Chances are you have gotten a motor vehicle service notification pink postcard that your extended vehicle warranty is about to run out and you need to call such and such number to have the warranty activated.
The motor vehicle service notification goes on to state that if you do not renew the warranty, you are basically agreeing to pay for all sets of repair bills.
The motor vehicle service notification record id has your motor vehicle registration and service record. If you should call the national number and get them to help you make sure you continue to receive optimum protection and operation.
The notification comes from your vehicle’s factory manufacturer and contains all the right language that would make anyone believe that it was a legit notification. But do you disregard the notification and its warnings?
What Does Motor Vehicle Service Notification Mean? Postcard or letter?
A motor vehicle service notification is a direct communication from your factory manufacturer via a letter or motor vehicle service notification pink postcard concerning the status of your warranty.
It may advise you that from their records, your warranty and the protections you enjoy are about to expire, and you need to update it to continue enjoying those same protections.
The letter or postcard contains the right information regarding your vehicle model and makes to convince you. At first glance, the letter or postcard looks real and has all indications it came from your factory manufacturer or dealership. Some notifications bear the logo and seal of the Department of Motor Vehicles.
However, as the motor vehicle owner, be cautious and scrutinize the notification to ensure that it actually comes from your factory manufacturer. Vehicle owners can refuse the extension if it’s in their best interest.
However, don’t rush the decision, as it may have detrimental effects on your savings if you are wrong. So, how do you know the notification is real?
Paperwork
Always keep the motor vehicle paperwork from the factory manufacturer that indicates specification details and features of the car, particularly if there is a mileage or years written on it. Usually, the indicated mileage for the warranty is 50,000 miles every 5 years.
Therefore, once you reach the 50,000 miles mark or you’ve been driving the vehicle and passing 50,000 miles for 5 years (from the purchase date), the warranty is no longer valid. In order to still have this protection, buy an extended warranty.
Most people don’t because it’s cheaper to pay for repair(s) outright once their original warranty is no longer active.
Company name given
A legitimate notification will have all the company details, and I can tell you for sure, in specifics, that if the postcard does not state a company name, you are dealing with a scam because it’s easy to know if you have your factory warranty.
All you do is just compare the information on your warranty paperwork vs. the postcard.
Legitimate notification
To know if you have received a legitimate notification, thoroughly check your original paperwork to compare it with the letter or postcard notification. Everything should match, including a 1-800 number to call to extend your warranty.
Even the watermark, if any, should match, plus payment details. Pick up that phone and call the toll-free 1-800 number provided on your original paperwork to verify that they are the one that sent you the postcard. If they said no, you are dealing with a scam.
Motor Vehicle Service Notification Scam? Is It A Scam or Legit?
That depends on how you see it. There is a legitimate notification from your vehicle manufacturer or dealership, and surely, there is a scam one from those companies that sell car warranties.
Some dealerships sell customers’ contact information to third-party warranty companies. Thus, the source of the notification is what to investigate to know if you’re being scammed or if it’s one coming from your vehicle manufacturer.
A bona fide motor vehicle service notification will check all boxes:
- Sent when your current factory warranty is set to expire or already expired
- Uses the legitimate company name and phone number
- Has courteous professional customer care agents
- The notification has legitimated previous vehicle service records
- Notification sent from the company’s known location and not from the next state
Most customers give no thought to extended warranty protection, especially not if they are not keeping the vehicle for long. Makes all the sense in the world, but if you are keeping the car for heavy use, or over 10 years, then consider it.
Basic maintenance services like motor oil changes, brake noise, AC not performing, and steering noise are covered.
A scam notification will bombard you almost after every two months and you receive it from different companies all with authentic wording to get you to extend the warranty. It could be a letter or postcard for a vehicle you don’t own.
What Are the Red Flags To Look for in a Vehicle Service Notification Scam?
Bogus account activity
On the reverse side of the motor vehicle service notification, this section lists repairs done to your vehicle falsely as shown on the postcard. Thousands of dollars, of bogus repairs, and you won’t pay a dime if you have them.
In actuality, you may have no such repairs or haven’t gone for such repairs since you bought the car. This indicates a scam alert and that is a money-sucking company. Do not pay a cent.
You have not gone over the years and mileage
Sometimes, it’s ridiculous to receive a motor vehicle service notification informing you to extend your warranty, or it’s about to expire, when you haven’t put the needed 50,000 under the hood and the car hasn’t lapsed 5 years from the purchase date.
Maybe your mileage read 3,000 or other figures and you have been in possession for 2 years. Legally it should still be under factory warranty. They don’t know your mileage, the details about your vehicle, and your intentions. That’s what this represents. Toss it. It’s a scam note.
Different phone number
Such a detail as a phone number can help you avoid your money being robbed in a scam. A real notice from a car dealer or vehicle manufacturer has the same phone number you can find on the website given to you or on the paperwork you got from the manufacturer.
