Information About Car Warranties
As the costs of new vehicles continue to climb, people are looking for a reliable alternative to new cars. The solution many have found is to buy a used car with a warranty. Used car warranties may be simply the original manufacturer warranties that are still in effect or they may be warranties specifically provided for the used car. If reliability and cost are your top two concerns when buying a car, you may want to go to a used car dealer and inquire about their used car warranties.
The first thing any consumer must be aware of when buying a used car is the condition the car is in. Was it traded in as a lemon for something that was not covered on the car’s original warranty? Was it in a severe accident or even a flood? Request that the dealership you are considering purchasing the car from provide you will all of this information. Ask for a Carfax report if possible.
Because many car manufacturers offer a bumper-to-bumper car warranty that covers so many years or so many miles, a used car may still have part of this warranty available. Check to make sure that the original warranty is available. If it is, ask for a detailed description of what is covered. Whether you purchase you vehicle at a car auction, a dealer or another place, do your homework ahead of time and see if the state or country you live in has individual warranty requirements. Inspect the information provided to you by the dealership on the existing and remaining warranty with any specifications required by law where you live.
If there is no car warranty left on the vehicle you are interested in, ask the dealership what kind of warranty they offer. Most dealerships offer some form of thirty-day warranty. This is to ensure that any problems that may arise can be fixed in a short length of time, preferably before they start to cost you a lot of money you may not have. Some dealerships offer a longer warranty. Make sure you ask what they offer, what it covers in detail, and that you understand the warranty they offer before signing the final papers and driving away.
Two places that may not be the most recommended or reliable sellers of cars are the Internet and individual sellers. Because of the problem with high odometer readings making cars cheaper to purchase, there has been instances where sellers – and some less than honest dealerships – have rolled back the odometer. By looking at a car on the Internet, you do not know what you may be getting. The seller may claim that the car warranty is in force when in fact it is not. ‘Buyer beware’ is a great statement in these cases.
There are companies available that will sell car warranties for cheap used cars at reasonable prices. These are something to look at and think about when purchasing a used car. This will not only protect your investment if there is no original car warranty left or if the dealership only offers a thirty day one, but it will also protect your wallet. Prices for these extended warranties may range, so do your homework and find the one that is best for you.
