What’s the difference between a warranty, service plan and maintenance plan?

By Ané Theron

Before you commit yourself to a specific warranty, service plan or maintenance plan, let’s take a moment to define each.

What is a car warranty?

Every new car in SA is sold with a warranty. Basically, it’s the manufacturer’s promise to repair or replace a defective mechanical component within a certain time frame. These components usually include the engine, transmission system, fuel and ignition systems, cooling system, electrics, steering, suspension, non-frictional clutch and audio system...but every warranty is different.

Wear-and-tear items like tyres, brake pads, the clutch (and clutch plate), will usually not be covered. Driver abuse could void the warranty in its entirety, and so could fitting generic parts. And when it comes to the fine print - the devil is in the details. Always be sure to ask the sales agent exactly what is covered and what is not. Some motor warranties exclude normal wear and tear to tyres and wheels, exhausts, the vehicle's catalytic converter and brakes, along with damage to bodywork, paintwork, glass and headlights.

Some warranties will cover the air-conditioning system, while most won’t cover audio equipment and satellite navigation systems. It can differ quite vastly from one manufacturer/insurer to the next.

What is an extended motor warranty?

If your manufacturer’s warranty has reached the end of its lifespan, an extended motor warranty is usually a good idea to prevent scary repair bills in case something goes wrong, mechanically. It’s an especially good idea if you’re buying a pre-owned car, as you don’t always know its full history.

If your car is for your own private use, less than ten years old, and has under 200 000 km on the clock (depending on your provider), an extended motor warranty is a must. With an extended warranty, roadside assist usually forms part of the package. Yet again, do your homework and read that pesky fine print, so you’re not left out of pocket for something that isn’t covered in your warranty.

What Is a service plan?

Most new cars in SA are sold with a standard service plan, that stipulates how often your car should be serviced. If your car isn’t sold with one, you have the option of paying for one.

A service plan is there to cover your car’s scheduled services at approved dealerships, and includes the labour, parts, and items like oil filters and spark plugs. But bear in mind that the same friction components (or wear-and-tear items, as previously mentioned) are not covered either. These includes tyres, clutches, clutch plate, brake pads and even wiper blades.

What Is a maintenance plan?

The maintenance plan is all-encompassing, and includes a warranty against mechanical issues as well as the above-mentioned wear-and-tear items, as well as servicing. If your car is still young but has seen a lot of kilometres in its short life, a maintenance plan is recommended. It can be very costly though, and for this reason most people opt for a service plan. Yet again, maintenance plans differ from one manufacturer to the rest, so always be sure to gain as much information as possible so you don’t end up paying for things you thought were included in the plan.