Feb
Why should you get an extended warranty or vehicle service contract for your used car? There are many reasons, but we are going to present the three big ones for you here:
- The car isn’t new anymore – New cars are usually covered by a manufacturer warranty. Without that, you are unprotected. Also, newer cars generally have fewer problems. The older your car gets, the more likely a repair bill increases.
- You can bundle your contract with roadside assistance – Whether you are worried about a dead battery or a flat tire, roadside assistance is always a good idea. Plus, it protects you from user error such as running out of gas or locking your keys in the car.
- Peace of mind – Having a vehicle service contract can give you peace of mind in regard to your vehicle. You know that if you need repairs, they won’t sink you into debt. And you can add on any additional features that will increase your peace of mind including the roadside assistance we mentioned above as well as things like trip interruption insurance in case you have a breakdown while traveling.
Get the Best Coverage Options for Your Used Vehicle
Vehicle Service Center is proud to offer all of the best coverage options that give our clients real peace of mind about vehicle ownership. To discuss the options that are best for you, call 1-800-280-6708 and speak with a vehicle protection specialist. You can also request your free quote online.
Mar
When searching for an extended warranty, you may have come across the term vehicle service contract? What is it and why is this an appealing option for vehicle owners? (more…)
Feb
There’s nothing that gives a driver a bad feeling faster than seeing that check engine light come on. You may at first wonder how serious the problem is. Then you realize, no matter how serious or minor it is, you’re still going to be paying a lot of money out of pocket if you don’t have extended warranty coverage. Here’s a countdown of the 5 most common check engine light repairs and how much you can expect the bill to be (according to a study by CarMD).
- Oxygen Sensor Replacement – “Oh good, it’s only a sensor,” you think. Then you get a bill for $258.63. Between the rising cost of parts and the rising cost of labor, even simple fixes can be expensive.
- The Catalytic Converter – “Uh oh, that sounds expensive.” You’re right. The average repair cost was $1,190.18 in 2016.
- Ignition Coils and Spark Plugs – If you keep up with regular tune-ups, this shouldn’t be a problem. Otherwise, your average bill will be $401.22.
- Loose Fuel Cap – This one is more embarrassing than expensive, and it’s worth checking yourself when you see the light come on – especially if you were just at the pump. Some mechanics may feel bad for you and just charge a nominal fee for plugging your car into the computer. As a result, the average expense is a mere $16.88 plus your wounded pride.
- Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF) – At this point, you know better than to think sensor repair will be cheap. MAF replacement is even more costly than the O2 sensor coming in at an average of $378.15.
Protect Yourself with a Vehicle Service Contract
The next time that check engine light comes on, you can play it cool and impress your passengers. After all, if you have a comprehensive service contract from Vehicle Service Center, you know what’s covered. Get a free quote from one of our vehicle protection specialists today by calling 1-800-280-6708, or request your quote using our online contact form.
Jan
Car owners may have been breathing a sigh of relief when 2014-2015 prices on auto repairs seemed to level off. However, a 2017 study by CarMD reveals that in 2016, repair costs spiked again. Let’s take a look at what you can expect next time you need to head to the dealer or local garage for repairs.
- Parts Costs Have Increased – The average price of replacement parts for vehicles went up by 1.4% in 2016.
- Labor Parts Increased More – The big difference, however, is in the price of labor. This increased by 4.7% in 2016. That’s a major increase when you consider the fact that many shops were already charging $100 per hour or more.
- Engine Replacement Is the Biggest Expense – The biggest repair cost in 2016 was a full engine replacement. The total bill came to $7,600.
Your Check Engine Light – The 5 Most Common Causes
The study also shed some light on why your check engine light may have just come on. The top 5 reasons for that sensor being tripped are:
- Faulty Oxygen Sensor – You’ll be happy to know that 8% of the time you only need a sensor replaced. On the downside, the average bill for this quick fix is $258.63.
- Catalytic Converter – Unfortunately, the second most common issue at 6.75% isn’t such a quick fix.
- Ignition Coil and Spark Plugs – 6.23%
- Loose Fuel Cap – 4.16% of the time this problem could have been fixed by tightening the gas cap. Whoops!
- Mass Air Flow Sensor – 3.84%
Protect Yourself with an Extended Warranty
Vehicle Service Center is helping vehicle owners protect themselves against exorbitant repair bills by offering a wide array of coverage options. To learn more and get your free quote, call us today at 1-800-280-6708 or fill our online request form.