If it’s different, use the one of the paperwork or toll-free number listed on the manufacturer’s website, and call them. Tell them about the nature of your call and the notification you got in the mail from the motor vehicle scam.
If the vehicle manufacturer doesn’t recognize the notification and say it’s a scam, discard that postcard note they sent you as mail in a wrapper.
Dealership denies knowledge
Call your dealership and inform them of the service notification. If they deny knowledge of the letter or postcard, you’re dealing with a scam. Ensure the number is the same as your dealership’s number.
If it’s different, you are dealing with a scam company. If the same and your dealership explain they sent this notification, you can look at it as well and proceed to extend your warranty if you want to.
Do You Need to Buy a Service Contract?
Usually, you do not need to buy an extended warranty after buying a car and it’s not compulsory that you should sign one with your dealer if you bought the vehicle on financing.
Should your dealer insist the contract is a must, call your lender and confirm if that is right. Don’t be gullible and be like those other buyers who failed to cancel their warranty or contract after finding out that it wasn’t a needful one.
Be careful of some dishonest dealerships that adhere an unsuspected service contract without your consent. Ask the dealer at once the moment you perceive a charge for a service warranty or contract that you didn’t request and ensure it’s taken off completely before appending your signature on your loan document.
What is a Vehicle Warranty Expiration Notice?
This is a letter or postcard notice that tells you that your factory warranty is expiring or has already expired after your car passes the age and mileage threshold that the warranty covers. In the event the real records show you didn’t actually go past the warranty coverage terms, it can only mean you are dealing with a scam.
An original vehicle warranty expiration notice comes with your basic information including years and miles. This warranty covers basic components of the vehicle, and is valid between 3 to 5 years, or 36,000 – 60,000 miles, depending on which hits the mark first. The warranty notice also boasts the original price of the vehicle.
Why am I getting car warranty calls?
If your factory warranty is running out, you will naturally receive car warranty calls trying to sell you on extending your vehicle service warranty for more protection. The caller may have your personal and car information such as the type and model of car you drive.
You may also receive calls from scammers posing as legit representatives of your factory manufacturer or car dealer informing you that your warranty is expiring.
The call makes serves a purpose to pitch you to impress you want to get your warranty renewed or policy extended. Ignore calls not coming from your car dealer or auto warranty company, or those calling from an unfamiliar area code.
Who Are Auto Warranty Services?
Auto warranty services are companies, dealers or auto manufacturers that offers warranty or service contracts for protections such as vehicle repairs and service.
They may even write you letters and postcards to extend your auto service warranty by pitching their pitch of caravan our lengthy cars in the mail. Or call you…. like these others!
How do warranty companies get my information?
Most third-party warranty companies combine your personal info like your address and the vehicle combined with some publicly available mailing lists, to also get your phone number, and your name.
They do the same for other car owners, for all of who’s their cars among other vehicles are running out on their factory warranty or soon to be just like your and due to join the fray!
Some third-party warranty companies even liaise with car salesmen or dealers to get your personal info when you buy a car, repeat and still repeat until a substantial population of car owners are caught unaware!
Are vehicle service contracts worth it?
What is a vehicle service contract? Well, they aren’t for everybody; describes a few hostile types that they seem to despise. The reasoning is of course since they have a large price tag and do not cover everything that’s therein! Most everyone backhandedly wakes surprised.
According to survey consumer report 55% or more who bought vehicle service contracts use it, and believed just a quarter of all those surveyed would buy vehicle service contract again.
Best extended car warranty company?
Endurance has the best extended car warranty all your letters and postcards!
All sent from the Endurance Vehicle notification department! 10 year’s service experience and best A rated insurance -AM.
How do stop car warranty calls?
Take a note of the phone number of the robocall then take measures to bog them down by blocking it the phone carrier blocking tools. FCC now dictates all phone carries must by default robocall blocker so take.
Or if they handy not already equipped in this regard. Many will add service to you service account or other carrots. If they cluster monopoly and do so will of course never say no. Hope they don’t call your iPhone lovers but listen: Use the silence unknown calls precautions, robocall all these.
Final Words
You may receive a motor vehicle service notification in the mail reminding you to extend your vehicle service contract to maintain your protection. Honda owners receive a genuine Honda notification from a recognizable manufacturer with an established address and phone number.
Always check the details in any notice. You might just be getting ripe for scamming for warranty from a third-party. A vehicle’s service contract is a customized service agreement program that oversees certain spectacular repair costs from battery problems, knocking engine, car sensors, fuel indicators service etc.
Factory warranty expiration will be clearly indicated on your motor vehicle registration. Ultimately, car owners have the choice to extend or not to extend their warranty. Do contact us if you’re unsure.