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Sunday, February 27, 2011

Not All Car Warranty Sites are Created Equal|Beware of Affiliates

An extended warranty for a car is very useful and indeed saves drivers much time, money and hassle. It is therefore no wonder that so many new car warranty sites have sprung up across the Internet, and many of these sites have similar names and offers. For instance, their is now a lead company who made a website called usdirectwarranty.com and use it for PPC. They have no affiliation with usdirectprotect.com, number 1 online seller of extended warranties for vehicles, but they obviously are trying to catch consumers off guard. US Direct Protect had one of their agents call the phony outfit and they did try to portray themselves`s as industry leader US Direct Protect.

That is because many car warranty sites are actually lead sites or affiliate sites for major providers of online car warranties. Such sites often offer but a few fixed choices, because their owners know that those are the warranties which their audience will be most apt to choose, or that they are the ones for which the actual warranty providers pay the most affiliate commission. These policies all have weasel clauses or are the same policies with the price inflated.

On the other hand, a true professional site will include a wide selection of car warranties for various makes and models of cars, with various price, feature, length and coverage options. These sites are run by webmasters who are dedicated to their customers, and who therefore make sure to offer the warranties that customers are looking for, at the best possible prices. Beware of 1 or 2 page websites, this is a sure fire way to detect an affiliate or lead company. They sell your inquiry to an Auto Warranty Company that does not have the marketing skills to attract their own inquiries. The customer is now paying the lead companies fee on top of the policy they purchase. Sometime`s this fee alone is $100.00.

When shopping for an extended auto warranty, make sure there are sufficient options for the make and model that you need to protect. One or two basic options is a clear sign that the site you are checking is a lead or affiliate site, as is a small selection of models regardless of whether your own car is included. One question we always tell consumers to ask the warranty company is "How many different Administrators do you carry". If their reply is 1 or 2....run.

Make sure to shop around, and discount any claims made by sites which claim to specialize only in one make or model. Such sites are clearly lead sites that just link to a site that actually offers warranties for several makes and models, but prices which are generated by the lead site could be higher than the prices which would be charged to consumers who go directly to the main site. If a site URL contains the name of one make or model, such as Chevy or Malibu, it is almost always a lead site and it is rare that such a site offers the best option for extended auto warranties.

Car warranties are best purchased from experts who maintain sites that clearly show their understanding of and commitment to the consumer. Affiliate and lead sites are usually operated by small-time webmasters who also operate such sites for tens if not hundreds of other products, from cookware to computer accessories, and they depend on commissions from each sale that only add to the cost of the warranty which you actually need.

Choose your car warranty from a site that lists clear options for different levels of coverage, and which has a comprehensive list of policies available for major makes and models of cars, which of course must include, but should not be limited to, your own car. You will find that a more comprehensive site offers better prices for exactly what you need.

Other online Auto Warranty Companies that have multiple A rated administrators for car owners to choose from is Auto Warranty 411. They have a licensed software that allows them to shop 10 A rated carriers for the best policy. We have heard nothing bad about this organization, nor are their any rip off reports or BBB complaints. Automotive Extended Warranties also has multiple policies at below market pricing. Their website has arguably the most auto warranty related content on it and is a tool used by many in the industry. Car Service Contract is a new comer in the industry who has compiled a long list of A rated Administrators and also has very affordable pricing.

We are going to open this post up for comments. NOT SPAM. If you have an industry related question or have another online company you would like to talk about feel free to leave a comment.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Extended Warranty and Vehicle Service Contracts

Extended Warranties are some of the most misunderstood aspects of the automotive industry, and while many have taken quite a beating in the media recently, there are many very good and legitimate extended warranty programs out there.


What are Extended Warranties, Really?

What the policy actually is, just happens to be where many consumers become confused about the entire situation, which highlights one of the most important aspects of automotive warranties, what kind of policy it is. There are three basic types of additional automotive coverage for mechanical issues; the new car protection, the used car, sometimes known as silver or comprehensive, and the power train coverage that is typically reserved for older and higher-mileage vehicles.

