Should I take out a Miele extended warranty?
Extended warranties on washing machines are rarely good value. The insurer sets the terms knowing the statistics are in their favour. Cover is typically adequate in the first five years but degrades significantly after that – often to the point where they will scrap rather than repair the machine. Many expensive faults are either excluded or hit the repair cap. The money is often better spent choosing a higher quality machine or a brand with a longer free guarantee.
Before buying an extended warranty on a washing machine, it is worth understanding how these products are structured and what they actually cover – particularly in the later years of the policy. The reality is considerably less reassuring than the marketing.
1. An Extended Warranty Is a Bet – and the Odds Favour the House
An extended warranty is an insurance product. You are betting your appliance will break down often enough and expensively enough to make the premiums worthwhile. The insurer accepts that bet with full access to reliability statistics and average repair cost data – knowing the odds are comfortably in their favour. Extended warranties became so profitable that some retailers relied on them almost exclusively for margin, leading to an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading.
Consumer advice has consistently turned against extended warranties since that investigation. If they were a good deal for the buyer on average, they would not be commercially viable for the seller.
2. Cover Degrades Significantly After Five Years
The most important fact about extended warranty cover on washing machines is what happens after the fifth year. Most policies do not continue to provide full cover indefinitely.
| Machine age | What typically happens | Practical implication |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 years | Full repair covered, subject to exclusions | Adequate cover if the repair is not excluded |
| 5 to 6 years | Repaired if cost is under 50% of cheapest replacement. If over, machine is scrapped and you pay 50% of replacement cost | A £250 machine – any repair over £125 results in scrapping and a £125+ contribution from you |
| 6 to 7 years | Insurer contributes 40% toward replacement, you pay 60% | Significant out-of-pocket cost even when successfully claiming |
| Over 7 years | Insurer contributes only 30% toward replacement, you pay 70% plus delivery | 30% of the cheapest available replacement rarely covers the cost of a decent machine – and the warranty is then cancelled |
3. The Faults You Most Need Covering Are Often the Most Likely to Be Rejected
The expensive repairs – PCB replacement, motor failure, drum bearing failure, outer drum replacement – are precisely the ones most likely to hit the repair cost cap and trigger a scrapping decision rather than a repair. Cheap repairs are covered; expensive ones often are not.
This is compounded by the increasing prevalence of machines with sealed outer drums and drums that cannot be stripped down. A foreign object trapped under the drum of one of these machines may result in scrapping simply because the machine cannot be disassembled to retrieve it.
4. Exclusions Can Remove Much of the Protection
Common exclusions across many extended warranty policies include:
- “No fault found” – if the engineer attends and cannot reproduce the fault, the visit may not be covered
- Damage from objects left in pockets or foreign objects in the machine
- Misuse or failure to follow the instruction manual
- Normal wear and tear – policies that exclude this specifically will not cover many common faults including belts, seals, and other wear items
A policy excluding “normal wear and tear” can legitimately decline to cover a large proportion of repair requests on an older machine.
5. The Replacement Machine Is Not Your Choice
When a repair exceeds the cap and the machine is scrapped, the replacement is typically sourced by the warranty company from their own suppliers. It may not be the machine you would choose, and you are paying at least half its cost – with the warranty then cancelled, even if the policy has only recently been taken out.
Millions of people pay for extended warranty cover without realising the level of protection has degraded to the point where it provides little practical value. The premiums continue regardless of how limited the cover has become.
6. Spare Parts Pricing Works Against Extended Warranty Value
Budget washing machines often have disproportionately expensive spare parts relative to the machine’s purchase price. This is not a coincidence – some manufacturers price parts to recover margin on low initial sale prices. An appliance bought for £266 may have a control board that costs £138. With fitting, that single repair could approach £200, triggering a scrapping decision on a machine insured for full cover.
The practical result for extended warranty holders
- Cheap washing machines have the most expensive spare parts relative to their value
- Those machines hit the repair cap the fastest
- The extended warranty pays out the least on the machines that need it most
- The premium continues regardless
7. Better Alternatives to an Extended Warranty
More effective ways to spend the warranty premium
- Buy a higher quality machine – the annual extended warranty premium put toward a better-quality machine at the point of purchase reduces the likelihood of expensive repairs in the first place. See our guide on which washing machine to buy
- Choose a brand with a longer free guarantee – some brands include 2, 3, 5, or even 10-year guarantees at no additional cost. See our 5 tips for buying an appliance
- Remember your statutory rights – the Consumer Rights Act 2015 provides protection for up to six years for goods of unsatisfactory quality, regardless of what any guarantee or warranty says. See our guide on consumer rights and faulty appliances
- Self-insure – put the equivalent of the annual warranty premium into savings. This builds a repair fund with no exclusions, no repair caps, and no scrapping decisions made by someone else
8. Extended Warranties Do Suit Some People
An extended warranty is not valueless for everyone. Some people value the peace of mind of knowing a repair call-out will be arranged without negotiation, particularly if they are not confident handling the consumer rights process directly. Some policies do pay out promptly and fairly in the first five years.
The key is understanding what you are actually buying. Read the terms and conditions before committing, pay particular attention to the wear and tear exclusion and the repair cost caps, and calculate what cover you would realistically have if the machine develops a fault at age six or seven. That calculation changes the picture significantly for most policies.
Paying more for a washing machine does not automatically mean getting a better quality machine – it often just means more features on the same quality chassis. If the goal is reducing long-term repair costs, buying a higher quality brand at a similar price is more effective than buying an extended warranty on a budget machine. See our guide on is a more expensive washing machine a better one?
Buying a New Machine Instead?
Should You Take Out a Miele Extended Warranty?
