A car warranty is one of the essential things that are dealt about when buying or selling vehicles—whether new or used ones. It is especially important to a car buyer because it gives them a sense of relief in case of problems such as defective or missing auto parts. Warranties give the consumers the assurance that should any problem arise, this will be taken care of by the auto seller or dealer.
Car owners and buyers must be aware of what auto warranties are, and the many issues involving it. These include the following: the coverage of the particular warranty, the terms and conditions of the warranty, when the services can be availed, and how to be kept abreast on an updated information concerning warranty.
Coverage, which can include auto parts, oil changes, tire and brake replacements, or bodywork, is very important in any warranty. New auto warranties basically consist of a general warranty and a power train warranty. The general warranty covers all damages that happened on all parts from bumper to bumper. On the other hand, a power train provides coverage against damage on the transaxle, transmission, drive system, and parts of the engine and the wheels.
However, because car warranties are limited to a specific time span, damages that occur outside this period are not covered by warranties. This costs the car owner a lot for repairs, especially for parts that are expensive to replace. Thus, some car owners purchase extended auto warranties to save money and to ease potential problems in the long run. As the name suggests, extended warranties are an option when buying a car to make the warranty period longer.
In the United States, several regulations involving auto warranties are implemented in every state.
- Emission Controls Car Warranty Law. Federal standards mandate every state to repair or replace the emission control parts of a vehicle, particularly the new ones. This is to make sure that the auto parts responsible for emissions control are working properly. For instance, auto makers in California are required to cover the smog controls for the car and give a smog control certification for each new car.
- Car Certification. The new auto warranty law directs car makers to give a certification with the new car. The certification should state that the car has been tested for quality control for the engine, transmission, and other auto parts. Thus, the vehicle—before being released by the manufacturer—must pass quality controls and be certified.
- As Is Car Warranty. This warranty applies to purchase of used cars and means that the owner bears the responsibility of repairs of cars that has the condition as it was the time it was purchased.
- Representation of Warranty. This essentially protects buyers from misrepresentation of the condition of the newly-purchased vehicle.
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