For automobile owners, an extended car warranty offers
peace of mind against expensive vehicle repairs. An extended
car warranty also helps ensure that the vehicle runs
properly for as long as possible - extending the life of the
vehicle. It is important to realize, however, that not all
extended auto warranties are created equal.
Questions
What is an extended vehicle warranty?
Who insures your warranties?
Do Warranty Direct's plans cover damage due to overheating?
Can I really take my vehicle anywhere for repairs?
How are repair claims paid?
How do deductibles work?
Do I really need an extended auto warranty?
Why buy now? Especially if I still have a manufacturer warranty.
What if my car repair facility won't take your plan?
What if I want to cancel my warranty?
Is my warranty transferable?
Do you offer payment plans?
Has Warranty Direct been graded or evaluated for quality?
When is the best time to buy coverage?
What risks do I have if I delay purchasing coverage?
How do claims work?
Why is Warranty Direct the best value?
Answers
What is an extended vehicle warranty?
Also sometimes known as a vehicle service contract, an extended
auto warranty is a plan that can be purchased by a consumer that will
cover the costs of repair, parts, labor, and/or sales tax for
certain repairs or replacements. They work very similarly to the
manufacturer warranty that comes with most new vehicles.
Who insures your warranties?
Our warranty protection involves 2 layers of consumer protection;
the administrator and the insurer. With
Warranty Direct, you can be
sure we'll be here when you need us. As the consumer division of
Interstate National Dealer Services, we administer our own claims,
have 29 years of experience, have sold nearly 2 million vehicle
service contracts and paid nearly $600,000,000.00 in claims. As the
administrator, we are the company that is responsible for paying
your claims. We have been named to the Forbes Magazine list of the
"Top 200 Companies" three times. Financial stability was the major
factor considered by Forbes in naming companies to this prestigious
list.
When it comes time to pay your claim, you can count on us. With our
29 years of experience, we are expert at reserving the proper
amounts of money to insure adequate funds are available to pay your
claims. With assets in excess of $350 million, you can be sure
sufficient funds are available to pay your claim.
In addition to our financial stability, all of our contracts are
insured by Dealers Assurance Company (DAC) with an A- Excellent
rating by A.M. Best. DAC has maintained their A- Excellent rating
for over 23 years.
The combination of a financially strong administrator and A-
Excellent rated insurer make your investment in
Warranty Direct
completely safe. You'll be hard pressed to find an administrator
with the financial stability and asset base that our company has.
Do Warranty Direct's plans cover
damage due to overheating?
Absolutely! We do NOT have an overheating exclusion in any of our
extended auto warranty contracts. We realize that even with proper
care and maintenance, vehicles sometimes overheat and cause
extensive damage. As long as you acted appropriately to try and
prevent overheating and any additional damage, your claim will be
covered. This is also part of why we offer all members free roadside
assistance - so that in case their vehicles do overheat, we can send
someone to help out fast.
Can I really take my vehicle anywhere
for repairs?
Yes, you really can choose any dealer, national chain, or local
mechanic to perform the repairs on your vehicle. Unfortunatelly,
this is not true of all extended vehicle warranty providers.
How are repair claims paid?
This is one of the best aspects of being a
Warranty Direct
extended car warranty customer. Claims are incredibly simple. Bring
the vehicle to the repair facility of your choice, present your
Warranty Direct membership information to the service professional
so that they may contact our claims department. We'll pay for any
covered repairs via our company credit card over the phone. All you
pay is your deductible (if any). There is no paperwork, no limit on
the number of claims you file, and no need to pay first and then
work to be reimbursed.
How do deductibles work?
With Warranty Direct, each repair visit, no matter how many items
need to be fixed will only require payment of one deductible. Many
extended car warranty plans offer a zero deductible option where
you'll never reach into your pocket for a covered repair.
Do I really need an extended auto
warranty?
Your vehicle is a big investment. You likely spent a lot of money
to acquire it. The longer it stays in great working condition, the
more value you get from your investment. Extended auto warranties
are designed to protect your investment by keeping your vehicle in
good, drivable shape without you having to incur a lot of extra
repair costs.
Considering that the average hourly rate for mechanic labor is over
$100 an hour, labor alone can be a smart reason to have an extended
car warranty. When you also consider how expensive parts and systems
can be to fix, the choice becomes quite clear.
Why buy now? Especially if I still
have a manufacturer warranty.
Just like health insurance or life insurance, the better shape
your vehicle is in when you obtain coverage, the better your rates
and pricing will be. It actually costs far less to extend the
warranty on a newer vehicle in tip-top shape than it does for an
older vehicle that's fallen into disrepair. By buying today, you
lock in the costs of an extended warranty plan now, while your
vehicle's at its best.
What if my car repair facility won't
take your plan?
We find it rarely happens that a repair facility won't accept our
extended auto warranty plans.
Warranty Direct makes a habit of
paying immediately and bases pricing on industry standard manuals.
In fact, many repair facilities are eager to do business with us
once they learn that they do not have to bill us. Still, if you are
concerned that your repair facility will not accept one of our
plans, we'd be happy to contact the facility and establish a
relationship before you purchase a plan. Should you find that a
repair facility will not accept our plan for any reason, we will
send you a prompt reimbursement for the covered amount.
What if I want to cancel my warranty?
Although we're certain you'll love your
Warranty Direct extended
car warranty plan, we are more than happy to offer a money-back
guarantee if you are not satisfied with your plan. Most plans can be
canceled within either 30 or 60 days for a full refund. After that
time period, a pro-rated refund will be issued for the unused
portion of your contract.
Is my warranty transferable?
