Frequently Asked Questions About Our Automotive PlansThese general questions apply to all our Automotive products. For details regarding a particular coverage, please consult the coverage descriptions. Q: Why even consider an Extended Vehicle Warranty, if the manufacturer has a warranty on my vehicle now? A: Waiting to purchase an Extended Warranty does not make
sense; some people forget to purchase later and then have problems — then it is
too late! Also, the cost increases as the mileage increases, and we cover other
items, like 24-hour dispatched towing, lockout assistance, flat tire repair,
trip interruption, and etc., having the peace of mind knowing that you are
fully covered for miles and years to come! Q: Do you provided coverage for new as well as used vehicles? A: We provide coverage on both new and pre-owned
vehicles. The vehicle's make, model and mileage will determine the available
coverage. Q: Does the protection you offer cover both parts and labor? A: Yes, all protection plans cover 100% of all covered
components, fluids, part labor charges, and all applicable taxes less the
standard deductible. The price of parts and labor has increased and will
continue to rise in the future. Labor rates today in different parts of the
country range anywhere from $50 to $100 per hour. It is important to have
coverage that will pay for both parts and labor. Q: If my vehicle is out of the manufacturer's warranty, can I still get coverage? A: Many consumers do not realize that even after the
manufacturer's warranty expires, they may still be eligible for extended
coverage. We offer coverage on most vehicles that are less than 10 model years
old and have less than 100,000 miles on the odometer. Q: What is the "original manufacturer's warranty"? A: The "original manufacturer's warranty" period is
defined as the initial full warranty that is provided for a new vehicle by the
manufacturer. This is commonly referred to as the "bumper to bumper" warranty.
On most vehicles, this is 3 years/36,000 miles. The "original manufacturer's
warranty" does not include extended warranties purchased, any used car
warranties issued by the dealer when purchasing the vehicle, or any
manufacturer's powertrain warranty. Q: What are the differences between the coverages you offer? A: This depends on which state you live in. We offer
different programs in different states. Click here
to learn about what coverages are available in your area. Q: Do your programs cover "Wear and Tear" and what is "Wear and Tear"? A: Yes, our plans will protect your vehicle when a part
has worn beyond the manufacturer's Tolerance. Like all programs we do not cover
items like Spark Plugs, brake pads or shoes, tune-up items, oil and Lubricant
Changes, or rubber or plastic items. Q: What is the oldest a vehicle can be and the maximum mileage I can have on my car and still be eligible for coverage? A: We offer coverage on most vehicles that are less than
10 model years old and have less than 100,000 miles on the odometer. Q: When does my coverage start and expire? A: Please refer to our coverage
section for detail. Q: Where will my Mechanical Breakdown Insurance Policy or Vehicle Service Contract be honored? A: Your policy/contract is honored at any licensed repair
facility throughout the United States and Canada. You have the option of taking
your vehicle to a local auto dealership or any licensed repair facility
nationwide. Additionally, your protection plan is accepted at national repair
shops such as Firestone, Pep Boys, AAMCO, Cottman and many others. Q: What if I were to Sell or trade in my Vehicle to an Auto Dealer or sell it outright to another person? A: Your Mechanical Breakdown Insurance Policy or Vehicle
Service Contract will be honored at any licensed repair facility throughout the
United States and Canada while you own the contract. If you decide to trade
your vehicle you may cancel the contract and get a prorata refund or you may
sell the car to a private party, and he may transfer the coverage to himself,
we ask for the oil change receipts from you prior to transfer to show the
vehicle has been maintained. Q: Do I have to go back to my original dealer for repairs? A: It is your decision whether to go back to the original
dealer. With our nationwide protection plans, your choices are endless. You can
take your vehicle to any licensed repair facility that makes you most
comfortable. This includes, but is not limited to, your original dealer, your
favorite repair facility, or any of our nationwide accounts such as AAMCO, Pep
Boys, Firestone and Goodyear. We have over 36,000 different garages and
shops that we have repairs completed and paid by us.
