When you buy a new vehicle you expect to have some warranty protection, at least for the first number of miles of the vehicle. What happens when you buy a used vehicle? Do you get to enjoy a warranty on this model as well? Are you stuck buying extended protection that’s supposed to protect you but doesn’t really do what you need? Let’s take a look at what makes a warrant the deal you need and what you should avoid in a warranty, especially when you consider the need to have your vehicle protected against mechanical malfunctions.
Glove Box Warranty
This is the warranty you think you have in your glove box when you buy a brand new car but it’s actually not a warranty in the legal sense of the term. This is the coverage that you receive from the manufacturer, not a third party and it covers the vehicle for a specified period of time after the car is purchased to help ensure you have little to no defects in the vehicle and its operation. The big difference is the fact that the manufacturer covers this warranty rather than the seller. If you have problems with a new car you have to contact the manufacturer for the coverage and not the dealership.
Express Warranty
This is a warranty that is a statement that makes a difference in the fact that the definition of what is being sold is actually what it says it is. This could simply be when a seller makes a statement of the quality of the product that’s measurable and can be held to that measure such as the number of miles on the tires, how long the brakes have been on the vehicle or the life of the oil in the vehicle. These things are measurable and can become breach of warranty subjects if the seller makes a statement regarding the product you’re purchasing.
Implied Warranty
These warranties are given to you by the seller of the vehicle. When you ask for a specific vehicle that can perform a job that you need it to do and rely on the seller to give you the right vehicle for what you need and then get let down, this is an implied warranty of fitness for purpose. Unfortunately the seller can waive this warranty by having you sign away the right to this warranty and then you’re left with a vehicle that doesn’t do what you need it to but you signed away your rights.
It’s important to understand the differences between warranties and read all documents before signing them. If a seller tells you a vehicle has a new engine, has an accurate odometer reading or was a single owner vehicle you need to have these statements put into the bill of sale to ensure you’re covered if the vehicle fails to be what the seller told you. If you purchase a vehicle for a specific purpose, make sure you don’t give up your right to the implied warranty of fitness because you could be left with a vehicle that doesn’t do what you need it to. Enjoy this podcast and learn more about these different types of warranties.
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