Extended Warranty

[Orion]

I would like to know if anyone can vouch for the integrity of warrantyshack.com. It is promoted on this web site, but I have not read of any actual experiences. I am thinking of cancelling my contract with my dealer and switching - because of price and contract issues.

Also, has anyone actually collected under a warranty issued by them, or is it a new company? I have read about scams in the warranty business and wonder if this is a safe company to do business with.

I just got my 2010 Prius last Saturday.

Thanks for any help my new Prius Buddies can offer.

[TKY]

Orion, Welcome. I do not have the extended warranty; I will consider it as I get more experience with my Prius and closer to the end of the factory warranty period.

My understanding is that the warranty offered here, through PriusChat, is the Toyota warranty without the dealership price uplifts. I haven't seen any posting complaining about Warrantyshack.com.

Take this with a grain of caution because I have no direct experience. --TK

[Vapor]

Sorry, not an answer to your post; I'm in similar shoes as OP and would like to hear this too. I'm leaning against the extended warranty or at least waiting 35 months. But Prius Chat was a big help in seeing that the EW at the dealership would be too expensive. Thanks.

[richard schumacher]

Don't buy one. On average you can expect to get back much less than you pay for any extended warranty, most likely nothing at all. The least expensive Toyota warranty costs about $1000. You would almost certainly get more value from that $1000 by buying a bank CD.

Read the exclusions fine print. Beware the self-selection effect (a very few people who got back the entire price of the warranty are much more likely to post about it than the many who got nothing).

[ceric]

For years, people on this board have bought ext warranty from warrantyshack.com.
Troy is the main contact that sells the Toyota warranty to you. He is a nicest guy.
He works at a remote (small town) Toyota dealer.
The warranty one purchases from him is the genuine Toyota warranty. You will receive information from Toyota proving that. I don't know what else you need, but so many senior members here (including me) can vouch for him.

Too bad, I haven't got the chance to use it yet.
Darn reliable '05 Toyota Prius.... No even a light bulb has been out.
I bought the 7yr/80K for less than $700.

Ext warranty is a personally financial planning (much like your medical/life insurance). You should listen to yourself, not someone else's opinion on whether you need one. I bet Bill Gates carries no life insurance or medical one. Why would he? He has billions to cover anything costing even millions....

[jaywolf]

Originally Posted by Orion

I would like to know if anyone can vouch for the integrity of warrantyshack.com. It is promoted on this web site, but I have not read of any actual experiences. I am thinking of cancelling my contract with my dealer and switching - because of price and contract issues.

Also, has anyone actually collected under a warranty issued by them, or is it a new company? I have read about scams in the warranty business and wonder if this is a safe company to do business with.

I just got my 2010 Prius last Saturday.

Thanks for any help my new Prius Buddies can offer.

I bought the Toyota 8 year warranty from Troy and with any luck it will be the worse money I have ever spent. I showed it to my local dealer and they told me it was the same they were selling and if I could get it for that price I should buy it. ($700 under their asking price for the same thing)

I hope I never use it but it is piece of mind for me to know my wife's Prius has emergency road assistance and no cost bumper to bumper repair at any Toyota dealer for 8 years.

[neilz]

When you go online to see the warranty, they do not list the exclusions. Is it bumper to bumper? I called Toyota Customer Service and asked if they could send me a brochure of the warranty so I could see the exclusions. They said I would have to see my dealer. I feel awkward going to the dealer to get a brochure and buy elsewhere(warrantyshack.com).

[32kcolors]

Toyotas don't need extended warranty.

[Betelgeuse]

Originally Posted by neilz

When you go online to see the warranty, they do not list the exclusions. Is it bumper to bumper? I called Toyota Customer Service and asked if they could send me a brochure of the warranty so I could see the exclusions. They said I would have to see my dealer. I feel awkward going to the dealer to get a brochure and buy elsewhere(warrantyshack.com).

Here's a list of exclusions (taken from here):

* Accessory Drive Belts
* Batteries
* Body Panels
* Brake Linings, Pads and Shoes
* Bumpers
* Carpet
* Chrome
* Clutch Friction Disk and Pressure Plate
* Dash Cover and Pad
* Door Trim, Handles and Fabric
* Filters
* Fluids
* Glass (including Windshield)
* Headliner
* Heating Hoses, Lines and Tubes
* Hinges
* Hybrid System Main Relays
* Hybrid Vehicle Battery
* Hybrid Vehicle Battery Module/Pack
* Hoses
* Interior and Exterior Trim Moldings, including but not limited to, Cup Holders, Ashtrays, Covers, and Vents
* Lamps
* Light Bulbs
* Nuts, Bolts, Clips, Retainers and Fasteners
* Paint
* Rotors and Drums
* Rust and Corrosion Damage
* Seat Covers
* Service Plug
* Shiny Metals
* Spark Plugs
* Structural Framework and Wells
* Tires
* Vacuum Hoses, Lines and Tubes
* Weather Stripping
* Wheels and Rims
* Windshield Wiper Blades (Rubber Component)

Note that not all of these things are actually uncovered; just some of them are covered by other warranties (i.e. the Hybrid components are covered by the hybrid warranty).

[Orion]

ceric -

Thanks to you and all the others that gave opinions and advice. It is much appreciated.

As many Prius owners, I have struggled with the need for the extended warranty. But my record with cars has been spotty. Years ago I had a Cressida. It was a jewel that I ran to 125,000 miles. But at 90,000 miles the manual transmission went totally out and it cost me a bundle. And I am easy on my driving. Before that I had a Corolla and had lots of problems with the drive shaft at about 75,000 miles. And I wouldn't want to bore you with all the problems I have had on domestic cars after the warranty expired.

So I guess I have been burned in the past and need a little POM. Some readers may not be aware that if you sell before the warranty expiration, you can get a pro rata refund on the balance. I got about 80% of my money back because the truck was only 17 months old with 20,000 miles. So I plan to use that to pay for most of the Prius warranty.

Thanks again,

Len