Admittedly, an automotive service contract is very expensive. However, if you decide not to purchase one, it can prove to be equally expensive, if not a lot more. So what do you do? Just choose the lesser evil of the two and buy an automotive service contract. However, bear in mind that choosing the right contract to purchase will entail more research and scrutiny than you think. Do not waste your hard earned money just by buying the first contract that comes your way. Here are some guidelines you should follow so you will not get ripped off once you decide to purchase an automotive service contract.
First and foremost, you should read the fine print. In fact, read everything not just once, but even three times. If there are some things you do not understand, do not hesitate to ask the staff of the service center. Make sure you only buy what you really need. Your mechanic might persuade you in purchasing something that you do not really need or want so better be on guard. The salesperson and even the manager will quickly inform you what their contract covers but they will not tell you what it does not cover. Wise, is it not?
It is best to have your car serviced following the maintenance schedule stipulated in the manufacturers owner manual. The manual will contain the schedule for oil change and lube, engine tune-up, maintenance of the brake systems and so on and so forth. Follow the schedule as much as possible to cut back on cost and to keep your vehicle as good as brand new. Your contract will be considered valid as long as you stick to the schedule stated in the manual.
Documentation is the key to keep your contract valid. If service center staffs are wise on making you lose money, you should also be wise in keeping your money inside your pocket. All the records of maintenance and other services should be kept together with the date and mileage. Handwritten notes alone are no longer acceptable for it can be forged. What you also need to keep are the receipts. If you lose some receipts, ask your service center if they can give you a copy.
Most contracts do not include consequential damages. It is there in the fine prints. What are consequential damages? Here is a perfect example so you can understand. If you have a heating problem caused by covered car thermostat, and then the heating problem boils down to the over heating of the engine, the result is a damaged thermostat and a damaged engine. However, the damage of the engine is only the consequence of the heating of the thermostat. So fixing the thermostat is covered by the contract but the engine damage is not.
While taking note of all the coverage included in the contract, it is also wise to note the service excluded from the coverage. This is because most of the time, as luck would have it, vehicle owners would experience problems not covered in the contract.