Bumper to Bumper Auto Warranty Can Cost & Offer More

If you are in the market for a new car, you might have heard that your dream car has a bumper to bumper auto warranty. It is one of those catch phrases that have become so common that we don't even stop to consider them anymore. What exactly is covered by a bumper to bumper warranty, and what other warranty options exist? Is bumper to bumper the best choice in every situation?

For the most part, yes, it is the best choice. A bumper to bumper coverage plan for an extended warranty is going to cover you, no matter what problems may arise. This means that any failure of a part, due to a fault in production or installation will be covered, and the repairs or replacement costs will not come out of your pocket. Unfortunately, what will come out of your pocket are the higher costs of a bumper to bumper extended warranty. These policies tend to cost more than plans that cover less of your car.

One of those cheaper plans is the powertrain - only version of an extended warranty. This plan would only cover faults and mechanical breakdowns in the power train of your vehicle - mainly, the engine and the transmission. Some people will purchase this plan because they feel that the most expensive repairs on a vehicle will be these parts, and any other failure will be cheaper to repair by itself than to pay the extra fees for more coverage in the extended warranty. This is often correct, but there are other parts of the vehicle that can fail, and lead to very costly repairs. Should that worst-case scenario play itself out, you would be on the hook for the extra costs.

In the end, the only one who can judge which level of coverage will work for you, is you. Besides the cost, you will need to consider the type of car you drive, how and how much you drive it, and to a degree, how much you want to gamble to save some money. Most people would agree that, if the costs were nearly identical, they would opt for the higher coverage - but the threshold at which the cost exceeds the value is something that will be different for every person. A bumper to bumper auto warranty might be the safest bet, in the long run, but that doesn't mean it is always the right selection for you. Take the time to study the plans, and work out where your tipping point is when it comes to value and cost.