In 2017, I bought my son a car. It was a Volkswagen GTI. I paid extra for a five-year extended warranty. I was told it would protect us if anything went wrong during that time.
We believed we were covered.
Before the five years were up, the car needed repairs. We went to use the warranty. We were told it had already expired.
I asked how that was possible. They told us the warranty started when the car arrived on the dealership lot, not when we bought it.
That meant we lost several months of coverage before we even owned the car.
No one told us that. We were never warned. That is not how most people understand a warranty to work. When I challenged it, they pushed back.
I am an attorney. I hired another attorney to help fight it. Even then, the company resisted every step of the way. It is currently 2025.
Most people would have given up.
This is not just frustrating. It is wrong. It is misleading. It is a pattern.
People are paying for protection they never actually get. Families, first-time buyers, and anyone trying to do the right thing are being taken advantage of.
This is not a misunderstanding. It is how some companies operate.
They sell you five years of coverage, then quietly start the clock months before you ever sign a contract. When the car breaks down, they say the time is up.
That is not how it should work. And they know it.
Here is what you need to do.
Ask exactly when your warranty begins. Do not assume it starts the day you buy the car. Get it in writing.
Ask questions. Make sure you get clear answers.
If this has happened to you, talk to an attorney.
You may have legal options.
You deserve to get what you paid for. Nothing more, but nothing less.
We are here to help if this has happened to you.
By Donald Smolen, Attorney at Law
Smolen Law's mission is to provide exceptional legal services with integrity, professionalism, and respect.
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