Extended Warranties

niki1

Cat,
I purchased a Camry 2005 XLE on 2/28/05 and the dealership offered me the Toyota Platinum warranty with no deductible, and we chose the 7 year 75,000 mile one. The finance guy had some kind of a coupon from Toyota which he claims saved us about 45%. The FI guy goes on to tell us that Toyota gives him 3 of these coupons ever month. The cost for this waranty was $545.00, so do the math, and don't pay the price they quoted, and ask about these coupons.
Thanks
NIKI1

wyldcatz

Thanks, Niki. I'll call my F&I guy and see if he has any. I would guess probably not. Hawaii is a tricky place to get anything cheap because we're so isolated. I'm going to e-mail him now to see what's up.

wyldcatz

AAARGH!!

No such coupons... all the dang Servco companies here have the same phone number, so even if I try calling more than one person, chances are my name's gotten around. The guy told me they just got information on an API Insurance (which I looked up on the web, but it doesn't give rates), and basically said that the ASC plan they offer is a Servco-owned plan, and that's the only one they offer. He even said that other Toyota plans sold on the mainland would not apply to us here in Hawaii.

I'm almost ready to give in and purchase the dang thing (and buy enough cases of ramen to last me 6 years) haha I have until June 4 to purchase at these prices, or they go up drastically.

Any other advice? Sorry to be such a pain.

chuck1

I purchased an extended warranty (Ford) at www.fordwarrantys.com.

I am not sure how much coverage you can get past 100K.

jtad1991

I'm looking for an extended warranty for my 00 Land Rover Discovery II.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
JM

jtad1991

Since you have done quite a bit of research, do you mind sharing your top insurance companies. You mention 5starwarranty, however, my factory warranty has expired.

Thanks,
JM

niki1

Cat,
I don't understand why you can't purchase a extended warranty on the mainland, and have it apply in Hawaii?? I purchased my vehicle from Diehl Toyota of Butler in PA. give them a try, and see what they have to say. Those noodles have to many carbs!!!!

NIKI

wyldcatz

Niki-
Do you live in Hawaii? I e-mailed that dealership in PA and asked them if their warranty would be valid in Hawaii. My biggest worry is that I'll purchase it, and come time for me to use it, I'll find out I can't. Also, I'll probably spend the next 3 years worrying about it, and I'm too young for that... haha

I agree - the ramen thing isn't good. I'll get too fat to even fit into the darn car! Thank you for your help.

-Cathy

1spillman

JM,
All of the service contracts provided by 5starwarranty.com for new vehicles are insured by Protective (in business since 1907).

I just spoke to Steve as I had a question regarding my coverage and he informed me that 5 Star now has a used car program that is insured by Mercury Insurance Company (AM Best rating A+, with 3 billion $ in assets).

They have not made this official yet as they are trying to do some type of programming and are making changes to their website.

I would give them a call

greasykid1

Where are the best prices?

niki1

Cat,
I live in PA, and you need to e-mail Toyota with this question, because most dealerships really don't have the answers with these types of issues. Good Luck, and If there is anything you need let me know.

Thanks
NIKI1

wyldcatz

Mahalo, again, Niki, for taking the time to respond to all of my questions. On the main Toyotafinancial.com site, the first item you come to when checking on protection plans is a statement that the plans are not available in Hawaii, among 11 other states. Go to the e-mail form, and it says that "Vehicle protection product questions cannot be handled by e-mail at this time." Go to the phone number, and it's only available Monday thru Friday.

Anyone see my frustration mounting? I'm seriously thinking it's not meant to be, and this is just one price I have to pay for "living in paradise". I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll just have to pay more for this service and peace of mind.

Thanks again for letting me take up space here. I've learned a lot of valuable information on these forums.

niki1

Cat,
I would still give Toyota a call on this issue, and lets us know what they say.
Mahalo
NIKI1

wyldcatz

I received an e-mail from the Financial Services Manager at Diehl Toyota in Butler, PA, and he said he checked with Toyota Care, and the Toyota Extra Care Platinum contract is 100% valid in Hawaii it's factory coverage, and that no dealer can deny me service if I use it. He quoted me 7years/100K for $740+tax (no deductible), and 7 years/100K for $690 ($50 deductible). I know for sure made a phone call because he mentioned that he was told that a company called Servco Pacific owns ALL of the Toyota dealerships in Hawaii (true!) and he's sure they just wanted to make money off me by making me think only THEIR plan was valid. He felt a little bad because he may have to charge me PA's sales tax of 6% instead of Hawaii's 4.16%. I thought that was kinda funny! He also said that he wouldn't quote me something out of the blue just to get my business because his name and reputation are at stake. I have a feel for sleazy people, and he was nothing of the sort.

