There is an incredible variety of extended auto warranties out there, and a lot of sales spiels that can skirt the truth a bit. The main thing to remember about extended vehicle warranties is that they are like any other product, in that there are the good, the bad and the ugly. If you want to get a handle on the ins and outs of car warranties, it is helpful to take a look at some of the major myths and misunderstandings surrounding them.

When you know enough to be able to separate the good ones from the bad and ugly variety, you can be more confident shopping for your extended coverage. You will know enough to make a good decision. That is why you should start with this article, find and read a few more, go over the main points of all of them and then go see what type of deal you can make. Let us take a look, then, at these myths and misunderstandings.

- You have to buy your extended warranty from the dealer who sold you the car.

You have many choices, and dealers are but one source for an extended warranty. Remember that dealerships are under sales and commission pressures that may cloud the sales personnel’s judgment or lead them to be something less than completely truthful. No matter what sources you consider, decide what reliable and affordable coverage is in your unique situation, and shop for those features and benefits at the fairest price.

- Every extended auto warranty is like any other, so just buy the cheapest one.

This is so far from reality it is not even wrong! There are a limitless number of kinds and types of auto coverage packages, and some will always be better than others. The only way to be sure about what you are getting is the review the actual contract, as well as the company offering it. If the salesperson will not show you the written warranty, that is about the biggest red flag you could see. Go elsewhere.

- Whatever the salesperson says, that’s what is in the warranty. They cannot lie about it.

Salespersons can always choose to be deceitful, and there is no way you should rely on what you are told. Read the contract. If a salesperson is cagey about letting you read the warranty, it may be because there are other red flags in it. There are certain phrases and terms you should watch out for:

- At the sole discretion of the Administrator

- Used or recycled parts

- Autos have to be maintained according to the manufacturer’s severe-environment requirements (which doubles your maintenance tabs)

- A gradual decrease in operational performance is not covered

- You do not need an extended warranty until the manufacturer warranty ends.

You are not buying double coverage. You are extending coverage. The fact is, the newer your auto, the lower your rates, so you are essentially choosing to lock in costs now while they are lower and defending against future increases. With the imputed savings you can even enjoy additional features now, like some form of roadside assistance or travel insurance, until your extended plan takes effect.

- You have to buy the extended warranty at purchase time to get any special dealer financing.

The one has absolutely nothing to do with the other. Your ability to qualify for dealer financing and other sales terms is dependent on the price of the auto, your down payment or trade-in, your credit score and other factors. Adding more to the bottom line is hardly the way to increase your chances of impressing the finance manager if you do not have all your other ducks in a row. Your car buying decision, your financing choices and your extended warranty coverage are all separate issues, although they have something in common (you).

- Mechanical breakdown warranties offer the same coverage as the wear and tear kind.

Covering wear and tear is the sign of a good warranty, as wear and tear plans provide a greater level of protection. Some extended warranties will define mechanical breakdowns as being due to defective parts or workmanship, whereas wear and tear means you are covered for failures due to normal aging and usage. The older the vehicle, the more crucial these terms become in your decision.

- An extended auto warranty means never having to worry about your auto.

Do not mistake an extended warranty for magic! You still have to maintain your car, provide proper routine care and drive in a manner that will keep your vehicle in good shape. If you take care of your car as the owner’s manual suggests, you should be in good shape for the life of the auto.

There are some ins and outs of car warranties, certainly, but nothing that a little reading, research and shopping around won’t clear up for you. Remember, you are buying what is essentially insurance, so make sure you understand exactly what is in the policy, what is covered, what is not and how it all works when you need to make a claim. Do these things and you should have smooth sailing!

Endurance Warranty.com has been helping car owners save money and gain peace of mind for almost twenty years. You won’t find a more affordable or more comprehensive group of extended car warranty plans anywhere. Nor will you find more knowledgeable or friendly staff to help you find the warranty for you. Visit online today.

There are a lot of commercials, radio spots and print ads touting the bumper-to-bumper and 100,000-mile warranties of this car, that car and the other one, too. So many of them talk about this that some people might think that’s what all car warranties are like, and that they will get some kind of eternal coverage with no exclusions, no deductibles and no fine print. Perhaps some unscrupulous businesspeople want to deceive people with those kinds of falsehoods, and sell them effectively worthless policies, but they are a distinct and dishonorable minority in an industry that provides an important service to millions of vehicle owners.

When you get to the point where you will be buying a new or used vehicle, one of your considerations will be the manufacturer warranty. There may be warranty miles left on a used car, and a new one might be covered for 100,000 miles, but you still have to do enough research to know if you need to add some additional, extended coverage. This means knowing the repair record of the make and model you want, finding out specific facts about specific cars (with Carfax, for example) and then factoring in your own driving habits, the size and scope of various dealer networks, the weather where you live and other things. There really is quite a bit to think about.

Talking the talk

You will definitely need to familiarize yourself with the terminology and concepts used in car warranties generally, so that you are properly prepared before you sit down with salespersons and finance managers at car lots. In fact, even if you are just buying an extended warranty for your present car from a third-party company, you still need to bone up on the details. Before you can choose a warranty you will have to read a few of them, too, and you should not be reading your very first one under the impatient eye of a salesperson. Take the contracts home if you must, but you will speed the process if you start learning about warranties before shopping around.

There are two main considerations for you, before anything else. You need to know what is covered, and what is not. There is no standard bumper-to-bumper plan without any exclusions or conditions, and some of the more problematic ones (and least popular) have tons of red tape in their claim procedures. You need to know the difference between the various warranty types, just as you need to know the special regulations governing warranties in your home state. There are federal laws about these, too, but you need to know how your state handles matters so that you can be in the driver’s seat, so to speak.

Special attention required

Your goal, of course, is choosing your car warranty in such as way as to fit your budget, your car and your needs, in all the ways that this suggests. Education is the key, and you will need to invest some time and effort to ensure that you make the best choice. Naturally, you have state consumer agencies, the insurance commissioners and the basic fraud laws of your state on your side, so you need to get familiar with those things, too. Another thing you will want to do is to use your growing knowledge base to thin down the list of potential warranty providers (and/or cars whose manufacturer warranties you like) before you start driving around to shop for the car and/or the policy, or both at once. Remember, there is no law that requires you to buy your extended warranty from a dealer, and if the dealership employees realize that you are an informed consumer (especially one with other places to go if they do not do right by you), your bargaining stance is definitely strengthened.

Bottom line

What you do before, during and after you buy an extended warranty, or a car with a new or used warranty, is also very important. If you keep your vehicle properly maintained you will avoid many costly repairs. In fact, some very simple things (oil changes, correct tire pressure, clean filters, the right octane rating on the gas) loom large in the health of your vehicle. Make sure you know what the warranty requires of you, as there are typically expectations written into the coverage that deal with scheduled maintenance, wear and tear (which you may or not be covered for) and other vehicle usage.

Take this cautious, even studious, approach to car warranties, and you have a much better chance of choosing your car warranty in such a way as to provide your car the coverage it needs, and give you the peace of mind a dependable vehicle provides. That’s a win-win purchase that most people would love to make!

Endurance Warranty.com has been helping car owners save money and gain peace of mind for almost twenty years. You won’t find a more affordable or more comprehensive group of extended car warranty plans anywhere. Nor will you find more knowledgeable or friendly staff to help you find the warranty for you. Visit online today.