FAQs About Used Car Extended Warranties

1. What is a vehicle service contract / vehicle extended warranty?

Once the manufacturer's vehicle warranty expires, you have nothing to protect you from expensive car repairs. Most vehicles come with a 3 year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. Once that expires, you have no protection against mechanical breakdowns. Warranty Direct's PowerShield extended car warranty contract assures that for a specified amount of time and/or mileage, parts, labor and sales tax (if applicable) required for replacement or repair of covered mechanical systems in your vehicle will be paid.

2. Why choose Warranty Direct over other extended car warranty companies?

Warranty Direct is the consumer division of one of the nation's oldest and largest extended auto warranty companies. You can buy from us with complete confidence. This 29 year old company has received numerous distinctions of its financial stability including being named a Forbes Magazine Top 200 Company three times. When looking at vehicle extended car warranty companies, this financial stability is of the utmost importance. It's important to know that we handle our own claims; we never send you off to an unknown third party. Our experience is unmatched with over 2 million plans sold, assets in excess of $200 million and over $500 million in paid claims. When looking at auto extended warranty companies, financial stability should be of utmost importance; after all, you will need them to be there down the road to pay your car repair claims.

We are NOT an Internet only extended car warranty company; we have a long history of selling plans through wholesale channels such as car dealers, banks and credit unions.

In addition to our financial stability, all our extended car warranties are insured. For even greater protection, they are reinsured by an "A' rated A.M. Best insurance company with over $5 billion in assets. Insurance provides peace of mind but most important is the financial stability of the administrator, as they pay for your vehicle repairs. And if that's not enough, all plans come with a money back guarantee. You'll be hard pressed to find a more financially stable administrator than us. We can't reiterate how important that is. 

3. Are the extended vehicle warranties insured?

Our extended car warranty protection involves 3 layers of consumer protection; the administrator, the insurer and the reinsurer. With Warranty Direct, you can be sure we'll be here when you need us. As the consumer division of Interstate National Dealer Services, we administer our own claims, have nearly 30 years of experience, have sold over 2 million vehicle service contracts and paid out over $500,000,000.00 in claims. The administrator is the company that pays your claims. We have been named to the Forbes Magazine list of the "Top 200 Companies" three times. Financial stability was the major factor considered by Forbes in naming companies to this prestigious list.

The combination of a financially strong administrator and two insurance companies make your investment in Warranty Direct completely safe. The key item to bear in mind, however, is the strength of the administrator. Simply put, if they fail, you'll be “out of pocket” until the insurer reimburses you. You'll be hard pressed to find an administrator with the financial stability and asset base that our parent company has.

4. What benefits do you offer with your extended used car warranties?

When you experience a mechanical breakdown, Warranty Direct's PowerShield is there with you even before you file your car repair claim. In addition to comprehensive coverage and fast claims handling, your PowerShield agreement includes a comprehensive complete peace of mind benefits package. Assistance is available 24 x 7; you'll never be stranded on the side of the road with no one to call.

PowerShield provides protection for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. by including FREE membership in a nationwide roadside assistance plan. Simply call the toll free number anytime you need help. This benefit is extended to you for the full term of your warranty agreement. Need a tow? Flat tire changed? Lock your keys in the car? Run out of gas? Just call the toll-free number and help will be on the way.

In addition, your vehicle warranty contract also provides for car rental reimbursement ($35 per day up to 5 days) and trip interruption protection ($50 per day for up to 3 days).

5. Where can I take my vehicle for repairs?

Car repairs can be made at the repair facility of your choice (dealer, national chain, local mechanic) anywhere in the United States or Canada. We have an extensive database with thousands of repair facilities who have already accepted our plans and can even help you locate a reputable car repair facility anywhere in the US. You will not find a plan more widely accepted than ours.

6. How are car repair claims paid?

Warranty Direct lets you use the car repair facility of your choice (dealer, national chain, local mechanic) and pays your claim quickly and efficiently over the phone via our corporate credit card. Simply present your Warranty Direct coverage to the service professional, who in turn will contact our claims department. You simply pay your deductible (if any). There is no paperwork, no need to lay out any money and no limit on the number of claims you may have. We cover parts, labor and even sales tax, if applicable.

7. How does the deductible work?

With PowerShield used car warranty coverage, each repair visit, no matter how many items need to be fixed, will only require payment of one deductible or choose a zero deductible option where you'll never reach into your pocket for a covered repair.

