Cheap car warranty cover

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you're entitled to a full refund if your car suffers a serious issue in the first 30 days.

If it's after 30 days but within six months, you're entitled to an exchange, repair or part-refund, even if you have no warranty, UNLESS the seller can prove the item wasn't faulty at the point of sale. After six months, you must prove that the car was faulty when you bought it.

Further protection offered by the Consumer Rights Act is that goods must last a 'reasonable length of time' after purchase, and if not, you can reject an item for a repair, replacement or partial refund.

We discuss what counts as a reasonable length of time below.

The above is true if you bought the car new, or used from a dealer, but NOT from a private seller. See more on your rights when buying a car.

You can also protect yourself when purchasing a car by paying for some of the cost (even if it's just 1p) on a credit card. Doing this gives you Section 75 protection – meaning the card provider has a legal responsibility to help, alongside the seller, if there's an issue.

Most providers offer different levels of cover, including the following. Consider which type is best for you:

• Bumper to bumper. A comprehensive car warranty, covering most parts of the car, hence the name.

• Powertrain. Powertrain warranties cover the engine, transmission and drivetrain.

• Specific warranties. These cover specific parts such as the emissions system, hybrid/electric vehicle components or the bodywork.

Car warranties typically last for three years, but this does vary, with longer options also available.

The longest policy length offered by providers tends to be seven years, but some companies do offer up to 10 years' worth of coverage. Extended warranties also let you 'bolt on' extra time to an existing warranty.

You'll often need to meet certain requirements to keep your car warranty valid, and these will differ from policy to policy – particularly between different types of warranty. The following can affect whether or not your car qualifies for a warranty:

• The vehicle's age and mileage. Cars will typically only be covered up to a certain age (such as 15 years) and mileage (such as 100,000).

• The service history. Often owners have to have their cars serviced at the correct intervals to maintain their warranties.

• The parts used for repairs. In some cases mechanics have to use manufacturer-approved parts when carrying out repairs.

• Warning lights or clear faults. You must report any issues as swiftly as possible, such as warning lights appearing on your dashboard, and NOT continue to drive the vehicle if you know there's a problem.

• What the car's used for. Some cars may not qualify for certain warranties, such as commercial vehicles (for example, a taxi) .

• Vehicle modifications. Similarly, cars with significant modifications may not qualify for warranty cover.

There are a few reasons your car warranty claim might be rejected, including: 

• A lack of servicing and/or maintenance. Failing to look after your car properly – from missing oil changes to ignoring minor repairs – is a common reason warranty claims are rejected.

• Unauthorised repairs. Any repairs you do get must be carried out by qualified mechanics.

• Vehicle misuse. Any unauthorised use of the vehicle can void a warranty – such as racing, off-roading or exceeding its weight capacity.

• A pre-existing fault. It's vital used and extended car warranty buyers disclose any pre-existing vehicle issues to avoid later claims being rejected.

Your warranty's terms and conditions will outline what's covered and what isn't, so do make sure you read them thoroughly.

Here's how:

Step 1. Check your documents

Your first port of call is to check documents such as:

• Your owner's manual. Look for a section on the warranty.

• The bill of sale. This document may contain warranty details.

• Your warranty certificate. Check this, if you have one.

Step 2. Find your VIN

No dice? Look for your VIN (vehicle identification number). This unique 17-character code identifies your vehicle and can help you check your warranty status.

It should be displayed on the dashboard close to the windscreen, but check your manual for the exact location. You should also be able to find the VIN on your car's V5C registration document.

Step 3. Contact the car maker or warranty provider

Many manufacturers have webpages or customer service sections where you can check your warranty status (you'll need your VIN), or contact the dealership and/or third-party provider.

If you decide against taking out a car warranty, you could consider protecting yourself with one or some of the following:

• Breakdown cover with repair add-ons. You may decide to get breakdown cover with repair contributions as an add-on, which will cost extra. This only covers you when you break down, though. Some warranty providers may offer you breakdown cover as part of the warranty or as an add-on, again, at extra cost.

