What Does a Used Car Warranty Cover?

Obtaining a used car extended warranty is a good idea when you have your own car as it adds a sense of security should you run into any mechanical issues with your car. A used car extended warranty covers certain aspects of mechanical breakdown costs depending on the warranty you choose. A used car extended warranty is comparable to a manufacturer warranty and similar to an extended car warranty. These vehicle service contracts cover certain mechanical breakdown component costs in your car.

What is the Best Used Car Warranty?

There are two main types of used car warranties. These are known as the bumper-to-bumper warranty and the powertrain warranty. Choosing the best used car warranty is based on your needs. The bumper-to-bumper warranty is more comprehensive than the powertrain warranty but more expensive when it comes to used car warranty cost. When your factory warranty, the basic warranty that comes with your car, runs out you can buy an extended warranty.

Used Car Warranty Review of Bumper-to-bumper Warranty

Bumper-to-bumper warranties provide the most coverage you can have for your vehicle. Also known as an exclusionary warranty, because there is only a shortlist of components of the vehicle that aren’t covered. This form of warranty is offered at the factory warranty stage and for extended warranties. The average length of a bumper-to-bumper warranty is 3 years or 36, 000 miles. However, your warranty may last longer depending on your case.

What’s Covered in a Bumper-to-bumper Warranty?

Bumper-to-bumper warranties can include coverage of the following:

• All the major vehicle systems
• Air conditioning as well as heating. This includes the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator
• Electrical areas such as the alternator, power-driven windows, door locking mechanisms, sunroofs, etc.
• Steering components such as the rack and pinion, the power steering pump, the power steering hoses and so forth
• Safety elements such as airbags, seat-belts and so forth
• Tech systems such as cameras, GPS systems and so forth
• Certain emissions components
• Hybrid vehicle components such as batteries

Used Car Warranty Review of a Powertrain Warranty

A powertrain warranty ranges between 50,000 to 120,000 miles coverage or around 3 to 10 years. The cost of repairing parts of your powertrain is not cheap. Replacing the engine on its own can cost several thousand dollars. This is where a powertrain extended warranty comes in handy, even though it’s a lower level of coverage than your bumper-to-bumper warranty option. The best used car warranty can be chosen according to your needs.

What’s Covered in a Powertrain Extended Warranty?

Powertrain warranties cover your vehicle’s powertrain, which includes coverage of the following areas:

• The engine
• The transmission
• The axles
• The driveshafts
• The seals
• The gaskets
• The transfer case and more

A powertrain warranty also gives you the peace of mind that the critical areas of your vehicle are covered in case of a mechanical issue. The decision lies with you if you want a comprehensive bumper-to-bumper extended warranty or a powertrain extended warranty. Used car warranty cost is cheaper for a powertrain warranty and more expensive for the bumper-to-bumper warranty. We have given these options a used car warranty review so you can choose the best option for your used car. Browse our extended warranty options for your car model through our comprehensive car warranty search tool. You are bound to find an extended warranty plan that will work for you!

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