If you own a Jeep, you’re in an exclusive club only Jeep owners know about. It’s a whole lifestyle with a culture all its own. Most people buy a Jeep because they love the rugged exterior, quality craftsmanship, and reliability. To keep their Jeeps around just a little bit longer, many consider a Jeep extended warranty as the way to go.
What Is a Jeep Extended Warranty?
You have two options when it comes to a Jeep extended warranty. You can go with a manufacturer extended warranty or a third-party extended warranty. Deciding which one is right for you depends on your circumstances and your Jeep.
What Is a Manufacturer Extended Warranty?
Chrysler factory warranties are available directly to you from their website. You can buy one after the new car warranty expires, but you would be better off buying it before the first warranty ends. If you wait, you will pay a higher amount. You also get an opportunity for up to eight additional years of coverage if you buy a Jeep extended warranty before the new car warranty expires. When you’re outside of your new car warranty coverage, you can only get anywhere between one and five years of coverage.
The best thing about a factory warranty is that it is applicable at every Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, and Ram dealership. You can take in your Jeep, and you don’t have to worry about mishandling, inadequate parts, or lack of knowledge in those handling your vehicle. Under this plan, you’ll always get OEM parts.
What About the Third-party Extended Warranty?
Third-party warranties are a different type of Jeep extended warranty. You can buy one at any time for any Jeep you purchase, and you have more choices available to you regarding plan coverage and preferred mechanics. With a third-party warranty, you don’t have to go to a dealership if you don’t want to, but you may have to go to a certified mechanic for warranty coverage to apply.
What Are the Differences in Coverage?
Each warranty from a third party is going to have different coverage compared to A Chrysler factory warranty. The type of coverage is more customizable under a third-party warranty, where the manufacturer warranty has what it has, and you can’t add more things to it.
A Chrysler factory warranty has three different plans available, with the top tier being similar to a comprehensive warranty and the lowest level being powertrain coverage only. You would need to read more about specifics because certain items are excluded under their policies. For example, you might need to ask which policy covers the infotainment system standard in most vehicles today if that’s important to you. Because it’s not a critical system, it may not be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.
Third-party warranties are different in that you have plenty of other options. For example, CarChex and CarShield have multiple tiers and options that you can also add for an extra fee. Let’s say you wanted to have powertrain coverage and also specifically cover the AC compressor and infotainment system. You can do that with a third-party Jeep extended warranty. If using OEM parts is also important to you, you can request that as part of your warranty to see if it’s an option. More than likely, it would be just because you can tailor everything to only pay for the things that you feel are crucial to your Jeep.
What Are Typical Exclusions in an Extended Warranty?
Regardless of whether you choose the manufacturer warranty or a third-party warranty, they both have exclusionary items. These are some things you are responsible for taking care of on your own, as they are considered a standard part of car ownership.
You are responsible for your maintenance, so if a belt breaks or you need an oil change, you’ll have to pay for that yourself. The same thing goes for brake pad replacement and changing out your wiper blades. Accident or body damage also is not a part of extended warranties and is better off being filed as a claim under your car insurance. For more details, you’ll need to compare warranties and read the fine print.
Joining the Jeep Culture
Once you own a Jeep, you’ll be welcomed into the Jeep culture with open arms. Jeep owners love talking about their Jeeps, the adventures they’ve had in their Jeeps, and the modifications that have been done on someone else’s Jeep. You’ll quickly find that getting a Jeep extended warranty is worthwhile because you’ll want to be a part of the culture for as long as possible. What’s left for you to decide is whether you want the manufacturer or third-party warranty for your Jeep. Ask your fellow Jeep enthusiasts for their experience, and you’ll find various answers. Whatever you decide, always read the fine print so you’ll know what to expect from the warranty you choose.