Q: What happens if my dealer does not want to accept the coverage I purchased? A: We do not ask the dealership to accept coverage, we
are paying your vehicle repair bill with our credit card before it leaves the
repair shop. But, there is no reason why your dealership would not accept our
coverage. We process recommended prices for parts and labor for all covered
repairs. The cost of the repair is determined by both the Chilton and Mitchell
parts and labor guides. These are the same pricing guides that your dealership
uses and is the standard in the industry. A dealership will gladly accept the
additional business we give them. All claims are paid directly to the facility
of your choice with a corporate credit card. Therefore, you do not have to pay
for the repair and wait to get reimbursed. Q: I've never had problems with my vehicles; perhaps I don't really need an Extended Auto Warranty on my vehicle. A: Car troubles seem to happen at the worst possible
time. You may not have problems with your vehicle, but there is no guarantee
that your vehicle will be trouble-free, especially as the vehicle's mileage and
age increases. Given the high-tech electronics and computerized systems on
vehicles today, one repair could easily pay for the cost of the entire
warranty. Approximately one-third of the vehicles on the road today will suffer
a major mechanical breakdown within the year. Secure your peace of mind by
protecting one of the biggest investments you own — your vehicle. Q: What is the procedure if I have a claim on my vehicle? A: We make the repair process as simple as possible. If your vehicle breaks down and needs repair, take it or have it towed to any licensed repair facility and present your Policy/Contract to the Service Department. After they diagnose the problem with the vehicle, they will call the claims administrator (whose number is listed on your Policy/Contract) and receive repair authorization on your covered repairs less a deductible (where applicable). All claims are paid directly to the repair facility of your choice with a corporate credit card, therefore, you do not have to pay for your repair and wait to get reimbursed. It is that simple. Q: Is the deductible per repair or per visit? A: Your deductible is applied per repair visit.
Regardless of the number of items that need repair, you will only need to pay
your deductible to the repair shop once per visit, and the number of claims on
your vehicle is limitless. The total amount of coverage is limited to the value
of your vehicle. Q: What other benefits besides the extended service plan do you offer? A: In addition to our comprehensive warranty, we include
at no additional cost our Roadside Assistance Program. It includes: 24-hour,
365 days-a-year emergency roadside service, towing assistance, road hazard tire
and flat tire assistance, battery assistance, emergency vehicle fluid delivery,
and emergency lockout assistance. Please click here
for more details on the plan. Q: What if my car breaks down and I am not near my home or after your business hours? A: One of the best features of our program is that we allow you to take your vehicle to any licensed repair facility throughout the United States and Canada. Wherever you may be, our claims department has a toll-free telephone number for you or the repair facility to call. After-hours Service: We have a 24-hour cell phone service, 7 days a week, when our claims department closes at night or weekends (we are also open Saturdays 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM MST). When we are closed, one of our Claims Specialists carries the company cell phone and is standing by to help and answer questions about a repair or vehicle problem. Also, we have our Emergency Repair Benefit — in the event your
vehicle incurs a covered mechanical breakdown while the Claims Department is
closed or unreachable by phone, you may authorize emergency repairs up to
$350.00. See policy/contract for details. Q: Are seals and gaskets covered as a stand-alone item or only if the replacement is required as part of the repair? A: This depends on the coverage selected. Check the
coverage specifications for details. Q: Do you offer coverage on salvage or junk titles, rebuilt vehicles or vehicles with flood damage? A:The program is only available on vehicles with a clean
title history. Our program is not available on vehicles with a salvage or junk
title, flood damage title, rebuilt or reconstructed title, vehicles where the
odometer has been rolled back, and vehicles declared a lemon. Q: Do you offer programs for commercially-used vehicles? A: This depends on the type of coverage available, as
well as other factors. Check the coverage specifications
for details. Q: If I have my pre-owned vehicle inspected, how long do I have to wait before my coverage starts? A: Pre-owned vehicles may be subject to a thirty (30) day
and one thousand (1,000) mile waiting period before coverage begins (see
coverage specification for details). Coverage will not go into force until the
vehicle has passed inspection. Q: Why should I purchase a plan from you when I could purchase a plan on the Internet from one of the other warranty companies that seem to have all the answers and are in some cases cheaper in the cost of their warranties? A: Some of the Internet companies have no insurance company backing their warranties; or perhaps they are transferring the funds to an off-shore insurance company that they own that has no regulations or reserves to post in accordance with sound underwriting principles, and your money and the reserves to pay future claims could disappear. The key word to look for is "re-insured". These are called "Risk Retention Groups (RRG's)," and they are NOT insurance. Doing business with RRG is, in fact, very risky!
