When buying a new car, many people pay especially close attention to the terms of the vehicle's warranty. They often provide the kind of peace of mind that reduces buyer's remorse and makes people more excited about their car purchases. Keep reading to learn some basic principles about vehicle warranties that could help you understand whether one that's associated with a car you're considering is worthwhile.
Most Last for a Specific Number of Years or Miles
When looking at details for a warranty, you'll often see descriptions such as "three years/36,000 miles." That means that generally, the warranty lasts for either a three-year period or until whenever your odometer says you've driven 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. The length of the warranty is a good guideline, but it's not a hard and fast rule to depend on, due to the next point on this list.
Some Actions Void Your Warranty
Taking good care of your car helps the vehicle last longer. However, there are also some things you might do to a car to improve it that void the warranty. Some of them include installing aftermarket parts that change how the car's factory-installed components function. People are also commonly concerned they might void their warranties by having cosmetic work done on their cars. In most cases, this is not true unless it changes the car's mechanical function as well as its appearance.
Although you've just learned some general guidelines about what voids a vehicle warranty, always research further by looking at the owner's manual. It'll have a specific section that details what you can and cannot do to stay within the warranty's terms. Also, there are federal and state statutes for vehicle warranties; you should always refer to whatever the owner's manual says because the information there overrides anything else.
A Warranty Isn't a License for Negligence
Some uneducated buyers believe a vehicle warranty gives them permission to avoid regular maintenance on a car or otherwise treat the vehicle in ways that could compromise its function or appearance. Although most warranties provide coverage for defective parts, they don't come into effect if a part gets stolen off your car after you kept it parked out in the open within an area of town that's prone to car thefts.
Anyone Can Perform Maintenance to Keep a Warranty in Effect
Performing regular maintenance on a car that's under warranty is arguably one of the simplest ways to ensure you're doing what you can to keep the warranty's terms in effect. However, that doesn't mean you can only get a car serviced by the dealership.
Many people prefer to take that route because they know that the dealership mechanics are already very familiar with certain makes and models of cars, and may wish to establish an ongoing relationship with a local dealer. However, if you already have a mechanic you rely on, that person can perform maintenance too.
Although this article provides a crash course about vehicle warranties, bring up more detailed questions with your dealership. Representatives there are well equipped to give the answers you need.
