It seems that the continuing uncertainty in the economic climate, spiralling living costs and petrol prices all squeezing finances are leading to more motorists choosing to maintain and run their existing vehicle for longer. In the past the average motorist replaced his vehicle every 2-3 years, in the current climate it appears that car owners are now holding on to their car for at least 4-7 years.

If you are one of these savvy motorists watching the pennies and have not been persuaded to jump into the new car market then buying a UVW used car warranty makes total economic sense.

Whilst regular maintenance can help your car to run more smoothly it cannot completely eliminate unforeseen breakdowns. When those unexpected mechanical failures do occur, a UVW used car warranty is a great way to protect from horrendous repair bills and give you peace of mind.  Nobody wants to be in the uncomfortable position to have to pay for an expensive repair! Purchasing a UVW used car warranty will save a driver serious money in the long run and help to budget more efficiently.

Many motorists assume that if nothing has gone wrong in the first 3 years of owning the car that nothing further is likely to go wrong.  But unfortunately making that assumption can lead to a false sense of security because as the older a car gets, the more likely it is that something will go wrong. Modern cars have thousands of components and even the smallest car part failing could result in a very expensive repair.

UVW (Used Vehicle Warranty) the UK’ s favourite used car warranty provider, actually finds that statistically many car problems do occur in year four, which is the year in which many people choose not to purchase a third party warranty after the one provided by their car’s manufacturer has ended.

You may excuse the need to buy an extended car warranty on the basis that certain makes of car, particularly Japanese and Korean cars, are supposed to be very reliable. However bear in mind that from those many thousands of components making up modern cars it only takes one of them to go wrong to create a costly situation.

Even if you accept this reality, you may still dismiss used car warranties and prefer to put aside a small amount every month to save up in case something goes wrong, as you believe that car warranties are not the worth the paper they are written on and may try to wriggle out of paying for valid claims you make.

Rest assured, UVW are DIFFERENT.  If your car is up to 5 years old and has covered less than 60,000 miles you will be offered our Executive Plus policy which covers ALL mechanical and ALL electrical parts with the option of additional cover for wear and tear against all covered items, bringing total peace of mind to you.

Don’t be caught short the year after your car’s manufacturers’ warranty expires!  Invest in a used car warranty from UVW for peace of mind that you’ll likely remain ‘in pocket’ if something major does go wrong.

The WMS Group are dedicated to offering the highest level of customer service. Roy Bragger, General Manager for WMS firmly believes that partnering with Unipart Automotive and Unipart Car Care Centres further strengthens this commitment to WMS customers.

Commenting on this new partnership Roy said: “Our valued policyholders can now feel totally assured that when repair work to their vehicle is required they will receive the highest standard of customer care at an appointed Unipart Car Care Centre. In addition upon inception of a new warranty policy all our customer’s cars will automatically receive a FREE inspection at a Unipart Car Care Centre.”

“To add further confidence all UCCC’s fit Unipart service parts wherever possible which are certified as Original Equipment matching quality, this ensures life and best performance backed up by a unique 12 months or 12,000 miles guarantee commencing from the date of original fitting.  This means that in the unlikely event of a replaced part failing due to incorrect fitting or the part itself being faulty, the customer will receive free parts and labour for replacement within 12 months.  In addition with a nationwide network, you are never far from a Unipart Car Care Centre!”

Stuart Sims – General Manager Marketing Services of Unipart comments: “We are delighted to be partnering with the WMS Group to provide repair facilities for their customers. Both Unipart Car Care Centres and WMS are committed to the very highest standards of customer service and are passionate about getting things right first time for our customers.  We believe that this is the perfect basis for a very successful collaboration.”

Teaming up with Unipart Automotive and Unipart Car Care Centres is undoubtedly another winning formula for the group, tailor made to give the best possible service to their 80,000 used car warranty policyholders.

Owning a car is a bit like a relationship – it needs regular t.l.c. and attention to keep it maintained and running smoothly.

Regular and timely maintenance can help any motorist get the maximum amount of mileage from their vehicle before having to purchase a new one. Most routine vehicle checks such as tyres, fluid levels, belts and hoses are simple enough so that they can be performed by motorists without any repair expertise.

Though regular maintenance can help reduce instances of disastrous engine failure, it cannot completely eliminate unforeseen breakdowns. When those unforeseen mechanical failures do occur, a UVW used car warranty is a great way to protect from the high cost of completing the necessary repairs. Nobody wants to be in the uncomfortable position to have to pay for an expensive repair! Purchasing a UVW used car warranty will save a driver serious money in the long run and help to budget more efficiently.

And with those extra pennies saved you can afford to treat your loved one to that romantic weekend break – driving there in your much loved car of course!

