Car Warranties | Leicester Car Dealers

All new cars and some manufacturers approved used ones will have car warranties. It pays to read the terms and conditions of the warranty on your car, not least because it can save you money.

1. Most new car warranties and some associated with used cars will include some form of breakdown cover. It may only be applicable for the first year in a three year warranty but it pays to check this out. Otherwise you can end up duplicating costs. Most people take out additional breakdown cover without finding out whether they are already covered on the car warranty.

2. If you buy a second hand car with a warranty, read it carefully. Try to get one provided by a third party rather than a lone dealer just in case the dealership closes down. Those backed by the Retail Motoring Industry Federation are usually fine but you still need to read them. If you don’t get a third party receipt/insurance schedule with this type of warranty it usually renders the warranty invalid.

3. You must check the terms of the warranty. Often you can invalidate them by not following the manufacturer’s instructions. This is especially true when it comes to servicing. You have a little leeway but the specific timescales or mileage will vary from car to car. So read the fine print. If you invalidate a warranty you will be liable for all repair costs so don’t make this expensive mistake. Never assume you are covered.

4. Even if you are a qualified mechanic or have one in the family you may still invalidate the warranty if you carry out your own repairs. Read first before picking up any tools. If in doubt check with the dealership and get their answer in writing.

5. The warranty may stipulate where repairs have to be carried out. For example, if you buy a BMW you may have to attend a BMW dealership to have the car serviced or repaired. It is a good idea to go to the dealership anyway because you may find that it is a repair covered by warranty and you usually don’t have any issues having the work done without getting out your credit card.

7. When you buy a new car the dealer often appears to take ages going through the most obvious points on the car. They do this because people tend not to read the handbook and although the basics of every car are the same, each model is a little different. Listen carefully to what they say as they may tell you that you have to have the car checked after driving for a couple of hundred miles. Failure to have this check done could render a warranty invalid. So pay attention but still read the book.

8. If you are buying a used car from a car dealership, negotiate a warranty as a condition of closing the deal. Even if you can only get a three month warranty, it is better than nothing. Most reputable dealers will agree in order to sell the car.

If you only take one thing away from reading these tips remember to ALWAYS read the fine print to avoid invalidating your warranty.