Jan
Auto repairs can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars if the wrong thing breaks and you don’t have extended warranty coverage. There are, however, some general maintenance services that can help your car to continue running smoothly for as long as possible. We’re going to look at four of these services and how expensive the consequences can quickly become if these normal maintenance procedures are ignored.
- Oil Changes – First of all, you probably don’t need an oil change as often as you have been led to believe. Although the old standard was 3 months or 3,000 miles, many car manuals now say 4 or even 5 months and between 4,000 and 7,000 miles depending on the make and model. The consequences of failing to get regular oil changes can be a full engine replacement. That would run upwards of $4,000. A massive price to pay for skipping a $30-40 oil change.
- Tire Rotation – Not getting the tires rotated every 7,500 miles or so (some people just get it done every other oil change), can lead to early tire wear and the need for replacement. Since a new set of tires can cost upwards of $500, you want to put it off as long as you safely can, and tire rotation extends that safe period.
- Timing Belt – This can be a $1,000 expense in and of itself. The good news is that most cars only need it done every 90-100,000 miles. On the other hand, failure to keep the timing belt in good shape can result in it breaking. This often does a tremendous amount of damage to the engine. You’re talking $2,500 and up easily.
- Brake Pads – Replacing your brake pads can cost a couple of hundred dollars, but that’s a lot cheaper than the $600 it can cost if you need to replace your rotors too. Get your brakes checked at least once a year and sooner if you hear squealing when you brake or have to push the pedal down harder than usual.
Get the Protection You Need from Massive Repair Bills
Of course, taking care of your vehicle will only get you so far. The repair bills will eventually come. When they do, you will want an extended warranty from Vehicle Service Center to offset the costs. For a free quote, call us today at 1-800-280-6708 or submit the online request form.
Jan
Vehicle service contracts are often referred to as extended warranties. These contracts provide coverage in case of a major repair, much the way a warranty does when you initially purchase a vehicle. However, while many auto manufacturers include at least some measure of a warranty on a new car, warranties for used cars need to be purchased from a third-party. Here are two reasons to find an affordable vehicle service contract if you don’t already have one on your used vehicle.
#1 The Car Is Older
Manufacturers provide warranties on new cars because they are new and less likely to break. But once a car is already past its prime is when you need that protection more than ever. A vehicle service contract can help protect you against the major repairs that are usually unnecessary during the first 60-100,000 miles of driving a vehicle, but the become more common between 100-200,000 miles.
#2 Bundled Extras Like Roadside Assistance
How is the battery on your used car? Did your pre-owned vehicle come with brand new tires? Have you ever run out of gas or locked your keys in the car? Roadside assistance is a must for drivers, and it only becomes more important if a car is older. The gas gauge may not be functioning properly, or worn tires may be ready to go flat. Don’t get stuck looking for the person who owns the car next to you in the parking lot to see if you can get a jumpstart. Roadside assistance can be bundled with your extended warranty.
Get Peace of Mind Today with Auto Warranty Protection
The pros at Vehicle Service Center can help you to get the coverage you need to enjoy peace of mind while driving your pre-owned vehicle. Contact us today at 1-800-280-6708 to get your free quote now!
Jan
The cost of auto repairs has reached ridiculous levels, and there’s no reason to believe your mechanic is going to drop his or her prices in 2018. So what can you do to save money on auto repairs when they spring up unexpectedly? Here are five tips to help you.
- Ask Questions – Never let a mechanic work on your car without having a conversation first. Read our post about 5 Things to Ask Your Mechanic to learn about some of the most important matters to discuss.
- Check Reviews – If the repair shop is not qualified to work on your vehicle or has a lot of bad reviews from angry customers, it’s time to find a new shop.
- Second Opinion – Don’t let a shady shop tell you that you need $1,000 in repair work on things that are unrelated to what you came in for. Is it possible all that other damage existed and you really need the repairs? Sure. Just don’t take one person’s word for it – especially when he or she stands to gain a lot of money from making something up.
- Get Estimates in Writing – Don’t let the shop repair anything until you approve it and you have a document in writing stating how much you will be charged for both parts and labor on any given service.
