When you’re ready to shop for an auto warranty, it’s hard for most people to overcome that natural consumer instinct to hunt for cheapest price. But beware… because when you fall into that mindset of looking for “the best and lowest price,” especially when shopping online, you become more susceptible to the rip-offs and scams.
Since jumping online has become one of the first things consumers do when looking for an auto warranty, my first guess would be that they want an auto warranty without the dealer markups. But we all know shopping on the internet can be risky no matter what we’re looking for, so make sure you have all the information to make an informed decision by following these simple tips:
- Check out the company’s reputation by looking on the Better Business Bureau website or Web Assured.
- Look for consumer reviews and testimonials
- Find out how easy or difficult it’s going to be to get your claim filed
- Know what kind of car maintenance is required to keep the warranty valid, such as oil changes every six months in order for them to pay for your repairs
- Find out specifically what is covered, being sure to ask about wear-and-tear damage
- Never buy an auto warranty unless both parts and labor are covered.
It may seem tedious, but overall make sure you understand as much of the fine print as you can. For example, you may think you’re going to call the same company when you have an auto warranty claim, but in most cases you’ll probably end up contacting an entirely different company and getting the run around.
Remember that in most cases the old adage is true – You get what you pay for. Trust me, it’s just not worth going with the cheaper auto warranty and ending up with a worthless piece of paper. Make sure you are getting value for your hard earned dollars.
