People often talk about warranties, but it can be hard to understand what they really mean for you as a driver and why they are important to have in place.
Designed for sudden mechanical and electrical failure or faulty parts, a car warranty is a good investment.
As a warranty holder, you’ll be able to amend your plan to suit your individual needs. This includes upgrading your warranty to add additional items including typically excluded components too to create a more tailored plan.
But what would happen if you didn’t have a warranty in place? From expensive repairs to failed MOTs, in this article we explore what could happen … Read on to find out more!
Falling victim to costly repairs
With soaring energy bills, increased food prices, and ever-expanding fuel costs, it’s safe to say that the cost of living crisis has affected most households across the UK. Therefore, more than ever before, people are looking at tightening their belts and ensuring consideration goes into each and every purchase they make.
There is also a worldwide shortage of new cars available too, due to high demand and a lack of semiconductor microchips, essential for everything from reverse cameras to infotainment systems, digital displays, and much more!
But what does this mean for car drivers? Well, with fewer cars available, it means that many people are holding onto their cars for much longer than originally planned. Subsequently, the chances of something going wrong are higher the older a car gets.
The cost of repair can also vary drastically from job to job. For replacements of things like cylinders, hybrid batteries, and transmissions, you can be paying upwards of £2,000 depending on the make and model of your vehicle. Even the most reliable manufacturer from our reliability survey had an average repair cost of over £530.
However, as the cost of parts and labour have increased significantly over the last 12 months, be prepared to pay even higher prices now.
You will have to pay for these repairs or replacement parts, which means car owners could be required to have a large cash reserve at the ready. Of course, this isn’t a problem if you have the money to pay for the repairs needed, but if you don’t it is important to be aware of the facts.
It’s also worth noting that you’ll have to pay for the labour costs, not just the parts needed to get things back up and running. Due to the variety of cars ranging from combustion engines to hybrid and even electric, technicians are now required to know more about cars than ever before, due to the variety of cars ranging from combustion engines to hybrid and even electric, which means the cost of labour has increased.
The cost of having a vehicle off the road
Searching for short-term travel replacements can end up costing a lot of money in the long run. If you can’t afford repairs, you will instead be paying for public transport, taxis or car hire, all of which can be expensive. Visit our article on the Top 10 most reliable used car makes and models to check out how reliable your car is.
Botched repairs can lead to additional problems
People who are struggling with the costs of mounting repairs might be tempted to resort to cheaper alternatives, relying on unqualified tradespeople to fix their broken vehicles.
Always consult a trusted professional to carry out essential repairs on your car, as relying on someone without the proper training and expertise can have potentially dangerous consequences for both you and the vehicle.
Improper repairs can also lead to a failed MOT, or worse, a serious accident. An MOT isn’t just a government requirement, it’s also essential in ensuring your car and passengers are as safe as they can be.
The problem with putting money aside to pay for a rainy day
While putting money aside to pay for repairs may seem like a sensible idea the cost of repairs to your car may be much more than you can set aside for a rainy day. For example the average UK yearly wage in 2023 is £34,000 (ONS Statistics, December 23) and a replacement engine for a Ford Focus can cost up to £7,000. That’s around a fifth of your total yearly earnings that you’ll need to save to cover repairs.
It pays to have a warranty in place
Having a warranty gives you the peace of mind for unexpected repair costs, but you should always check the terms and conditions to ensure it is the right one for you.
Our Warrantywise advisors are there to take away the hassle when navigating repairs.
One customer who was particularly impressed with the service they received from Warrantywise was Norman Smith, who received £1,217 in payments from Warrantywise for two separate claims, the most recent involving his car’s camshaft.
Although it’s sometimes the case that a manufacturer’s warranty still stands when you purchase a used car, this is never a guarantee. However, there are options to buy extended car warranties, so, if you’re looking to buy a used vehicle, speak to your seller to confirm what warranties are in place.
Check out Warrantywise’s top tips for buying a used car if you want to know what other important questions you should be asking before making a purchase.