Extended Warranty Companies

An extended warranty is a great way to extend the life of your vehicle while saving a significant amount of money on inevitable major repairs. Unfortunately, many companies do not want to deal with the additional paperwork or red tape when it comes to dealing with extended warranties; as such, many of our competitors will not work with your extended warranty. BRAKEmax will work with any warranty company that will work with us – we will work directly with your extended warranty company to secure authorization for service on your vehicle.

If you don’t have an extended warranty and you’re planning to keep your vehicle well beyond its factory warranty period, you may want to consider an extended warranty. An extended warranty can deliver peace of mind while literally saving you thousands of dollars. We see these policies pay off every day for our customers.

If you find yourself in the market for an extended warranty, you should take the following notes into consideration:

BRAKEmax offers an excellent warranty on repairs we’ve performed (12 months / 12,000 miles) for a nominal fee. Best of all, this warranty comes with a 12 month roadside assistance benefit at no additional charge.

The best time to buy a policy is typically before the factory warranty expires, often around 3 years or 12,000 miles. Vehicles meeting these criteria qualify for a “new car policy,” which offers more extensive coverage at a better price than “used car coverage.”

You do not need to buy the service contract when you buy the car. Many companies sell excellent warranties independent of dealerships and car lots. Consumers often buy a policy with their new car because they can roll the cost into the monthly car payment. Otherwise, there is no overwhelming benefit.

For the best protection, choose a warranty with “exclusionary” coverage. This is the most common type of policy, and it covers all components except for a few clearly stated exceptions. Conversely, non-exclusionary coverage specifies which components are covered. If a failed part isn’t listed, it isn’t covered.

Always purchase a policy that permits you to use the repair facility of your choice when extended warranty work is needed. A few policies require buyers to return to the selling dealership.

Some policies limit the amount per hour they will pay for labor. A few pay a maximum of $60 per hour, which is substantially below the per-hour average in most areas. Look for a policy that does not cap the labor costs or for one that pays $100 or more per hour.

Choose a service contract that charges one deductible per claim, not per procedure. For example, if you have a $50 deductible per claim and you’re addressing three warranty repairs in one service visit, you will pay $50 for the claim. If your deductible is charged per procedure, you will pay $150.

Keep in mind that extended warranties are not designed to cover all repair costs in all situations. For example, diagnostic procedures are not always covered and are rarely covered in their entirety. In the case of a noise caused by a faulty wheel bearing, the warranty company will cover the labor and parts for replacing the wheel bearing. But the company may not cover the time required to diagnose the condition. Even though you can still expect some out-of-pocket costs, they will be minimal compared to paying for the repair on your own.

It is smart to perform some due diligence on the underwriting company. Not all of them are solvent, and some consumers have been left without coverage even after paying for it.