A car warranty can be extremely beneficial when unexpected repair costs hit, however before you commit to signing a contract, it’s important to understand your rights around a used car warranty in case something goes wrong.

Used Cars 

There are various types of used car warranties on the market. Let’s delve a little bit into each of them.

New Car Warranty

If you’re buying a used car that is less than three years old, it’ll likely still have the original manufacturer's warranty on it. A manufacturer's new car warranty usually lasts about 3 years, or up to 60,000 miles, whichever you reach first. With this type of warranty, it can be easier and simpler to make a claim, however, it’s recommended that you get it serviced regularly with a main dealer, or if you go elsewhere, to pay for manufacturer-approved parts otherwise your warranty could become invalid.

Approved Used Car Warranty 

Main dealers selling on behalf of big brands will sometimes offer an approved used car warranty, which lasts up to 12 months. This time though, the warranty isn’t covered by the manufacturer themselves, but a third-party warranty provider. Often, to keep the warranty valid, there is a clause that the car has to be serviced by the dealership you bought it from, or another similar franchised dealer.

Aftermarket Used Car Warranty

Independent dealerships will often offer their own warranties through a third-party provider too. Basic components such as your air conditioning and infotainment are covered, however, wear and tear items such as your tyres and brakes won’t be.

Older cars with higher mileage will usually be covered by less in aftermarket warranties, while newer cars will have a greater level of cover. 

Find out more about our AutoProtect car warranty here at Hilton Car Supermarket. 

New Cars

All newly manufactured cars come with a manufacturer's warranty which lasts between three to seven years depending on the manufacturer.

For example, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Toyota and Alfa Romeo provide five-year warranties for every new car sold in the UK, while MG offers a seven-year warranty, or up to 80,000 miles, whichever comes first.
 

For the warranty to remain valid, you need to keep up with the manufacturer's advised servicing schedule and ideally have it serviced at a main dealer. A comprehensive range of components are covered, all except wear and tear items such as brake pads and tyres which is normal.
 

Your rights on any car you buy

The Consumer Rights Act of 2015 applies to any used car purchase made by a person from a trader, no matter the price of the car, and it gives you the right to return the vehicle if it is defective or does not match the description. However, if the car just has a few scratches or a broken radio, this doesn’t constitute a reason to reject the car.

The Road Traffic Act of 1988 also applies to you, and it makes it illegal for a trader to sell a car that isn't roadworthy unless the buyer is aware it’s unroadworthy and doesn’t intend on driving it. 

What are some questions you should ask about your warranty?

Before you commit to buying a car warranty, make sure to ask the following questions. Remember, once you’ve signed the dotted line, you’ve entered into a legally binding contract, so you need to be certain you’re completely happy with everything.

• Is a warranty already being offered as part of the deal? If so, double-check the contract to make sure it’s included
• What is covered? Have the dealership explain in detail what is covered and what isn’t so you’re completely clear. 
• Are there any terms and conditions that haven’t been mentioned? Such as extra costs you need to pay if a repair needs to be done
• Is there a specific process you have to follow in order to claim on the warranty?
• How much will the warranty contribute towards certain repairs?