Car buyers looking for used cars this year should aim to make a real comparison because, as we know, a headline price which is the cheapest does not necessarily mean the best value for money on the overall package. For example if a car is offered at £500 cheaper than its nearest comparative example but it’s just “there you go, there’s the keys anything else you want is extra” then that’s fine as long as buyers understand that this is what their money is buying them. However, when parting with your hard earned cash it pays to look at the bigger picture to avoid buying a vehicle which could cost you dearly in the long run.

Used Vehicle Warranty (UVW) recommends that you to weigh up the following factors when looking at used car prices:

1. Has the car been serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s schedule?

2. Will the car have a multi-point inspection carried out before you take delivery, and what does this cover?

3. Does the car have a minimum of 9 months MOT?

4. Is road tax included?

5. How long is the warranty and what does it cover and what is the claim limit?

6. Does the car come with breakdown recovery assistance and if so for how long?

7. Is there an exchange policy in place and if so how long and what are the qualifying parameters?

8. What are the tyre tolerances? For instance the tyres might be legal but how much tread is left on them? If you are going to have to replace them in a couple of thousand miles tyres are expensive so it simply may not be cost effective.

Some of these things may be quite obvious but if one dealer offers the majority of these things free of charge with the car, and another doesn’t there could end up being a major price disparity between the two making the cheaper car actually more expensive!

But apart from the car itself and the insurance, what other costs do you need to factor in when calculating the cost of buying your next used car? Well there’s the road tax, which is lower the more economical the car is, and depending on which VED band it’s in according to its CO2 emissions. Then there’s the cost of fuelling it, which is obviously more for cars with larger fuel tanks. But the one extra cost which we really do believe used car buyers should factor in is that of an extended car warranty.

Many used car dealerships only offer a 3 month warranty with minimal cover. Spending perhaps only a few hundred pounds on an extended used car warranty from UVW, could leave you in pocket, as even family cars can cost several hundreds or even into the thousands to repair!

We can cover any car up to 15 years old and 150,000 miles so whatever badge your car wears, you can get car warranties direct with the UK’s favourite car warranty company UVW. Family cars can be covered by a UVW car warranty for as little as £170.00 for 12 months, with significant savings to be made on multiple cars or longer periods of cover. Our policies include European cover, overnight accommodation and rail fare, renewal, transfer, car hire, vehicle recovery and all authorised claims paid within 24 hours upon receipt of the repair invoice.

From Lands’ End to John O’Groats, UVW customers are contacting us to tell us how delighted they are with their UVW used vehicle warranty cover and the friendly helpfulness of all our staff from our call centre to claims and admin.

Here at UVW we know how vital it is that our customers get their car back on the road as quickly as possible following a breakdown, and that the costs of the associated repairs as covered by their UVW policy are reimbursed swiftly. We were delighted to receive the following comments from our valued customers which we believe speak volumes about UVW:

Mr A Hiscox, of Cheltenham wrote to us:

I have the following comments:

1.            Initial phone call to you regarding claim – this was very helpful with you explaining the procedure and requirement for the garage to provide assessment of the repair estimate and then to contact you.

2.            Claim response between garage and you -  this happened efficiently, the garage apparently handling similar claims before.

3.            Garage undertook repair and issued payment receipt.

4.            Receipt and covering letter sent to you.

5.            Cheque for claim sent by you. Received very quickly, within about 3 days.

I am very pleased with how the claim was handled, the smooth authorisation of the repair with the garage and the prompt payment of cheque.

F. Moore sent the following customer comments by email:

I have made two claims against my warranty since February and I am pleased to say that the service I have received has been excellent. Your consultants have been courteous over the phone and the receipt of my cheques has been impressively quick. My mechanic has also commented on how easy making a claim through UVW has been.

UVW takes pride in putting our used car warranty customers first, no matter what level of cover is purchased.

We would like to thank all our customers for their feedback which is always appreciated be it good or bad.  It is only through this feedback that we can strive to improve where required and continue to develop for the benefit of you our valued customer.

The grant includes £5000 off the price of the Nissan Leaf – the world’s first 100% mass-produced electric car. The Nissan Leaf has a charge up time of 0-80% in 30 minutes, a tested range of 109 miles (Nedc), and a top speed of 90 mph – definitely not a car that will sell on ‘performance’ but until this year Nissan has virtually dominated the ‘electric’ market with little competition from other manufacturers.

However Renault has now entered the electric car market with the launch of their ZE range – the ‘Twizy’ an electric urban two seat car, and the ‘Zoe’ a compact 5 door hatch. Uniquely Renault have extended their range of electric vehicles into the light commercial market with the launch of the Kangoo ZE – the new Kangoo with a 100% electric motor, which is also being sold alongside their normal range of Kangoo light commercial vehicles. As the government Plug-in Grant also covers the purchase of commercial electric vehicles, buyers can receive 20% or up to £8,000 off the list price!

