When Will A Car Warranty Cover Towing?
Do you know if your car warranty covers towing? If you recently purchased a new car or are deliberating over a vehicle investment, roadside assistance warranty coverage is an important consideration.
Car Warranty Coverage
Cars come with many types of warranties, including bumper-to-bumper, powertrain, rust and emissions. The tires may come with their own manufacturing warranty, and individual electronics inside the car, such as the stereo system, may be covered as well under its own policy. The two most important policies that cover the engine and mechanical systems of the vehicle are the bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties.
Warranty Length and Limitations
A bumper-to-bumper warranty usually covers everything, with the exception of the tires in some cases. Most new cars offer bumper-to-bumper coverage for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Dealers normally offer extended coverage as well at the time of purchase. If the buyer wants to delay a warranty extension, dealers usually offer another chance to purchase extended coverage before it expires.
A powertrain warranty sometimes lasts for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles and covers the engine, transmission and all moving parts. Powertrain does not include regular maintenance, though dealers may bundle in free oil changes with their powertrain extension offerings.
Roadside assistance may be included in either one of these packages, or it may be a separate feature, depending on the manufacturer. Commonly, roadside assistance, which includes towing services, is offered up to 100,000 miles on brand-new vehicles and coverage can be transferred to a new owner if the vehicle is sold.
What is Included in Roadside Assistance Coverage?
Top-notch car warranties offer an around-the-clock response when a vehicle breaks down. They will either dispatch a towing company on retainer or contact a local company and reimburse you for the cost. Some warranties may issue payment directly to the tow truck driver.
In addition, the best warranties pay for the driver to obtain a rental car for at least a week, possibly longer, while their vehicle is serviced. In the event the car under warranty broke down during a trip, the warranty may subsidize hotel costs until the car is repaired, a feature called “travel interruption” reimbursement.
Car warranty roadside assistance normally also responds to key lockouts, dead batteries and flat tires. Elite warranty coverage will not discriminate against which towing company or repair shop the vehicle owner elects to use, but will offer reimbursement regardless. To find out what your warranty includes, talk to the dealer or manufacturer, whichever party provides the coverage, or read the warranty documents issued at the time of the vehicle sale.
Contact Stauffer’s Towing for emergency roadside assistance whether your car warranty covers towing or not – their professionals are on call and ready to help.
