MAKE A PLAN

Know the difference between various maintenance plans, so you’re well equipped should your ride ever need special attention

1. A service plan is a policy that ensures your car gets serviced once after 12 months, or 10 000 km. What’s important to note here is that this plan does NOT include the costs of what’s termed ‘consumables’, such as the brakes, clutch pads or shock absorbers (and these are almost always the first things to go bust!). “A service plan covers the things that you’ll normally change, like your belts, filters and lights. A service plan also includes labour,” explains Layton Beard, spokesperson for the Automobile Association (AA). Essentially, a service plan ensures that your car’s covered for the things it needs to work efficiently. 2. A car maintenance pays out when the consumables are damaged. This will include parts like wipers and brake pads. This cover should be treated as a top-up to your service plan. “So, on top of a service plan, it’s advisable to shop for a maintenance plan, if you can afford it,” Beard adds. “This plan can be sold as part of a service policy, or separately. Just make sure you’re aware of any limitations that may apply, such as the car’s mileage and age,” he continues.

3. A car warranty is the promise you get from the car dealer that the ride you’re buying will work properly for a specified time, and that if something malfunctions – like the engine, for example – you can return it to the shop to get it checked. “This plan, also known as a base warranty, comes from the dealership. You can get an extended warranty, to cover your car for more years and mileage,” Beard says.