🛡️ Warranty vs Guarantee
Do I need the extended warranty?
The extended warranty offered at the till is sold in the ninety seconds before you pay, when you have no way to check what it adds to what you already have. This works out what it costs per extra year and sets out what the law gives you for nothing.
Figures reviewed September 2026. Free, no signup, nothing stored on our servers.
What this means
A guarantee is a voluntary promise from a manufacturer or retailer, free and included in the price. A warranty sold at the till is a paid product, usually an insurance contract. Both are in addition to your statutory rights and neither can reduce them.
That is the key point, and it is the one the sales pitch skips. The Consumer Rights Act 2022 requires goods to be of satisfactory quality and durable, presumes a fault appearing within twelve months was there at delivery, and allows a claim to be brought for up to six years. An expired guarantee does not end any of that.
So the question is narrow: what does the paid cover give you that you do not already have? Often the honest answer is faster service and accidental damage — which may be worth paying for — rather than protection against a product failing, which you largely have already.
What affects the result
- How long the manufacturer already covers. Cover that overlaps with it is buying nothing on duration.
- Whether accidental damage is included, which statutory rights do not cover at all.
- The excess per claim, which reduces what the cover is actually worth.
- Whether a replacement is new or refurbished.
- Who underwrites it — an insurer, or a retailer who could close.
- How reliable the product category actually is. A €120 warranty on something that rarely fails is expensive.
Do I need the extended warranty?
Before buying cover, check what you have
Your statutory rights cost nothing and cannot be signed away — the consumer rights checker sets out what applies to a specific purchase. The manufacturer guarantee is also free and usually easier to use than a retailer dispute. Only what is left after those two is what the paid cover is actually selling you.
When something does fail
Go to the trader you bought from first, not the manufacturer. If a repair is being quoted and you are deciding whether it is worth it, the repair or replace calculator answers that on cost per remaining year. And if the trader will not engage, the Small Claims Procedure handles claims up to €2,000 for €25.
Important assumptions
Every figure on this page rests on these. Where one does not match your situation, the answer moves — sometimes a great deal.
- The break-even probability treats a successful claim as worth the item price less the excess. Real claims are often repairs rather than replacements, so the true break-even is usually higher than shown.
- It assumes the cover would actually pay out on the fault you would have. Exclusions vary widely between products.
- Nothing here accounts for the convenience of a warranty claim versus arguing a statutory right with a retailer, which has real value.
Official sources
Where this tool applies a published rule, this is where the rule comes from. Check the source before acting on anything that matters.
- CCPC — guarantees and warranties
The state consumer body's explanation of the difference and how each interacts with your statutory rights.
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
The statutory quality standard, the twelve-month presumption, and the rule that a guarantee is additional to your rights.
- Central Bank of Ireland — insurance products
Where an extended warranty is an insurance contract, the regulatory framework it falls under.
Common questions
What is the difference between a guarantee and a warranty in Ireland?
A guarantee is a free, voluntary promise, usually from the manufacturer, included in the price. An extended warranty is something you pay for, usually an insurance product sold by the retailer. Both are additional to your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2022, and neither can reduce them.
Are extended warranties worth it?
Usually not for the first two years, because your statutory rights and the manufacturer guarantee already cover most of what would go wrong. They can be worth it where they add accidental damage cover, or on an expensive item you would struggle to replace. The break-even figure above tells you how likely a claim has to be for the price to make sense.
My guarantee expired. Do I still have rights?
Yes. Statutory rights run independently of any guarantee. Goods must be durable and of satisfactory quality, and a claim can generally be brought within six years — though after twelve months you have to show the fault existed at delivery, which usually means an independent report.
Can I cancel an extended warranty?
Often, particularly where it is an insurance contract sold at a distance, which carries its own cooling-off period. Check the policy documents for the cancellation terms and whether a pro-rata refund is available.
What to check next
What are my rights on this purchase?
Answer six questions about what you bought and see the Irish rights that may apply.
Consumer Rights CheckerNewShould I repair it or replace it?
Appliances, electronics, boilers, cars and tools — costed per remaining year of life.
Repair or ReplaceNewAm I entitled to a refund?
Online, in-store, faulty, change of mind, services and digital content — what the law gives you.
Refund & Return CheckerNewIs this big purchase worth it?
Cost per use and per year for anything expensive, against the alternative of not owning it.
Is This Worth It?Next steps across CheckIreland
Picked for what you just worked out — not a list of everything we make.
CheckIreland is independent and is not affiliated with the Irish Government or any public body. This tool is general information built on published rules and typical costs — it is not financial, tax or legal advice, and it does not account for your individual circumstances. Confirm anything that matters with the relevant body or a qualified adviser before acting on it.