I’ve been asking around about Ford’s extended warranty program for a while and finally decided to get one myself. Thought I’d share some tips for anyone else considering it.
Here’s something interesting: you can still get a “new” extended warranty if your car has less than 41,000 miles and is under 41 months old (from its original sale date). It doesn’t have to still be under the factory warranty (36,000 miles/36 months), so you get a bit of extra time to decide. After that, you can still get a warranty, but your car will need an inspection.
If your vehicle qualifies (under the 41/41 limit), you can buy the warranty online with just your VIN and a credit card. I used Ziegler’s website because a lot of folks on forums said they have better prices than dealerships. Keep in mind, any warranty repairs will have to be done at a dealership, but it doesn’t matter which one you bought the plan from.
I was thinking about just covering the drivetrain but ended up going with the premium care package. The price difference wasn’t too bad, and it felt like a better deal overall.
The pricing is decent when you think about how expensive these vehicles and repairs can be. Ford wouldn’t offer these warranties if they weren’t profitable, which might mean they don’t expect everyone to need major repairs like a transmission replacement.
For me, it’s mostly peace of mind. I got coverage to last through my loan term. After that, if I decide to keep the car, I won’t be as worried about paying for repairs.
One thing to note is the warranty starts from the vehicle’s original purchase date, not the day you buy the extended warranty.
I paid about $3,200 for an 8-year, 125,000-mile plan with a $100 deductible and added a light package. They also let you make interest-free payments over 12 months, but if you’re buying a new or used car, rolling it into your vehicle financing might make monthly payments easier.