Buying a used car in Dubai is a great option if you want to stay within a budget. However, one downside to of buying used cars is that the manufacturer warranty may soon expire (or it already has). So if your car breaks down or you identify a defect in the car then you would have to take up the cost of repair yourself. One solution to this problem is buying an extended warranty for your used car. But, is that really a good option?
What is covered: Warranties generally cover manufacturer defects for a certain period of time, which typically includes core mechanical components (e.g., engine, transmission, differential) and electronics (e.g., sensors, navigation, console displays) . Warranties typically do NOT cover consumables such as tires, brake pads, brake discs, oil and filters, wiper blades and so on. Service contracts, which bundle the costs of typical consumables to keep your car well serviced and maintained, can be purchased from your local distributor or garage quite easily.
Manufacturer vs. third party warranty: Every new car comes with a manufacturer warranty which in the UAE is typically 1 to 3 years and sometimes up to 5 years during promotional periods. However, whatever the length of warranty provided, often manufacturers provide the consumer with the option of purchasing an extended warranty to cover additional years. It is only possible to purchase an extended manufacturer warranty while the current warranty is valid, once your warranty expires it is typically no longer possible to purchase an extended warranty from the manufacturer. However, consumers can approach independent companies (typically insurers) that provide aftermarket warranties.
Manufacturer warranties are the safest bet: An extended warranty offered by the auto manufacturer is probably the safest option you can choose. There are two reasons for that: one, the warranty typically covers a wide range of components in your used car that you can avail from the authorized dealership itself. And two, you rarely need to seek pesky approvals as anything mentioned in the warranty will be repaired without costing you a dime.
Third party warranties are cheaper: On the other hand an extended warranty from an independent company could cost almost half than that from a manufacturer. However, the warranty may have tricky clauses that restrict coverage. You would have to really read the fine print and understand all the components it covers. The last thing you want is to get one and then not have your car problem covered in the warranty. Also check beforehand authorized garages that the warranty covers as they are rarely the official authorized dealership. You wouldn’t want to drive an hour to get your car fixed.
Getting a third party warranty may not be straightforward: For an independent company to provide you with an extended warranty they need assurance that there isn’t already any existing damage in the car. If the manufacturer warranty is still valid it makes it easier to purchase an extended warranty as the independent party is assured any existing damage can be swiftly repaired at the manufacturer’s expense. However, if the manufacturer warranty has expired, the independent company would likely need to inspect the car before approving it for an extended warranty.
So be informed when buying and understand exactly what you are getting, check buy a used car like a pro in Dubai for additional tips. And if you feel overwhelmed by the amount of information you need to sift through then just let CarSwitch handle your woes. With CarSwitch.com, every used car already comes with an extended complimentary warranty as they are all already pre-inspected! The experts here know all your car buying needs in Dubai, UAE. Also if your warranty has expired and you are considering selling car in Dubai, CarSwitch.com can take the hassle off your hands!
