When you buy a new automobile, the manufacturer provides you with a guarantee for a set period. A warranty is simply a promise from the manufacturer that any part on the vehicle that breaks because of a technical fault will be replaced or repaired. As contemporary automobiles are a complicated combination of hundreds of physical pieces and software systems, this is arguably as crucial as motor vehicle insurance coverage. As a result, a normal guarantee of two or three years ensures clients of a trouble-free ownership experience. But many consumers commit a few blunders that may declare their vehicle’s warranty uselessly and invalid. Let’s look at some of these mistakes. A warranty is an agreement for both customer and the manufacturer of your vehicle. It offers to take care of any necessary repairs as long as you maintain the vehicle following the manufacturer’s specifications. However, like any agreement, it may be broken if you do not keep your part of the deal, therefore it is critical to understand what situations might void your guarantee.
What is an Extended Car Warranty?
An extended warranty, also known as a service agreement, a service contract, or a maintenance agreement, is a warranty that is provided to consumers in addition to the usual warranty on new products. The warranty administrator, the reseller, or the manufacturer may provide an extended warranty. Extended car warranties are an extra cost estimated as a percent of the item’s selling value. In the case of a breakdown during the first year, several multi-year extended warranties require the consumer to deal with the manufacturer in writing. As a result, what is frequently sold as a five-year extended guarantee is no longer available. There are seven faults you may do that can void your auto warranty.
What are the voids of an Extended Car Warranty?
The benefit of purchasing a new automobile is the manufacturer’s guarantee, which covers repair expenses and provides roadside support for peace of mind while commuting. The package will provide coverage for the term of the contract and within the mileage restriction. Nonetheless, a car warranty may fail to protect you if you do not follow the provider’s terms and conditions. We recommend that you discuss what voids an extended car warranty with your automobile maker before signing the paperwork. You should also study the terms and conditions of your warranty before driving your automobile for its first test drive to prevent making mistakes that would void the guarantee. There are 7 mistakes that you do that void car warranty.
Electrical alterations
This is a typical reason for voiding an automobile warranty. Many customers make illicit aftermarket electrical upgrades to their vehicles, such as adding fog lamps, elevated headlights, music players, and so on. This provides a compelling rationale for automakers to refuse to issue a guarantee for the car. According to manufacturers, such unauthorized alterations frequently result in the breakdown of other electrical systems in the car. Many additional automobile accessory businesses now attempt to install electrical devices using couplers to avoid tampering with the original wiring. However, in most situations, customers would still lose their vehicle’s warranty.
Inconsistent service
Every vehicle manufacturer suggests a certain maintenance and service interval. Failure to service the car on time can frequently result in the termination of the car’s warranty. If you get your vehicle repaired at an unauthorized service center, your warranty will be voided. If you use a different engine oil than the manufacturer recommends, you will void the engine warranty. Similarly, using counterfeit or unauthorized spare parts might result in the warranty being voided.
Powertrain repair and adjusting
Your car’s engine is registered with your local transportation authority (RTO). If you replace that engine with a new one, the firm is free to refuse to issue a guarantee for the car. Furthermore, retuning the engine control unit (ECU) to get additional energy from the powerplant may result in improved performance, but it will most likely destroy your extended car’s warranty.
Negligence/poor repair
Always follow the manufacturer’s service recommendations to maintain your automobile in good condition and retain any receipts as proof. Inability to keep up with vehicle maintenance might void the extended car warranty since the administrator can argue that your breakdown to properly maintain the automobile caused the failure. Automobile neglect is a primary reason why car manufacturers refuse to honor warranties. Keeping records or driving your automobile to a dealership for servicing will help to demonstrate that the breakdown was not caused by carelessness. Neglect also renders an extended warranty null and invalid. The warranty’s provider anticipates that you will take exceptional care of your vehicle so that you’ll never have to use the warranty’s coverage. To avoid voiding your extended warranty, make sure all preventive procedures are completed on schedule and by licensed experts. It is also vital to utilize the appropriate parts, including lubricants.
Structure Modification
When you are enticed to convert your car into a limousine or an accessible vehicle, you can expect to lose your extended car warranty, the basic structure of an automobile is meant to absorb and dissipate impact in a certain way to keep passengers safe. Therefore, if you make any structural alterations to the automobile, the manufacturer will instantly invalidate the warranty.
Keep all your service records.
Anything you do on the automobile should be saved in a file at home. The primary purpose is to demonstrate that you received service if there is an allegation of negligence. The second step is to document what was done in case you traveled outside of the dealership for any extra services such as tires, oil, etc.
Keep an eye on your servicing schedule.
As we mentioned in detail above, this is one of the simplest methods to invalidate your warranty. Most dealers are quite good at reminding you of your service needs, primarily because they want to bring you back in to buy more goods or even trade you in for a newer car, but if those emails go to the garbage, you need to be aware of when it’s time to go in. Setting a reminder for the 3k mile oil change is a decent rule of thumb. Many newer automobiles automatically inform you when you reach that point, but because these newer cars can withstand longer intervals, individuals occasionally reset it and continue driving. The sake of convenience isn’t worth jeopardizing your vehicle’s warranty.