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Provide us with few details about your used vehicle & we’ll quote you a price for complete peace of mind motoring.

  • Cover for when your manufacturer warranty expires
  • Financial protection for used cars from expensive repair costs
  • Car hire, roadside assistance and travel costs covered as standard

Does car warranty cover air conditioning?

The cost of cover depends upon the car and the items you want to include, but it can certainly provide peace of mind and protect your bank balance if things go wrong. If you want the air conditioning system included in your warranty, make sure you choose suitable cover - and ensure your vehicle’s air con is serviced by a specialist and recharged with the correct coolant.

We’re conditioned to expect air conditioning

We’ve all probably come to expect air conditioning in our cars – even in the UK, where let’s face it, the weather’s not always the warmest. Not only does it cool the inside of the vehicle in hot weather, but in winter it will quickly clear your windscreen of frost and ice. In many ways, air conditioning is no longer seen as a luxury, but is increasingly thought of as an essential part of our driving comfort.

How it works

Your car’s air conditioning system is made up of three main parts – the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator, all working together to keep you and your passengers comfortable.

Air is brought into the vehicle from outside and is drawn in over the condenser, passing over the refrigerant gas which causes it to liquefy. Impurities are removed and the air dried before coming to a thermal expansion valve – this allows you to control the temperature in the car by limiting the liquid flow. As the liquid travels through the evaporation coils, it turns into vapour and is finally circulated around the cabin as cool air.

Servicing

Just like the car itself, air conditioning needs regular maintenance to be fully efficient, but this is generally not included in your standard service and is certainly not part of the MOT, as it is not a standard safety feature. You can, of course, still drive your car safely if the air conditioning isn’t working.

Many of us fail to keep our air-con system refreshed even though it does not need to be expensive nor particularly difficult for a mechanic to look at. Over the years, some of the gas escapes from the system, reducing efficiency. It is therefore recommended that the system is recharged with gas and lubricant every two years.

If, when you turn on your air conditioning, you feel the air being blown from the vents is not as cool as it used to be, or the system is not blowing out cold air at all, then it probably needs regassing. If you can’t remember when you last had the system regassed, it is worth getting a specialist to check it out. Not regassing the system will be damaging in the long run; potentially leading to cracked pipes and the seizing up of parts if it isn’t used.

Regular servicing will save fuel. The engine drives the compressor, which drives the air conditioning system. An inefficient system works the engine harder, using more fuel.

Can I do it myself?

You can do this yourself and regassing kits are readily available, though they’re almost as expensive as hiring a specialist to do the job. Unless you’re a skilled mechanic, it’s easy to make a mistake, potentially leaving you with an expensive repair bill.

What does regassing air conditioning involve?

A technician will check your air conditioning system, top up or replace the refrigerant gas and check the system’s lubricant level. A vacuum test is then performed to check for any cracks or leaks that could cause future problems.

Other related FAQs

Looking for more related content to this? We’ve picked a selection of related topics that you may find helpful

No, a car warranty policy does not provide cover for diagnostic tests.

No, a car warranty policy will not provide cover for accidental damage.

Although the windshield of a car can be damaged easily, most cracks and chips will not be covered by a warranty unless you can prove that the damage is as a result of a manufacturer’s fault.

Some car warranty policies will cover light bulbs, however others do not. It’s important to check the terms and conditions of your policy to see what’s included in your cover.

Regular servicing is the responsibility of every car owner – it not only ensures your vehicle is safe for you and others, but it also assists in maintaining its value. You might be wondering ‘does car warranty cover servicing?’ The answer is no, but although servicing is not covered by a car warranty, if an electrical or mechanical failure is discovered in your vehicle during the service, the necessary repairs should be covered.

Modern clutches are designed to be highly durable, but they will eventually wear down and require replacement. So, can you expect your car warranty to cover your clutch? The answer to this question depends on the particular warranty you have.

A manufacturer’s warranty – often known as a bumper-to-bumper warranty – may cover any problems that emerge with your paintwork on a new vehicle.

If your car battery suffers an unexpected failure, then it will be covered by your warranty. However, if the alternator has come to the end of its life over time, it’s unlikely this will be covered by your policy.

Bodywork refers to the exterior panels and frames that make up a car. In general, it is not covered by car warranties.

Most car warranties will cover work to repair the suspension of a vehicle should it develop a fault.