8. Do I really need an extended car warranty?

There are many reasons to purchase an extended car warranty. Your vehicle is one of your biggest investments. An extended warranty will ensure your car is always in the best mechanical condition. With the complexity of today's vehicles, one major repair often costs more than the extended warranty. Hourly labor rates can top $100 or more per hour in some markets.

Since our extended used car warranty is transferable, it increases the resale value to potential buyers. Who wouldn't want to own a vehicle that comes protected from repair bills?

9. Can I buy this same type of used car warranty coverage through my dealer?

Perhaps, but plan on paying as much as 40% more for similar coverage and be required to have the repairs done only at the dealer facility. With Warranty Direct's PowerShield used car extended warranty, you have the freedom to go for car repair service wherever you like throughout the United States and Canada.

10. What if my car repair facility won't take your extended car warranty plan?

It is rare that a car repair facility will not accept our plans as we pay them immediately and utilize industry standard manuals to determine pricing. When they find out they do not have to bill us, they are eager to accept the business we refer to them. In addition, they also want your routine maintenance business, so it is rare that they will turn down the rest of your business. We would be happy to call your repair facility to establish a relationship before you buy. We also maintain a database of thousands of vehicle repair facilities that have already accepted our plan; yours may already be there. In the rare event a repair facility will not accept our direct credit card payment, we will reimburse you promptly for the authorized amount.

11. Is my extended used car warranty transferable?

Absolutely, for a modest $50 fee, you can transfer the car's extended warranty to another private purchaser of your vehicle. Cars with extended warranties typically offer much higher resale values because the buyer knows they are not going to get hit with huge repair costs.

12. Do you have a payment plan?

PowerShield offers a variety of payment options for your extended used car warranty. When you generate a rate quote, the payment options will be presented to you on the same page. We accept all major credit cards for payment plans. Please call a Certified Warranty Advisor for further details.

13. How do I enroll my vehicle with Warranty Direct?

You may purchase your car warranty agreement online using our state-of-the-art, secure software. You may also call a Certified Warranty Advisor who can take your application over the phone. We'll simply need your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and an accurate odometer reading. It takes only 7 minutes to protect your vehicle from the high cost of future repairs.

Once enrolled, you will receive your contract booklet which will include full details on coverage and the roadside assistance plan. A Warranty Direct membership card will also be included.

14. Where do I get my Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)?

Your VIN is located in several areas and is a unique 17-digit identifier of your vehicle. The most common are:

15. Does Warranty Direct have a privacy policy?

Yes we do - you can view our entire privacy policy. We also carry the prestigious BBB Online Privacy symbol. In short, any information you provide to us will never be sold or shared with any other company. We only send out relevant emails about your price quote, promotions and valuable information about your vehicle. Requests to unsubscribe from our list are handled immediately.

16. Are you open 24 hours a day?

We provide 24x7 roadside assistance with all our extended car warranty agreements. Just call the toll-free number in your agreement booklet and help will be on the way.

Our Claims Department maintains some of the longest hours in the industry. They are open Monday-Friday from 8 am-8 pm ET and Saturday from 9:30 am -5pm ET.

Our Sales Department is open Monday-Tuesday from 9am-8pm ET; Wednesday–Thursday from 9am-9pm ET and Saturday from 10am-4pm ET. We are closed on Saturdays during the summer. Of course, you can purchase from our secure web site anytime.

Our Customer Service Department is open Monday-Friday from 9 am-8 pm ET.

17. How do I know I can trust Warranty Direct?

There are many factors one should consider before selecting an extended warranty company for a new or used car. Longevity and a proven track record are two important factors. Warranty Direct is the consumer division of one of the oldest and largest independent automobile warranty providers in the US. Our expertise in car warranties is unmatched with nearly 30 years of experience, over 2 million car warranty contracts sold and over $500,000,000.00 in paid claims. In addition to offering our car warranties direct to consumers, over 2,200 manufacturers, dealers, banks and credit unions choose to sell our coverage. Why pay the car dealer's markup when you can buy similar extended warranty coverage direct from the source? We're much more than just a web site selling auto warranties.

Warranty Direct is a member in excellent standing of the Better Business Bureau and has earned the prestigious BBB Online Privacy designation. We are charter members of WebAssured.com and elected to join them because of their commitment to regulate Internet companies and guarantee purchases.

Many of the 50 states have licensing/registration requirements to make sure auto warranty companies are financially sound and/or properly insured. A growing number of states, including New York and California have very strict requirements when it comes to issuing licenses. Warranty Direct's ability to market in all states reflects our dedication to compliance, financial stability and claims payment history.

For even greater peace of mind, all our products include a written, money back guarantee.