Let's face it, whenever you decide to purchase a new or pre-owned vehicle the last thing on your mind are repair costs. Your primary concern is "how much is my new or pre-owned car, truck or van going to cost me each month?" It's a new vehicle, so why would I have repair costs? So, as an auto buyer you decide not to get warranty protection on your car, truck, van or SUV to stay within your monthly budget.
Well, consider this fact. The standard warranty on most new and pre-owned vehicles is 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first) and the average auto loan term is 66 months.
Those unexpected out of pocket repairs can cause undue stress to your checkbook and budget. By adding warranty protection to your monthly auto payment you can protect yourself from making monthly payments on a non-functioning or improperly functioning vehicle because you cannot afford to make repairs. Getting less than fair market value for your trade-in because your vehicle is non-functioning or improperly functioning. Getting behind on your monthly auto payments because of unexpected repair costs. Carrying over negative trade equity (being-upside down) to your next vehicle loan.
If your vehicle is worth less than the loan amount, you will have to add this amount to your next vehicle loan. What does this mean to you? Well consider this example.