Used Car Warranties: Everything You Need to Know

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Buying a used car has its advantages: you’ll pay less, and you don’t take a huge loss the minute you drive off the lot. What many buyers wonder is if factory warranties still apply when you purchase a used car. In other words, do they transfer to the second owner of the car?

The answer is maybe. In most cases, factory warranties will transfer for the remainder of the original terms. Here’s an example:

  • A new car came with a 6 year/60,000-mile warranty.
  • The second owner bought the car with 40,000 miles on it and 4 years in service.
  • The warranty would still apply for another 2 years and 20,000 miles. 

There are some exceptions, such as Hyundai and Kia warranties. They are transferable, but the terms change. What was originally a 10 year/100,000-mile warranty might become a 5 years/60,000 mile warranty when a second owner buys it. Also, if the original warranty was bumper-to-bumper, the second owner may only have powertrain coverage.

Another thing to consider is that factory warranties begin the day the car goes into service. If you purchase a 2018 vehicle with a 3 year/36,000-mile warranty that went into service in September of 2017, the warranty expires in September of 2020, not in 2021.

All of these nuances are why it’s important to research the transfer policy of the specific used car you’re considering rather than just assuming you’ll be covered by a factory warranty. 

Do Used Cars Come with Their Own Warranties?

Once the factory warranty is expired, will pre-owned cars be covered by their own used car warranties? No, they won’t. Once the original factory warranty is expired, the only way to have any type of coverage is to buy a warranty or if the dealership provides one.

If you have less-than-perfect credit and you’re thinking about going to a buy here pay here lot, you’ll find that most such dealerships do not offer a warranty. 

You could be very careful about choosing one of the best used vehicles, purchase a warranty, or just go without coverage—which is scary when you don’t know the history of your used car.

Another option is to find the rare buy here pay here car dealership that does offer a warranty. Victory Used Cars offers all of the benefits of a BHPH lot, including:

  • Easy Buying and Loan Process
  • Fast Loan Approvals
  • No Credit Check Needed
  • Monthly Payments That Fit Your Budget
  • Problem Credit is OK

Another perk of choosing Victory Used Cars is that we offer a Free Labor Warranty on every car we sell. We carefully inspect every vehicle before we put it out on the lot. Since we know the quality of the used cars and trucks we sell, it’s easy for us to stand behind them with a warranty. 

Even if the factory warranties on our vehicles have expired, you’ll still have the peace of mind that comes with knowing your investment in a used vehicle is protected. Stop by today to see our large inventory, or get started by filling out our simple, online financing application.

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