Most new cars come with some kind of car warranty, but it’s not often that you get such a thing when you’re buying a second hand vehicle. That’s why when you do find the one that you want – the right make, mileage, colour (don’t worry, we know that colour is important) AND it comes with a warranty? Well, you snap it up, don’t you?

What you need to know, though, is that not all car warranties are created equal.

Depending on the provider, a warranty can differ from one to the next, particularly in the timeframe and what’s covered. It’s best to know what a decent car warranty will usually cover, what’s typically excluded, and what additional factors you should consider.

Armed with this information, you’ll be in the best position to make an informed decision about what kind of car warranty is right for you and your car.

Here’s everything you need to know about a car warranty.

What a decent car warranty should cover

A car warranty is a standard level of protection against your car’s parts failing. To put it another way, it’s a policy that commits to paying for the repairs or replacements of a defective component in exchange for a low monthly fee.

These are the car parts that are usually covered:

• The vehicle’s engine
• Gearbox (manual and automatic)
• Transmission system
• Turbo or super chargers
• Brake system parts
• Electronic and electrical parts
• Steering
• Suspension
• Fuel and ignition systems
• Cooling system

What isn’t covered by a car warranty

Mechanical and electrical repairs are often on the more expensive side of life, especially if you have to pay for it out of your own pocket. Thankfully, a car warranty acts as a financial safety net for when things breakdown unexpectedly. That said, there are a number of things that a car warranty won’t cover.

Typical exclusions:

• Consumables, such as oil and coolants, etc.
• Scheduled car part replacements
• Normal wear-and-tear to tyres and wheels, exhausts, the vehicle’s catalytic converter and brakes along with damage to bodywork, paintwork, glass and headlights.
• Air-conditioning /Heating system components such as internal components of the compressor pump, compressor electro-magnetic clutch assembly, condenser, evaporator, pressure regulator assembly, expansion valve, and heater control valve.
• Audio equipment
• Satellite navigation system

So, what factors should you consider?

When you’re looking for a car warranty, it’s important to know what’s covered and what’s not. But we’d say that, perhaps even more importantly, you need to be clear about your budget for repairs, what your car’s history is like, and what the future of your car looks like.

In our experience, there are four good questions to ask yourself before you decide what kind of warranty you should get.

1. How much are you willing to spend on a warranty?
   It’s better to know right off the bat how much room there is in your monthly budget. There’s no point in choosing the most expensive and comprehensive plan with the highest benefit limit, if you won’t be able to maintain the policy.
   That’s exactly why the AA offers a range of options to suit most budgets, from the Chrome Plan with a R7,000 benefit limit all the way up to the Titanium Double Up Plan with a R100,000 benefit limit.
2. What is your long-term plan for your car?
   If you want to keep your car for longer, a warranty will help you look after it and make sure that it keeps going even after something big goes bang. Also, if you want to sell your car in the future for a better price, buyers love knowing that the car they’re interested in has had a warranty as this indicates that the car was looked after.
3. What’s your car’s history?
   If you bought your car second hand, you can’t be absolutely certain about how it was looked after and what kind of issues it might have developed under the previous owner’s care. Alternatively, if you’re the only owner, then you’ll know full well what issues the car has had in the past, no matter how small.
   In either case, a warranty is advisable.
4. What’s your budget for car repairs?
   As we’ve mentioned, repairs and replacements can be a costly affair. The thing is, even if you have the finances available to deal with these expenses, wouldn’t you prefer an affordable policy than to fork out the money to pay for the repairs yourself?

Feeling informed?
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, like it does with car insurance claims.

Not sure if a car warranty is what you need? Check out the difference between car warranties, services plans and maintenance plans.