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Monday, February 10th
New cars generally come with a warranty. Typically, that warranty will expire after a specified number of years or a specified number of miles, whichever comes first. An extended warranty is actually a service contract that helps cover the cost of repairs after the manufacturer's warranty expires. Purchasing one or not purchasing is strictly up to the buyer. When to purchase an extended warranty is also up to the buyer. You can purchase an auto extended warranty at any time.
One option is to purchase an extended warranty when purchasing the car. This offers a couple of advantages. First, it gives you negotiating power to ask for a lower price on the cost of the extended warranty. After all, the dealer wants to sell the car and will make more profit from the sale of the car than from the sale of the extended warranty. Chances are, if he has to come down on the price of the extended warranty in order to sell the car, he will. Other advantages include being able to roll the cost of the extended warranty into the financing for the car and spreading the payments out over time rather than paying for the extended warranty in one lump sum.
Extended warranties do not have to be purchased with the car. In fact, since an extended warranty is a service contract, it can be purchased either during the life of your manufacturer's warranty or after that warranty has expired. Be aware though that you may end up paying more for an extended warranty if you do wait until the manufacturer's warranty expires.
These warranties can be purchased through a variety of companies. Both manufacturers and third-party dealers sell extended auto warranties.
Before making the decision on when to buy an extended warranty, go online and research what your options are. Price and coverage will vary depending on a variety of factors. Duration of the warranty, extent of covers and warranty dealer will all affect price. Make sure you compare the duration, coverage and price of any warranties you are interested in purchasing.
Be sure to also read any fine print before purchasing and look for other differences between policies which may affect price. For instance, look for differences in deductible amounts, whether there are limits on where you can get the car fixed and whether the warranty is transferable to a new owner if you sell the car before the warranty expires.
Purchasing an extended warranty can be a smart investment on a new or a used car. Be sure to go online and do your research before purchasing an extended warranty so you get the best deal you can.
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