When you buy a new or a second hand (affectionately referred to as pre-loved) vehicle, you’re faced with a number of choices. There are the usual choices, like the make, model, and colour, but there’s also the various car care products available. These include warranty, service plan, and maintenance plan, and are meant to help you take care of your car and protect you against the financial implications of unforeseen failures.
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Each option differs in its terms, benefits, and limitations – and it’s often these differences that make it difficult to understand which is better choice for you. After all, it’s hard to make an informed decision when you don’t feel equipped with the right information.
That’s why we have briefly reviewed each one so that you can do your homework and select the appropriate plan for you.
The maintenance plan
A maintenance plan is, in some regards, the ‘big daddy’ of the three options. It is more comprehensive than either a service plan or warranty, providing cover for all routine servicing (according to the manufacturer’s schedule), as well as mechanical failures, and wear and tear.
What isn’t included, generally speaking, are the costs for repairs caused by an accident or your own negligence, as well as your tyres, alignment, and windscreen.
These are things that you would usually claim for from a comprehensive car insurance policy.
Another good thing to keep in mind is that maintenance plans have a limited lifespan, lasting for a set period of time or number of kilometres. Most of the time, though, you should be able to extend your plan.
The service plan
Let’s start with what a service is. As you probably know, vehicles run on consumable items that need to be topped up, refreshed, or replaced. A service is the scheduled appointment to get this all done, and a service plan foots the bill.
Well, to be specific, a service plan pays for the cost of the labour and standard parts that are stipulated by your car’s manufacturer. Because it’s a budget-friendly way of keeping your vehicle running smoothly, a basic service plan won’t cover all parts, like glass, tyres, wheels, wheel alignment, accessories, and electrical wiring components.
Much like a maintenance plan, a service plan is good for a set period of time or number of kilometres, which you can usually extend for an additional monthly fee.
The warranty
A warranty is the most basic level of protection against your car’s parts failing, which can be extremely expensive to deal with on your own. A warranty plan won’t pay for consumables and scheduled car part replacements but it does act as your financial safety net for when things breakdown unexpectedly.
We can’t speak for other warranty plans, but our range of AA Warranties can help you with the cost of paying for mechanical, electrical, and electronic failures that may happen to your vehicle. What’s more, any claims you put in won’t change the monthly cost.
How to choose
It really isn’t as simple as telling you what to do, because we could say that maintenance plans are ideal for more expensive cars or for a car that you want to sell at a later stage. We could also advise that a warranty is exactly the right product to give you peace of mind, knowing that the AA has your back in the most unforeseen of breakdowns.
But really, the right plan for you will depend on your vehicle, your budget, and the type of driving that you do.
Your best option is to do some research, like reading this post, so that you can make the most informed choice about the right kind of plan for you.
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