Taking out a motor maintenance plan is a practical solution to all those unaccounted for expenses when things go wrong with your car. The first point of entry, when taking out this kind of cover, is to discover exactly what is and what is not insured – but remember that reading the fine print is also crucial.

What you can expect from your motor maintenance plan:

• Many insurance houses refer to the motor maintenance plan as a bumper-to-bumper warranty because it covers almost everything on the motor vehicle.
• Tyres are seldom covered by the motor maintenance plan, though, so if you want tyre cover speak to your insurance provider about this very necessary cover.
• Powertrain motor warranties cover the engine, the transaxle or transmission, drive axles and all the parts they are made of and usually all the internal parts that are lubricated.
• Rust warranties will cover your car against rust but often not for rust on the outside surface of the car.

To sum up:

• Wear and tear (consumables that wear out) such as wiper blades, floor mats and brake pads will not be covered by your motor maintenance plan.
• Repairs are usually not covered if you use a vehicle for business reasons. These include vehicles such as delivery vans and taxis, although speaking to your motor maintenance plan provider about cover for commercial vehicles is advisable.
• GPS and other navigation systems are sometimes covered by your maintenance warranty plan, but often enjoy limitations.
• Modifications where hybrid components instead of real parts are used cannot guarantee that the warranty will apply any longer and as a result, claims can be refuted.

The Consumer Act insists that all insurance providers ensure that documentation is not only legible but easy enough to understand and digest in your chosen home language.

There is much to come to grips with when reading over pages and pages of a motor vehicle warranty – it is therefore advisable to set aside some serious time to ensure you understand everything from start to finish.

If you are unsure about anything pertaining to your motor maintenance plan it might be a good idea to consult with your broker or directly with your insurance provider to find out the finer details of what is and what is not covered.