extended car warranties

Extended car warranties can be worth it if the maths stacks up and the exclusions aren’t longer than the M1 in peak hour.

In Australia, manufacturer-backed extensions are usually cleaner and more reliable than third‑party plans, and remember the Australian Consumer Law already gives you statutory guarantees beyond the brochure fluff.

Scrutinise the fine print: servicing requirements, claim limits per repair, wear-and-tear exclusions, labour rates, and whether diagnostics are covered.

Costs range wildly—roughly $800–$3,000 for mainstream cars and more for Euro divas—and many include roadside assist and transferability, which can help resale.

Good fit: tech-heavy cars you’ll keep past five years, or turbo/dual‑clutch specials that make mechanics rub their hands; bad fit: low‑km cars still safely inside factory coverage.

If the premium plus likely out‑of‑pocket is higher than a sensible repair kitty, skip it and bank the cash; your future self will shout you a pie.