Nervous
about the last auto repair service you had on your vehicle? Did you
accept any of the offers of warranties on any of the parts or labor?
Knowing when warranties are a good deal, or a not so good deal, is
important. Unfortunately, there are so many different kinds of
warranties that it can be rather confusing.
Before
you make a decision about purchasing a warranty offered to you on any
parts or labor, here are three important questions to ask the auto
repair shop:
What is covered in the warranty?
Or
maybe the better question to ask is--what is not covered? Read the fine
print and be sure the warranty is explained thoroughly to your
satisfaction. Don't assume anything, as not all warranties cover the
same things. For example, does it cover only the drive train, or will it
cover bumper-to-bumper? What kind of repairs does it cover, and how
long (how many months or miles) is it good for?
What
will it cost—long term and short-term? On average, how much do you
spend on auto repair each year? Compare that to how much the warranty
will cost you. Is the difference significantly higher or lower? If there
is a deductible, how often does that have to be met—one time, or per
year?
What are the rules or stipulations that have to be met?
Every
extended warranty normally comes with a set of rules or stipulations.
How stringent are the rules on the particular warranty you are being
offered? Does it apply only to that particular dealer or a specific auto
repair shop?
Remember:
Be sure to read the entire warranty through carefully and ask questions
about the coverage, the cost, and the rules before signing on the
dotted line!
