For many of the highest-value items we’ll purchase in our lifetimes, warranties are common areas of interest. Vehicles are no exception – both for new and used cars, warranties are commonly parts of the purchase and help protect the buyer in case of damage in the future.
At Auto Showcase of Tulsa, we’re happy to explain the warranty situation for any of our high-end used cars you’re looking into. How do warranties work for used cars compared to new cars, and are there situations where warranties won’t be available? This two-part blog series will go over everything you need to know about vehicle warranty considerations, including a few terms to know and areas to check into as you research this realm.
New Car Warranty
Understanding how warranties work for used cars first requires grasping their basics for new cars, which will play a role here in many cases. All new cars come with a new warranty, known as the manufacturer’s warranty, which guarantees that a car’s components and systems will function properly under normal driving conditions for a certain period of time.
So how long does a new car warranty last? This will vary widely. Some will be full coverage for a specific period of time or number of miles – warranties covering three years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), for instance, are very common. In other cases, warranties will describe certain kinds of coverage, such as powertrain or other specific components.
Extended Warranty
In many cases when a somewhat newer car is sold and enters the used car market, especially when this takes place through a used car dealership like ours, the service department will recondition and restore any significant issues with the vehicle, and it will often enter the dealership’s certified pre-owned program. At this point, the car will often be given an extended warranty beyond the initial manufacturer’s warranty.
Naturally, such used cars will cost more than similar vehicles that do not come with such warranties. Some will add more miles or time to the original, while others will add additional areas of coverage.
Service Contracts
In cases where your used car does not come with an extended warranty, or where the original manufacturer’s warranty is not still in place, there is another option available known as the service contract. There are numerous types of service contracts for used cars, each with different costs and payment formats – many which can be added into your finance contract so you have no out of pocket expense. There are even third parties that offer separate service contracts for a fee.
For more on warranties for used cars, or to learn about our used car lot or auto dealership services, speak to the staff at Auto Showcase of Tulsa today.
