In short: no, your extended warranty most likely will not cover your bodywork because it’s not meant to.
Just like your car insurance won’t pay if your car breaks down, an extended warranty won’t pay if your car has body damage because it’s designed to cover mechanical breakdowns, not damage to body panels.
To clarify this, let’s look at the difference between what car insurance is and what an extended warranty is.
Insurance and extended warranties are both meant to protect you against risk, although they each cover a different type of risk and are regulated very differently.
Insurance is designed to protect you against the risk out outside events. For example, your car getting hit by a hurricane would be an example of outside risk. Anything from an accident all the way to acts of nature is covered by your insurance.
A true extended warranty, on the other hand, is designed to protect you against defective manufacturing. It’s a promise from whomever you bought the car from that the car is free of material defects and will run as intended. The warranty is designed to cover the mechanical parts of your car that actually make your car run, like your engine and your transmission.
Notice how I just said manufacturer and didn’t mention anyone else? That’s because 3rd party extended warranty companies like Protect My Car aren’t actually extended warranty companies, at least in the strictest sense of the word, because we’re not the ones who manufactured your car.
Technically, we’re a vehicle service contract company, meaning that we offer to pay for your repairs based on a contract you sign, meaning you get to choose what parts are covered if they fail, as opposed to the manufacturer warranty which is generally closer to comprehensive coverage.
With that distinction in mind, let’s return to your bodywork.
Your car’s body panels aren’t mechanical parts, and damage caused to them is almost always of an incidental nature where something outside of your control damages them, whether that’s an accident or a Walmart shopping cart.
If you read through some sample contracts available out there, you’ll often see accidents and bodywork specifically excluded in the contract itself. Here’s are a few examples of what to look for.
“If the VEHICLE has been abused or neglected, or any part of the vehicle has been subject to an accident, physical damage, or adjustments, or for any loss or damage resulting from collision or upset, racing or any other forms of competitive driving, falling missiles or objects, environmental damage including but not limited to fire, lightning, earthquake, windstorm, ice, hail, water, flood, contamination, corrosion, rust, malicious mischief, vandalism, riot or civil commotion, or if the vehicle is a TOTAL LOSS, or has a SALVAGED or BRANDED title. Moreover, if the vehicle has been declared a TOTAL LOSS, or has a SALVAGED or BRANDED title, this shall be grounds for PROTECT MY CAR voiding the customer’s CONTRACT.”
“Coverage under this vehicle service CONTRACT applies only to MECHANICAL BREAKDOWNS. Items that are not MECHANICAL BREAKDOWNS are excluded from coverage”
In short: if you have body damage, the best thing you can do is call up your insurance. If you have comprehensive coverage getting your bodywork covered may be subject to a deductible, but it’s sure as hell better than paying out of pocket for bodywork!
Want To Get Complete Protection or A Better Rate On Your Insurance For Body Repairs? We Can Help.
If your car needs bodywork and you have a hefty deductible, you might think twice about making a claim, but you shouldn’t have to.
Whether you are an active service contract or a maintenance plan customer or not, we can provide you a discounted auto insurance, homeowners insurance, renters insurance and if you bundle these insurance policies you will get a multi-policy discount.
Contact us today for a no-obligation auto insurance quote, we can help you save 25% or more on your annual auto insurance premium.
Even better, when you combine car insurance with a vehicle service plan, you’ll have complete protection for your car, where you’ll be covered against both mechanical breakdowns and accidents, so you’ll never pay out of pocket for a repair of any kind.
With Protect My Car, you’ll be able to bundle complete auto protection from us and join over 50,000 satisfied members saving thousands on their auto repairs each year.
It’s a pretty great deal, and for a limited time, we’re making it even better, by giving you $50 in free rewards just for getting a free, no-risk quote.
So come see what all the fuss is about, and get your quote before something breaks!
Protect My Car is a vehicle service contract provider, also referred to as extended car warranty provider, with multiple coverage plans for new and used vehicles with low to higher mileage to help meet your needs and budget. Protect My Car customers work directly with the company for customer service, claims administration and contract financing. No middleman or the need for third-party approval. All Protect My Car Plans include best-in-class claims and customer support, 24/7 roadside assistance, free oil changes and tire rotations and the exclusive PMC Rewards Plan, providing daily deals, giveaways, coupons, and thousands of ways to save money every day. Protect My Car has a 30-day money-back guarantee.