy. Buying an extended car warranty is something where cost will be a factor. Extended car warranty prices can vary and will ally be based on your vehicle’s condition and repair history. The underwriter will do some research into your vehicle to look for these factors that will be considered when computing the price of your warranty coverage.
The cost will also reflect expenses of the underwriter. If the provider has an administrative company separate from its main company then this will also add to the price.
Ideally you want to find a provider that is the underwriter and the administrator so that you can avoid extra expenses tacked onto your price. You don’t want to pay extra for their expenses. Plus having everything with one company under one roof saves time and prevents hassles and confusion when you actually get your warranty and need to get repairs done.
It is not simple to find the right extended car warranty. I have a lot of experience with buying warranties and trying to find that perfect extended car warranty. I had to spend a lot of researching. Today you can easily do research online. To give you an idea let me share who I use. I use Mercury Insurance Group and here is why:
- This company is the underwriter and administrator.
- The company has been in business for quite a while.
- The company has built up great assets and is stable.
- They offer reasonable prices.
- They give those popular extra features.
- They also offer a variety of options and coverage levels.
You don’t have to listen to me, though. Do research on your own. You will find a lot of useful information on our sit. You can use it all to help you along with finding the right extended car warranty. You can also give us a call if you have questions.
My name is Kirk Steele and I want to personally welcome you to our website.
I have 30 + years of experience in this industry. I formerly sold quality extended vehicle warranties through financial institutions to their customers or members via Steele Insurance Services Inc. I sold that agency a few years ago and now I’m pleased to offer quality extended vehicle warranty products direct to the public via this website and our offices in Laguna Hills, Ca.
My mission with this website is to provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision with your purchase of an extended warranty.
I’m proud to offer only the highest quality extended vehicle warranties from the most respected and best rated companies in the extended warranty business