You’re purchasing a vehicle, probably an excellent model straight off the lot of the dealership, when you hit a roadblock. The salesperson, who is a little too friendly to you, leans in and says “extended car warranties” during the conversation. The salesperson leans in – a little too friendly, you might think – and throws “extended car warranty” into the conversation. Read the full article.

First, let us clarify some points. Extended warranties work like insurance. They are supposed to offer you some comfort once the vehicle’s guarantee has expired. They may cover expensive repairs for car components and parts that will drain your bank account faster than you can blink. Do you really need a car insurance policy?

You may feel like you’re searching for a needle in a haystack when trying to find reviews of extended warranties. Everyone has a different perspective or complaint. Others claim they are the arch-enemy of saving. Some praise the app as loudly as a rooster in the dawn. The user’s account went something like this: “I believed I scored big. Took warranty, I felt invincible. My transmission failed three months after I bought it. Warranty didn’t cover the transmission. Imagine my surprise!”

Ah, the fine print! The small print, which is about the size of an ant’s footprint, tends to state what’s covered and what’s not. Transmission, engine, gadgets; it’s quite a mixture. Some might think that deciphering all the terms is like interpreting an ancient text.

But some people are convinced they’ve hit gold. Over coffee, an old family friend confided in me that if she hadn’t purchased the warranty on her car, she would have spent twice as much money. Her car had been through enough tantrums. Those repair costs? Covered.

Even if you ignore the fine print, the claim process can be tedious. Bureaucracy plays a large role in this process. You may find yourself in a phone battle with agents who are playing hot potatoes, and rotating your call, as if this was a brand new office sport. “My car whimpered louder than a tipsy Halloween ghost,” said a friend. The warranty firm chose to drag their heels more than a sleeping toddler. To cycle back to where I started took me 3 weeks.

If you’re looking at reviews, think about the car’s health now and what your future plans are. In a heatwave, mittens might come in handy if you are constantly changing your car. Alternatively, loyalists that cling to jalopies as a tree koala would to its eucalyptus may feel better knowing their warranty has been glued on the fridge using alphabet magnets.

Local repair shops are also worth considering. The warrants you have may help guide you to the preferred network. You should have a back-up plan, just in case you’re not happy with the mechanics.

Sure, read reviews, but make sure you verify the experiences. Trust your inner gears, talk to other car lovers, and chat with them. There is no right or wrong answer. However, somewhere in the middle of the ecstatic lauds and fiery rants lies a route that suits you.