Experiencing vehicle trouble is always inconvenient, especially when it requires repairs that leave you without transportation. If you’re a Ford owner with a Ford Protect vehicle service contract, you might be eligible for the Ford Rent A Car Program while your car is being serviced. This guide will walk you through how to utilize this benefit, ensuring you stay mobile even when your vehicle is in the shop.
Understanding Your Ford Protect Rental Car Benefits
Your Ford Protect contract is designed to cover unexpected mechanical failures due to defects or normal wear and tear of covered components. A key benefit of this service contract is the provision for alternate transportation, often in the form of a rental car, when your vehicle requires overnight repairs for a covered issue.
To initiate the ford rent a car program process, inform your Ford Service Department advisor that you have a genuine Ford Protect vehicle service contract. They can quickly verify your coverage in the Ford OASIS database using your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). It’s important to remember that rental car availability can differ between dealerships.
Rental benefits under the ford rent a car program are activated when your vehicle is kept overnight for a repair covered by your Ford Protect plan. The rental coverage begins on the day the covered repair work commences. In situations where your vehicle is deemed inoperable upon arrival at the dealership, or if further driving could cause damage, rental coverage can start from the day you drop off your vehicle, provided it needs to be kept overnight. It’s worth noting that service advisors usually diagnose the cause of the failure before confirming rental eligibility.
You are expected to return the rental vehicle by the end of the business day on which your vehicle repair is completed. Extending the rental period beyond this point will be at your own expense.
How Ford Dealerships Handle Rental Car Arrangements
Ford dealerships employ various methods to assist customers with rental car needs under the ford rent a car program:
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On-site Loaner or Rental Programs: Some Ford dealerships operate their own rental or loaner fleets. This is often the most streamlined approach, allowing the dealership to directly manage the rental process and coordinate billing with Ford Protect for covered repairs.
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Partnerships with Rental Franchises: Many dealerships have established relationships with national rental companies like Enterprise or Hertz. They can arrange a rental vehicle for you through these partners and handle the necessary paperwork and invoicing for Ford Protect claims.
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Independent Rental Arrangements: In cases where a dealership doesn’t have on-site rentals or franchise partnerships, you might need to arrange a rental yourself from a commercial rental agency. If you choose this option, ensure you inform your Service Department advisor beforehand. You’ll need to provide them with a copy of the paid rental receipt so they can include it with your Ford Protect repair claim for reimbursement.
Situations Where Rental Reimbursement May Not Apply
It’s crucial to understand the limitations of the ford rent a car program. Rental reimbursement typically does not apply in the following scenarios:
- Delays Before Repair Commencement: Rental coverage does not extend to days or nights your vehicle is held at the dealership prior to the start of covered repairs due to scheduling or parts availability, unless your vehicle was inoperable when you dropped it off.
- Rentals from Non-Approved Sources: Reimbursement is generally not provided for rentals obtained from sources other than the dealership or commercial rental agencies.
- Comeback Repairs: Repairs needed to correct previous incomplete or incorrect work (“shop comebacks”) are not eligible for rental reimbursement.
- Additional Rental Charges: Expenses such as mileage charges, drop-off fees, insurance costs, or gasoline are not covered under the rental reimbursement.
- Operable Vehicles Held Overnight Unnecessarily: If your vehicle was operable and the covered repairs could have been completed on the same day but were not, leading to an overnight stay, rental reimbursement may be denied.
- Extended Rental Periods: Rental days beyond the date your repair is completed are not covered.
- Specific Warranty Programs: Certain warranties and programs are not eligible for Ford Protect rental reimbursement unless the specific part causing the issue is covered by Ford Protect at the time of repair and the vehicle is outside its New Vehicle Limited Warranty. These exclusions include: Emissions Warranty, Powertrain Warranty, Diesel Engine Warranty, Corrosion Warranty, Service Parts Warranty, Customer Loyalty Program, Reacquired Vehicle Warranty, and Safety Restraint Warranty.
By understanding the ford rent a car program and its conditions, you can confidently navigate your vehicle repair process and ensure you have transportation while your Ford is being expertly serviced. Always communicate with your Ford Service Department to confirm your eligibility and streamline the rental arrangements.