As soon as I actually take posession of the car (will be sometime this week after it's taken off the dock and prepped), I'll call him back to get things set up.

Phew! It sure took a while, but I think I'm all set. Thank you again, Niki, and everyone else here for all of your suggestions. I made a plug to the guy by saying I got his dealership's name from Edmunds.com.

Mahalo-
Cathy

prherb

O.K... I don't really get it.. All I read is about people saying what a rip off the dealer warranty is.. Well here is a summary of some of my research for a 2005 ACURA TL..
7 year 100,000 mile warranty
- 2 of the hightly rated 3rd party warranty.. price around $1600.00
- local dealer.. price $1400.00 (they also have a 'get your money back if you don't use the warranty'.. I have not looked into that yet).
- other acura dealer on the web.. $1200.00.

I have not gone through each with a fine tooth comb.. but it seems that the dealer is not such a bad deal after all. And with the 3rd party warranty, you need to take it to a certified mechanic.. and then he needs to get approval first.. sounds like a real hassle. for both the owner and the mechanic.

whats the story ? why is the dealer a bad deal ?

niki1

Cat,
Good Diehl !!!!! (LOL) Very very glad things worked out for you. Let me know if I can be of anymore help, because I know one of the FI guys personally. Just one more thing, did you ask about the coupons I mentioned?
Mahalo
NIKI1

wyldcatz

I did e-mail the F&I guy at my dealership about the coupons, but got no response. Also, being the skeptical person that I am, I called ToyotaFinancial directly and asked them point-blank if their plans were valid in Hawaii. The response: "Yes, they're valid... IF the dealer will accept it." I left messages at 2 different service offices asking if someone from the mainland moved to Hawaii and had a Toyota Extra Care plan, would they honor it? (Yes, I told a white lie.) You guessed it... no reply. I've no doubt these are legit plans, but if my dealer won't accept it, then what's the point. I'm probably going to lean toward putting the money away and adding to it over the years for repairs that *may* come up. Will keep checking, though.

wyldcatz

In my case, it's not the coverage that's bad, it's the cost. Servco Pacific, which owns all the Toyota dealerships in Hawaii, offers a 7 year/100,000 mile plan for $1,655 + tax. I can get the same plan from mainland dealers for $740 + tax. I do agree that the 3rd party plan is a complete hassle, though. Dealer is good, if the price won't cause me to go hungry.

drummer

I purchesed an extended warranty from www.e-warrantysolutions.com 2 years ago and they are great i have a ford expedition and a chevy monte carlo and they took care of both cars, no problems Check em out

niki1

Cat,
What's not accept? You get the warantey worked done, and the dealership bills Toyota. Simply process, would you not agree? Oh well, your buying a Toyota, and as we all know they don't need repairs (LOL). Good luck with your new vehicle, and enjoy it!!! :shades:
Thanks
NIKI1

jal012773

Has anyone here purchased an exteded warranty from Warranty Wizard.com? I purchased one for my 2001 Chevy Blazer 4x4, mainly for the coverage on the 4x4 system. I pray I never have to service the 4x4 system because this company has refused to pay any other claim that I have had so far. Well, except for the repair to my hub assembly, which they are only going to pay for the repair on a 2WD. Mine is 4WD, which they obviously knew by the VIN when I purchased the warranty. On each occasion that I have tried to use this warranty, this company has given my mechanic (local Chevy dealer) the run around, and balked at each claim, wasting my mechanic's time and mine. I read that the warranty program I purchased is supposedly in the top 10. All I can say is I hate to see what those out of the top 10 are. In my opinion, anyone looking to purchase a third party warranty, don't even mess with it. Stick with the manufacturer extended warranties. The extra cost will be worth it to not have to deal with the third party run-arounds.

kghalbe

Yes, I have purchased the Warranty Wizards extended warranty. It is a warranty plan by Platinum Warranty.

My first claim or two went through fine. Then, it took them over 6 months, and my dealer calling weekly, and me calling daily for the last few weeks, before a check was issued. It was supposedly "put in the mail" and then got lost. About 3 weeks later, they said they would send another check. The "second" check has the same check number as the first check, and had the same date as the first check would have had.

In the meantime, I had filed a complaint with the District Attorney of Ohio and PA. I found out that they were in some sort of financial restructuring or trouble or something. The last I heard, the Ohio DA was going to be suing them.

