Here is my view on aftermarket warranties. I have used this on multiple vehicles for over 10 years. I have used multiple service providers. From my experience, the only way you can get unlimited cover is when you take out the extended warranty BEFORE the manufacturers original warranty expires - then you can usually get unlimited cover (no sub limits) for 2 years/unlimited kms. Anything after the manufacturers original warranty has run out, the cover is based on vehicle age/mileage and sub limits will apply - R50k engine, R40k transmission etc. for example. You also cannot take out the same cover again when it expires - the vehicle age/mileage will then be used to determine the next cover applicable. You got both monthly payment and once off payment options. I've always gone for once off...although monthly has the advantage that should you find service poor or unfair, you have some leverage - T's&C's dependent.
Important lesson learnt by myself recently...I extended the 140's motorplan with BMW for one year, I then wanted to take out an extended warranty thinking I can get the unlimited cover option...however their view was that the manufacturers original warranty ran out when the original motorplan ended after 5 years and thus I only qualified for the next option which had sub limits - which I did take and have successfully used since. But knowing what I know now, I would rather have taken out the unlimited cover warranty at the end of the 5 year motorplan.
Hope this helps.
Majority of my experience with aftermarket warranties is along these lines:
Sub limits, age and mileage of vehicle puts you into different categories and as the mileage and age increases the sub limits shrinks until it no longer makes sense to have the warranty.
The Innovation Group Motormend warranty which I have is a little different.
No sub limits, just an overall pot of funds. With a single claim I have been able to use 2/3 of that overall sum.
My friend has the same on his Audi S3 and his Amarok and it has paid out on both vehicles with little fuss. The one thing they did not cover was to rethread a bolt hole on his S3 sub assembly. They stated that was not covered by the warranty but covered some suspension parts and some others parts I cannot recall and have recently approved a claim for a new VW alternator & labour on his Amarok.
Larger or more complex claims it seems they send out an assessor, lower cost or more straight forward claims they just approve.
I guess the downside with this warranty is that there is a limit to how much they will pay out overall. You can end up in a situation where the remaining amount is not enough to fully cover a claim and you're left paying the difference out of pocket... Although based on the sub limits on a typical warranty, you generally need to pay in most of the time anyways.
So far, for me at least, this pot of funds system on this aftermarket warranty is working quite well and has paid out more than I have paid for the warranty itself.
