Dear Mabs
My best friend and I have similar tastes, we are like twins. We both bought similar cars almost a year ago. So far, we are truly in love with them, and they have been good to us. Hers has a maintenance plan while mine has a service plan. We have been taking our cars for service and have not had to pay for any extras. We recently got into a minor argument about which plan between the two is superior. From that argument, we realised that we both have no clue what the difference is between a service and maintenance plan. In fact, we are also in the dark about what is a warranty and how it works. Please take us out of our misery and explain what these are and why they are important to have when you buy a car. I believe that there are many people out there who are also in the dark, just like us.
Answer
Congratulations to you and your bestie on your cars, I’m glad to hear that everything is going well. Indeed, many people cannot differentiate between these plans and this becomes a problem as it affects their vehicle’s after-sales support.
A warranty
Let’s start with a warranty. This is a promise by the vehicle’s manufacturer that for a certain period or mileage, some original parts that are under warranty will not break down. It gives you peace of mind. However, not every part is covered by a warranty so carefully check your owner’s manual to be certain of what is covered and what is not. Should parts that are covered become faulty while your vehicle is within warranty, the manufacturer will cover their replacement at no cost to you. Please note that this does not cover accidents or when the vehicle is used recklessly, and there are T’s and C’s.
Service Plan
A service plan, as the name suggests, is a plan that pays for your car’s service at a certain mileage or a prescribed amount of time as set out by the vehicle’s manufacturer. It covers the cost of service labour and standard parts. The manufacturer determines the items that need to be replaced at the time of service to keep your car running optimally. For example, during a minor service, they check and replace air and oil filters and sparkplugs when necessary. It is important to understand the terms and conditions as set out by your manufacturer. These include the service intervals and approved dealerships where you can take your car for service. However, a service plan is not comprehensive. Most people find this out once the manufacturer’s warranty has been exhausted and some parts begin to wear and tear, and they must pay for their replacement. Items such as brake pads and brake linings are often excluded from your service plan. Please take a moment to study your service plan manual and have a full understanding of what is covered and what is excluded.
Maintenance Plan
One, on the other hand, a maintenance plan offers much more than a service plan. Over and above the cost of labour and parts required when servicing a vehicle, it also covers the replacement of damaged and worn-out parts. This plan comes in handy when you have to replace items such as brake pads, exhaust system, gearbox, and even the engine.
I often advise people to take a maintenance plan over a service plan for peace of mind. Over the years manufacturers have ensured that most high-end vehicles sold in South Africa come with maintenance plans that last for up to 6 years. However, if you are considering a pre-owned car, first check if the maintenance is still valid and also if there is an option to extend it. I have also heard of instances where you can convert your service plan to a maintenance plan, but you will have to pay for that. Check with your manufacturer about how you can go about achieving this.
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