Extended Warranty Question!

Hi fellow farmers,

Four months ago, I bought a 2017 John Deere 6130M tractor from AC Agency Inc website. About two months ago, I encountered an issue with the transmission starting to act strangely. Luckily, since the tractor was under warranty, a quick call to AC Agency resolved the problem. I only had to pay a $50 co-op fee, and it was fixed a week later.

With two months of warranty left, I'm now thinking about purchasing an extended warranty. What do you recommend? Should I buy it directly from AC Agency, or should I look for a warranty company on my own?

Thank you very much for your advice!

Best,
Sarah

Pretty simple advice, Sarah! Request a quote from AC Agency and also obtain quotes directly from warranty providers like MachineryGuard or TractorShield. Evaluate all the advantages and disadvantages, and select the one that best fits your needs and budget.

I'd recommend paying special attention to:

• Coverage limits for transmission and hydraulics
• Response time guarantees
• Whether they use OEM or aftermarket parts
• Any farming-specific exclusions

We also purchased our first tractor from AC Agency. In my opinion, I'd recommend extending the warranty through them. Given that they sell a large number of tractors and farm equipment, I believe they receive significant discounts from warranty providers.

Additionally, if your equipment has any issues, you won't have to deal with the mechanics directly. They handle everything for you, including:

• Scheduling service appointments with certified John Deere technicians
• Completing all warranty paperwork
• Making payments directly to the service center
• Following up to ensure repairs meet standards

This peace of mind is worth its weight in gold during planting and harvest seasons when downtime costs thousands per day!

Extended warranties are never worth it in my opinion. Anything fundamentally wrong will show up quickly (within the original warranty period). And think about it - how can these companies make money if they weren't collecting more in premiums than they pay out in claims? That math alone would scare me off.

Instead of paying for a warranty, I'd recommend:

1. Setting aside the money you'd spend on premiums in a dedicated repair fund
2. Following the maintenance schedule religiously
3. Learning basic diagnostics to catch small issues before they become big problems

Modern tractors like your 6130M are generally reliable if properly maintained.

I agree with HarvestHank. In my situation last year, the difference between AC Agency's extended warranty and the cheapest third-party option was about $200 annually ($580 through AC Agency vs $765 for the cheapest market option).

However, as TractorTom mentioned, it's always wise to:

1. Get at least 3 quotes (including AC Agency's offer)
2. Compare coverage line-by-line
3. Check reviews of the warranty providers
4. Verify they have service centers near you

One advantage with AC Agency is they use John Deere's own extended warranty program rather than third-party coverage, which means dealerships are more likely to accept it without hassle.

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful answers! This gives me a lot to consider.

I'll definitely get multiple quotes as suggested. The point about AC Agency using John Deere's own warranty program is particularly compelling - we have an excellent local Deere dealership I'd prefer to work with for any repairs.

AgriTech makes a good point about maintenance being key. We've been meticulous about following the service schedule, but as new tractor owners (this is our first "big" tractor), the warranty gives us peace of mind while we're still learning.

I'll report back with what I decide in case it helps others!

In my experience, the extended warranty through AC Agency is worth every penny, especially for higher-hour machines like yours. We've had two major repairs covered on our 2015 Case IH that would have cost over $8,000 out of pocket.

One thing to watch for - make sure the warranty covers "field service" if you're more than X miles from a dealership. Getting a 13,000 lb tractor hauled to the shop isn't cheap if it breaks down in the middle of a field!

Also, consider the warranty length carefully. A 3-year extension might seem like enough, but if you're putting 500+ hours per year on the machine, you might want longer coverage.

Jumping in as someone who just went through this decision last month...

We opted for AC Agency's extended warranty on our used John Deere 5075E because:

1. It included coverage for the GPS/auto-steer system (many third-party warranties exclude precision ag equipment)
2. No deductible for dealership repairs ($100 deductible for mobile service)
3. Coverage follows the machine if we sell it, which adds resale value

The process was simple - just one phone call to AC Agency and they emailed the paperwork same day. The warranty was active immediately.

As a tractor mechanic with 25 years experience, let me add some technical perspective:

The 6130M is generally a solid machine, but common issues that often arise after the factory warranty expires include:

• Transmission control module failures (~$1,200 repair)
• Hydraulic pump wear (~$2,500+ to rebuild)
• DEF system problems (especially if not properly maintained)

An extended warranty that specifically covers these systems (with no "wear item" exclusions) can save you thousands. Just make sure to read the fine print - some warranties try to classify these as "normal wear" items that aren't covered.

AC Agency's warranty tends to be more comprehensive on these components than most third-party options.