Is a used car warranty that the dealership provides for free worth anything?

Let’s say that you purchased a used car two months ago, and it came with a free 90-day warranty.  If you have an issue, then you can have it repaired at the dealership for no charge.  But, what do you do if you continue to have problems, but the dealership can’t locate the problem?

First, it’s smart to buy a used car that came with a warranty.  The warranty’s purpose is to protect you in case the car has any mechanical issues within a certain time frame after you buy it.  But, when the dealership can’t diagnose your problem, spending time going back and forth to the shop can become very frustrating.

Second, some dealerships benefit from getting you to buy a car with the promise of a warranty and then save money by failing to fix issues under that warranty.  You may  be able to get your car fixed, free of any additional charge, if the dealership won’t honor its warranty.  A warranty is worthless if it doesn’t lead to your car getting repaired.  Following these steps may be more time-consuming than if the dealer simply honored its warranty, but they can help you get results.

1. Review the warranty terms.  Read the warranty documents and confirm that the problem is actually covered by the warranty.  Many car warranties exclude certain components, like gaskets.  You must know what your warranty says to be sure your repair costs are most likely covered.
2. Describe the problem in writing.  If the problem only occurs when the car has been sitting for long periods of time or when you’re driving over 50 miles per hour, then put that complaint in writing and give it to the repair facility or email it to your service advisor.  Ask the repair technician to try to recreate the problem under the conditions in your written description.
3. Make a video or take pictures.  Many times the dealership’s repair technicians will claim that they cannot locate an issue or duplicate a problem.  It can be helpful to record or take pictures of the problem.  For example, if you hear a ticking sound when the car is running, record the sound on your phone and send a copy to your service advisor.  Keep a copy for yourself.
4. Contact the warranty company.  If your warranty is provided by a third party, call the warranty company and ask for assistance.  The warranty company may be able to put pressure on the dealership to honor the warranty.

Bottom line

When you buy a used car that comes with a complimentary warranty, read the terms carefully to see what it covers.  If you experience problems that are covered by the warranty, follow the warranty instructions to have your car repaired.