Pat Goss' Tips & Expert Advice

Maintain Your Car

Extended car warranties can save car owners a substantial amount of money, but purchasing a warranty does not magically absolve you from maintaining your vehicle. You are expected to still get all the regular maintenance that is suggested by the owner's manual: oil changes, filter changes, tire rotations, and all the other services that help to keep your car running smoothly. You cannot ignore these important requirements because without them your car will run poorly. If you read your warranty paperwork you will probably also discover that you are expected to maintain your vehicle in a certain manner in order for your warranty to remain valid. If you take your car in to see a mechanic and it is obvious that you have been neglecting your responsibilities as a car owner and also running your car into the ground, your claim may be denied. This certainly does not mean that getting an oil change a couple of hundred miles late will suddenly cancel your warranty plan, but it does mean that you shouldn't take your car out to a car crash derby on the weekends and then expect your warranty to cover the repairs.