Extended warranties

Gez B · Jan 27, 2024

My California is coming to the end of its three year warranty. Is it worth extending it for 1,2 3 years. I would like your opinion or experience of extended warranties.

Corradobrit · Jan 27, 2024

VW Factory bumper-to bumper warranties yes. Never been a fan of 3rd party warranties. Expensive and with many restrictions. Better to save the money for a possible rainy day.

Perfectos · Jan 27, 2024

Factory extended warranty is not an option (only available within first three months of registration).

Look at the All in Service / warranty deal , it’s not the same as factory warranty, but it will cover sone useful items , includes service, Mot and breakdown cover for a reasonable monthly fee. , just be aware it does not cover everything

JLM053 · Jan 29, 2024

Hi Gez,

I took out the warranty, MOT & servicing plan for £27 per month. I had some issues faults and these are covered by the policy. The fact that MOT and servicing are included for two years, I think it does represent value for money and peace of mind.

Perfectos · Jan 29, 2024

JLM053 said:
Hi Gez,

I took out the warranty, MOT & servicing plan for £27 per month. I had some issues faults and these are covered by the policy. The fact that MOT and servicing are included for two years, I think it does represent value for money and peace of mind.

That is the “All in Plan” you have

chockswahay · Jan 29, 2024

The ‘All in’ is good value but in my/my sons experience you have to contest a claim virtually every time…. “we will have to charge you an inspection fee to determine if it’s covered by warranty“. It’s never easy, but still worth the hassle I reckon. For what it’s worth my son has had a new EGR and complete radio head unit amongst a few other things.…… (VW tried to charge £1800 to replace the radio!)

Corradobrit · Jan 29, 2024

chockswahay said:
(VW tried to charge £1800 to replace the radio!)

They are known as stealerships for a reason.

Paul E · Feb 1, 2024

Gez B said:
My California is coming to the end of its three year warranty. Is it worth extending it for 1,2 3 years. I would like your opinion or experience of extended warranties.

I took out the VW 5 year extended warranty when I bought my T6 Ocean just over 4 years ago. I've just had the following done without any hassle whatsoever.
Replacement power lock motor in sliding door
Replacement sliding door, pull down blind
Replacement door in rear cupboard
Replacement switch on wardrobe door
Full new canvas bellows roof. My original was passing water through the canvas.
New wiring loom for roof hydraulics
Replacement main solenoid for leisure battery charging.
I would say that the VW extended warranty is some of the best money I have ever spent.
Quite disappointing though, that so many things have gone wrong on a 4 Yr old van with only 16000 miles on the clock!

NickiandDoraCandyCopper · Feb 1, 2024

Gez B said:
My California is coming to the end of its three year warranty. Is it worth extending it for 1,2 3 years. I would like your opinion or experience of extended warranties.

Funnily enough, I was just at the van centre today. You are a year ahead of us. VW have just brought out a 2 year combined service plan and expended warranty. They say it won’t change. It costs over £1000. The plan stays with the vehicle so say you decided on the T7, they would add the cost of the plan to the trade in price. There are restrictions though but they wouldn’t apply to a factory built Cali.

chockswahay · Feb 2, 2024

A word of caution….. the extended warranty that you can take up AFTER the original has expired is not the same as having the warranty extended at the time of purchase. There are many items that are not covered in the first one I have mentioned. Also the dealer will often charge for investigation until they have authority by VW to go ahead with any repair or replacement.

Lambeth Cali · Feb 2, 2024

I always say the same thing. The main problem with a VW warranty is the quality of VW garages. Have you read any of the horror stories on here?

The mechanical bit of your van is virtually indestructable, and certainly any VW specialist can fix it. The camping stuff - roof, fridge, tap etc- the dealers seem to make worse most of the time, just no idea what they are doing. I wouldn't lock myself in with these clowns.

The last time I took my van, which I have owned since 2009, to a dealer, they charged me £600 to replace the £18 water pump. AND they didn't do it right. It was left knocking around the tank so I had to click it in the correct place myself. That was about 10 years ago. Never ever again.

VincentVan · Feb 5, 2024

Hi Gez B

My experience is more on the positive side: I bought my Cali at 3 years old and it came with a 1 year vw warranty. At the end of that year I took the 2 year service/ warranty package, and it was a good decision. Add up the cost of a minor and major service, 2 MOTs and vw breakdown cover and it’s almost worth it just for that. The cover only extends to the mechanical items, not bodywork or the ‘camping‘ element of the van, but nonetheless very useful. I had an engine management issue which the dealership diagnosed and sorted, along with replacing the EGR. Have to say it was good service from a main agent.

Good luck with your decision