Renault is now well able to compete directly with Nissan and obviously has very ambitious plans. The Nissan Leaf is widely considered to be very expensive to purchase, Renault clearly state that they “aim to make all ZE models the same price as their diesel-engine cars of the same range, when and where Government incentives are in place.”

At UVW we look forward to seeing the further development of the electric vehicle range by manufacturers such as Nissan and Renault.  However, realistically speaking we are still many years away from electrical vehicles dominating the UK car market and we will continue to constantly develop and improve our used car warranties to benefit those who drive petrol or diesel cars.

Here at UVW we pride ourselves upon our used car warranties being the best in the market, both in terms of cover and our high customer service standards. We are one of the few car warranty companies who pay out claims on receipt of authorised invoice within 24 hours.   So for the best used car or commercial vehicle warranty  come direct to UVW for advice and a quote!

For those who are looking to buy a used car, January could be the perfect opportunity to bag a bargain from a used car dealership who is slashing prices in their “January sale”.

But how can you avoid buying a car that’s about as tasty as a leftover Brussels sprout!  UVW have some tips for wise used car buyers:

1: Ensure that the car has been safety and provenance (hpi) checked. If the used car dealership is not offering this as part of their sales package, then there are many professional organisations who you can contact to carry out such inspections.

2: Use price checking sites to ensure the purchase price is fair and if necessary negotiate accordingly.

3: If the used car dealer you are buying from offers an extended warranty plan with the car, always check the small print to see what is covered.

4: Visit www.usedvehiclewarranty.co.uk to see our great deals on used vehicle warranty cover. UVW have an extensive range of warranty policies to cover all makes and models of cars up to 15 years old and 150,000 miles. UVW cover starts from us for as little as £170 per year. Plus we are one of the only warranty providers who settle all authorised claims within 24 hours of receipt of invoice either direct to the repairer or to you.

Don’t catch a cold this January when you buy a used car.  Follow these tips and make sure your next used car doesn’t turn into the next unwanted Christmas present.

UVW are one of the UK’s leading extended car warranty companies and will be happy to give you advice on the right warranty for your car and budget, from a family car to a prestige marque – UVW have it all covered!

Get your FREE Autoglym valet case worth over £50 rrp with every UVW used car warranty policy purchased (one per customer and offer subject to stock availability).  

Each Autoglym valet case contains a selection of the best-selling products from Autoglym’s professional motorist’s vehicle care range including bodywork shampoo conditioner, paint renovator, bumper care, super resin polish, car glass polish, clean wheels, quick clear screen wash, intensive tar remover, sponge, chamois and instruction booklet.  The Autoglym valet case is automatically dispatched after the 14 day cancellation period providing you have not cancelled your policy within that time.

Protect your car with a UVW used car warranty and keep her looking immaculate with Autoglym.

GET A GRIP:  At temperatures below seven degrees, summer tyres and high-performance all seasons lose their grip.  The soft, rubber compound that allows them to stick to the road, delivering the handling, braking and acceleration capabilities dramatically deteriorates. The colder it gets, the less grip is available.  Unlike old-fashioned snow tyres, many winter radials are now specially designed to deliver decent grip on ice and snow and are a must-have for safe winter driving.

IT’S SNOW JOKE: Make sure that before driving you brush the snow from your vehicle roof.  Failure to do so could result in a ticket, and chances are, the layer of snow closest to the car will melt, harden into ice, then slide. This can inflict a considerable amount of damage: Sheared windshield wiper arms, broken side view mirrors and dented body panels are all common occurrences. For vehicles with scoops and intakes, ensure that they’re free of snow – brake ducts, oil coolers and radiators need an unobstructed air flow to function properly.

WARM UP: Make sure your car’s defroster is functioning correctly, and thoroughly warm your car up before attempting to drive it.  During the first five to 10 minutes of driving, take it easy. Having a functioning heater is important not only for comfort, but also for safety. If your car gets stalled or stuck in the snow, having a good source of heat can be the difference between life and death.

WASH AND WAX: Protect your vehicle’s paintwork from the ravages of winter weather by ensuring that you regularly put a good coat of wax onto your vehicle, and follow it up with a thorough wash once a week to blast off salt and road grime. If you are serious about protecting the finish of your car, consider an invisible stone guard, a highly durable, transparent plastic film that covers the nose, bumpers headlamps and front mirrors, warding off flying stones and debris that cause unsightly paint chips.

These simple tips can help to keep you motoring this winter, but cannot eliminate unforeseen breakdowns. There is nothing worse than getting caught out in the cold, stranded on the hard shoulder facing the prospect of the expense and hassle of unwanted mechanical or electrical repair bills.  When those unforeseen mechanical failures do occur, a UVW used car warranty is a great way to protect from the high cost of completing the necessary repairs.

Don’t wait for the harsh winter weather to get covered… peace of mind is only a phone call or click away!!