Whether you buy a new car through a dealership or a certified pre-owned model off the dealer’s lot, it’ll have at least a limited warranty based on length of ownership or mileage accrued. Amid the pile of paperwork included with a vehicle’s purchase, it’s easy to lose track of whether your vehicle is still under warranty when it comes time for basic maintenance, which means you could miss an opportunity to save money. How do you check to see if your vehicle is still under warranty? You don’t need to dig through paperwork. Just follow these three easy steps. Find the vehicle identification nu ..read more

So far, we’ve covered what a car warranty is, how to check if your vehicle still has its warranty, whether a given repair should come out of pocket or be paid by your warranty, and how long a warranty lasts. This time, let’s talk about the actions and inactions that can void your car’s warranty, whether the warranty is the original from the factory or an extended warranty from the manufacturer or a third party. If your vehicle is of the high-performance variety (and even if it isn’t), one action that could void a warranty is misuse. Activities like track days and racing events, hitting the tr ..read more

In the first half of our ongoing series, you learned all about what a car warranty is, as well as how to check to see if your vehicle is still under warranty. You also learned when to pay out-of-pocket for repairs versus when to allow your warranty to do the heavy lifting. Finally, you learned what specific actions and inactions can void your warranty and how long a given warranty lasts, whether from the manufacturer or a third party. The second half of our warranty series answers another common question about extended car warranty coverage: how much does it cost? After all, the cost of the o ..read more

The greatest investment anyone can ever make into their lives is the purchase of a home. Whether it’s new construction in a mixed-use development over in the exurbs or a century-old home in a long-established neighborhood down in the city, a home is a place to establish deep roots in a community. It’s where memories are made with friends and family, a cozy, warm escape from the chaos and grind of the everyday. Thus, it’s imperative to protect your greatest investment with every tool at your disposal. One such tool is a home warranty. Such warranties cover the repair costs of your home’s appli ..read more

You now know what a home warranty is, how they work, what items and systems can be covered under their original or extended warranties, and how much having a home warranty can save you when something breaks down (see previous blog posts). Now it’s time to learn about the benefits of a solid home warranty, as well as what such a warranty covers. A solid home warranty should cover all of your home’s major appliances and systems, from your refrigerator, dishwasher, oven, stove and garage door opener to your electrical, interior plumbing, water heater, air conditioning and heating. And, if you ha ..read more

Now that you know what a car warranty is, how to check to make sure your car’s warranty is still in effect, and whether or not it’s better to pay out of pocket for a given repair (see previous blog posts), it’s time to answer one simple question: How long does a car warranty last? Whether it’s the warranty from the auto manufacturer or an extended warranty from a third party, knowing how long a warranty lasts can give you peace of mind or time to shop for a new warranty. Let’s start with manufacturer warranties from the automakers. From the moment you drive a new or certified pre-owned vehicl ..read more

So far, you’ve learned what a home warranty is and how they work, as well as what items and systems are under limited or extended warranty. Now comes the next part of our series: What do you do when an item or system in your home suddenly breaks down — pay for it out of your own pocket, or have your warranty cover it? As you may recall, a home warranty covers repairs and replacements of items and systems that experience defects and unusual wear and tear during normal use. For example, a refrigerator’s compressor — whose job it is to keep your food cold — costs between $250 and $650, according ..read more

Now that you know what a car warranty is and how to find out if your vehicle is still under warranty, it’s time to figure out whether you would prefer to pay for a repair out of your own pocket or get a car warranty to cover repair costs. As you will recall, a car warranty — whether limited or extended — covers parts and labor on repairs needed due to defects and damage occurring during normal use of your vehicle. For example, a brake pad change scheduled for 30,000 miles wouldn’t be covered, as it would be expected for the pads to last that long. But if your pads needed to be replaced after ..read more

Your brand new refrigerator. The washer and dryer set that continues to impress years after purchase. The air conditioning system that keeps your family cool in the summer and the heater that keeps them warm in the winter. All of these machines and more in your home have one thing in common: They all came with a warranty, whether limited or extended. But with all the paperwork that comes with an appliance or system purchase, it can be easy to lose track of which ones are still under warranty or have an extended warranty. Knowing which items in your home are still protected by warranty can be t ..read more

One of the biggest purchases anyone can make is a car of their own. Whether it’s your first-ever car, your dream car or the last vehicle to carry you through your golden years, a car is a major investment beyond monthly payments and insurance. Maintenance and unforeseen troubles mean spending money to keep your vehicle on the road. One of the best ways to save money on unforeseen expenses with your car is a car warranty. Nearly every brand offers a warranty on all of their models, covering three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Not only that, but new cars come with a whole suite o ..read more