As a car owner, you know how important it is to make sure that you have the protection you need. A large, expensive repair or breakdown can be a major problem and can keep you off the road for a long time if you don’t have the resources to pay for it. Fortunately, there are all kinds of protection plans available to help you pay for repairs and get your vehicle back out on the road. An extended warranty from a dedicated third-party provider, which is also called a vehicle service contract, or VSC, is one of the most common plans and can be the most effective. However, if you live in California, getting an extended warranty can be more difficult than it is in other states.
California does not allow the sale of extended warranties by third parties, which complicates matters when you want to protect your car. Getting an extended warranty in California requires a little more work than it otherwise would and you might have to look for some alternatives. Knowing how you can get an extended warranty in California and what your options are will help you make the right choice for yourself and your car.
Why Get an Extended Warranty in California?
You never know what can happen to your vehicle and when you might need a repair done. When you buy a new car, it will come with a warranty that is provided by the manufacturer that will last anywhere between three years or 36,000 miles and five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. Once that warranty is up, though, you will be financially responsible for any repairs that have to be done.
Having an extended warranty is a great way to give yourself peace of mind when you are on the road. Instead of paying out of pocket for a repair, you will pay a monthly premium to have certain components covered, depending on your plan. Then, when an issue arises, all you have to do is take your car to a shop, pay the deductible if you have one, and your extended warranty provider will take care of the rest. Plus, many providers will also offer useful extra perks and benefits like 24/7 roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and more. Having this kind of coverage is a great way to feel confident whenever you are behind the wheel.
How to Get an Extended Warranty in California
In most states, you can get an extended warranty to continue your vehicle’s factory coverage and you have the option to get it from a third-party provider if you want to. Getting an extended warranty in California, though, is not as simple. Due to strict regulations in the state, there are limits on how and where you can get extended coverage for your car. Knowing some of the ways that you can get an extended warranty in California despite these restrictions will help you feel safe on the road and give yourself the protection you need.
Get a Warranty From the Dealership
The main stipulation laid out in California’s laws regarding VSCs is that they can not be purchased solely from a third-party provider. However, they are allowed to be sold through a dealership. If you are looking to buy a used car from a dealership, you can often purchase extended coverage as an optional add-on and roll it into your car payment. If you are going to do this, though, you should do your research and find out what provider each dealership works with so you can find the best coverage for yourself and your car.
Go Through the Manufacturer
Some manufacturers offer extended warranty coverage on their vehicles after the factory warranty has run out. Most of the time, this extended coverage needs to be purchased before the expiration date on the factory warranty, though. This means that if you buy a used car that is already out of date on the warranty, you won’t be able to extend it with the manufacturer and will have to look elsewhere for your coverage. That being said, if you are able to get your coverage in time, this is a great option and it will be some of the most comprehensive protection available since the manufacturer will only use OEM parts and certified technicians at the dealership’s service center.
Buy a Certified Used Vehicle
One of the best ways to ensure that you are buying a great used vehicle is to go with a certified pre-owned car. Certified pre-owned cars are inspected and serviced by the manufacturer so you can be certain that they are in excellent shape. Oftentimes, these vehicles will also come with some kind of extended coverage that is similar to the factory warranty. This way, if an issue comes up through no fault of your own, you can get it repaired at the dealership without having to pay out of pocket.
Use Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
If you want to get your extended coverage from a third party but can’t get an extended warranty in California, mechanical breakdown insurance is an excellent alternative. Mechanical breakdown insurance, or MBI, is regulated by the insurance industry and is legal in the state of California. Unlike traditional car insurance, which will pay for repairs that stem from an incident on the road, MBI will help you pay for breakdowns and other problems that happen due to age or wear on the components. Plus, you can get many of the same extra perks from the provider that you would get if you were to get an extended warranty. Having things like roadside assistance or other benefits can make driving safer and more relaxing on top of knowing that you can get your repairs done without spending a fortune.
Final Thoughts
Getting an extended warranty in California is certainly more difficult than it is in other states. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t get coverage that can give you peace of mind on the road. Whether you decide to go with mechanical breakdown insurance, coverage from the dealership or manufacturer, or the coverage that comes with a certified pre-owned vehicle, you can still protect yourself and your car. With a little bit of knowledge of what is available, you can rest easy knowing that your repairs will be taken care of and you won’t be left with a massive repair bill after a visit to a shop.