I got the CEO's extension, and placed many calls to him, but only got voice mail, and he never once called me back about my problem. I also got the accounts payable departments extension and kept calling them. The customer service reps kept saying they couldn't do anything, and refused to put me in touch with anyone who could help.

My dealer won't accept this warranty anymore - and I can't blame him at all.

I have heard that they also go under other names, besides Warranty Wizards, but I am not sure what they are. The CEO's name is Anthony Hodel and they are based in Ohio.

I can't agree with you more - AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE !!!!! :lemon:

sherryh

Sorry if this has been answered before....but. I am buying a 2000 Ford Contour tomorrow. Has 60,296 miles on it. Can I get an extended warranty and from who
with this much mileage? I want to keep the car for 2 or 3 yrs. I checked on this web site and the cut off for mileage is 60,000. Thanks.

jeff petrone

1. Preview the contract - if a company will not let you view the actual contract before you buy, run!

2. If you see the term, "gradual reduction in operating performance" (Wear and tear) is not covered - you are not buying full coverage and will find many common repairs are not covered.

(Wear and tear is warranties provide a broader contractual definition of what will be covered. True wear and tear protection provides you coverage for parts that break as well as those that have worn beyond the manufacturer's tolerances.)

3. Whose coverage are you really buying? - Find out who pays the claims. Research that company as well as the seller of the coverage. Look up their Better Business Bureau report, which provides the best barometer of how a company takes care of its customers, at http://search.bbb.org/search.html

4. Are you really buying full coverage (commonly called bumper-to-bumper)? If you are, the contract will state that ALL parts of the vehicle are covered except those items listed in the exclusions section. Read the exclusions carefully. If the contract provides a list of the parts covered, it is NOT full coverage.

5. What are your responsibilities under the contract? Check the requirements for maintenance. many Internet only companies will require you follow the severe recommendations of your manufacturer regardless of your driving habits. This can double your maintenance costs and cause claims to be denied.

Hope these tips help everyone make a wise choice

cadillacmike

you also need to watch out for uncovered parts. Like for instance the warranty direct mailer that came in that didn't cover GASKETS!

circular file time!

liferules

And most of all...

Ask your local mechanic if he will accept it! Otherwise, its useless...

vtech8

I am about to purchase a 2005 Sienna LE. I plan on holding onto it until it drops. Is it recommended to purchase an extended warranty even though this car has great reliability? If is recommended, when is it best to purchase one and from who, the dealer or aftermarket agents? What is the going rate for dealer sponsored warranty?

Thanks,
Jeff

lovecars1

I hope what i am about to say helps anyone wanting to buy an extended warranty. There are some very bad extended warranty companies out there and the ones that are scam artist ruin it for the ones that are good. The problem is that when a consumer purchases an aftermarket extended warranty, they ASSUME, that it covers everything. Lets face it, those that have older vehicles with higher miles on them can not expect to purchase a warranty for a couple of hundred dollars and expect the warranty company to pay for everything that goes wrong with the vehicle. Consumers are just not reading the applications that they receive or the contract after they sign up. It isn't until they go and file a claim and find out that 9 out of 10 Aftermarket extended warranty companies do not cover seals, gaskets, hoses, and normal maintenance items(don't get hung up on the word NORMAL) or for that fact anything rubber on the vehicle. . Normal maint.items and Normal Wear on a component are two different things. What most consumers don't know is that NO MANUFACTURER BUMPER TO BUMPER warranty will cover items that just go out due to wear on a component. The component has to mechanically fail. Most extended warranties do not offer a rider that picks up Normal Wear, there are a few out there that do and i say if you are planning to purchase a Extended warranty and they do offer the additional Wear coverage, PURCHASE IT. There are items on the vehicle that only fail because of Normal Wear, such as ball joints. Ball joints over a period of time just get loose or have alot of play, which is consider to be wear. Also, All extended warranties do not cover a component if it goes out due to a direct failure of a NON COVERED component. I really suggest that if anyone decides to buy an Extended Warranty, read the entire application or contract first. If they offer the wear rider TAKE IT and most importantly, If you are just taking out a warranty because you have a problem with the vehicle already, don't get mad at the warranty company when they Bust you out, because they always will, everytime.

CarMan@Edmunds

Hi Jeff. Toyota's official extended warranty is outstanding. If I was in the market for extended warranty coverage for a new Toyota that is definitely the direction that I would go. Always remember that in most states the selling prices of extended warranties are negotiable. Furthermore, you are free to purchase your vehicle's extended warranty from any Toyota dealer, not just the one that you purchased your van from or the one that you plan on having it serviced at. E-mail a number of Toyota dealers for price quotes, including ones like ToyotaWarranty.com. Once you have an attractive quote for the level of coverage that you want, see if the dealer that you plan on having your service work performed at will match or beat it. While you do not necessarily have to purchase your vehicle's extended warranty from them all things being equal it doesn't hurt to.

