Probably you have received a motor vehicle service notification pink postcard informing you that your extended vehicle warranty is about to expire and you need to call a certain number to have the warranty activated.
The motor vehicle service notification also warns that failure to renew the warranty means you are, in effect, assuming responsibility for settling all the bills for repairs.
The motor vehicle service notification record id has your motor vehicle registration and service history. If you call the provided toll-free number, they will help you ensure you continue to enjoy optimal protection and operation.
The notification may come from the vehicle’s factory manufacturer and has all the right language that will make anyone believe the notification is real. But do you ignore the notification with the consequences it states?
What is a Motor Vehicle Service Notification?
The motor vehicle service notification is communication meant to come from the factory automaker to alert you about the status of your car warranty.
It normally arrives as a pink postcard and shows the service records, warranty protection, and expiration date.
This correspondence will contain vital information, such as the vehicle model/make and phone number. It could also have the seal or logo of the Department of Motor Vehicles.
You will also be able to spot the factory manufacturer and dealership that you purchased the car from.
However, not all motor vehicle service notification letters are real. It’s very important that you take time to determine whether this correspondence is legitimate before you make any decisions.
Signs Your Motor Vehicle Service Notification Is a Scam
#1. The Notification Doesn’t Come at the Correct Time.
If you receive a notification and your original manufacturer’s warranty is nowhere near due to be extended based on your vehicle’s age and/or miles, you can be pretty sure the notification is a scam.
#2. The Notification Lacks and/or Gets Basic Information Wrong.
A scam notification, though it has some information, will unlikely have all the correct basic information about you and/or your vehicle, such as your vehicle’s mileage as per its last known service.
#3. The Notification Lacks the Correct Purchase Price of the Vehicle.
A genuine notification has the correct original purchase price of your vehicle.
#4. The Notification Lacks a Company Name.
A genuine notification will have the company’s name on it.
#5. The Company Name (if There Is One) and/or Phone Number Doesn’t Match That on Your Manufacturer’s Warranty.
It should be self-evident you are dealing with scammers. Both details should match exactly.
#6. The Notification Comes From a Different State to Where You Know the Manufacturer Is Based.
This could be a warning sign you are dealing with scammers.
#7. The Agents Are Pushy on the Phone.
Scammers don’t like giving you a moment to think about it. They will use scare tactics to bombard you into signing up and signing up right now.
They may even become rude and disrespectful if you hesitate or ask too many questions. The best thing to do when this happens is hang up.
#8. They Grossly Exaggerate Likely Future Repair Bills.
Scammers will use grossly inflated figures about what future car repairs could cost you to justify their expensive (and usually unnecessary) extended warranties.
#9. They Say Your Finance Company Requires It.
It’s very unlikely this is the case. This is a scare tactic to fool the unwary. There’s an easy way to confirm if your finance company really does require it – by calling them up and asking.
Motor Vehicle Service Notification Scam? Is It A Scam or Legit?
It depends on how you look at it. There is a legitimate notification from your vehicle manufacturer or dealership, and of course, there is a scam one from other companies that sell car warranties.
Some dealerships sell customer information to third-party warranty companies. So, the origin of the notification is what you need to investigate to know if you are being scammed or you are getting one from your vehicle manufacturer.
A legitimate motor vehicle service notification will check all the boxes:
- Sent when your current factory warranty is about to expire or expired
- Use the legitimate company name and phone number
- Have professional customer care agents treat you with courtesy
- The notification has legitimate previous vehicle service records
- Notification sent from the company’s known location and not a different state
Most customers don’t consider extended warranty protection, particularly if they don’t plan on keeping the vehicle for long. This makes great sense, but if you are planning on keeping the car for heavy use or over 10 years, then consider it.
The warranty covers basic maintenance services like motor oil changes, brake noise, AC not performing, and steering noise.
A scam notification will bombard you almost after every two months, and you can receive it from different companies, all with genuine wording to convince you to extend the warranty. It may be a letter or postcard for a vehicle you don’t own.
FAQs.
Q: Do You Need to Buy a Service Contract?
Ordinarily, you don’t need to buy an extended warranty after buying a car and it is not a requirement that you sign one with your dealer if you bought the vehicle through financing.
If your dealer agrees you need the contract, call your lender and confirm if that’s true. Don’t be naïve like other buyers who didn’t cancel the warranty or contract after knowing that it’s not a requirement.
Also, be on guard against dishonest dealerships who may sneak in a service contract without your knowledge.
Ask the dealer the moment you notice a fee for a service warranty or contract you didn’t ask for, and ensure to remove it before signing your loan document.
Q: What is a Vehicle Warranty Expiration Notice?
It’s a letter or postcard notice informing you that your factory warranty is expiring or has already expired after exceeding the age and mileage covered by the warranty.
In case the actual records may show that you haven’t exceeded the warranty coverage terms, it means you are dealing with a scam.
A legitimate vehicle warranty expiration notice has your basic information, including years and miles.
The warranty covers basic vehicle components and lasts from 3 to 5 years or 36,000 – 60,000 miles, depending on which one comes first. The warranty notice bears the original price of the vehicle.
Q: Why am I getting car warranty calls?
If your factory warranty is expiring, you will receive car warranty calls. The calls try to convince you to extend the vehicle service warranty for more protection. The caller may have your personal and car information, such as the type and model of the car you drive.
You may also receive calls from scammers posing as legit representatives of your factory manufacturer or car dealer informing you of your impending warranty expiration.
The call includes a service pitch to convince you to renew or extend the warranty or policy. Ignore calls that are not from your car dealer or auto warranty company. Ignore calls from unfamiliar area codes.
Q: Who are auto warranty services?
This is a company, dealer, or auto manufacturer offering warranty or service contracts for protections like vehicle repairs and service. Sometimes they send you letters and postcards or call to extend your auto service warranty.
Q: How do warranty companies get my information?
Most third-party warranty companies combine your personal information, like address and the vehicle, with publicly available mailing lists to get your phone number and name.
They do the same for other car owners, for all whose vehicles are nearing the end of their factory warranties.
Some third-party warranty companies liaise with car salesmen and auto dealers to get your personal information when you buy a car. This is an ongoing repetitive process that catches many car owners unaware.
Q: Are vehicle service contracts worth it?
Vehicle service contracts cover certain auto repair costs when the factory warranty expires.
However, it’s not for everyone as they have a high price tag and don’t cover everything. Also, most people who buy them don’t use them, which makes them a financial burden.
According to a survey by consumer report, 55 percent of respondents who bought a vehicle service contract didn’t use it, with only a quarter of the respondents saying they would buy a vehicle service contract again.
Q: What is a good extended car warranty company?
Endurance offers the best extended car warranty. All your letters and postcards are sent from the Endurance Vehicle notification department. The company has over 10 years of service experience and the best A-rated insurance – AM.
Q: How do I stop car warranty calls?
Note down the phone number of the robocall and block it using the phone carrier blocking tools. FCC now requires all phone carriers to add robocall blockers by default.
Check the service your carrier uses or has added to your service account. If they call your iPhone, use the silence unknown calls feature to take care of the robocalls.
Final Words
You can receive a motor vehicle service notification in the mail informing you to extend your vehicle service contract to keep your protection.
Honda car owners will get a legitimate Honda vehicle notification from the manufacturer with a known address and phone number. Always check the details to avoid being scammed by third-party warranty companies.
A vehicle service contract is a service agreement program that covers certain repair costs like battery problems, engine knocking, car sensors, and fuel indicator service among others.
The factory warranty expiry is on your motor vehicle registration. Car owners have the ultimate say on whether to extend their warranty. Contact us if you need clarification.