I’m wondering how many people actually go for an extended warranty. I had a bad experience with a finance manager who was really pushy. I told him I was happy with the manufacturer’s warranty and didn’t want an extended one. He kept insisting it was a big risk not to get it and that I was making a mistake.
My reasoning is simple: I can afford to pay for big repairs if needed, so why pay for a warranty upfront?
MissNicklaus said:
I never buy the warranty. They wouldn’t offer it if it didn’t make them money.
It makes them money because they sell a lot of warranties. Some people do benefit from them if something goes wrong. It really depends on how much risk you’re comfortable taking.
Salespeople will talk about how great the car is—showing awards and bragging about reliability. Then right before signing, they’ll tell you it’s risky not to buy an extended warranty. It’s ridiculous.
You don’t need an extended warranty when you buy a new car. For the first few years, the factory warranty covers most things. Later, if you want one, try your bank or credit union. I got a Route 66 extended warranty through my credit union. It cost $1,900, compared to the $3,000–4,000 dealers wanted. I bought it right before my factory warranty expired.
@CAROL
Extended warranties don’t overlap with factory ones—they start after the factory warranty ends. Some brands, like Ford, also offer perks during the factory period, like free loaner cars. If you buy the warranty early, you can even get a full refund before it starts.
@TALIA
Kia doesn’t have factory extended warranties, so you’re stuck with third-party ones. Personally, I’d rather save that money upfront. But Ford’s perks sound great. I wish Kia had something similar.
@CAROL
Yeah, Kia’s lack of a factory extended warranty is why I skipped it for my Carnival. Some people roll the cost into their car loan to spread it out, but if you pay upfront, it can save you interest later. Still, for a Kia, I’d skip it since they don’t offer OEM coverage.
I got the extended warranty because I plan to keep my Carnival for 10 years. I wanted the electronics covered since the factory warranty only lasts for 36,000 miles. Hopefully, it’ll pay off.
madisonwilson said:
I got the extended warranty because I plan to keep my Carnival for 10 years. I wanted the electronics covered since the factory warranty only lasts for 36,000 miles. Hopefully, it’ll pay off.
Same here. I keep my cars for a long time, and I know the screens and electronics will eventually have issues.
I had a similar experience. The guy tried to convince me I was crazy for saying no, even though the factory warranty already covered 20 years or 200,000 miles. His argument was that it didn’t cover electronics. I asked how often those actually fail, and he didn’t have a real answer. I think they just want to upsell you at any cost.