Extended Car Warranties Have Various Levels Of Coverage

An extended vehicle warranty may be made available from a new or used car dealership, or even sold from a third party. Regardless of where one finds an extended vehicle warranty, they should certainly read the fine print and understand just what it is that they are buying. It certainly helps to think of any extended auto warranty from the perspective of the issuer of the warranty as well, especially when it comes to the value part of the equation. After all, the old saying tells us that everything that glitters is not always gold.

Most extended vehicles warranties have different levels of coverage: bumper to bumper, comprehensive, and powertrain/powertrain enhanced. How long each of these items are covered will be outlined in each and every extended car warranty. Note that durations for coverage tend to be either/or in nature, meaning that a particular type of coverage ends once a certain time limit and/or mile limit has been reached.

The bumper to bumper coverage in any extended auto warranty is designed to cover most mechanical systems in a vehicle as well as smaller details, such as mysterious squeaks and rattles. Due to the fact that bumper to bumper coverage is so thorough, it also tends to be the most expensive. This is mostly true for long term warranties and older cars.

Full Comprehensive warranties are a level below Bumper to Bumper. Besides covering the engine and transmision it may cover parts in the braking, cooling, A/C and electrical systems.

The powertrain section of an extended car warranty is designed to cover the motor, the transmission, and the drive axles. These components are subject to tremendous forces that it takes to propel vehicles, and thus are likely to experience wear and tear over time. Its no surprise that these specific parts are more expensive than any other part in the vehicle. Thankfully, most extended auto warranties offer lengthy powertrain coverage that lasts longer than bumper to bumper or comprehensive coverage. There are also Product Warranties that promise to cover the engine and transmission if you use there products in your oiltank and transmission fluid.

These Product Warranties are not noticed as Vehicle Service Contracts by the VPA. Because of this most legitimate Auto Warranty Companies will not sell this coverage to their customers. In general Product Warranties should only be purchased if your vehicle qualifies for nothing else.