New car packages are likely to cover the vehicle in what is commonly called “bumper-to-bumper” protection, the same as what is offered through dealerships when the vehicle is brand new, and these are often through the exact same underwriters as those from the dealer. The comprehensive packages are similar, covering many electronics, sensors and computers, but not quite as many as the new car protection would. Although, these two can be indiscernible, depending on the particular vehicle and coverage plan. The power train packages commonly include the engine, transmission and other larger components that are prone to failure on older vehicles.


What is Actually Covered?

Here again, this is where the customer and the provider need proper communication to impart exactly what is covered, as many customers will assume things like “bumper-to-bumper” includes the bumpers. Any credible provider will immediately provide a detailed list that itemizes exactly what is covered along with the policy documentation, as well as for much, and it is often the failure to read and understand this that leads to surprises at the service department.

Regardless of what is actually covered, even the simplest of these policies can be real life-savers when the major repair that we all know is coming finally makes its appearance. With the average automotive service shop charging around $100 for each hour of labor, not including parts, the bill for something as simple as a power window motor can cost over a thousand dollars in no time at all.


Avoiding the Scams

The extended warranties industry has been marred by a few unscrupulous providers, the majority of which have since been closed down by the various attorneys general around the country, and these are well-documented around the web and in the various media outlets.

There are many legitimate extended warranty providers that offer the exact same service contracts as the dealers use, with the added benefit of features like low or no-interest payments over one or two years, as opposed to the life of the car loan. Many of these policies also have transfer and refund options that enable customers to pay for the part of the policy used and get a refund on what was not. The key to extended auto warranties is an educated consumer, and with some simple research online, the best one for any given situation is easy to find.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Auto Warranty 411|A Rated Policies For $100`s Less Than Other Brokers

As if purchasing a car isn’t a big enough decision, then the customer is faced with the prospect of purchasing an auto warranty to cover the vehicle. This does not have to be as big of a nightmare as it sounds. One should simply keep in mind that this is merely an insurance policy against repair costs and that the warranty should only fit the needs and budget of the buyer – purchasing too much or too little could pose an issue.

One good thing to remember is that it is not necessary to obtain an extended car warranty immediately after buying the car. Most dealerships will extend the offer until within the first year of ownership. However, it is also important to know that after a certain number of miles, the cost of policies do tend to increase. This gives a buyer just enough time to think about the extent of coverage that is necessary.

Another tip to keep in mind is that the buyer should be able to give the policy booklet a thorough look-through and if a policy is purchased, he or she should be able to take the booklet home immediately. Knowing the ins and outs of the plan to be purchased is absolutely necessary. Otherwise, aspects that are important to the buyer could unknowingly be omitted and the buyer could be unaware of other features.

In addition to this, buyers should familiarize themselves with the exclusions and limitations of the policy. For example, some policies will not cover overheating of a vehicle. Others will only cover mechanical breakdown, which is when mechanical parts spontaneously break. Thus, if a part simply wears out because it is old, this will probably not be covered in the plan and could leave the driver with a hefty expense.

A consumer should make sure that the warranty approves the repairs by the shop he or she typically visits. Some policies have limitations on where the vehicle can be taken for repairs and this could mean that a buyer will have to visit a mechanic he or she is not familiar with and does not trust. It is simply better for peace of mind and convenience if the trusted shop is included in the plan.

Having an extended warranty can provide great benefits to car owners. For the most part, they will save many repair expenses in the end and the policy will provide a sense of security. However, specifications and stipulations tend to vary greatly from warranty to warranty, so this is not the time to make an impulse buy. You really have to do the research and know the policy inside and out to make sure that it is right for you before it is purchased.

This article was written by Auto Warranty 411.

Auto Warranty 411 advises all Car Warranty buyers to write down the name of the administrator that is offered by other auto warranty companies. Then call Auto Warranty 411 and they will sell you the exact same policy for $100`s less.

Auto Warranty 411 has the best internet marketing company in the world and their leads are free. Other Auto Warranty Companies spend $100`s of dollars on marketing and have to add that price to the cost of the warranties they sell. So try out what is suggested and save money.