When something goes wrong with your vehicle, you want to be sure your repair is covered. Extended warranties, more accurately called vehicle service contracts (VSCs), are meant to cover unexpected mechanical breakdown issues. If you don’t stay on top of your car’s maintenance, though, you may find that your claim gets denied. Ignoring check engine lights, putting off oil changes, and missing service appointments can create a maintenance backlog that can lead to coverage issues and end up costing you a lot of money in the long run.

Extended car warranties or service contracts can contain certain requirements for deferred preventive maintenance, so it’s important to know what is expected of you as a vehicle owner and what actions may affect claim eligibility and potentially result in a claim denial.

What “Deferred Maintenance” Means in Contract Language

​“Deferred maintenance” can sound like a vague term, but when it comes to contract language, it has a very specific meaning that you need to be aware of. Most of the time, vehicle protection plans define neglect as any failure to meet the maintenance schedule set by the manufacturer.

Your vehicle’s owner’s manual has a very particular schedule that you need to follow, and your claim may be denied if the failure is determined to be related to neglected maintenance. This schedule is not set by the VSC provider and varies from vehicle to vehicle depending on the automaker.

When one of your vehicle’s components fails, the provider will check to see what kind of maintenance has been done on the car. If it appears that you have failed to keep up with the maintenance guidelines provided by the manufacturer, there is a very good chance that your claim will be denied and you will be responsible for repair costs.

This is why it is so important that you keep all the proper documentation related to your vehicle’s upkeep and make sure you have it all easily accessible if you want to avoid maintenance issues and make your protection plan work for you.

The Maintenance Requirements Most Owners Overlook

​Many vehicle owners assume that if they take care of maintenance on a fairly regular, short-term basis, they will remain covered by their VSC. For most providers, though, there is a specific schedule that needs to be followed, and failing to do so can result in claim denials. Oil changes and filter replacements are generally at the top of the list when it comes to maintenance. When an engine-related claim is sent to a VSC provider, oil change history will be one of the first things that is looked at.

​Transmission fluid service is also commonly overlooked, but it is incredibly important when it comes to the proper operation of your transmission. Many vehicles have recommended transmission fluid service intervals, and if you don’t stick to those service appointments, you could be looking at a massive out-of-pocket bill if your transmission develops issues.

Coolant and timing belt replacements are other maintenance items that tend to be forgotten. Coolant should be replaced at the intervals specified in your owner’s manual to maintain proper engine cooling. If your vehicle uses a timing belt rather than a timing chain, it will have a specific replacement interval, typically between 60,000 and 100,000 miles, and missing it can lead to serious engine damage.

Be sure to check your vehicle’s owner’s manual to determine when they need attention. This way, you can better understand your maintenance obligations under your contract.

How Documentation Protects Your Claim

​Documentation is crucial if you want to be sure that your extended warranty will cover your repairs. Receipts from oil changes, work orders, and invoices from repair shops, and any written communications with mechanics, should be filed away and kept for later review by your VSC provider.

Should an issue come up, you want to be able to prove that you have stayed on top of your maintenance throughout your ownership of the vehicle. Without the paperwork to back up the claim, you may not get the coverage you should be getting, even if you have done everything else right.

What Happens When a Claim Is Reviewed for Neglect

​When you bring your vehicle to a shop for a covered repair or breakdown, the diagnosis process begins. The shop will identify the failed component and try to find a cause for the failure. From there, the claim reviewer will look at the information provided by the repair facility and make a decision on whether or not it will be covered.

If it appears that the part stopped working because of a simple mechanical failure, you can generally assume your claim will be eligible for coverage, subject to contract terms and claims review. If, however, it is determined that the cause was neglected routine maintenance tasks—such as failing to address leaks that lead to water damage—your claim could be denied, and you will have to pay for costly repairs out of pocket.

Most of the time, a claims reviewer will ask to see documentation if a lack of maintenance management is suspected. This is when your detailed record-keeping will be the most valuable. If your records prove that you have kept up with the factory-recommended maintenance, the documentation may help support claim eligibility during the review process.

If you don’t have the documentation, though, or if it shows that you have neglected maintenance, you may have a denied claim and a hefty repair bill that results.

Benefits of the Endurance Advantage Plan for Maintenance

​One of the difficult things about vehicle maintenance needs and keeping up with the requirements for your car is that it takes planning and a maintenance budget. With busy lives and packed calendars, it can be difficult to stay on top of upkeep and make it a priority. With Endurance Advantage, though, you can make your car maintenance plan much easier and follow the maintenance terms of your contract, while improving your vehicle’s lifespan.

Endurance’s Advantage plan includes maintenance-related benefits designed to help drivers stay on top of routine upkeep. Routine services like oil changes, tire rotations, and other proactive maintenance can be done on time to ensure proper care of your vehicle and may help you with your claims.

Instead of treating maintenance and repairs as separate responsibilities, Endurance allows you to keep everything under one roof and keep your vehicle running smoothly for many years to come.

Get the Maintenance and Repairs Your Vehicle Needs With Endurance

​Scheduled maintenance is one of the most important responsibilities of any vehicle owner. This is especially true if you want your claims to be approved. With Endurance’s Advantage plan, you can get the maintenance coverage you need to stay up-to-date and keep your plan working for you.

Endurance offers a wide range of plans for drivers and vehicles of all kinds, with Advantage levels such as Prime, Plus, and Preferred, depending on your vehicle’s age. There is a plan for you, whether you have an older high-mileage car or an exotic luxury vehicle, and it offers coverage for vehicle types that may not qualify with some providers. These include Canadian Gray Market cars, vehicles with a rebuilt or salvage title, and cars used for rideshare and delivery.

In addition to custom coverage options, Endurance customers also get a collection of extra benefits, including 24/7 roadside assistance, travel interruption coverage, and rental car reimbursement. Plus, you can get a free year of Endurance’s Elite Benefits, which comes with things like tire repair or replacement, windshield coverage, and key fob replacement.

When you’re ready to explore auto protection, get in touch with an Endurance representative at (800) 253-8203 for your FREE quote. You can also shop online to see your price right away and make a more informed decision.

For more helpful resources like this, be sure to check out the Endurance Warranty blog. There, you will find DIY tips and tricks, provider comparisons, and much, much more.