Last Updated on January 30, 2023 by Rose Morah
A majority of car owners don’t actually know what to consider when buying an extended warranty for their cars.
If you are a Toyota owner who is looking to buy an extended warranty, we have listed a number of factors to consider when buying a Toyota extended warranty to help you decide whether or not you need it.
Should you buy an extended warranty for your Toyota?
Well, it depends. This is because there are a number of factors that will determine whether or not it will be worth buying an extended warranty for your Toyota vehicle.
N/b: Deciding whether to buy an extended warranty is an important decision that you need to make. You, therefore, need to do proper research before deciding whether or not you should buy the extended warranty.
So, what do you need to consider?
Factors to consider before buying an extended warranty for your Toyota
1. Are you buying it for a new or a used car?
Most Toyota-certified mechanics recommend buying an extended warranty if you are buying a used car.
This is because since you do not have a good history of the car, it may be hard to know when the car may start falling apart.
And again, remember that taking the used car for inspection before buying does not guarantee that it won’t need any future repairs, even if it has been rated to be in good condition.
However, I would highly recommend that you find a great mechanic that has good reviews to do a proper inspection of the car.
On the other hand, if you are buying an extended warranty for a new car, I would recommend driving the vehicle for some time before getting the warranty to determine how reliable the car is.
This way, if let’s assume you cover a few miles and it already seems to have many issues, then you probably need to get an extended warranty.
However, if the car seems reliable and has no issues, then some experts recommend having a separate savings account that will take care of any future repairs.
NOTE: You can get an extended warranty anytime as long as you are still covered by the factory’s warranty.
See also: Best and Worst Used Lexus Models (Buyers Guide).
2. Are you financing the vehicle?
If you are financing your Toyota car, then an extended warranty would be a good idea because it gives you protection and you will be covered while you are still financing the vehicle.
And again, getting an extended warranty makes it easier for you to do some costly repairs on the vehicle while still financing it.
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3. What does the extended warranty not cover?
The things that the warranty doesn’t cover are more important than what it does cover.
Most Toyota experts recommend that you always do some research on the common issues that tend to affect your specific Toyota model.
Then look for the things that are not covered under the extended warranty.
Chances are that these issues that you are going to identify are not covered by the extended warranty.
And if indeed they are not covered by the extended warranty, then purchasing the warranty won’t make sense, or rather will not be worth it.
I highly recommend digging deeper into the contract to find out what exactly is not covered!
Additionally, if you will be modifying the vehicle, it is important to consider whether the things that they don’t cover will have any effects on you in the future.
| TAKE AWAY Some of the extended warranties tend to cover things that are known to never occur or have very small chances of ever causing problems in your Toyota vehicle. NOTE: always ask questions, and if the dealer does not give you a clear answer, or is hesitant, then that’s something to really think about. |
See also: Common Issues To Check Before Buying 3rd Gen Toyota 4Runner (Buyers Guide).
Additionally, if you are thinking of getting a lifetime extended warranty for your Toyota, be sure to read their exact definition of “lifetime” on the contract before paying or signing the contract.
In most cases, the lifetime would mean only a number of years or after a certain number of miles.
And another thing, some of these lifetime warranties tend to give you the cheapest or most used parts when repairing your vehicle.
4. Where are you buying the extended warranty?
Some of the best-extended warranties are the ones sold at the dealerships.
This is because they will need the vehicle to be properly inspected before selling you the extended warranty.
Note: The extended warranties do not cover preexisting conditions.
I would recommend visiting different Toyota dealerships and comparing the prices as they tend to vary.
Be very careful when buying an extended warranty for your Toyota online, most specifically from companies that never inspect the vehicle before buying the warranty. The deals are always too good to be true! |
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5. How often do you drive the car?
High mileage drivers tend to have their extended warranty running out so fast.
For example, you could get a 6-year extended warranty only for it to end 2 years after because you covered more miles. The extended warranty hence ends up not being worth it in this case!
Other tips that will help you when buying an extended warranty
- A good extended warranty should have zero deductible or up to a $100 deductible. Avoid extended warranties that have high deductibles because in most cases they make no sense.
- Always negotiate the price that the dealership is offering for the extended warranty. You could end up paying lesser than you even thought.
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Which is the best Toyota extended warranty?
There are many extended warranties but the Toyota Extra Care is so far the best warranty. However, it is also quite expensive.