Protect Yourself – A vehicle service contract can protect you against covered expenses when the need for repairs suddenly arises. Vehicle Service Center offers a wide range of coverage options so you can get the extended warranty you need while staying in budget. To learn more and to have one of our vehicle protection specialists provide you with a free quote, call 1-800-2806708 today!
Dec
The winter brings with it additional driving hazards. That calls for drivers to be extra prepared for anything. Here’s a list of 9 items you should keep in the car if you are driving during the winter.
- Snow Shovel – You probably don’t have room for a full-size shovel in your trunk, but they do make compact shovels specifically for keeping in the car for emergencies.
- Ice Scraper – Even if you are only in a store for a few minutes, a quick change in weather can leave your car dusted in snow or your windshield icy. An ice scraper and snow brush combo is a must for winter driving.
- Jumper Cables – Winter drains batteries and having your own cables may make it easier to get a jump start in a pinch.
- Flashlight – You should always have a flashlight in your car regardless of the season, but winter makes it more important because it gets dark so early, so you probably spend more time on the road after dark.
- Spare Tire – If you get a flat that can’t be aired up, a spare tire will allow you to get to a repair shop without needing to be towed.
- Air Compressor – Portable air compressors are affordable and can often be used to air up a tire with a slow leak so you can make it to the shop to get a patch.
- First-Aid Kit – In case of an accident or injury, you can get started on caring for the wounded before the ambulance even arrives.
- Cat Litter – Litter absorbs moisture and can help your car to get traction on an icy road if you get stuck.
- Warm Blanket – If you are ever stranded and waiting for help on a cold winters day, a warm blanket will be your best friend.
Add Roadside Assistance to Your Extended Warranty
Don’t forget to add a roadside assistance plan to your extended warranty from Vehicle Service Center. Then, if you end up with a car issue this winter, you can make one phone call and then just wrap up in your blanket to wait for help to arrive. Call 1-800-280-6708 today to speak to one of our vehicle protection specialists and get a free quote.
Dec
Whether the manufacturer warranty is running out on your new vehicle or you are purchasing a used vehicle, why does it make sense to purchase an extended warranty (also known as a vehicle service contract)? We’re going to give you three good reasons to think about a service contract for your new or used car.
#1 What Happens When Your Manufacturer Warranty Runs Out?
We’ve all heard of Murphy’s Law. One of the perfect applications of that saying occurs when things start to go wrong on a vehicle right after the warranty is up. It’s almost as though the car knows and is punishing us for not getting a longer warranty. An extended warranty fixes the problem by picking up where the manufacturer warranty leaves off.
#2 You Can Bundle Your Extended Warranty with Additional Features Such as Roadside Assistance
Not only are you covered if you need major repairs done on your vehicle, but you can also have someone come jumpstart the car if you left the lights on while at the grocery store. Other features may include gas delivery if you run out on the road or assistance if you lock yourself out of the car. Plus, some extended warranties can even be bundled with trip interruption insurance in case your car breaks down more than 100 miles from home.
#3 You Can’t Put a Price Tag on Peace of Mind
Whether you get stuck home or away and whether the repairs are major or minor, you know that you have a vehicle service contract in place and roadside assistance to get you out of a tight spot. In a world where peace of mind is so hard to come by, you shouldn’t have to worry about your vehicle too.
Let Vehicle Service Center Help Give You Peace of Mind
To find the perfect extended warranty for your car, talk to one of our vehicle protection specialists today by calling 1-800-280-6708. You can also request your free quote online by using our contact form.
Dec
It’s that time of the year again, and your car needs you more than ever. The winter can be particularly rough on vehicles, so we’ve compiled this quick checklist to help you get ready for the coldest months of the year.
- Get your battery checked – One of the biggest problems people run into during winter is a dead battery. If you get yours checked and it is borderline, you may be better off replacing it a little early than having to worry about it when you get stuck somewhere.
- Buy a portable air compressor – Your tires will drop about a pound of pressure for every 10 degrees the temperature dips. So some mornings you make wake up to find that all of your tires are 5-10 pounds low. Rather than driving on low tires to the gas station, a compressor will allow you to air up the tires at home.
- Check your wiper blades – Most wiper blades are really only meant to last a year. And that lifespan can quickly be shortened if you try to turn the wipers on before you defrost the windshield. Change old wiper blades and always turn them off before shutting your car, so they don’t kick on automatically when you start your car on an icy morning.
