The time to find out what’s covered under the manufacturer’s warranty for your car is before you purchase it – not afterwards, and certainly not when you find yourself needing repairs. The warranty coverage for a new car is part of the total new car package that you’re purchasing – some aspects of the warranty are actually negotiable, just like the purchase price. Therefore, it makes sense to consider what the warranty covers, how much it costs, and how long your coverage lasts when you’re making that initial purchase decision.

It also makes sense to see if you’re eligible for a dealership warranty in addition to the manufacturer’s warranty. A dealership’s warranty may cover routine maintenance or other expenses not covered by the manufacturer’s policy. Keep in mind that not only is a car an expensive purchase – probably second only to purchasing a house for most of us – the car industry is struggling and it’s a buyer’s market.

One thing you have to remember is that every manufacturer’s warranty is different. Not only are warranties different from say Ford to GM, but the warranties offered on each manufacturer’s different makes and models can be different as well. There’s no substitute for carefully reading the warranty to figure out what coverage you have.

Another important consideration is how different systems of the car are defined. Take the power train and drive train, for example. There’s no industry standardization for these terms, so they mean different things to different manufacturers. To find out exactly what’s covered by your warranty, you’ll have to read your manufacturer’s paperwork very carefully.

While reading your paperwork, make special note of the terms of the warranty. Does the warranty last for a period of time, for a range of mileage or a combination of the two? Most warranties will state a term of “…until A or B – whichever comes first.”

Typically, the warranty will cover moving parts that are subject to wearing out – particularly moving parts that have the potential to wear out before they should. In addition, manufacturing defects aren’t always covered by your warranty. If a known manufacturing issue arises, it’s more likely to be handled by the manufacturer with a recall.

Make sure you also understand what you have to do to keep your warranty in effect. For example, if you don’t have documentation that you have had regular oil changes, your warranty may not cover transmission problems. Not only may you have to have routine maintenance done, but there may be conditions that specify where the maintenance may be performed and what products may be used. If you connect jumper cables wrong and short out your alternator, don’t expect coverage for that either.

Overall, there’s no substitute for carefully reading and understanding the manufacturer’s warranty, preferably before you purchase the car. Find out what’s covered, and what you need to do to keep that coverage in effect before you ever need to make a claim so that you aren’t stuck with unexpected repair bills.