Are you looking to purchase a new car? You might be interested in what kind of warranty the vehicle has. A warranty is a promise on behalf of the seller to fix certain problems that might arise.
The two basic kinds of vehicle warranties are express and implied. Make sure to understand your warranty rights before you purchase your next car.
Express warranties are warranties explicitly offered to consumers by sellers. These warranties can be made orally or in writing. They can commonly be found in advertisements and the formal documentation that comes with cars. Manufacturers will usually also provide certain express warranties on their vehicles. (To learn about steps you can take when you're denied coverage for repairs that you believe fall under your vehicle's warranty, see Disputes Over Vehicle Warranties.)
Implied warranties are warranties not expressly promised by the seller. They're unspoken promises that the vehicle meets reasonable quality standards. Most states have laws requiring dealers to meet these implied obligations.
A warranty of merchantability, the most common implied warranty, means that the seller promises the vehicle will do what it's supposed to do. The dealer is guaranteeing the vehicle is fit to sell. This warranty doesn't cover every car problem. The vehicle should run, and its basic functions should work.
Another common implied warranty is the warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. This is an implied promise the vehicle can be used for a particular use. Advice from a dealer that a particular vehicle would be able to haul your boat is an implied warranty of fitness.
Dealers have certain methods of limiting their liability under vehicle warranties. One common method is to sell a car "as is." This means the dealer doesn't promise the vehicle is free of defects. The risk of buying a defective car falls on the consumer.
Some states don't allow dealers to sell "as is" vehicles. They can't avoid their implied warranty obligations in these states. Also, dealers can still be found liable in all states for selling a dangerous vehicle that causes personal injury. Selling a car "as is" doesn't eliminate liability under product liability laws.
Many dealers will use advertisements that state "implied warranties only." This means that there's no written express warranties. Consumers usually have a more difficult time recovering under an implied warranty than an express warranty.
Vehicle warranties from sellers are usually either full or limited. A full warranty is one that contains certain terms and conditions (see below). A limited warranty is one that doesn't contain all of these terms and conditions.
In order for a warranty to be considered full, it must have the following characteristics:
A full warranty doesn't mean that the entire car is covered. A dealer can choose to have only certain parts or systems in the vehicle covered with a full warranty. A limited warranty can also be offered at the same time on other parts or systems. (Read more about full and limited warranties.)
