Extended Warranties

[Thomas2]

Are extended warranties worth it? National Auto Care?

[J. Morgan]

If they were worth it on average, they couldn't sell them, they would go broke.


Talis gentium ceciderunt.

[HowieE]

Dam, I want to be the first to say they are worthless.

[AWCHIEF]

Take the warrenty money and put it in the bank.

[switz]

I broke "even" with the seven year 100,000 extended warranty on the 2007 Mercedes. Had a couple of credit card melt downs since the warranty expired.

[dkottum]

I've never bought one but a camper van we bought used came with an extended warranty. The first time we tried to use it for a brake hydraulic system problem, they quoted a little disclaimer in the sheets of fine print and denied the claim. Then when I raised hell about it they came up with a few bucks "in good will".

That said, we just bought a new diesel truck and I'm looking into an extended warranty from the manufacturer, if possible, but not from a third party.

[PKI]

If you have to ask, the answer is no. If you know, the answer is yes or maybe no. If it breaks, the answer is yes. If it does not break, the answer is no. If you can DIY, the answer is no. If you can self insure, the answer is No. If you trade every four years, the answer is no. If you win at loto, the answer is yes. If you lose at loto, buy another ticket. The schools need the money and if you buy loto tickets, you don't.

An extended warranty is an insurance policy. Insurance is something that you do not want to collect. It makes a future expenditure predictable. The best option is to self insure, buy quality product, maintain the product well and do not subject the product to abuse. The problem with today's vehicles is that the cost of labor to repair is quite expensive. You may not be able to afford the best option. The good news is that you, not us, get to pick your poison. Good luck! Travel safe. Pat

[switz]

Extended warranties do NOT pay to replace injectors from wear and tear and some of the newer diesels the stealers are asking for several thousand dollars per injector which makes a V8 more expensive than the straight six Cummins.....

[jcanavera]

I only have to look at my own experience with two trailers that I owned for lengthy periods of time. I had a Hi-Lo travel trailer that I owned 14 years, and my current Classic which is going on 12 years. If I had owned a service policy I would be on the losing end of each. The Hi-Lo and no major failures over its life time. The Classic has had two repairs on the same wheel due to brake issues and a skylight replacement. If I added up the costs of those repairs on the Classic, it would be less than one years premium on the Classic.

To me insurance may only be justifiable if a person lacks the resources to cough up the lump sum costs when a covered failure occurs. The far better way is to create a savings account where you can make monthly deposits that are equivalent to what the cost of insurance is. Not only will the money be there to help out for repairs, but you will have a lot more there as the years pass. The bonus is with that account, there are no warranty squabbles. Everything in your trailer is covered!

Jack