3 year warranty?

AnnieP6

We are buying a 3-year old car, with 8,000 miles on the clock, from a reputable dealer. It comes with a 3-month warranty but we have been offered a 3-year warranty.

Having read the t&c, there appear to be so many exclusions, the £600 cost seems expensive.

Would appreciate hearing of experiences and recommendations.

JJ_Egan

As always depends upon what they actually cover and for how long / milage .

AdrianC

Any aftermarket warranty is just an insurance policy.

The provider is doing it for one reason only - to make money. They do this by simple maths...

Profit = Money in (premiums) - Money out (tax, advertising, admin costs, staff costs, commission... claims...)

So to be ahead, you're gambling that you're buying a car which is far less reliable than the average.

(BTW, 3yo but only 8k? Why DO people get fixated on such ridiculously low mileages? They aren't a good thing.)

Aylesbury_Duck

As above, I'd be more concerned about the small mileage in three years. Suggests it's only be used to pootle about locally. What service history does it have?

jaybeetoo

That's not a very high mileage for 3 years. What sort of journeys has it done? Was it all short journeys where the engine never gets up to temperature?

Is it petrol or diesel?

DrEskimo

Or electric...?

I was quite thankful my 2-yr old EV only had 5,000 miles on it! Battery health was still 99% and meant hardly any charge cycles!

OP, I rarely find used warranties provide much use. I would much sooner stick the £600 away and have it there for any repairs. As Adrian says, on average, you are going to have repairs much lower than the premium.

AnnieP6

Thanks for the replies.
No, we are not fixated on low mileage - it just happens to be the mileage on the car we are buying!
No idea if it’s only been used for short runs. Our annual mileage will also be relatively low.
It’s diesel.

Following are a few of the exclusions. Are they reasonable?

High value items. Air suspension systems. All radar and cruise control systems. Satnav systems. DVD entertainment systems including screens.

Glass and lamps. Any glass including heated front & rear windscreens, heated mirrors or any heated element encased in glass. Lamp assemblies or bulbs, including headlamp self-levelling and igniter systems.

Other items not covered. All body parts including sun roofs, convertible tops and paintwork. Door, boot and window seals. Electrical wiring, looms, connection blocks, connections and software download updates. Fixings and fastenings, interior trim. Seats (including frames and runners), and carpets. Wheels and tyres. Drive shaft and steering gaiters. All batteries... Handbrake cables. All pipes, hoses, and clips. Windscreen wiper blades and washer jets. ...

SHAFT

AnnieP6 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.
No, we are not fixated on low mileage - it just happens to be the mileage on the car we are buying!
No idea if it’s only been used for short runs. Our annual mileage will also be relatively low.
It’s diesel.

Following are a few of the exclusions. Are they reasonable?

High value items. Air suspension systems. All radar and cruise control systems. Satnav systems. DVD entertainment systems including screens.

Glass and lamps. Any glass including heated front & rear windscreens, heated mirrors or any heated element encased in glass. Lamp assemblies or bulbs, including headlamp self-levelling and igniter systems.

Other items not covered. All body parts including sun roofs, convertible tops and paintwork. Door, boot and window seals. Electrical wiring, looms, connection blocks, connections and software download updates. Fixings and fastenings, interior trim. Seats (including frames and runners), and carpets. Wheels and tyres. Drive shaft and steering gaiters. All batteries... Handbrake cables. All pipes, hoses, and clips. Windscreen wiper blades and washer jets. ...

So you don't want a new diesel.

facade

AnnieP6 wrote: »

Following are a few of the exclusions. Are they reasonable?

---

snip----

They exclude pretty much everything that is likely to go wrong, so I guess so


Add to that wear & tear items and it only leaves the inside of the engine & gearbox and strangely, the ecu (I'd have thought they'd have excluded that too)


The DPF and EGR valve are the most likely things to require attention with a low mileage diesel, and you can bet the whole £600 if you like that they are not covered.


I'd put the £600 in a savings account myself, but it is your money, and you never know, you might be unlucky enough to have a major problem, but lucky enough for it to actually be covered.

BeardyOne

If you are doing low mileage then buy petrol, unless your low mileage is made up of long trips.

In regards to the waranty, as it is only 3 years old have you looked at how much it would be to get an extended warranty from the manufaturer rather than an aftermarket one?

marlot

AnnieP6 wrote: »

...Our annual mileage will also be relatively low.
It’s diesel.....

Short journeys are a very bad idea with diesels - the DPF doesn't get regenerated.

I very strongly suggest you buy a petrol instead.

eg. https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/emissions/diesel-particulate-filters/