--- title: Questions to Ask About a Transmission Warranty url: https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/transmission-warranty-questions/ business: A-1 Transmission (A-1 Transmission Inc) address: 670 East Grove Street, Reno, NV 89502 phone: (775) 829-1333 hours: Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, closed Saturday and Sunday type: Transmission shop and auto repair shop in Reno, Nevada, since 1968; walk-ins welcome during business hours, appointments suggested --- - [Home](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/) - [Transmission guides](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/) - Questions to ask about a transmission warranty # Questions to ask about a transmission warranty Before you approve transmission work at any shop, ask what the warranty covers, how long it lasts, where it can be honored and what voids it, and get the answers in writing. A warranty is only as useful as its fine print. [Call (775) 829-1333](tel:+17758291333) [Get directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=A-1+Transmission+Inc,+670+East+Grove+Street,+Reno,+NV+89502&destination_place_id=ChIJZfhkfH4_mYARqc7eV_uhOws)[What is it doing?](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/#checker) 1968 In business since [4.6 ★ 112 Google reviews](https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=809418658926218921) ATRA Member shop M-F 7:30 am to 5:30 pm Coverage differs between shops and between jobs, and a word like lifetime means nothing until you read the terms. This list is for use with any shop. For the terms on your own job, call (775) 829-1333 and ask; the shop will tell you what applies to your vehicle. ## At a glance - Get the terms in writing before work starts - Ask separately about parts and about labor - Find out where a claim can be made - Know what you must do to keep coverage ## What should the warranty cover? - Does it cover parts, labor, or both? - Does it cover the whole transmission or only the parts that were replaced? - Are related items such as the torque converter, cooler and seals included? - Is there a deductible or a per-visit fee? - Does it cover the cost of a second diagnosis if the problem comes back? ## How long does it last, and by what measure? Ask for the length in months, in miles, or both, and which comes first. Ask when it starts, on the day of repair or the day of pickup. Ask whether it is the same for every job or depends on the type of work. A short, clear term in writing beats a long one you cannot find on paper. ## Who honors it, and where? If you move or travel, can you take it to another location? If only the original shop honors it, that is not a problem for a Reno driver who stays local, but you should know. Ask who pays if you are stranded away from home, and whether towing or a rental is part of the coverage; the Federal Trade Commission notes that some auto contracts do not fully cover towing or rental cars. ## What voids it? Ask whether skipped maintenance, towing beyond a limit, off-road use, or work by another shop changes your coverage. Ask what records to keep. The FTC advises keeping service records and receipts regardless of who did the work. Ask how a claim is made: a phone call, a form, a return trip. ## Is it a warranty or a service contract? The FTC describes a manufacturer's warranty as coming automatically with a product, while an extended warranty or service contract costs extra and may cover different things, and it may be backed by a company other than the maker. If a contract is offered, check who stands behind it, its exclusions, and the claims process. As the FTC puts it, if it isn't listed in the contract, assume that it's not covered. ## Putting it together Write down the answers or ask for them on the estimate. Compare them across shops line by line, together with the figures in the [cost factors guide](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/transmission-repair-cost-factors/). If you are weighing a rebuild against another path, the [rebuild or replace guide](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/rebuild-vs-replace/) adds more. For general expectations, see [what to expect at the shop](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/faq/what-to-expect/). ### Sources - [Extended warranties and service contracts, Federal Trade Commission](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/extended-warranties-and-service-contracts) - [FTC offers tips on making the most of your auto warranty](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2011/01/ftc-offers-tips-making-most-your-auto-warranty) - [Auto repair basics, Federal Trade Commission](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0211-auto-repair-basics) Keep reading ## Related pages [What affects the cost of transmission work Transmission repair and rebuild cost depends mainly on how much is damaged, which vehicle it is.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/transmission-repair-cost-factors/)[Rebuild or replace a transmission? Rebuilding a transmission means taking your own unit apart, cleaning it, and replacing the worn parts so it goes back in your vehicle.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/rebuild-vs-replace/)[What to expect at the shop Expect a phone call or a walk-in during business hours, a diagnosis, and a plain explanation of what your vehicle needs before any work.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/faq/what-to-expect/)[Independent transmission shop, dealer or chain? An independent transmission shop is a locally owned business that repairs many makes, a dealer service department works on the brands it sells.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/independent-shop-vs-dealer-vs-chain/)[Transmission repair Transmission repair means finding what is wrong inside or around the transmission and fixing that part.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/transmission-repair/) Guides ## More guides - [How often to change transmission fluid](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/transmission-fluid-change-interval/) - [Transmission fluid color: what it tells you](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/transmission-fluid-color/) - [How to check transmission fluid](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/how-to-check-transmission-fluid/) - [Transmission fluid types (ATF) explained](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/transmission-fluid-types/) - [What is a transfer case?](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/what-is-a-transfer-case/) - [4WD vs AWD: how the drivetrain differs](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/4wd-vs-awd/) - [Manual vs automatic: care and repair](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/manual-vs-automatic/) - [Signs your transmission needs attention](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/signs-your-transmission-is-failing/) - [Can you drive with a slipping transmission?](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/driving-with-a-slipping-transmission/) - [Towing, summer heat and your transmission](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/towing-heat-and-your-transmission/) - [Transmission guides](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/) Answers ## Questions drivers ask Still have a question? Call [(775) 829-1333](tel:+17758291333) during shop hours. More answers are on the [questions page](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/faq/). ### Does a different shop's work void my car's factory warranty? Federal law makes it illegal for a manufacturer or dealer to deny warranty coverage solely because someone else did the work, per the FTC. They can deny a claim if they show that the work caused the damage. ### What does A-1 Transmission cover? Ask when you call (775) 829-1333 and describe the work; the shop will explain coverage for your vehicle. ### Is lifetime coverage worth more? Only if the terms are clear. Ask what lifetime means, whose lifetime, and what it excludes. ### Should I get it in writing? Yes. A verbal promise is hard to prove later. ## Not shifting right? 670 East Grove Street, Reno, NV 89502 Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm [What to tell us when you call](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/call/) [(775) 829-1333](tel:+17758291333)