By Jack Shields, JAX Auto & Tire
In the automotive industry, we’ve seen a huge growth in aftermarket car warranties. These policies are sometimes good, but more often than not they’re just money grabs. It’s a little like the Wild West.
Of course, you have to ask: what kind of company will warranty my 10-year-old vehicle with 150,000-plus miles on it? I will tell you from experience that it’s not always a good one.
At JAX Auto & Tire in Crystal Lake, there are certain warranty policies we can no longer accept because their policy administrators will only run us around in circles.
To be fair, there are still honest warranties available. Factory extended warranties, like what you buy from a dealer such as Ford, GM or Toyota, are top-of-the-line and underwritten by the manufacturers. These are usually sold while the vehicle is still under factory warranty.
Oftentimes, they require you to return to the dealer for warranty coverage work.
You might also buy an extended warranty or service policy through your insurance agent, your bank or your credit union. These aftermarket warranties are usually reputable and in most cases allow you to take your vehicle to any certified repair facility, such as JAX Auto & Tire. Some name-brand auto dealers will sell these policies, but only after your vehicle has passed a certain mileage or age.
Then, there are the take-your-money-and-run warranties. You know how the scheme goes: You get a robocall or see some celebrity on TV saying your vehicle’s warranty is about to expire. You talk to an agent who promises you the world, but what he or she won’t tell you is that something in the fine print allows them to deny any benefits.
Be cautious about extended warranties at an independent used car lot, as their offerings tend to be hit-or-miss.
On the other hand, if you’re buying from a national used vehicle dealership, like CarMax or Auto Nation, they typically sell excellent service contracts.
If you have questions, your trusted auto technician can always help.
JAX Auto & Tire is located at 5220 S. Ill. Rt. 31 in Crystal Lake, (815) 526-3552.