Yes! It most certainly is. For a modest transfer fee of $50 or
less, you can pass your extended vehicle
Warranty
Direct plan onto
the future owner of your vehicle should you decide to sell it while
you're covered. This can be a big incentive for a buyer to select
your vehicle over another.
Do you offer payment plans?
Because our top priority is always to make sure you and your
vehicle are covered, we gladly offer a variety of payment plans so
that you don't have to wait for coverage. Our EZPay plan allows you
to put down a small down payment of the plan's total cost and then
have your credit card, debit card or checking account charged for as
many as 18 equal monthly installments for the balance depending on
the length of coverage you purchase. Or, if you prefer, we can
customize a plan for fewer monthly payments. No matter which payment
option you choose, we will pay any covered claim regardless of
whether your extended auto warranty plan is paid in full.
Has Warranty Direct been graded or
evaluated for quality?
Yes. We are extremely proud of our nearly 30 year track record
with over $600 million in paid car repair claims. Besides our more
than 2 million satisfied customers, we are also licensed and
registered to do business in all 50 states which is a direct
reflection of our ethical business practices and high standards of
service. As well, we are verified or recognized by the following
companies:
Dun & Bradstreet
The Better Business Bureau
WebAssured.com
Forbes Magazine's Top 200 Companies List
When is the best time to buy coverage?
A common misconception is that by waiting to purchase extended coverage, you
will get coverage for a longer time. Much like life insurance costs rise as we age,
the cost for a car warranty will rise as the vehicle ages and accrues mileage. You
will be offered the longest terms and the lowest rates for newer vehicles with lower
mileage.
Warranty Direct understands that you may have a warranty
from the manufacturer. Their coverage is simply an extension
of that, not double coverage. The manufacturer's warranty has been factored into
your price quote. The more factory warranty you have remaining, the lower the cost
and greater the length of the warranty extension. In other words, you are paying
for tomorrow's coverage at today's rates. In addition,
Warranty Direct's
Roadside Assistance benefit may prove to be invaluable during the
Manufacturer's Warranty period.
FACT: The newer your vehicle, the lower the rates for extended coverage.
What risks do I have if I delay purchasing coverage?
- Coverage costs rise annually as parts and labor costs rise. Labor rates
have risen by $15- $20 per hour in the past several years.
- As the vehicle ages and more repair data becomes available, many vehicles
are placed into higher rate classes. Once you buy coverage, your rate class
can not change.
- As the vehicle accrues mileage, it moves into higher rate classes.
How do claims work?
Warranty Direct lets you use the repair facility of
YOUR choice (dealer, national chain, local mechanic) and pays your claim
quickly and efficiently over the phone via their corporate credit card. Simply present
your Warranty Direct Membership Card to the service professional, who in turn will
contact their claims department. You simply pay your deductible (if any). They cover
parts, labor and even sales tax, if applicable. There is no paperwork, no need to
lay out any money and no limit on the number of claims you may have. With over 50
people dedicated to handling claims, they are proud that we process claims faster
than anyone else in the industry.
Warranty Direct has done business with over 21,000
repair facilities across the country; their acceptance is the widest in the industry.
Why is Warranty Direct the best value?
Because reducing your risk is what it's all about. We are aware of no other company
that offers you coverage as comprehensive as theirs, with fewer exclusions, contractual
benefits and the financial stability of a nearly 30 year old company that has sold
and administered nearly 2 million warranties and paid over $500 million in claims.
With others, that is not the case. You are really buying a plan from an unknown
third party company. It is that company that you need to research. You may find
a lower price but you'll never find a better value. The more you review their offering
and know the facts about cheaper online offerings, the less attractive they look.
We all know the feeling of getting the cheapest price only to find out the product
did not deliver as advertised. That may be fine with bargain grocery store items
but can you really afford to take risks with a warranty for your car?
Our visitors tell us they are looking for comprehensive coverage and benefits,
and a documented, financially stable company. No other company can match
Warranty
Direct's reputation, comprehensive coverage, outstanding benefits and longevity.
Their FREE 24x7 roadside assistance, car rental reimbursement, trip interruption
are all part of one insured contract. You may find cheaper coverage but you
won't find more comprehensive coverage nor a company with a better track record
than Warranty Direct.
The Company
Warranty Direct is NOT an Internet only company, that can be a very risky business
model. They have a nearly 30 year track record of selling extended auto warranties through
wholesale channels such as manufacturers, car dealers, banks and credit unions.
Why pay the car dealer's markup when you can buy the same coverage direct?
Many of the 50 states have licensing/registration requirements to make sure auto
warranty companies are financially sound and/or properly insured. A growing number
of states, including New York, Florida and California have very strict requirements
when it comes to issuing licenses.
Warranty
Direct's ability to market in all states
reflects their financial stability and claims history.
Warranty
Direct's commitment to Customer Service is unmatched. They are members
in excellent standing of the Better Business Bureau and WebAssured.com. Their reports
show the fewest number of complaints in the industry and the most verified customer
testimonials.
No matter which car warranty you choose, you'll find their
coverage to be the
most comprehensive with consumer friendly contract language that is straight forward
and easy to understand. All
Warranty Direct plans include:
Peace of Mind Benefits
All their automobile warranties include FREE roadside assistance for the LIFE
of the warranty. No other company offers this. Need a tow, a tire changed, battery
jump started, mechanical first-aid - ALL COVERED with their plan. This is not a
reimbursement plan or one tied to covered repairs only but a true nationwide roadside
assistance plan. You will never be stranded on the side of the road with no one
to call. They also include car rental reimbursement and travel interruption protection.
Their protection is available 24 hours a day!
That's the Warranty Direct difference.
A blanket of protection for your vehicle and peace of mind for you.