Are extended warranties worth it (Dacia in my case, but applies to other makes)...?

Tunstallstoven

TL;DR - is it worth getting the extended warranty on a used car if it ties you to using the approved dealer garage (presuming that's even possible)?

More details....

Hi all

That title probably sounds like gobbledygook(!) so let me try to explain...

We've looking to buy a Duster. Most likely a new-ish used on, but there's also a brand new Mk2 which says it's MY23.5 and I'm not entirely sure what that means/what the implications are...

Anyhow, one of the reasons for trying to get one that is less than 3 years old is to get one still under the manufacturer warranty, which in turn should allow us to extend the warranty. beyond that I'm a bit confused about several things and wondered if anyone here can help please...

1. Is it always the case that the warranty can be extended if the requirements have been met?

2. Is there a cost to the extended warranty and how much is it if so?

3. How good is the warranty and is it worth it? Does it cover lots and are they willing to fulfil it? Or is it the type where there is 101+ ways for them to get out of honouring it?

4. Are services at Dacia garages a lot more than at "normal" garages. Trying to work out how cost effective it will be...

5. Do you have to have other work done at Dacia garage as a requirement of the warranty, or just service? Spark plugs, brakes, etc. I noticed they even had wiper blades listed on one doc ((at £65!).

Any help on any of the above - or anything to do with the warranty at all for that matter - would be a great help.

Many thanks

uknick

The answer to the question should I buy a manufacturer extended warranty is invariably; yes, no, depends.

It all depends on your attitude to risk.  If, like me you could lose betting on a one horse race, take out a warranty.  However, if you always come out of life smelling of roses, don't bother.

As the rest of your questions seem to be Dacia specific, why not get hold of the T&C from their website.

Bigwheels1111

I've extended my Peugeot warranty from year 3 to year 9 so far.

Needed a washer pipe and pump £200 one year, An adblue tank and injector £2000 ish, Now a seat sensor and seat belt something no sure on the price.

So for me it's been worth it.

The hard part is getting a warranty job done, first getting an appointment, a month's wait.

Then we charge £150 to scan the car % diagnosis.

Not charged if a warranty job.

Then another wait for the part's.

Just get a Toyota with 10 year warranty, one service with them a year and you are covered.

WellKnownSid

Dacia Zen is an “up to seven year” warranty and it has a lower mileage limit (75k) than some other brands.

It’s extended each year with every Dacia service, you get nothing if you go somewhere else.

i believe you can still “buy” an extended warranty but you get the same coverage with Zen.

Obviously you get your consumables - brakes suspension tyres wipers etc - done elsewhere or fit them yourself. Our son used to maintain our Toyota, come service time the techs used to send the video round “er yeah everything perfect here, nothing required here, all good here…” 😆

https://youtu.be/rihHpedgrnA

Tunstallstoven

Many thanks for the replies, very helpful.

I've also been reading up a bit on the subject. Just thinking loud really as to what else I've learnt....

- Warranties, insurance, etc. It's never really done out of the goodness of their hearts, so they'll do their best to wriggle out of it whenever they can. That being said, in specific circumstances it can be very beneficial indeed, as with any insurance.

- Apparently it can be serviced at a local garage so long as they abide by the terms of the warranty. That's good to know, would most likely be cheaper, and for me is much closer to where I live.

- Potential Problem 1 - As per @Bigwheels1111 I've read of a few people having long waits for work to be done (or even for diagnostics to see if it is a warranty claim). We only have the one car and live in the sticks so rely on it. If something goes wrong we need to address it straight away.

- Potential Problem 2 - Seems if the dealer does a diagnostic test and decides it is not a warranty claim (fairly or unfairly), you then pay for the diagnostic. That would be true of any garage, but at least at another garage you would get them to do the work most likely for a lot less.

Other stuff I've learnt, but please correct me if I'm wrong!

