Do you know the truth behind common car warranty myths?

At Warrantywise, our plans are built around real data, fair decisions, and support from friendly experts. 

In this article, we’ll tackle the most common extended car warranty myths and clarify what the facts truly mean for drivers. 

Key facts at a glance:

• Second-hand car warranties from Warrantywise are designed to support and protect drivers against unexpected repair costs.

• An extended warranty can save you thousands in repair bills once your manufacturer’s warranty plan ends.

• Warrantywise offers  discretionary plans with every request reviewed by real experts here in the UK – not automated or algorithmic systems.

• All disputes can be reviewed by our independent arbiter and expert mechanic, Edd China.

• Our ‘Excellent’ Trustpilot rating reflects our commitment to customer care and transparency. 

Setting the record straight: 

There’s a lot of noise online about car warranties – what they do, what they don’t do, and whether they’re worth it at all.  At Warrantywise, our goal is to make car ownership less stressful, and warranties more transparent and easier to understand. An extended warranty on your second-hand car should give you peace of mind.

Myth 1: “Second-hand car warranties are a waste of money”.

Actually, second-hand car warranties can make a lot of financial sense. They help protect you from unexpected and costly repairs. Once your manufacturer’s warranty expires, you are often left unprotected, which is where an extended warranty comes in. Factor in issues such as:

• Engine failure. 
   

• Electronics misbehaving. 
   

• Climbing labour costs. 
   

• … and many more mechanical and electrical issues.

A good extended car warranty helps with those unexpected mechanical and electrical problems that appear after your manufacturer’s warranty ends.

It’s not about expecting something to go wrong – it’s about being prepared if it does. But be sure to read your warranty plan book before you take it out, in order to understand exactly what is included.

Myth 2: “Warranties only apply to brand-new cars”.

Extended car warranties are designed specifically for vehicles outside of the manufacturer’s guarantee.

They can help with common issues that arise unexpectedly, including:

• Unexpected mechanical or electrical issues.

• Expensive repairs on key components like the clutch or engine.

• Sudden failures that happen after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired.

With the average UK car now around 10 years old, extended car warranties are designed to protect the cars most of us rely on.

Myth 3: “It’s all small print and excuses”.

You’ve probably heard this one before – and yes, some plans out there are packed with jargon and loopholes.

But Warrantywise was built to challenge this perception. We believe that drivers deserve to know exactly what they’re paying for. Transparency matters, which is why our service plans, parts lists, and guidance are written in plain English, easy to access, and free from hidden surprises.

When everything is clear, you can feel confident that your warranty plan is working for you. We’ve even had Ed China, expert mechanic and Warrantywise Final Arbiter, explain what some of the most common warranty phrases mean in simple terms.

Each plan clearly sets out:

• What’s included.

• Crucially, what’s not included.

• Why those boundaries exist.

Warrantywise provides a discretionary warranty, which means every repair request is assessed individually by our team – not automatically accepted or rejected by an algorithm.

This approach ensures every decision we make is:

• Fair.

• Reasonable.

• Based on the facts of each case.

For extra peace of mind, any repair disputes are reviewed by our independent arbiter, Edd China, to keep things fair and transparent.

That commitment to fairness is reflected in our ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot, where we score 4.5 out of 5 based on over 13,000 customer reviews.

And if you ever feel unsure, you can always ask our friendly UK-based experts for a breakdown in plain English before signing up.

Myth 4: “It won’t help with real-world problems”.

Modern extended warranties are built around real data. They’re tailored to the issues that happen most often with certain makes and models, such as the:

• Engine.

• Clutch.

• Cooling system.

• … and many more real, costly repairs that can take your car off the road*.

Extended car warranties exist for exactly those scenarios.

At Warrantywise, our Reliability Index helps us identify which models fail most often and on which parts, how much those repairs cost, and how to make sure our plans reflect that.

It’s built from real repair data from thousands of vehicles on plan to allocate an Overall Reliability (OVR) score to every make and model, giving consumers the best insights into the reliability of cars available in the UK.

Head over to our YouTube page where you can listen to stories about how our warranties have helped people in the real-world. You may even see a few faces you know.

Myth 5: “Making a repair request is too difficult”.

Requesting a repair with Warrantywise is a simple and structured process designed to keep you informed at every step. Our friendly experts understand how stressful it is to discover an issue with your vehicle, and they are here to guide you through every step of the repair request process.

Take a look at our helpful video answering the most frequently asked questions about our repairs process.

Here’s how straightforward it really is:

• Your chosen garage diagnoses the issue and submits an assessment to Warrantywise.

• Once approved, return the signed authorisation to the repairing garage and submit the invoice to us within 7 days.

• Our Repairs Team keeps you updated throughout.

• You only contribute to repair costs if you selected a voluntary contribution.

• Diagnostics are usually reimbursed on approved repairs*.

Note: All problems must be reported to Warrantywise within 7 days, and no repairs should begin until Warrantywise has issued written authorisation.

Our friendly warranty experts are always happy to help and will guide you through every step of your repair request.

Head over to our dedicated repairs page, or call our UK-based Repairs Team on 01254 355 102.

Car warranties made clear:

An extended car warranty shouldn’t be confusing; it should make driving simpler and more secure.

At Warrantywise, we believe in being open, fair and transparent at every step, so you know where you stand.

Get your quote today and experience car ownership with complete peace of mind.

*Subject to your warranty Plan Book.