Importance of a Used Car Warranty

Savings Due to Weak Sterling

Since the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016, many Irish car buyers have been taking advantage of the weakened Sterling in order to buy and import vehicles from the United Kingdom.  This can result in great cost savings but, before going ahead, there are a few things you need to know.

Unexpected Costs Due to No Warranty on UK cars in Ireland

In most cases, when importing a used car from the UK to Ireland, the vehicle will not be under warranty. In general, a vehicle warranty only applies to the country of initial registration – even once your vehicle is re-registered in Ireland, it will still fall under UK warranty. This means that, should the vehicle malfunction or become subject to damage, you may find yourself significantly out of pocket.
When importing a vehicle, the last thing you need is extra expense and, as we all know, vehicle repairs can be steep.  There’s always a chance that something will go wrong with your vehicle and a warranty is your safeguard against the high cost of repairs.

How to get a warranty?

VRT.ie has teamed up with Carprotect.ie. Car Protect is Irelands leading provider of car & commercial vehicle warranty products.

Please click on link below to request a quotation for a warranty on your UK import that is valid in Ireland.

Use discount code VRTIE10 to save on your warranty quote.

Extended Manufacturer Warranty

As the name suggests, this is an extension of the manufacturer’s warranty which was put in place when the vehicle was new.  An extended warranty must be bought before the original warranty expires which, in general, is within three years. Before signing on the dotted line, you must make sure that your extended warranty will cover any parts and labour carried out in Ireland.  As an extended warranty needs to be in place before the original warranty expires, this option generally only applies to newer vehicles and, the cost of the warranty will be dependent on mileage, model and vehicle history.

Independent warranty

An independent warranty can be taken out on a vehicle of any age, including those which are outside of the manufacturer’s original warranty.  Much more flexible than an extended warranty, this option can be applied to vehicles purchased from either a dealership or a private seller. There are a great many different companies to choose from when looking for an independent warranty and, when importing a car from the UK to Ireland, it’s important to make sure that you find the right one.  As with an extended warranty, the price will depend on a number of factors including mileage, the age of the vehicle and its history. Shop around for the best price and check the following:

• The company’s credentials
• The vehicle will be covered in both the UK and Ireland
• The amount of labour covered
• The cost of parts covered
• Any exclusions
• Any rules as to which garages / repair services are included

 
It should go without saying that you should never attempt to import a vehicle without a warranty.  Although there will, of course, be a cost involved, this will almost certainly be much lower than forking out for parts and labour yourself should something go wrong with your vehicle.