Life’s already confusing enough, you don’t need complicated insurance jargon to make things worse.
That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you make sense of your car maintenance plan, how it compares to service plans, and what sets it apart from car warranties. And if it gets confusing again, feel free to come back for a refresher!
Key Differences Between a Maintenance Plan vs a Service Plan
Simply put, a car warranty, a car service plan, and a maintenance plan are different types of cover for various vehicle functions and parts that make the car operate.
- Manufacturer/Extended warranty plans: Designed to cover unexpected failure or breakage of car parts as well as electrical components. This can be provided by the manufacturer or a third-party.
- Service/Maintenance plans: These generally cover elements guaranteed to become worn through normal wear and tear and vehicle use. Maintenance plans are usually more robust and come with a more comprehensive list of covered parts.
RELATED: HOW DOES A CAR WARRANTY WORK? A BEGINNER’S GUIDE
More About Manufacturer Warranty
All new cars come with a manufacturer's warranty, which is a promise from the manufacturer that the vehicle is of good quality and the parts won’t fail. If they should, the manufacturer will repair or replace them.
However, as the car gets older, parts weaken and present a higher risk of failure, so manufacturers limit the time or kilometres for which their warranty is valid. Different manufacturers will have different warranty limits, for example, a 5-year/150,000 km warranty limit on mechanical parts or specific warranty limits on the paint, body, or battery.
Once these limits are exceeded, the components are no longer covered. At this point, the driver may choose to extend their manufacturer warranty or purchase an extended motor warranty through a third-party extended motor warranty provider, such as dotsure.co.za.
RELATED: EXTENDED CAR WARRANTY VS SERVICE PLAN
Service and Maintenance Plans for Vehicles Explained
A service plan is a separate policy from the manufacturer’s warranty or extended warranty. This plan pays the full cost of a scheduled motor service, which maintains elements that are expected to wear down during normal use. It generally includes things such as spark plugs, tyre rotations, filters, and fluid changes. Like a warranty plan, manufacturers limit their service plans to a period of time or number of kilometres driven.
A maintenance plan covers everything a service plan covers but is more comprehensive in nature. It also covers parts not covered by a service plan, for example brake pads or wiper blades.
RELATED: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN & WEAR & TEAR
How Car Maintenance Insurance Complements Your Insurance
The first thing to know is that a warranty or service/maintenance plan complements car insurance and definitely isn’t intended as a replacement for your motor cover.
You can think of it as cover for internal vs. external risks. While a warranty or service/maintenance plan covers the car’s internal mechanics, car insurance will cover external risks such as accidental damage, theft, fire and/or third-party liability.
To ensure your car is fully covered, you want comprehensive car insurance and a maintenance or warranty plan that keeps your car in top condition. Through a combination of these cover types, your car (and bank balance) will remain protected, especially if the unexpected happens.
For an obligation-free extended warranty quote, visit dotsure.co.za today.