- Replace or clean lights – Any head or tail lights that are out on the car need to be replaced. Also, you will want to consider cleaning the headlights if they have grown cloudy, which happens over time. It is dark during the evening commute in the winter, so clean and working headlights are most important during this season.
Add Roadside Assistance to Your Service Contract
Another thing you can do to prepare for winter is to add roadside assistance to your service contract. Vehicle Service Center offers coverage options that can protect you from a dead battery, a flat tire, or many other hazards you may run into in winter. Request your free warranty quote online, or call us today at 1-800-280-6708.
Nov
A vehicle is a huge investment. That means you don’t automatically toss it away and get a new one just because the manufacturer warranty is up. Unfortunately, that’s usually right around the time when things start to go horribly awry. How can you protect your investment? Here are three reasons to purchase an extended warranty or service contract for your car.
- Murphy’s Law – Murphy’s Law states that whatever can go wrong will go wrong. If you’ve ever kept a car past its warranty, you probably know how a saying like this came about. It’s almost like the car knows you aren’t covered anymore, and it seems like parts start to break immediately after the coverage expires.
- Peace of Mind – Stress and worry seem to be constant elements of modern life. An extended warranty is a simple way to get rid of one of those stressors because you know that if something goes wrong with your car, it is covered and won’t cost you a bundle.
- You Love Your Car – With some older cars, you may as well just use the money to make a down payment on something new rather than repair it when something big goes wrong. If you love your car and don’t want to have to think about giving it up, a service contract is a great way to protect it against repairs that would be too expensive to be cost-effective on an older vehicle.
The Best Extended Warranty and Service Contract Options
For the best extended warranty and service contract options, call 1-800-280-6708 and talk to the vehicle protection specialists at Vehicle Service Center today. You can also request your free quote online by submitting the contact form.
Aug
Have you ever been stuck in a parking lot or even in your own driveway because your car battery is out of juice? Whether you need jump assistance or a battery boost, it can be frustrating to have to wait for help to arrive, especially if you don’t have a roadside assistance plan. Here are 3 common misconceptions about battery problems.
Myth #1 – I Should Let My Battery Run Out Completely Before Charging It
Actually, letting your car battery run out completely will shorten its overall lifespan. In fact, you may not be able to bring a completely discharged battery back.
Myth #2 – I Can Use Any Battery Charger to Recharge My Battery
Some high output battery chargers give off too high of a voltage for your car battery. Don’t use a charger that is unregulated. Giving a battery a boost is best left to a professional unless you know what you are doing.
Myth #3 – If My Battery Is Low on Water, I Can Refill It from the Tap
Tap water contains minerals that can actually reduce your battery’s functionality. If you do add water to a battery on your own, make sure it has been distilled and no minerals have been added back into it.
The Best Way to Deal with Battery Problems
The best way to cope with a battery issue is to have a service plan and roadside assistance through Vehicle Service Center. That will allow you to get immediate assistance through a battery boost or via jump assistance, and it may help defray the cost of any needed repairs to keep the problem from happening again depending on the service package you select. To learn more, call one of our vehicle protection specialists at 1-800-280-6708 and get your free quote today.
Aug
A car costs a lot more than just the sticker price. You also have to factor in depreciation, keeping the tank gassed up, interest on a loan, insurance premiums, and repair costs. What you may not realize is that the longer you intend to keep a car, the larger percentage of that overall ownership cost will end up being spent on repairs. According to Consumer Reports, it could be as much as 8% of your total cost of ownership.
No one can argue with the fact that auto repair costs are continuing to rise. This is usually blamed on the fact that cars are becoming more complicated as technology enters into every part of the vehicle. Modern mechanics need to be electricians and computer repairmen just as much as they need to be mechanically inclined. As a result, labor costs are often in the $80-125 per hour range.
Of course, repair costs also seem to vary wildly from state to state. According to CBS News, Connecticut is the most expensive state to have repair work done in, and Michigan is the cheapest. The information came from a study that looked at more 11.5 million auto repairs in the US.
Reducing the Lifetime Cost of Vehicle Ownership
One way to reduce the lifetime cost of vehicle ownership, regardless of the state you live in or the hourly rate of your local garage, is to purchase a service contract that protects you against major repair bills. Vehicle Service Center is proud to offer the best third-party warranty options to our customers. To learn more, speak to one of our vehicle service specialists by calling 1-800-280-6708.