Warranty Errors: 5 Common Mistakes That Can Invalidate Your Vehicle Coverage

Protecting your car with a warranty will give you peace of mind and eliminate the tension of meeting unexpected repairs. However, you must understand and abide by the terms and conditions set out in your warranty contract, whether it is a manufacturer’s warranty or an extended car warranty, to ensure it does not get voided. Knowingly or unknowingly car owners make certain common mistakes that void their car warranty and jeopardize the protection of their vehicles. Below we discuss a few of the most common slip-ups on the part of vehicle owners.

5 Common Instances When Your Vehicle Warranty Can Be Voided

Inaccurate or incomplete maintenance of records

Certain responsibilities go hand in hand with car warranties. These include maintaining accurate and complete records of the service and repairs on your vehicle. These records are particularly useful when you must prove your vehicle has received scheduled service and maintenance and met all the car warranty or extended car warranty requirements. The best way to do this is by creating a digital folder to store and easily retrieve all the documents related to your vehicle when required. This documentary proof becomes necessary when you make a claim on the warranty.

Unauthorized Modifications

Vehicle customization and modifications are extremely popular among car enthusiasts. These include the addition of aftermarket components or performance modifications. However, if your vehicle has warranty cover, you must ensure that these modifications do not void your extended car warranty. Modifications to critical car components such as the engine or transmission can lead to the voiding of the warranty. Before deciding on any vehicle modifications check the warranty terms and conditions.

Neglecting scheduled maintenance

Vehicle owners often have this misconception that once they buy warranty coverage for their vehicles, every repair or maintenance issue will be covered by the warranty, regardless of whether they provide it with timely maintenance. However, this is not the case, as car warranties are bound by rules and regulations that must be followed for the warranty to remain valid. Most car warranty providers require you to follow the manufacturer-recommended schedule for service and maintenance of your car. This includes regular oil changes, filter replacements, brake pad changes, brake inspections, engine inspections, etc. These regulations are meant to maintain your vehicle’s efficient performance and long life. Failing to perform any of these essential checks and services for your car, can cause premature wear and tear in your vehicle and provide grounds for the warranty provider to void the warranty. If a problem arises with your car and you cannot prove regularity in its maintenance, your warranty provider can refuse your claim. This is one of the most commonly occurring reasons for voiding a warranty.

Mishandling of your vehicle

The warranty on your vehicle only covers defects in materials or workmanship but doesn’t cover damage caused by improper use or mishandling of your vehicle. Mishandling can include overloading the vehicle beyond the manufacturer’s recommended capacity, straining the engine by racing or constantly overspeeding, off-roading in a car not meant for off-road use, etc. In short, problems arising from using the vehicle by disregarding the manufacturer’s usage guidelines can result in the warranty being voided and claims denied. Hence, if your vehicle is covered by a warranty your best course of action would be to only use it as per the manufacturer’s recommendations without putting any unnecessary strain on its engine and other components.

Performing unauthorized repairs/Using unapproved parts/consumables

This is another mistake made by car owners while their vehicles are covered by a warranty. Almost all vehicle manufacturers specify the kind of oil, coolant, brake fluid, and components that can be used in their cars. As a car owner, you can service your vehicle at the service center or workshop of your choice; but ensure that the technician you entrust your vehicle to only uses manufacturer-recommended parts and consumables. Substandard aftermarket or generic consumables or components not as per the manufacturer’s specifications can damage your engine and other parts requiring repairs that will not be covered by the warranty. Hence, always use manufacturer-approved parts and consumables to keep your car warranty intact.

Other reasons for voiding the car warranty

Not responding to the manufacturer’s technical service bulletins/recalls

Now and then, car manufacturers issue technical service bulletins and even recalls to deal with potential safety hazards or quality issues with their vehicles. Failing to pay attention to these bulletins or recalls and continuing to drive in such a compromised vehicle can lead to the voiding of the manufacturer’s warranty. This is because manufacturers need car owners to respond quickly to prevent the endangerment of life and property. You will receive notifications regarding these manufacturer bulletins if you sign up for them when you purchase your car. These details will also be mentioned on the manufacturer’s website.

Failing to report problems immediately

If you fail to report problems with your vehicle, you could lose warranty coverage. This means that if you notice something odd with your car or something not right with the engine sound, you should immediately contact your car service center technician or mechanic and get it checked out. This includes the check engine light or any other warning lights. Continuing to drive your vehicle with such issues will only cause further damage leading to the denial of warranty claims.

To conclude, we wish to highlight that keeping your warranty valid calls for maintaining your car responsibly and following the manufacturer-recommended guidelines for repairs and maintenance. Avoiding the common mistakes mentioned above, such as using poor quality parts, not maintaining proper service records, making unauthorized modifications, mishandling your vehicle, etc., will ensure your warranty stays valid.

MP Warranties – A Dependable Car Warranty Provider in the UAE

We are MP Warranties, a car warranty provider with a good reputation in the UAE. We are committed to ensuring our customers receive comprehensive coverage for their vehicle repairs with our customized extended car warranty plans. Our plans ensure you never have to worry about paying for the repairs and maintenance of your car. We have plans tailor-made for new vehicles as well as pre-owned vehicles. Besides, we ensure our customers receive all the information necessary for them to make informed decisions about their vehicle warranty. If you wish to buy a warranty for your car, we invite you to explore our extended car warranty options. Reach out to us at +971 501 604 953 for more details.