Car_man
Host
Smart Shopper Forum

sandman46

Started my search for a possible purchase of my 2003 Sentra GXE with about 21k miles on it? The Nissan site was hard to navigate, as I want to see online how much $ it costs and what is covered and not covered. "How To Buy An Extended Warranty" web page really touted WarrantyDirect.com and 1SourceWarranty.com as 2 good companies. I really want a Nissan Manufacturer warranty if i do decide to buy, still on the fence.
Where else should I look or where online can I go? Any help would be greatly appreciated. TIA all!

The Sandman

vtech8

Thanks for the info. I will check into it. I do have one last question, with the great reliabilty of Toyota vehicles, is a extended warranty really necessary?

gazoo2

Hi,
Im trying to find a phone # for my "CNA Extended Warranty" , seems our own Dodge dealer cant even find them! any help would be greatly appreciated.
my ext. warr. was bought in california through Hartziem Dodge in San Jose, Ca
Thx in advance :surprise:

jimbres

I take an extremely dim view of extended warranties / service contracts - they're a lousy substitute for a healthy savings account - but even if I didn't feel this way, I still wouldn't buy one for a top-tier Japanese make. Having owned several Honda & Toyota products for a total of 25 years, I can tell you that you're more likely to be killed by space debris than you are to be crippled financially by a major out-of-warranty repair job.

smes

I am going to buy a Chevrolet Impala 2005 soon and it comes with a standard 3yr/s36,000miles warranty. My plan is to keep the car as long as possible.

Do I need to buy the extended warranty for the new car when I sign the car purchasing contract, or can I wait for a while (say, a few months or a year) to buy the extended warranty? I am considering a manufacture's extended warranty.

Thanks,

CarMan@Edmunds

I definitely would go with an official Nissan extended warranty if I was in your situation, Sandman. Remember that in most states the prices of extended warranties are negotiable. Furthermore, you are free to purchase your Nissan extended warranty from any dealership, not just the one that you purchased your vehicle from or the one that you plan on having it serviced at. Search around on the Web for several Nissan dealers that mention extended warranties on their sites and e-mail them for price quotes for the level of coverage that you are interested in. You also can call dealers if you would rather do that. Once you have gotten an attractive price quote, give the dealer that you plan on using for service work the opportunity to match it. While you do not necessarily have to purchase your policy from them, it never hurts to do so.

Car_man
Host
Smart Shopper Forum

CarMan@Edmunds

You're welcome, vtech8. That is the most important question of all isn't it? I have owned several Toyotas in the past and if I was to buy one again in the future, I personally probably would not purchase an extended warranty. As you mentioned, generally speaking Toyotas are very reliable. Of course, now that I have said this I've probably jinxed myself and my Toyota will break down tomorrow . Having said this, there certainly is nothing wrong with purchasing one. Many people are a lot more risk averse than I am and they enjoy the peace of mind that owning an extended warranty provides them.

Car_man
Host
Smart Shopper Forum

CarMan@Edmunds

Hello smes. I believe that General Motors allows its vehicle owners to purchase official extended warranties for its vehicles up to the expiration of its original factory warranty. As a result, you can wait a while to purchase additional coverage on your Chevrolet if you are so inclined. When you are in the market for one, make sure to get price quotes from the following dealers: Black Pontiac Cadillac's GM Outlet and Charles Capper Auto Center. They both seem to offer very attractive prices on official GM extended warranties.

Car_man
Host
Smart Shopper Forum

danf1

You can buy it later, but the price increases as the miles increase.

tiny1

I'm getting close to buying a 2000 BMW 740 iL with 55,000 miles. It happens to be on a Nissan lot, and the dealer is offering an extended 3/36 Security + Gold Nissan backed warranty for $3500. This warranty covers almost everything (appears like bumper to bumper), with a small list of exclusions which seem reasonable. This is a huge price, but I do not want to own a BMW out of warranty. Any thoughts on this deal or any alternative warranties for less $? I called Warranty Direct and they only offered a major power train warranty for about the same price, citing the age and mileage as issues.

thanks in advance...

janner

We will be picking up a new Freestyle tomorrow. I am sure the dealer will have some ridiculous warranty quote. I know with Toyota and Honda you can get much better prices on extended warranties from one or Two dealers out of state. Is that true for Ford? Does anyone have a dealer contact they use? What prices have you paid and for what level of warranty

