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(ARA) - Whether you're driving around in a brand new car, or one with an odometer reading closing in on 100,000 miles, there's one thing you can count on. Eventually, your vehicle is going to break down and fixing it won't be cheap.
Your jaw will likely drop when the mechanic delivers the bad news. Your car's power steering system needs to be repaired and it will cost you $875, or worse, the engine needs to be rebuilt and parts alone will run you around $2,600.
Of course your car is now out of warranty and you'll have to pick up 100 percent of the bill. It's times like this that you wish you had signed up for the extended warranty they offered when you bought your car or truck. So why didn't you?
"A lot of people shy away from getting vehicle warranties because they think those offered by the dealers are too expensive and they're better off taking their chances. But if you shop around, you'd be surprised at how good the deals are out there. You can actually get better warranties than those offered by the dealers at more competitive prices," says Robert Nelson, general sales manager for Continental Warranty, a Malibu, Calif.-based company that offers consumer-direct extended auto warranties at wholesale prices.
If you know you'll be trading your car in soon and just want the peace of mind of knowing it's protected until you do, you may want to consider a 1 year/12,000 mile plan that covers your car's major systems in case something goes wrong. Competitive plans are also available for people anticipating keeping their current car longer. Log on to www.continentalwarranty.com and fill out a simple online form to find out what rates you qualify for.
"All of the plans offered by Continental Warranty are very extensive in coverage, but be sure to ask plenty of questions until you are familiar with the terms and have clarified anything about which you are unsure," says Nelson. Here are some basic questions you should have answered:
* Does the plan cover ABS brakes or special luxury options in your new vehicle?
* Are there restrictions on where you can take your car for repairs?
* Is the warranty transferable?
* How is the deductible handled?
* Is there a waiting period before coverage kicks in?
* Is your warranty backed by a respected insurance company or is it simply reinsured through a risk retention group or a reinsurer?
When she signed up for an extended warranty through Continental Warranty, Amy Cook of Oregon didn't think she'd ever have to use it, but when her transmission and air conditioning both failed at the same time, she was glad she had it. "Continental Warranty has been a financial blessing to me. Having the warranty helped me greatly because I really didn't know how I would pay for the repair bill," she says.
To get the peace of mind of knowing that you won't be in for any unpleasant surprises, log on to www.continentalwarranty.com and sign up for a free no-obligation quote today. All warranties come with a 30 day money back guarantee.