When is a Used Warranty Worth It?

by Gregory Nelson

If you’ve started thinking about whether to buy a used warranty for your used car, you may have noticed that the topic has almost started to become a little taboo: You shouldn’t discuss it at the dinner table, everyone has their own opinion, and there’s really no way to know for sure until you experience having one yourself.

But, I’m the type of person who hates having a fast one pulled on me. I like to know that I’m definitely getting something of value without having to take a huge risk. In my family, I have the reputation of always getting a good value for my money.

So when I get the question “When is a used warranty really worth it?” the best and most honest answer I can give is this: it depends.

It depends on the price you pay and the coverage you get for that price. Obviously, the coverage itself is always going to be worth something. But when you pay too much for not enough coverage, then of course it’s not worth it. On the other hand, if you find a reasonable price and understand that it includes all the right coverage, then that’s when getting a used warranty is going to be “worth it.”

For instance: most of the time you’ll find that dealers want you to buy a used warranty that you know is more expensive than getting one from a third party. They’ll trick you into believing the price is higher because their used warranty has better coverage. But with a little research on your part, you’ll usually find they offer the same (if not less) coverage than a third party warranty company who offers lower prices.

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