Buying a used car instead of a new one comes with a few caveats. You are likely to receive a limited no-cost warranty from the dealership, which typically lasts for the initial 60 to 90 days of buying the car. However, after it runs out, you could land in deep trouble when it comes to bearing the extensive repair costs of a pre-owned car.

These expenses could involve paying for basic maintenance work or even heavy-duty repairs if you experience problems with your car. However, this can be avoided by purchasing an extended warranty. Also known as a service contract, an extended warranty can provide you with coverage ranging from minimal to comprehensive. The kind of coverage depends on the amount of protection you want and the price you can pay for it. Different kinds of extended warranty packages exist depending on how old your car is and how many miles it has been driven for.

Here are the most common extended car warranty benefits for used cars:

1. Savings on lengthy ownership
The range of extended car warranty benefits you get depends on how long you intend to own the car. If you have only purchased a used car as a temporary means of transport, buying an extended car warranty is not required.

However, if you aim to use the car for a long time, purchasing an extended car warranty can be extremely helpful. Even if you have to pay a higher price on the warranty, it would still be better than making monthly payments for a new car or paying to repair a used car every so often. Thus, you do end up saving money if you opt for an extended warranty.

2. Reduced stress while driving
If you have to travel far for your job, the extensive amount of use will cause wear and tear on the vehicle as it normally does. Moreover, if you travel to and fro daily, the damage could be substantial. This gets even worse if you have to travel through rough roads or unpleasant weather conditions. A great part of extended car warranty benefits is the lack of stress you would feel about putting your car through extensive use, especially since it is not new and has already weathered quite a bit.

3. Avoiding expenses for an unreliable vehicle
Car reviews can be of great help when shopping for a vehicle. However, they are no guarantee of a vehicle’s performance. Moreover, even cars with the highest ratings can break down. This is true for second-hand vehicles. If the used car you are interested in has poor reliability ratings, avoid buying the car altogether. However, if you have no other option, it would be smart to get an extended warranty to cover all your bases.

Regardless of the circumstances you are buying such a car in, if your vehicle has a bad track record, you might feel safer about driving it knowing that you have extended car warranty benefits to back you up. Furthermore, you will avoid the frequent costs that may come up during the repairs for the vehicle.