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Glossary

ASE Certified
The gold standard for auto mechanics, this is a certification program developed by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. In order to be certified, a mechanic must pass an exam and have two years of work experience. Always seek a mechanic who is ASE certified.
Basic Warranty
Also called the manufacturer warranty. Usually lasts 3-5 years and covers most big mechanical issues. Excludes general wear damage, i.e. oil changes, brake pad replacements, tire balding, etc.
Bumper to Bumper
Named because it covers everything in your car from the front bumper to the back. It’s the most comprehensive coverage, protecting your vehicle from nearly all mechanical, electrical, and computer-related items.
Consumable Items
Items that are not typically covered by a vehicle warranty due to the intended nature of these items to be frequently replaced. These include, but are not limited to, oil filters, transmission fluid, windshield wiper blades, power steering fluid, brake pads, air filters, tires, etc.
Corrosion Warranty
A term for coverage that protects a vehicle owner from costly repairs on the corrosion of the exterior of their car.
Coverage Provider
The company responsible for the day-to-day operations necessary to your extended warranty. This company processes your claims, works with your repair facility, and pays for your repair work.
Deductible
The portion of any warranty plan that the member must pay out-of-pocket as part of any repair. Our coverage providers offer a variety of deductible options to fit your needs.
Exclusionary Coverage
An extended auto warranty plan that offers comprehensive, bumper-to-bumper style coverage in which it is shorter to list the items not covered (or excluded) by the warranty than it would be to list the hundreds of items that are covered. These are the highest quality coverage plans.
Extended Warranty
Any warranty or vehicle coverage plan that works past the expiration date of the original warranty.
Lemon Law
A law in several states that allows a vehicle owners to return their defective vehicle to the manufacturer and receive a full or partial refund. Generally the car has to meet certain “lemon” requirements, proving that the vehicle is in fact defective or more prone to breakdowns.
Maintenance Guidelines
The specifications set forth by a manufacturer on the proper care and maintenance for an individual vehicle. Includes recommendations on fuel grade, oil weight, tire pressure, and dates or mileage for tune ups and engine maintenance. These guidelines vary in each vehicle, make sure you are familiar with yours.
Manufacturer
The company that made your vehicle.
Named Component Coverage (Also called Stated Component Coverage)
A lower level of extended vehicle protection plans that pays for claims to certain named components only. The list of covered components does not cover all essential systems.
Powertrain Warranty
A warranty that covers expenses from repair and replacement of the main mechanical systems in a vehicle. Manufacturers often have an option to add this type of coverage to their typical warranty plan.
Recall
When a part of a vehicle is found to be widely defective or dangerous, the manufacturer will issue a statement of recall. Recalls entitle vehicle owners to free repair or replacement of the named part if their vehicles fall within the spectrum of affected vehicles.
Rental Benefit
The amount that you will be reimbursed for rental car expenses while your vehicle is being repaired.
Roadside Assistance
A benefit offered in some extended vehicle warranty plans that gives members access to towing, emergency gas, flat-tire service, lost keys service, and other automobile services of an urgent nature from the side of a road.
Vehicle Service Contract
Another name for an extended warranty. Also called Extended Coverage Plans.
Warranty
The standard factory coverage (typically 3 years or 36,000 miles) that comes with every new vehicle and protects against mechanical defects. Different from an extended warranty, which offers protection beyond your vehicle’s standard factory warranty.