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Car maintenance costs are escalating - Here's why extended warranties have become a necessity

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One can often be caught off-guard when having to replace a part on your vehicle - whether it be major or minor. And worse, it’s not always considered that the cost for a part excludes the labour costs.

David Chard, managing director of AA Warranties, says: "Too many motorists have a: 'it won’t ever happen to me' attitude when it comes to their vehicles. There’s no insurance on the vehicle, and service and maintenance plans are not a priority."

Chard notes that, from their experience, too many vehicle owners are under the impression – or belief – that they can pay for any repairs out of pocket. This is never a good idea, as the expected cost are nowhere near the reality thereof

"This almost never ends well," Chard explains. "What you budget for a part, and for labour, is often out of step with what parts cost, and what repairers will charge for their labour. This is not being dramatic, but a reality based on years of experience, and of customer horror stories. We’ve seen many people having to scrape together money to repair a vehicle because they need it for work purposes, only to later have to go through the whole exercise again."

READ: 9 things you should know about vehicle warranties in SA

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                                Image: Getty Images

Most common failures

According to data from AA Warranties collected between February 2018 and January 2020, batteries, water pumps, clutch kits, turbo assembly kits, alternators, and compressor units are among the parts which fail most on vehicles. Radiators, starter motors, complete engines, megatronic units, injectors, and control arms are also on this list.

The data from AA Warranties shows that the average repair prices of some parts, such as bearings, valve block assembly units, and pistons, range from around R21 000 to R30 000. The data also points out that two of the most common expenses claimed for - complete engines and complete gearboxes - are also among the most expensive items, again highlighting the need for proper cover should they need to be replaced.

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Chard adds: "Parts aren’t cheap and replacement costs could run into tens of thousands of Rands when labour is added. For this reason, extended warranties have become a necessity, and should not be thought of as luxury or grudge purchases."

                                Image: iStock

Understanding the warranties

Extended warranties offer a lifeline to motorists when they need it most, and ensures the vehicle can be operational again far quicker than if the owner first has to raise a lot of money to have it repaired. An added benefit is that some of these warranties are available on a pay-as-you-go basis, meaning buyers can purchase them on a monthly basis and not only when cars are changing hands at a dealership. 

READ: Car servicing, maintenance plans and warranties - here's how to plan ahead for motoring peace-of-mind in SA

Chard says a mechanical warranty will cover mechanical failures or breakdown of parts, but will typically not cover scheduled services or wear and tear (as service or maintenance plans do). Instead, they cover the risk of parts failing. Like the other products, they are often included by the manufacturer on new cars, but can be extended or replaced with another equivalent once their initial term has expired.

Chard concludes: "In tough economic times, people keep their vehicles for longer periods and therefore need to ensure they are running for longer. An extended warranty is an ideal product to ensure a vehicle is kept in good working order, and also prevents you from having that shock repair bill once off."

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                                Image: iStock

Compiled by: Charlen Raymond

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