warrantydirect.co.uk

**** Introducton ****
Many people I know berate this form of insurance (for that is what it is - insurance). It can be a small price for peace of mind .... but do your sums first.

**** Overview ****
I have had a Warranty Direct on one car. I purchased a 1 year warranty on my Vauxhall Omega which I had purchased 18 months old.

You can obtain a warranty on most cars directly from Warranty Direct either online (http://www.warrantydirect.co.uk/) or by phone on 0800 731 7001.

The price quoted will depend on your car, age mileage, estimated annual mileage.

You are able to claim up to £5000 per annum on your policy and it can cover elements of wear and tear which cause other problems.

You can take annual or longer policies out - there is a small discount for taking a longer policy.

The policy is effective from day 1 so no 'cooling off period' .

There are now 4 levels of cover which have maximum age and mileage limits when you start and end cover. All have a £25 excess on each claim and all but the basic offer a monthly payment option (at a premium).

**** Major Pluses ****
You can opt, for an additional premium, to have labour rates at main dealers included. This is highly recommended.

You can suspend a warranty for up to 3 years and transfer it to another vehicle (they calculate any difference and you pay the top up for a full year). This is great if you sell you car and get a newer one with manufacturers warranty. You can also sell on the policy with you old car for a small administration fee (£25 I think).

**** Weaknesses ****
If you opt to use there own repair network, I have found they are often booked solid for weeks. This forces you to find a local, VAT registered garage with low labour rates to fix your car. They will not help in this task.
You have to pay extra for rapid claim processing (not worth it in my view as they are quick enough normally).
There is no out of hour mechanism to approve work - if you are stuck you have to take a risk if you pre-approve work without there okay.

**** My Experience ****
They were very helpful with my claim being early in the life of my second hand car, and even paid a higher labour rate than normal. The payment to me was very prompt.

There are small print exclusions and you really have to be a mechanic to know what is and is not covered. Basically they cover the big bits but smaller items will not be covered.

The renewal process is easy - they sometimes send you reminders long after the policy expires though. Prices are competitive but do check out manufacturer extensions first (sometimes cheaper).

Prices are reasonable but with age of car tend to become too much relative to the value of the vehicle.

**** Overall ****
I would recommend this company. The staff are helpful and they offer a value for money product.
Get a quote online - it is free and you can see what it would cost immediately.