Thanks

jenbtennis

I just bought a Lexus GS 300 (1998) with 80,000 miles on it. Should I purchase a warranty? Is so, what is my best option?

mitzij

Put the $1300 (or so) you would spend on a service contract into a savings account. It will sit there earning interest until your hot-rod has trouble. That way YOU decide what kind of parts to use, YOU decide who is going to fix it, and YOU don't have to prove to a service contract company that you've taken good care of your car.
Considering you're buying a 7 (or 8) year old car with 80k miles on it, you're not likely to find any decent coverage anyway.

plugrapay3

This is a company im curious about. I was hoping to hear about some experperiences people have had in regards to making warranty claims and getting repairs.

rjorge3

Hi gang, my Cousin, who lives in Jacksonville FL, purchased an used 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 58,000 miles on it last Saturday from Arlington Toyota. After faxing me over his purchasing invoice, I noticed that they charge him $2,545!!!! for an extended warranty. I totally believed that they took him for a ride. Since his English is not that good, I am convince that the finance manager took complete advantage of him.

I am planning to write a letter to Toyota and to the dealership itself to complain about the deceptive tactics of the manager, but I wanted to see if you guys know if you can get a refund for the Warranty, or have that charge taken off the total price financed. The term of this loan is for 72 months.

Any ideas or experiences will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

boomchek

You'll have to look at the details of the extended warranty contract to see if is refundable or not.

You should talk to your cousin and maybe actually look over the contract or the term of the warranty and what it exactly covers. I've seen warranties on used cars as expensive as this some even higher, depending on the vehicle, but before you complain about "deceptive" tactics find out how he felt about the whole transaction. If you were not present there at the time of the transaction then you can't just say they were deceptive based on the price your cousin paid for the warranty. Unless your cousin tells you they were. Anyways I wasn't there either so I can't comment whether they were or were not deceptive but investigate further before you make your move.

An even better idea would be to call the dealership itself on behalf of your cousin and find out in detail the terms of the warranty, what it covers, and the details of the whole transaction so you could better understand it too and maybe see if the price is justified.

If this was a $2545 documentation/processing/ or paperwork fee then yeah that would seem deceptive, but for warranty it is not that unusual.

CarMan@Edmunds

Congratulations on your new Freestyle, janner. It's a nice vehicle. Just like the other manufacturer warranties that you mentioned, in most states the selling prices of official Ford extended warranties are negotiable and you don't have to purchase your policy from the same dealer that you buy your vehicle from. Search around on the web and e-mail several dealers for price quotes for the level of coverage that you are interested in. I have heard good things about warranty purchases from the following dealer: Lombard Ford - Extended Warranty Page. Once you have been quoted an attractive price, stop by the dealer that you plan on having your service work performed at and see if they will match it. While you don't necessarily have to purchase your extended warranty from them, all things being equal it never hurts to do so.

Car_man
Host
Smart Shopper Forum

lagirl99

I am selling my 2002 Ford Explorer XLT. It's still covered under the 100,000 mile/6 yr. extended warranty. Can I sell that back to the dealer for a refund? My car is currently at 67,000 miles and 3 yrs. Thanks!

danf1

Any extended warranty is a cancellable item. You should be able to cancel it once you recieve the actual contract from the warranty company. You will probably pay a small cancellation fee to do so.

Before you do that though, you should check to see what you can buy a similar package for. If the price is in line with what you feel you should pay, then go ahead. You might be surprised about how much these things can cost on certain cars.

Writing to Toyota and the dealership is only going to make yourself feel better. Unless you can prove that the sales tactics were deceptive or illegal, it won't cause a stir. The F&I person may even get a pat on the back for making a good profit. It all depends upon the dealership.

By the way, if you cancel the warranty, the refund should go to the finance company who holds the loan, as they are the ones who paid for it. A check back to your cousin would be like a cash advance. Just a little FYI

danf1

Go back to the dealer where you originally bought it. They can cancel it for you. You may want to consider selling it with the truck though. It could be a strong selling point as long as it is transferrable. I'd be willing to bet that you could get more for your truck transferring it than you would get by cancelling, not to mention making it easier to sell.

atoews

I might agree with you except for the following exception: electronics, stereos, Nav systems etc. These are increasingly complex, expensive and subject to failure.

I have a 2002 Lexus ES300 and have already had two window motors replaced and the sun shade is giving me problems. I understand that to replace a Lexus Mark Levinson sound system is prohibitively expensive.

If not for all the electronic bells and whistles I might agree with you that an extended warranty is not worth it.