Make sure you know who is holding your future claims money. Companies
like Mercury Insurance Group and other large companies are required
to post reserves in a safe, secure account, file the programs with the state,
and will be around to pay claims. We are dedicated to providing the most
comprehensive and reliable extended warranty for your new or used car, truck,
van or sport utility vehicle throughout the United States. Q: Why not just buy the Extended Vehicle Warranty from the auto dealer? A:Purchasing a warranty from the auto dealer will
definitely cost you more money. Auto dealers are just the middlemen, and
Extended Auto Warranties are the most profitable thing the dealership sells,
much more than the vehicle itself. Purchasing your auto warranty direct from
Consumer Guide could save you as much as 50% to 60%. Check us out, get a free
quote, and purchase directly on-line today! Q: What about warranties on leased vehicles? A: If you are leasing a vehicle for longer than 3 years
or 36,000 miles, it would be in your best interest to purchase a warranty.
Manufacturer's warranties usually only cover the first three years or 36,000
miles. Let Mercury Insurnace Group be responsible for covered items
during that time when the factory warranty will not cover items you are
responsible for under the lease. Q: Where can I take my vehicle to be repaired? A: You can take your vehicle to any licensed, reputable
repair shop or dealership. The repair facility will contact us with the
information on what needs to be repaired to put your vehicle back into the
condition it was before the breakdown. Once that has been determined, we will
authorize all covered repairs, minus your deductible. As soon as repairs are
completed, the repairer will fax a completed, signed work order with VIN,
mileage, year, make and model and a list of all parts and labor to us. We, in
turn, call and authorize a credit card payment for those repairs using our
corporate credit card and then repayment from us. You are on your way, and we
pay the repairer. Q: Am I covered out of town or out of the country? A: When you travel in the United States and Canada,
you'll have peace of mind that your future repair bills are covered, with
24-hour roadside assistance including towing, trip interruption (when over 100
miles from home), lost key/lockout service, fluid delivery, flat tire coverage
and others. Q: Is it safe to purchase a warranty on-line? A: Yes, it is safe and is the most convenient way to
purchase your extended warranty. Our website is a secure site, and our 128-bit
encryption will keep your information secure. Q: How can I pay for my warranty? A: There are several ways. You may pay in full by check
or with a credit card. We also have a payment plan. Q: How can I be assured that my claims will be paid in the future? A: It is important to know the insurance company that is
behind any plan you choose. All programs are insured and administered by
Mercury Insurance Group, and A+, Superior rated Insurance Company by A.M. Best.
All Claims are paid directly to the repair facility of your choice with a
corporate credit card, therefore you do not have to pay for your repair and
wait to get reimbursed. This assures you that your claims will be handled
promptly and professionally. Q: What makes your company different from other warranty companies? A: The test of time — our management has been in the
warranty business since 1975 and insurance agents since 1962. We have sold and
administered several hundred thousand contract and paid out hundreds of
millions of dollars in claims payments. We also have state-of-the-art software
in the administration of our claims, so the warranty is simple to use. We want
to do the very best for you! Q: What are some of the important things to remember after I purchase a warranty? A: The most important thing is that you call us before any repair work is started on your vehicle. We give you a toll-free number for you or the repair company to call before work is started. You can call 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week. We are one of the few warranty companies that has 24/7 service. Have them call us, just like you would if you were paying the bill. We want to know what they are doing to do to repair your vehicle so there are no surprises. We have all the Parts and Labor guides for every kind of repair. You can take it to any licensed repair facility. We also have
nationwide deals with Pep Boys, Firestone, and many others. If you are out on
the road and don't know where to take your vehicle for repairs, call us. We
have tens of thousands of shops that we have done business with over the last
20 years. Q: What else should I do? A: Change your oil and filters on a regular basis. This
is one of the biggest problems we find. Q: Where can I call for references? A: To request references, please call us at the above
phone number. |
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