Is it necessary to purchase ETC extended warranty?
2 Answers
It's completely unnecessary. The extended warranty is equivalent to having your car serviced at the dealership for these years, but you might find it expensive after a few services and want to switch to other options, making the purchase a waste. Here is some relevant information: Basic maintenance is free: Basic maintenance is free, but labor costs still need to be paid. This is essentially the same as the promotions offered by 4S stores. Lifetime free maintenance: Generally, there are three forms of this "lifetime free maintenance." The first is that the 4S store will send you a text message, saying that you can get the opportunity for lifetime free maintenance by paying a certain fee. However, you need to carefully consider whether such lifetime maintenance is cost-effective, such as whether labor costs are calculated separately during the maintenance process and what free maintenance items are included, etc. Another scenario is when buying a car, you are given the choice to either receive a direct discount of 10,000 yuan or opt for lifetime free maintenance. However, some may directly offer it as a free gift when buying the car, which is more common among new car manufacturers. You can enjoy lifetime free maintenance without additional costs, but there are conditions: the car insurance must be purchased at the 4S store, and repairs must be done at the dealership.
I've been driving with an ETC device for ten years, and it's never had any issues. The manufacturer's warranty period is more than sufficient; extended warranties are completely unnecessary. The ETC is just a small box mounted on the windshield, designed to be simple and durable, so it rarely breaks down. If you only occasionally drive on highways, the original 1-2 year warranty fully covers any risks. Even if it does break, replacing it yourself costs just a few hundred bucks, which is much more cost-effective than paying for an extended warranty every year. Nowadays, I focus my car maintenance budget on tires and the engine—those are the areas where investment truly pays off. Save money where it's unnecessary; develop good driving habits, and your ETC will work just fine.
