A good warranty plan comes in handy when electrical and mechanical failures leave motorists with service fees that just don’t fit within their budgets. Just as medical insurance providers allow consumers to make small payments in return for peace of mind; auto warranty companies let drivers sleep better, knowing they won’t have to turn their lives upside down trying to come up with enough money to pay for unexpected vehicle repairs.

So many options

Because warranty plans tend to vary, many consumers have trouble selecting one best suited to their particular needs. If you’d like to protect yourself from potentially catastrophic repair fees by securing a reliable, comprehensive service contract, you need a way to compare auto warranty companies; so you know you’re getting the best deal.

Almost no warranty plans agree to pay for maintenance- and wear-related repairs, such as brake pads, tires and filters; however, some also refuse to cover specific diagnostic tests, certain parts and more. How do you know what your service contract will cover? It’s all in the contract. Unfortunately, the majority of drivers have trouble comprehending the legal language found within the standard service agreement.

Get an ally

Instead of trying to parse the language in your service contract, rely on CARCHEX, where you can compare auto warranty companies to find a plan that fits your needs. A fully-accredited warranty service, CARCHEX enjoys an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

In a perfect world, all cars and trucks would run efficiently for years without the need for service and replacement parts. In the real world, repair facilities reap millions of dollars dealing with issues beyond the understanding of the typical consumer. If you were raised by a mechanic or work as one professionally, you probably have the knowhow required to fix and maintain your vehicle. Likewise, if you’re a relatively wealthy driver, you may not even be concerned with just how costly repair work can be. If, on the other hand, you are like most people, you need to rely on professional mechanics and auto warranty companies to handle and fund auto repairs.

What’s a service contract worth?

Almost everyone knows that service contracts fund non-maintenance type repairs; however, many are surprised by what else they can do. A quality service contract can actually increase the value of a car or truck by allowing the owners to sell the vehicle for more money if they choose to do so. Warranties also make pre-owned vehicles easier to sell; because buyers feel more comfortable knowing that any potential repairs will be covered by the service plan.

Finding a reputable provider

Unfortunately, all service contracts aren’t the same and neither are all auto warranty companies. While some provide reliable coverage at affordable rates, others confuse consumers with complex contractual language that may lead to surprise coverage exclusions. To find a car warranty plan that will provide all-inclusive coverage at a price you can afford, work with CARCHEX. A third-party warranty company that’s earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, CARCHEX allows clients to compare warranty plans so they can see key differences and select one best suited to their needs.

An extended vehicle warranty can be a big help when you can’t afford the hefty price tag associated with vehicle repair fees. That said, to get the coverage you expect, you need to avoid some critical mistakes.

Maintenance

Many people mistakenly view their extended vehicle warranty plans as entitlements, when in fact they are agreements. When you purchase a plan, the provider is agreeing to pay for non-maintenance related repairs; however, in return, you are not only agreeing to pay for the plan, you are promising to maintain the vehicle to minimize the chances that it will break down.

If you fail to get regular oil changes, transmission fluid flushes and other maintenance-related services, you may not get coverage when a problem occurs. To ensure that your claims will never be denied, take care of your car according to the specifications in your service agreement.

Choosing a plan

Unfortunately, many drivers accept the first extended vehicle warranty they see. Though most every one provides some level of coverage, some refuse to pay for certain types of repairs and pricey diagnostic exams required to assess the source of specific problems. To ensure that you get complete coverage, don’t do it alone; trust the honest experts at CARCHEX to point you toward a car warranty plan that won’t let you down.

A good auto warranty is worth every penny when unforeseen mechanical problems leave car owners with big repair bills they cannot afford. Just as insurance plans allow people to pay a little upfront to guard against unmanageable future expenses, manufacturer warranties and extended service plans allow drivers to sleep better at night knowing they won’t be financially responsible for unexpected breakdowns and malfunctions. Unfortunately, the wide availability of warranty options can leave consumers confused, and many find great benefit working with a third-party provider that allows them to choose between auto warranty companies.

The difference between plans 

Most every warranty plan will not cover expenses related to maintenance and items that tend to wear, including brakes pads, tires, filters and exhaust systems. Other plans place restrictions on certain mechanical parts that better warranty plans agree to cover.

How do you know if your plan will cover the most important types of repairs? It’s all in the contract; however, most ordinary consumers have difficulty understanding specific details within an agreement. Will the plan foot the bill if your air conditioner breaks? Will the warranty pay for repairs to power windows and other electrical devices?

Instead of spending valuable time pouring over the language within an agreement, put your trust in an accredited company, such as CARCHEX.com. Awarded an A+ Rating from the The Better Business Bureau, CARCHEX prides itself on customer satisfaction and provides a comprehensive list of quality warranty options that are affordable, reliable and easy to understand.

It is completely understandable to think that auto warranty companies take a risk if they approve aftermarket car parts. There are actually several reasons to justify approving non-OEM parts.

It is completely understandable to think that auto warranty companies take a risk if they approve aftermarket car parts. After all, the “generic” version of any product is usually thought of as inferior to the name brand. This seems especially true after the controversy last year, when Ford Motor Company released a video on YouTube showing their OEM parts as being better than aftermarket versions. There are several reasons to justify approving non-OEM parts even following that display.

Major Aftermarket Distributors Provide Component Warranty Coverage

Several of the major aftermarket component sales companies are confident enough in their parts to provide warranty coverage for these parts. NAPA, for instance, has been manufacturing their own component lines for about 85 years. That is an awfully long time frame for a company to sell junk and remain in business. Another major parts outlet is AutoZone. While they are strictly retail, they were the pioneers in double checking the quality of the products they receive from their providers.

Ultimately, the upshot is that if they are willing to back up their products themselves, why shouldn’t we approve them in a claim?

Car Warranty Companies and Third-Party Certifier

A lesser known fact is that there are third party quality control inspection companies for aftermarket parts. What makes them especially useful to car warranty companies is that they provide us with their findings, so we can make informed decisions about what aftermarket parts to use in a car repair.

The two major players in this field are NSF International and the Certified Auto Parts Association (CAPA). In fact, though CAPA has been around since the ’80s, both companies stepped up their evaluations on various car parts in response to the OEM vs. Aftermarket controversy last year.

All the Same, Call Your Vehicle Warranty Company First

With these words of assurance, it is still a good idea to call your vehicle warranty company before anything else happens if something fails. Besides making the warranty claim process more difficult, you could get stuck with an inferior replacement part. Some auto repair shops can be sneaky like that.

Most car repair shops do not concern themselveswith whether or not their replacement parts have undergone any quality control testing, unless you happen to be at a NAPA repair shop. Otherwise, they could have bad quality replacement parts, install them in your car and no one would be the wiser. This is where auto warranty companies step in. They want to save themselves as much money as possible, and they will not approve payment on junk parts since that could mean that you will be back in the shop filing another claim on the same problem.