Car Warranty Guide
A car warranty is a form of insurance policy. If a car breaks down due to the mechanical or electrical failure of an insured part the car warranty can cover‚ or contribute towards the costs of the labour and any replacement parts which are stated in the warranty policy. Why not take a look at some of the warranty providers available to find out more.
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Need Help Deciding?
Petrolprices.com have reviewed a wide range of car warranty providers. After looking into the service and coverage they offer we recommend Warranty Direct and Click4Warranty. To find out more about these providers simply click on the visit site button.
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5 out of 5
Key Benefits:
- Wear and tear covered
- No limited labour rates
- Comprehensive cover
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4 out of 5
Key Benefits:
- Wear and tear covered
- No annual mileage restrictions
- Free vehicle inspection
Car Warranty Comparison
We have compared some of the leading car warranty providers displaying a snapshot of some of the car warranty providers available. The car warranty comparison guide shows you what you can expect from a range of car warranty providers including Warranty Direct, Click 4 Warranty and Warranty Works.
| Warranty Provider |  |
 |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Claim Limit | Up to cars value | Choice of £3‚000‚ £5‚000‚ £7‚000 |
As set in agreement |
| Max age / mileage of vehicle | 12 years / 120‚000 miles | 12 years / 150‚000 miles | 6 years / 60‚000 miles |
| Vehicle recovery | £250 | £100 | £50 |
| Labour costs covered | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Prices for a Ford Focus 2005 with 50‚000 miles | From £154.56 pa | From £173.98 pa | From £199.75 pa |
| More Information | 
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Why do I need a Warranty?
Like any form of insurance a car warranty is a precautionary measure that could save you paying out unexpected mechanical and electrical breakdown costs. Before purchasing a car warranty you should weigh up the pros and cons and take the following into consideration:
- Is the car warranty worth the cost in comparison to the car’s value and costs to fix?
- How likely is your car to break down?
- Is your car too old?
- Does your car have a full service history and MOT?
If your car is old and it does not have a full service history it may be difficult to make a claim under warranty. Some car warranty providers only pay a capped sum towards the repairs‚ so if you own an older vehicle that is more likely to breakdown‚ the warranty could cost more than the car is worth‚ so in this case a car warranty may not be the right choice for you.
Are Warranties Worth it?
In short yes. Like any form of insurance you will be protected from the costs involved. However we do recommend that you read the small print and terms & conditions to make sure you are happy with the agreement. Warranties can vary widely so make sure you are clear on what exactly is covered.
What’s the Best Warranty for my Car?
Before purchasing a car warranty you need to determine what factors are most important for your journeys and budget. If you are likely to make long journeys where overnight accommodation is required, then you will be better off opting for car warranty that offers a range of additional benefits such as breakdown cover. If you think your car is likely to breakdown it would be worth arranging a vehicle inspection to see if your vehicle is eligible for a car warranty.
Personal, Extended and Manufacturer’s Warranty
Manufacturer Warranty
Manufacturer car warranties are offered upon purchase of a new car. You can normally extend this type of warranty directly with the manufacturer’s upon expiration, alternatively you can shop around for personal warranties.
Personal Warranty
Some drivers are unaware that a car warranty can be purchased externally from the manufacturer’s standard warranty. There are better warranty deals around which can not only beat the manufacturer in price‚ but also offer more value for money.
Extended Car Warranty
This type of warranty can be purchased either through the manufacturer after the original warranty expires or through a personal car warranty company, however most manufacturer warranties can only be extended for a further 2 years.
Other Vehicle Warranties
There are a number of warranties available for different vehicles and usage requirements. The following is a list of warranty classifications:
- Car warranty
- Fleet car warranty
- Van warranty
- Business use warranty
- Motorcycle warranty
- Caravan warranty
- Specialist warranty (e.g. high end sports cars and classic cars)
- Imported car warranty (Japanese/European/US imports)
This is the most common form of a vehicle warranty and there’s a wide range of policies available to suit most budgets. If you have a car which is of a high specification your vehicle may be excluded so you will have to take out a luxury or specialist warranty. These are not so widely available but you are still able to shop around for a good deal.
Fleet car warranty
The majority of car warranty companies will also insure fleet vehicles. You must check this when taking out a policy and state that your vehicle is a fleet car.
Van warranty
Most general warranty providers will cover vans as long as they meet the terms and conditions. Vans which are used for commercial delivery purposes such as deliveries and courier services are likely to be excluded from the warranty policy.
Business use warranty
Most car warranty providers will cover vehicles for business use however there are some common exclusions including cars used for driving schools, taxis, deliveries and courier vehicles.
Motorcycle warranty
Like a car warranty, motorcycles are fairly easy to find warranties for. Most of the major warranty providers will cover motorcycles‚ however we recommend that you check directly with the insurer if motorcycle warranty is not listed on their website.
Caravan warranty
Not all the general warranty providers will cover caravans so you may have to search for specific insurers that can offer coverage. Even though a warranty company may not have anything listed on their website, it may be worth calling them to double check.
Specialist car warranty
If you have a sports car or high end vehicle then most car warranty providers will not be able to offer cover. However there are warranties out there that offer specialist cover. It may be worth calling the warranty company directly as they may be able to offer you a bespoke plan that is not advertised on their website.
Imported car warranty
Some warranty companies will cover imports as long as there is a UK equivalent model. However not all warranty providers will cover imported vehicles particularly US and Japanese models.
Tip: Most car warranty providers will class the following cars as prestige:
All 4×4 vehicles‚ Alfa Romeo (apart from GTA models)‚ Audi (apart from all A2‚ A3 and all A4 4–cylinder models)‚ BMW (apart from 1–series‚ 316‚ 318 and M–series)‚ Cadillac‚ Chrysler‚ Dodge‚ Ford Galaxy‚ Honda NSX‚ Jaguar‚ Lexus‚ Mazda RX–models‚ Mercedes–Benz‚ Mitsubishi and Evolution models‚ MGF‚ MGTF and MG–ZT models‚ Morgan‚ Nissan 350Z‚ Porsche (apart from 911 models)‚ Renault models over 2450cc‚ Saab‚ Subaru Turbo‚ Vauxhall VX220 and Monaro‚ Volvo ‘T’ and ‘R’ models and VW Phaeton vehicles.