CAR WARRANTIES

Compare cheap car warranties

What is a car warranty?

A car warranty covers the cost of labour and parts over an agreed timeframe if your vehicle needs repairing due to mechanical or electrical failure.

Warranty term lengths vary but a typical example is three years or 60,000 miles – whichever you arrive at first.

What is a car warranty?

If the car you are buying is brand new, it will almost certainly come with a free warranty thrown in from the manufacturer. Often these last for three years – or up to a given mileage limit – and come with the option to extend when it runs out.

At this point it’s important to shop around to make sure you’re getting the best deal – more on this below.

If you are buying a nearly new car, it might still fall under the original manufacturer’s warranty. This is linked to the vehicle itself and will be transferred over to your name as the new registered owner.

Can I get a warranty for a used car?

Major car dealerships also generally offer their own ‘approved used car’ warranties – often for a period of 12 months.

Note that in this case, unlike a manufacturer’s warranty, you will need to have the car serviced at the dealership you bought it from – or a franchise – for the warranty to remain valid.

Can I buy my own car warranty?

It’s also possible to buy a car warranty yourself from a range of independent warranty providers. Sometimes these are known as aftermarket warranties.

These are great if, for example, you have a vehicle you already own, or your existing warranty is about to expire.

You may also find you can get a better deal from an independent warranty provider rather than by extending with your current manufacturer’s or car dealership’s warranty.

Terms and conditions of aftermarket warranties can vary significantly – from their duration to the cap on the cost of repairs, as well as what types of repairs are covered.

Many will also have their own specific claims procedure, which could involve paying upfront and recouping the cost from the provider.

Always be sure to shop around and check the terms and conditions of each warranty before making your choice.

How much does a car warranty cost?

The cost of a car warranty depends on a range of factors, starting with the vehicle itself. For example:

You can keep the cost of a warranty down by opting for a more basic package or a shorter warranty – but bear in mind that the less coverage the warranty offers, the more likely it is you’ll need to dip into your own pocket to pay for repairs which can be costly.

What’s usually covered by a car warranty?

Car warranties generally covers the cost of repairs to engines and transmission, fuel systems, air conditioning and cooling systems, gear boxes, steering, suspension, non-frictional clutch and brake parts and electrics.
But exactly what is covered varies between policies – so check the small print.

What’s usually not covered by a car warranty?

Some repairs will fall firmly outside most warranties, including replaceable parts such as batteries, bulbs, wheels and tyres.

Wear and tear – such as to damage of brake discs and brake pads – is also generally not included. And neither are cosmetic repairs such as to paintwork or the car’s interior.

Accidental damage and vandalism that requires repair to your vehicle or replacement of parts would also not fall under the warranty.

However, you can opt to have some repairs added onto your policy for extra cost.