- There are rules to keeping your warranty in effect. You can void the warranty if you don't do regular maintenance or have the car serviced at certain major intervals such as 10,000 miles. Car warranties used to specify that a dealer had to do the maintenance, even including oil changes, but that is no longer allowed by law. Read each warranty for the specifics.
- Warranties vary by every auto manufacturer. Warranties are usually at least three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Some automakers give warranties that go as far as 10 years or 100,000 miles. Often, some part of the warranty is negated if the car is sold to another owner.
- There are two parts of a car warranty. Bumper to bumper means everything except items that are routinely replaced by wear after a given period, such as oil, tires and break pads. Bumper to bumper excludes what is covered other under warranties such as the power train.
- The power train part of your warranty covers basically what makes the car move. This includes the engine, transmission, drive train and such. This part of the warranty may be longer than the bumper to bumper warranty.
- You can buy an extended warranty that will extend the manufacturer's warranty beyond the initial period that is offered as a standard. Not all car dealers can offer this extended warranty. Many third party companies sell extended warranties where you have to pay for the car to be fixed and then get reimbursed. Third party extended warranties are notorious for being sold by less than scrupulous companies.