• An emergency fund. You could build up a savings pot for unexpected repairs. There is a risk here, in that a serious fault could cost serious cash – which is why some prefer the peace of mind provided by a warranty. To work out a savings strategy that suits you, see our Savings Hub.

• Rely on your consumer rights. You have certain legal rights that potentially entitle you to a refund/part-refund, exchange or repair of a faulty car. However, this doesn't give long-term protection.

Car warranties can come with some of the following fees – scrutinise any policy you're considering so you have a clear understanding of what additional costs you may face: 

• The excess. Most warranties come with an excess – a certain amount you're expected to contribute towards a claim. 

• Transfer fees. Some warranties will impose a fee for transferring the policy to another driver should you sell the car. 

• Cancellation fees. You'll likely be charged for cancelling the warranty altogether, outside the policy's 'cooling-off period', which is usually 14 days. Whether you're charged is down to the provider, so check your specific policy.

• Betterment fees. If a faulty car part is replaced with a more expensive one, you may be expected to pay towards this.

• Consequential loss. Likewise, if an insured component fails and affects another that's not covered, you may have to pay towards the repair of the additional parts.

• The labour rate. This is the garage's hourly rate. Your warranty may only cover a repair up to a certain cost (number of labour hours), so you could have to pay more towards a repair if it goes over this.

• Garage costs. Many car warranties have a list of 'approved garages' you must use. You may have to pay extra if you want to choose one yourself, and you may have to pay for the repair and be reimbursed later.

A manufacturer's warranty is generally transferred to the vehicle's new owner when it's sold. So if you buy a used car with remaining manufacturer's warranty, you should be able to use it still.

However, this isn't always the case with extended warranty cover. Some have transfer fees and/or restrictions on who they can be transferred to – for example, only to another individual and not a dealership.

Yes, it's usually possible to cancel a car warranty. You'll always get a cooling-off period (usually 14 to 30 days), in which you can cancel your warranty for a full refund (minus any repairs).

After that, you should still be able to cancel it, but you'll likely only get a partial refund, based on how long you have left on the warranty.

A car warranty can make the vehicle more attractive and therefore improve its value. Regardless of whether it's the manufacturer's original warranty or an extended car warranty, it gives potential buyers peace of mind that they're protected should the car face certain mechanical or electrical faults. 

However, the extent to which a warranty will positively affect a car's value depends on how long it has left. In addition, not all car warranties are transferable, meaning sometimes they will have little to no impact.

If you think you've been mis-sold a warranty, or you've had any issues with the service you've received, you first need to contact the seller and explain your concerns. If it can't or won't help, speak to the warranty provider itself. However, if that doesn't resolve the issue, then what you do next depends on whether the warranty firm is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority or signed up to the Motor Ombudsman...

• Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). A warranty provider needs to be registered with the FCA if it's 'underwritten', or backed, by an insurance company, and/or if it sells insurance products, which is a regulated activity.
  
  Being FCA-registered means that the warranty provider must meet certain standards, PLUS that you can escalate your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, a free dispute resolution service, if you need to. You can also access the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
  
  Here's how to check whether the warranty provider's FCA-registered.
  

• Motor Ombudsman. A warranty firm may alternatively (or also) be signed up to the Motor Ombudsman, a government-backed body which sets standards for the motor industry. It offers an Alternative Dispute Resolution service, too, meaning it can help you resolve issues – however, not all companies are signed up to it, as it's a voluntary, not mandatory, accreditation.
  
  Here's how to check whether the firm's signed up to the Motor Ombudsman.

You may also have legal rights under the Consumer Rights Act, while you can report businesses to Trading Standards if you believe they've acted unfairly.

Car warranties and car insurance aren't the same. We explore the main differences below – you can read more about car insurance specifically in our How to get cheap car insurance guide.