- Although Dacia Zen is free and applied "Automatically", the dealer has to "register" or "approve" the warranty? Not sure if this is just at the point of sale, or after each service.

- Dacia Zen is free and applies to used cars as well.

I think that's it for now!

Cheers

WellKnownSid

Tunstallstoven said:

- Potential Problem 2 - Seems if the dealer does a diagnostic test and decides it is not a warranty claim (fairly or unfairly), you then pay for the diagnostic. That would be true of any garage, but at least at another garage you would get them to do the work most likely for a lot less.

The dealer doesn't decide if it's a warranty claim or not - so it's not unreasonable to pay for their time.  

Of course, how dealers handle it can be different:

Dacia Owner: "I have a problem, could you take a look?"
Dacia Dealer: "Of course, that'll be £135 diagnostic fee"
Dacia Owner: "Oh you're kidding?  That's daylight robbery!  How can you sleep at night?"

BMW Owner: "I have a problem, could you take a look?"
BMW Dealer: "Of course, that'll be £210 diagnostic fee"
BMW Owner: "Great, here's my card..."

chrisw

Tunstallstoven said:

We've looking to buy a Duster. Most likely a new-ish used on, but there's also a brand new Mk2 which says it's MY23.5 and I'm not entirely sure what that means/what the implications are...

Car specifications are often changed half way through the year so the MY23.5 means it has the updated specification introduced in the second half of model year 2023.

This can be a good thing or not so good thing as specs can be upgraded to increase saleability but they can also remove items, from coat hooks to electric seats, to save costs without increasing the car's price. You should be able to get the actual spec from the dealership.

Mildly_Miffed

There's basically two options for extended warranties on a newish car.

1. Manufacturer's warranty. Yes, that's going to tie you to dealers (and, yes, parts and labour are both much higher priced than independent garages). The premium will be more expensive than a third party, but it might actually cover stuff. They sell it to try and keep people loyal to the brand, so it might actually not be a profit centre for them.

2. Third party warranty. Basically, an insurance product. They take money in from premiums, they pay it out in claims, admin, sales and marketing, tax, etc etc - and still aim to make a profit. Watch the Ts & Cs carefully. You're gambling your car is going to be MUCH worse than they expect it to be.

Bigphil1474

I have a Peugeot manufacturers warranty and use the Peugeot dealership for servicing. Their interim service was only about £20 more than the service I used to get from Dave at the local garage. Full service a lot more, but Dave didn't do full services. The Peugeot paperwork is a lot more thorough as well.

So far the warranty extensions haven't worked out for me £ wise - in my 4th year, and was only last year that I got more out than I put in. To be fair, I didn't have to claim as the warranty came with MOT cover and the rear discs and a few other bits needed changing at the MOT and they sorted it all out with Peugeot and just billed me the balance. I'd rather pay a bit more and get a good service, than go cheap for just the oil and filter doing. There's probably a happy middle ground but I'm too old for the hassle. Probably won't renew the warranty this year.

Tunstallstoven

WellKnownSid said:

Tunstallstoven said:

- Potential Problem 2 - Seems if the dealer does a diagnostic test and decides it is not a warranty claim (fairly or unfairly), you then pay for the diagnostic. That would be true of any garage, but at least at another garage you would get them to do the work most likely for a lot less.

The dealer doesn't decide if it's a warranty claim or not - so it's not unreasonable to pay for their time.  

Of course, how dealers handle it can be different:

Dacia Owner: "I have a problem, could you take a look?"
Dacia Dealer: "Of course, that'll be £135 diagnostic fee"
Dacia Owner: "Oh you're kidding?  That's daylight robbery!  How can you sleep at night?"

BMW Owner: "I have a problem, could you take a look?"
BMW Dealer: "Of course, that'll be £210 diagnostic fee"
BMW Owner: "Great, here's my card..."

Ha ha ha - that made me chuckle

Tunstallstoven

Many thanks for all the other helpful replies.