Compare Car Warranty

An aftermarket car warranty will include cover for faults that may appear in certain parts of your car, such as the engine, the steering, and the fuel systems. Sometimes warranties include cover for problems with the air-conditioning or electrical issues with entertainment or navigational systems too. To know exactly what a car warranty covers, check your policy documents.

This depends. As a rule, most car warranties won’t cover repairs for any parts that you would expect to wear away with regular use, unless they don’t last as long as they are meant to. Things like tyres, brake pads, bulbs, and the clutch, which experience regular use and you would expect to replace at some point, won’t normally be covered by a warranty. Some providers may offer some cover for wear and tear, so check the terms of each policy to see what cover is included. Warranty that includes wear and tear cover may be more expensive.

No, car warranties cover mechanical and system failures with the car, not accidental damage. If your car is damaged by fire or in an accident, you may be able to make a claim on your car insurance depending on the level of cover you have chosen.

Some car warranty policies may include some levels of roadside assistance, but this will depend on the provider and the policy you choose. Car warranties aren’t a substitute for breakdown cover as breakdown cover can offer assistance for problems that don’t involve specific faults with the car’s internal systems, such as a flat battery or a puncture.

No, car insurance and car warranties are two separate policies. Car insurance is legally required and, as a minimum, will cover you in the event of an accident. More comprehensive policies may cover you if your car is stolen or damaged.

Car warranty, on the other hand, will cover you if there is something wrong with a certain part of your car. If the part has been damaged in an accident for example, this would come under your insurance.

This depends on the policy and the provider. Car warranties will set limits for the amount they will pay out, and they may set separate limits for certain faults. For example, you may only be able to claim up to a set sum for a problem with your engine. Any repairs or parts that cost more than this sum, would be your responsibility to pay.

The cost of a car warranty will depend on factors like the age and model of your car and your car’s mileage. It will also depend on the level of cover you choose. Some providers will offer warranties with varying levels of cover, and the ones with more protection are likely to cost you more. How much excess you agree to pay when you make a claim will also affect the cost of the warranty. The higher the excess, the more you may be able to save on your warranty.

The cost of car warranties also differs between providers. Warranties from a dealership can be more expensive than warranties that are bought online from independent providers, so it is worth comparing the costs of different options.

Only you can answer that. If your car is known to be reliable and you have enough money in your savings to cover the cost of any emergency repairs, then you may feel you could do without a car warranty. However, repairs can quickly become very expensive, so a warranty could cost you less than paying for the repairs yourself.

Before making a decision, look at what is included in the car warranty as well as its terms and conditions. This will help you to see if a car warranty is right for you and your vehicle.

Manufacturers’ warranties on brand-new cars typically last three years, but can go up to seven years, so your used car may still be covered by this policy. When this expires, you may be able to extend this by a year or more.

Dealerships offer used car warranties lasting from a few months to a year or more. Warranties from independent online providers can range up to three years. The length of a car warranty can also depend on the age of your vehicle.

This depends. All warranties will require you to get your car serviced at a reputable garage at specified intervals. However, manufacturers’ warranties can’t tell you where to get your car serviced or make you get the service from one of their dealerships. You can go to an independent garage and the warranty will still be valid.

However, if you get an aftermarket warranty from a dealership, they can require you to get your car serviced at one of their garages in order for your warranty to be valid. Warranties from independent providers may have a list of approved garages where you can get a service from, or they may accept services from any VAT registered garage. Check your terms to see what your car warranty requires.

If there is something wrong with your car and you think it’s covered by the warranty, you should stop using your car and report the issue to your provider. You will need to tell them about the problem, and they should then tell you what to do next.

If they authorise the repairs to your vehicle, you can take your car to an approved garage to get it fixed, and the provider may pay the garage directly. If you take your car to a different garage for repairs, you may be able to pay and then claim the costs back from the provider. Your policy documents will have more information on this.

If you breach the terms of your car warranty your claim could be rejected. For example, if you continued to use your car even though you were aware of a problem, your claim may be unsuccessful as you may have made the problem worse. Similarly, if you have not looked after your car and got it serviced as required, your policy could be invalidated. Check the terms of your policy to make sure you comply with all the necessary requirements.

If you sell your car, contact your warranty provider. You can cancel your warranty and you may be able to claim a refund for the period you haven’t used. For a fee, some providers will allow you to transfer your warranty to the new owner of the car. In some cases you may be able to transfer the warranty to your new vehicle, or get a discount on a new policy if you stay with the same provider.