A resource for accessing providers of warranty cover for your car or vehicle, giving you peace of mind against mechanical failure. Cover is available at various levels with exclusions against certain conditions. Available for new and used cars, also imports. Helps you decide on a competitive quote versus a dealer warranty. Warranty cover available for domestic appliances and other motor vehicles from many of the featured suppliers.

Used Car Warranties – An Introduction

• Many people pay a heavy cost in depreciation to buy a new car simply to avoid the cost of repairs and breakdown. With a reputable used car warranty (depending upon the type of car) you can often have a better car for less money as well as having peace of mind knowing that you will be covered against unexpected failures.
• Below is a guide to used car warranties and what you should be aware of. This follows the guideline text on the ABI Site (Association of British Insurers) – link here.

What is Car Warranty Cover?

• A wide range of car warranties are available to protect you against the costs of sudden and unforeseen failure of specified components of your car or motor vehicle.
  A car warranty protects you against unexpected failure. They are not maintenance contracts and do not cover breakdowns that arise through normal wear and tear. The policy should always make these points clear.
• The components covered by a warranty vary according to the age and mileage of the vehicle. A range of policies is available from wide protection on new or very young used vehicles to more limited cover for older or higher mileage vehicles.
• You may be offered a choice of cover for the vehicle you are buying. Generally, a policy covering a wide range of components will be more expensive than more restricted cover. Cover applies strictly to the failure of specified components only; if the component is not listed for cover in the policy, the repair is not covered.
• Policies usually pay for parts and labour charges incurred in the repair or replacement of an insured component. Policies often have a maximum amount payable for any claim; you should check these limits in view of the cost of breakdown for major components.
• Some policies have a betterment clause that requires you to pay something if your vehicle is improved following repair. They may also have a maximum amount payable during the life of the policy. Some components may have specific claim limits applied as well.
• For new cars, cover is usually for 12 or 24 months after the manufacturer's guarantee expires, but longer periods of cover are also available.
• For used cars, periods of cover offered will vary from 3 to 36 months from purchase. Are there any additional benefits to used car warranties?
• Mechanical breakdown policies may include additional benefits, such as towing-in charges, tyre care or overnight accommodation. These benefits only apply in conjunction with a valid mechanical breakdown claim and are often subject to separate conditions and limits.

What about car servicing and my car warranty?

• Most motor warranties require the vehicle to be serviced by an appropriate dealer, at minimum intervals as specified in the policy. This is a crucial condition of the policy and the policyholder is responsible for making sure that correct servicing is carried out at the intervals specified. Failure to do so could result in a claim being refused.
• What is excluded from my car warranty cover? Only components specifically listed in the policy will be covered. If a breakdown occurs due to a component not specified in the policy, the repair will not be covered.
• Whilst UK specification European imports are generally covered certain high performance car makers will be excluded or high performance variants of common production cars, so you must check whether your desired car will be covered by a car warranty scheme before purchase. If a UK equivalent model exists then often Japanese imported cars are also covered.
• Can I buy a used car motor vehicle warranty online?
  When you buy a new car through a dealer, you will get details of the policies they offer. Cover may also be available from the manufacturer and the dealer may be able to provide details of this too.
• For a used vehicle, you may buy used car warranty cover online. The type of car warranty cover available will depend on the age and mileage. See the links above for suppliers of used car warranty cover.
• Used car warranty cover is also available from some insurance companies, brokers, motoring organisations, banks or other financial institutions (especially if you are borrowing money to buy the car).
• Some mechanical breakdown insurances have an option to renew the cover for 12 months when your policy runs out.

Making a claim on my used car warranty cover.

• Refer to the claims procedures in the policy before you arrange repairs. These will give you full details of how to claim and what to do.
• Some policies pay the repairer direct. Others will ask you to pay the repairer and send the invoice to the insurer for reimbursement.