You know the moment: You’re sitting in traffic, and your car makes a brand-new clunking sound you’ve never heard. You accelerate slowly, holding your breath... and your car doesn’t shift gears and starts overheating. Oh no. Can you make it to your next destination? How long do you have until you need to pull over?
Experiencing a car breakdown can be a stressful and challenging situation, with a variety of issues. Here are the key issues you might face when your car suddenly breaks down:
1. Unexpected Costs
The absolute worst part of your car breaking down is the unexpected cost of repairing your car. Heaven forbid the mechanic finds something major, or additional issues. Surprise repair bills can set back the best budget or savings. Unless you have the most premium roadside service, towing fees add up. On top of that, a breakdown would be bad enough, but every day you've got to use a ride app and pay for surge pricing is more money gone.
2. Inconvenience
Let’s be honest, dealing with a broken-down car is hard, from getting stuck on the side of a busy highway and being stranded, calling a tow truck and finding a mechanic, or making the last-minute call that you’re going to be late. Whether it’s catching a ride to work, finding a friend or family member to pick up or drop off your kids, or not having the luxury of getting where you need to go, it’s a bad scene.
3. Stress
There’s no good time for your car to break down, but it always seems to happen when you’re already stressed out. The frustration and worry of dealing with the next steps are challenging, to say the least. The uncertainty around towing your car, the sudden repair costs, and the time it takes to get your car back is beyond stressful.
4. Logistics
If you don’t have an extra car, or you don’t have a regular mechanic, then finding a reputable repair shop, especially if you’re on a trip, can be even more nerve-racking. Never mind having to call and wait for a tow truck to get the car into a shop. Then if you have to involve your insurance, that's even more time and energy which you probably don't have to spare on a regular day.
When you break down, what are your options? Sure, you could put off the repairs and hope your car keeps running until it finally gives out. You could take it to a mechanic, and hope the repairs aren’t too expensive, or even have the mechanic do a short-term fix. At the end of the day, you know that your car breaking down is a setback in every way.
None of these options really make sense in a pinch. Aside from buying a new car, having a second car, or starting a car breakdown fund, how can you really prepare for the car break down nightmare?
If you want to protect yourself from the nightmare scenario of a costly repair that eats up your savings, an extended warranty could be the best option and way to prepare. Depending on the year, make, and mileage, you can get a vehicle service contract from a third-party provider. This extended coverage can help you pay for your repairs and give you peace of mind that you won’t have to dip into your savings or put the repair cost on your credit card.
Okay, but does that really help?
Here’s how it works: If you have an extended warranty plan in place for your vehicle, you make a monthly payment to keep that coverage active. Then, when a repair needs to be made, all you have to do is take the car to a licensed shop of your choice.
As long as that repair is covered under your current protection plan, the extended warranty provider will pay the shop, and they will work on the repair. This way, you don’t have to worry about the massive costs of large repairs and can rest easy whenever you bring your vehicle to the mechanic.
It should be noted that you may have to pay something at the shop when you bring your vehicle in for a repair. For most auto protection plans, you will most likely have to pay some kind of deductible. You will be responsible for this dollar amount before the coverage kicks in.
In many cases, this will be somewhere around $100. Some plans have no deductible, though, and even if they are more expensive monthly, they can be worth it in the long run if you regularly bring your vehicle in for repairs. Be sure to read the fine print of your contract for details.
You may be wondering: “is there a plan that fits my situation?”
There are a bunch of providers on the market with all kinds of plans that are specifically developed for certain cars and drivers. Depending on your situation, you will want to look for a plan that fits your budget and covers everything you need. One of the best ways to pick the right protection plan is to know some of the most common repairs for your vehicle.
One great auto protection provider on the market is Endurance Warranty. They have various plans that are customizable for every driver and situation, and with affordable pricing options, you can find something that will fit your needs and your budget. Getting a custom quote for your vehicle will help you pick the level of Endurance coverage that will be the most helpful to you.
What’s really covered? Great question.
With plans that go from basic powertrain protection to exclusionary coverage (close to your manufacturer’s warranty), there is an Endurance auto protection plan for everyone.
For Comprehensive Coverage: Get protection closest to a new manufacturer’s warranty with the Endurance Supreme plan.
- Engine
- Transmission
- A/C
- Fuel System
- Electrical
- High-Tech Options
- Seals & Gaskets
- Cooling System
- Transfer Case
- Drive Axle
- Maybe more depending on your specific car
For Extensive Coverage: With the Superior plan, you’ll get protection on common parts that break down over time.
- Engine
- Transmission
- A/C
- Fuel System
- Electrical
- High-Tech Options
- Maybe more, depending on your specific car
For Older Vehicle Coverage: Protect your vehicle's most vital components with the Secure Plus plan.
- Engine
- Transmission
- A/C
- And more!
Endurance plans also come with standard benefits like 24/7 roadside assistance, towing, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption protection. Plus, for a small activation fee, new Endurance customers get access to an Elite Benefits package, which includes extra perks like tire repairs or replacement, key fob replacement, up to $1,000 in total loss coverage, and more.*
Is it worth it? Unless you love the stress of breaking down, the unexpected and unknown costs of repairs and dealing with the interruption of not having a reliable car, then YES, it is worth it.
Is your car under 20 years old and have LESS than 200k miles? If so, Endurance lets you
request a FREE quote for your car on their website.
It’s time to stop worrying and start preparing.
**Elite Benefits: First year complimentary. $29 non-refundable activation fee applies. VSC must be active. Void where prohibited. Not available in CA.