Last updated on July 16th, 2023 at 10:34 am
You may have received a pink motor vehicle service notification pink card informing you that your extended warranty on your vehicle is ending soon and that you must call a number to activate the warranty. You are responsible for all repairs if you do not renew your warranty.
Your motor vehicle registration and history can be found in the motor vehicle service record ID. They will assist you in ensuring that you have optimal protection and operation by calling the toll-free number.
The notification might be sent by the manufacturer of the vehicle and may contain all the necessary language to convince anyone that it is genuine. Do you ignore the notification and the consequences?
What does Motor Vehicle Service Notification mean? Do you prefer a letter or postcard?
Motor vehicle service notifications are direct communications from the manufacturer of your vehicle via a pink motor vehicle notification pink postcard or letter. They inform you about your warranty status. You may be advised by the manufacturer that your warranty and protections are close to expiring and that you must update it.
This letter or postcard includes all the necessary information about your vehicle and convinces you. The postcard or letter looks real at first glance and all indications are that it was sent from your dealership or factory. Some notifications include the logo and seal of Department of Motor Vehicles.
You must be careful and verify that the notification is from the manufacturer. If they feel it is in their best interests, vehicle owners may refuse to extend the notification.
Be patient and don’t rush to make a decision. If you make a mistake, it could have negative effects on your savings. How do you determine if the notification is genuine?
Paperwork
Keep the paperwork for your motor vehicle from the manufacturer. This paperwork includes details about the vehicle, such as its year or mileage. The warranty covers 50,000 miles every 5 years in most cases. The warranty will be void if you exceed the 50,000 mile mark or have driven for five years after the purchase date.
An extended warranty will allow you to continue receiving the protections. An extended warranty is not recommended for most people as it’s cheaper to pay for repairs after the original warranty ends.
Name of the company
All company information will be included in a legitimate notification. A scammer will send you a postcard that does not include a company name. It is easy to determine if your factory warranty has expired by comparing the information on the postcard with the notification.
Notifications that are legitimate
You can verify if the notification is genuine by looking at your original paperwork and comparing it with the postcard or letter you received. All information should match, even the phone numbers for calling to extend your warranty.
To ensure that you don’t accept a warranty from someone other than the original manufacturer of your vehicle, carefully read through the letter. All information should be identical, including any watermarks or payment details.
To verify who sent the notification, pick up your phone and dial the toll-free number on the original paperwork. You are likely dealing with a scammer if they refuse to send the postcard or letter.
Motor Vehicle Service Notification Scam Is it a scam or real?
It all depends on how you view it. You will receive a notification from the manufacturer of your vehicle or dealer. There may also be a scam notification from companies that sell warranties for cars.
Dealerships may sell customer information to warranty companies. To determine if you have been scammed or if the notification came from your vehicle manufacturer, you will need to find out the source of the notification.
An official motor vehicle service notification will verify all boxes:
- Send this message when your factory warranty is about expire or has expired
- Use the correct company name and number
- Professional customer service agents will treat you with courtesy
- This notification is based on valid vehicle service records from the past
- Notification sent from the known location of the company and not another state
Extended warranty protection is not something that customers often consider, especially if they don’t intend to keep the car for a long time. It makes sense to consider this, however, if you plan on keeping your car for a long time or for a longer period of time, it may not be worth the cost. This warranty covers basic maintenance such as oil change, AC not performing and steering sound.
You will be bombarded with scam notifications almost every two months. It can come from multiple companies and contain genuine language to convince you to prolong your warranty. You may receive a postcard or letter about a vehicle that you do not own.
What are the red flags to look for in a vehicle service notification scam?
Bogus account activity
The back of the motor vehicle service notification letters should be examined. The account activity will list bogus repairs totaling thousands of dollars. You will be notified that the notification states that you don’t need to pay any money if they were done. Your vehicle might not have had such repairs, or it may not have been for them since the purchase. This could be a sign that you’re dealing with a scam firm that wants your money.
You haven’t exceeded the mileage and years stated
Sometimes, it can be absurd to receive a motor vehicle maintenance notification informing you that your warranty is about to expire. This notice may not come when you’ve logged the required 50,000 miles or the car hasn’t been used for 5 years. Perhaps your mileage is 3,000, and you have been driving the car for 2 years. Legally, the vehicle still has the factory warranty.
This notice clearly indicates that they are after your money, but don’t know much about your vehicle or mileage. It’s a scam.
Different phone numbers
You can avoid losing your money to scams by providing details such as a phone number. The original dealer or manufacturer notification will have the exact same phone number as the paperwork or website.
If the number of the phone is not the same, you can use the number from the paperwork or the manufacturer’s number on the website to reach them to inquire about the notification. Please explain the nature of the call and the notification that you received. If the vehicle manufacturer denies receiving such notification or tells you that it is a scam then throw away the letter notification.
Dealership denies knowledge
Tell your dealership about the service notification. You are likely dealing with a scammer if the dealership denies receiving the postcard or letter. You should also verify that your phone number matches the one at your dealership. You are likely dealing with a scam firm if the phone number is different. If the number of the dealer is the same as the one on the notice, you can examine it and extend your warranty, if necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Do you need to buy a service contract?
Ans. Normally, an extended warranty is not required after purchasing a vehicle. However, it’s an option to sign one with your dealer if financing was used.
Call your lender if your dealer says you are required to sign the contract. Do not be fooled by other buyers who haven’t cancelled the warranty or contracted after learning that it was not required.
Be aware of dishonest dealers who might sneak in a service agreement without you being aware. Ask your dealer if you see a fee for a warranty or service contract that you did not ask for. Make sure to get it removed before you sign your loan agreement.
How can warranty companies access my information?
Ans. Third-party warranty companies combine personal information such as address and vehicle with publicly accessible mailing lists to obtain your name and phone number. They also do the same thing for car owners whose vehicles are approaching the expiration of their factory warranties.
Why do I get car warranty calls?
Ans. If the factory warranty has expired, you will be contacted by car warranty representatives. These calls will attempt to convince you to prolong your vehicle service warranty to get more protection. The caller might have personal and vehicle information such as your car model and type.
Scammers may call you pretending to be from your car dealer or factory manufacturer, informing that your warranty is about to expire.
This call will include a pitch for service to convince you to extend or renew your warranty. Calls from other companies or dealers of cars should be ignored. Do not answer calls from unknown area codes.
What does a vehicle warranty expiration notice mean?
Ans. This is a notice sent by post or letter informing you that your warranty has expired or been canceled. It informs you that the warranty’s coverage terms have been exceeded. If the records prove that you have not exceeded the warranty coverage terms it could be a sign you are dealing in a scam.An official vehicle warranty expiration notice contains your basic information including years and mileage. The basic components of the vehicle are covered by the warranty. It lasts between 3 and 5 years or 36,000 to 60,000 miles depending on which comes first. The original vehicle price is included in the warranty
