Which vehicles does an extended car warranty cover?

Extended car warranties can be extremely beneficial to people looking to lighten the financial strain of car ownership, but are they necessary – or even practical – for every vehicle? Understanding car warranties and the differences between them isn’t clearly black and white, so let’s take a look into which cars extended warranties cover.

If you’re searching for an extended car warranty, chances are you’ll be able to secure one for your vehicle. The main exceptions when it comes to extended warranties typically boil down to age of the car, mileage, and if it’s typed as an exotic. 

If your car doesn’t fall into any of those categories, there’s a good chance you’ll be covered by a warranty. The only question you need to ask yourself is do you need a warranty? If your car is still covered by the factory bumper-to-bumper warranty, come back to buy an extended car warranty a few months out from its expiration so you don’t have a lapse in coverage. The lengths of factory warranties vary among manufacturers, but it’s typically within 2-3 years from the date it was originally purchased from the manufacturer. 

It’s no secret that the older the car is, the more likely it is to break down. Depending on the manufacturer and how well the car was treated, cars 10-15+ years old tend to carry too much liability to auto warranty companies and are often excluded.

Along those same lines, high mileage vehicles run the risk of being excluded as they’re much more susceptible to mechanical damage from overuse, and this includes vehicles used for commercial purposes as well.

If you car is excluded from most warranties, here are a few tips to still get some peace of mind: 

1. Maintain your car.  Cars that are brought in regularly for maintenance and get checkups at major milestones will almost always outperform cars that aren’t looked after properly. Don’t assume everything is working fine until something breaks. Catching potential issues during regular maintenance can save you $1,000s down the line.
2. Set aside funds for breakdowns. Get in the habit of keeping a budget on monthly expenses and include a car fund. Set aside what you can each month so that if your car breaks down, you’re financially prepared. 
3. Don’t test your car’s limits. Road trips, hauling, weather conditions, etc. can take a huge toll on your vehicle. Don’t put your car through anything you’re not certain it can’t handle.

---