Just bought used prius - warranty and maintenence questions

Keys can be bought on ebay and its easy to make them work inst. are on here,

I dont have a warranty, not worried , keep reading and you will get tons of info here.

 

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but if you buy a "used" key off of EBAY I don't believe the "smart" feature will work you can only program it to lock/unlock with the fob and you have to insert it in the slot to start the car. The only way to have the "smart" function to work is to buy a new key from Toyota.

 

-- I understand that the MFD screen on later year models like your and my 2007 have been reliable. The Toyota Extra Care Platinum Plan extended warranty does cover it.

-- PriusChat through Troy/WarrantyShack.com/Toyota of Greenfield, MA is the best place to get the Toyota extended warranties.

-- I'm not aware of any components on your 2007 Prius that fail a lot.

-- The Toyota Financial Services website has this to say about the Platinum Plan and its excluded components:

"Note: Platinum protection covers virtually all component groups on new vehicles. If your new vehicle's component does not appear on our List of Excluded Components , it is covered by Platinum protection....

List of Excluded Components

• 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)"

Be aware that the Prius just might be the most reliable car sold in the US. Every model year of the Gen I and Gen II Prius has earned the highest reliability rating of Consumer Reports since 2001.

The consensus here on PriusChat is that the prepaid maintenance plan is not worth it -- even at the discounted price of $875.

Personally, I would never buy it because (1) I can do all the scheduled maintenance for a lot less either at independent shops, at Toyota dealers with their frequent discount coupons and/or by myself, and (2) I can do it better (e.g., I like to use synthetic oil).

And I cannot fathom you buying it now. It's a first 4 years maintenance plan, and it's already been, what, 2 or more years since your car was first sold and put on the road?

* * * * * * * *

Congrats and good luck!

 

I agree about the key. I only have one smart key, so I have been looking for a backup from ebay. A used one will only work the ignition and remote door locks at best. You will have to get a new smart key and have it programmed if you need that feature on your spare. You can get new ones on ebay, but you'll probably have to go to a dealer for programming (smart key prog.). Although a toyota specialist may have the required equipment as well.

Regards,
Dave

 

By the way, my Prius is easily my best running car, even though it has the most miles. I'm not worried about it.

Regards,
Dave

 

alevinemi,

Welcome to Prius ownership & PriusChat. I'm not sure exactly, but I don't think your car will qualify for the official Toyota Financial Services extended warranty. True, you do have until the factory warranty of 36,000 miles or 36 months from the "in service" date (not necessarily the delivery date) to buy the Toyota extended warranty, but that's for the ORIGINAL owner of a car purchased NEW (unless that owner had that warranty & transferred it to you). But you bought your car USED, so ask Troy about that. The only other way I think you can get a Toyota extended warranty is if the car was a Toyota Certified used car bought from a Toyota dealer, but I think only THAT dealer can offer it to you at the time of purchase (or within a certain number of days from purchase). You should probably ask Troy about that aspect too. I may be totally off base here on this, but I think I remember reading something to that affect here over the last couple of years.

Generally the official Toyota Financial Services extended warranty is the safest way to go & WILL be accepted at ALL Toyota dealers (but probably not at the corner garage). Whereas a 3rd party warranty has lots of loophole excuses NOT to pay for the repairs or will keep you hanging on for hours or days before approving covered repairs to start. The other thing about the 3rd party ones is that some of them go out of business before you ever get to use their warranty (they take your money & run to close up shop or file for bankruptsy protection). This last aspect has been all over the news recently about people who have gotten burned that way or on consumer-tip pieces advising that they are NOT a good deal because of the number of 3rd party businesses that offered them going out of business.

If the Toyota one is do-able in your case, one other advantage is that you get free Toyota Roadside Assistance (so you won't have to pay for a tow) as part of it & if your car has to be kept longer than 24 hours for a repair, they give you a free rental car from the Toyota dealer (for up to 5 days, I think). I don't think an aftermarket or 3rd party extended warranty offers either of those 2 features. I hope this helps more than it confuses you, but you need to talk more to Troy---he's the expert.

Ken (in Bolton,Ct)

 

My signature voices my opinion about extended warranty on Toyota.
Maintenance plan, I wouldn't use one.
If you want smartkey as others said you must use a new fob. Used fob can be set up only as standard fobs not smart fobs.

Congrats on your purchase of the best & most reliable car on the road.

 

Personally, the last thing I'm worried about is the underlying financial strength and backing of the Toyota extended warranties.

The insurer is Toyota Motor Insurance Services, Inc., which on its own, has a rating of A- by AM Best.

In addition, its ultimate parent company and financial backer is Toyota Motor Corporation itself.

I think the chances of a Toyota extended warranty not being honored in the next 5 years are less than a thousandth of one percent.