The decision is more nuanced for Miele washing machines than for most brands because Miele machines already come with a substantial manufacturer’s warranty – and the machines themselves are designed and warranted for 20 years of use.
Arguments for the Miele extended warranty
- Miele’s extended warranty is run by Miele directly, not a third party. This means the insurer is the same company that manufactured the machine, with engineers and parts specifically trained and sourced for Miele appliances
- Miele parts and repairs are expensive when faults do occur – the quality of components means the cost of repair is higher than for budget brands
- The warranty can often be taken out later rather than at the point of purchase, allowing time to recover from the initial outlay
- The period from 5 to 10 years is when even reliable machines may start to see component wear, particularly on heavily used models
Arguments against the Miele extended warranty
- Miele machines are specifically built and warranted to last 20 years – the probability of needing a repair between years 5 and 10 is materially lower than for most brands
- Extended warranties typically exclude wear and tear. Between years 5 and 10 on a Miele, component failure is more likely to be classified as wear than on a budget machine where parts fail earlier – potentially limiting valid claims
- Other Miele models include a 10-year warranty as standard. Adding a 5-year extended warranty to a lower-specification model can bring the total cost close to the price of a better-specified model that already has 10-year cover included
- The money spent on the warranty premium could be set aside as a repair fund, available for any repair rather than subject to exclusions
Miele’s warranty terms and promotional offers change over time. The Miele extended warranty also includes a 10,000 operating hour limit – see our guide on Miele extended warranty small print for details of this clause and who it affects. Always read the full terms before purchasing any extended warranty.
Related Guides
Free 5-Year Parts Guarantees – What They Actually CoverWhy a 5-year parts guarantee is not the same as a 5-year repair guarantee – and what you actually get.
Consumer Rights and Faulty AppliancesYour rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 – which applies regardless of any guarantee or warranty.
Out of Guarantee – Still Covered?How to make a claim under consumer rights law even after the manufacturer’s guarantee has expired.
5 Tips for Buying a New ApplianceWhat to look for when buying – including which brands offer the best free guarantees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an extended warranty on a washing machine worth buying?
For most people, no. The cover is adequate in the first five years for minor faults, but degrades significantly after that. The expensive repairs – motor, PCB, drum bearings – are most likely to hit the repair cost cap and result in scrapping rather than fixing. The annual premium is often better invested toward a higher quality machine or saved as a self-insured repair fund.
What happens if the repair cost exceeds the warranty limit?
The machine is scrapped and the insurer offers a contribution toward a replacement sourced through their own suppliers. The contribution decreases with the machine’s age: 50% of replacement cost after year five, 40% after year six, and 30% after year seven. The warranty is then cancelled regardless of how long it has been active.
What faults are typically not covered by extended warranties?
Common exclusions include no-fault-found visits, damage from foreign objects left in pockets, misuse, and – critically – normal wear and tear. A policy with a wear and tear exclusion can legitimately decline belts, seals, and many other common components. Always check the specific exclusions before purchasing.
Are there alternatives to an extended warranty?
Yes. Buy a better quality machine at the outset – some brands offer two, three, five, or ten-year free guarantees. Alternatively, self-insure by saving the equivalent premium into a dedicated fund. Consumer rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 also provide protection for up to six years for goods of unsatisfactory quality, regardless of any warranty terms.
6 Comments
Grouped into 4 comment threads.
0 replies To add to the mix: The FF wasn't technically bought 'new'. It was bought from a local retailer that specialises in new & graded goods. (I can supply the web address if required.) As far as I can tell, and was led to believe at the time, the FF is 'as new': It came with a few cosmetic blemishes (a very small scratch) and a sticker on the front that still hasn't fully come off after 2 years of trying! I don't know if buying in such a way precludes me from actually taking out the extended warranty. From their terms & conditions: 1.2 apply only to purchases of new Miele appliances from authorised Miele specialist dealers... I registered the FF with Miele within a week of buying it and it wasn't flagged up as outwith their warranty. My washing machine came with Miele's 'free' 10 year warranty. They've been out to it once, to replace a circuit board. As for my vacuum cleaner, I actually bought the extended warranty for that as it worked out very cheap. At the time it included a years supply of bags, delivered free every year and a service. After deducting the cost of the bags, the warranty worked out at only a couple of quid. Just before the warranty expired I sent it away with a 'funny noise' and they serviced it, found no fault, replaced a broken hinge in the lid and returned it all shiny in it's own little Miele bag. So I think I got my moneys worth out of that policy. :D
1 reply I've just received a letter from Miele offering to extend the warranty on my Fridge/Freezer from 2 to 5 years at a cost of £99.90. They'll take one payment or 10 x £9.90 by direct debit. I usually dismiss such warranties as a waste of money, preferring to cover repair bills if they arise (which hasn't happened yet). However, I'm worried that the cost to call someone out, never mind cover the parts, will be considerably more than £100. The FF cost me £500. What I found ironic was the letter starts with 'Miele products are designed and tested to last for twenty years', then goes on to say how I should pay this extra money to cover it if it breaks down as it gets older! Being able to spread the cost over 10 months will make paying for the warranty easier to stomach, but still I'm in two minds. I have a Miele washing machine and vacuum cleaner and they have both performed admirably (touch wood).
I’ve just received a letter from Miele offering to extend the warranty on my Fridge/Freezer from 2 to 5 years at a cost of £99.90. They’ll take one payment or 10 x £9.90 by direct debit.
I usually dismiss such warranties as a waste of money, preferring to cover repair bills if they arise (which hasn’t happened yet). However, I’m worried that the cost to call someone out, never mind cover the parts, will be considerably more than £100. The FF cost me £500.
What I found ironic was the letter starts with ‘Miele products are designed and tested to last for twenty years’, then goes on to say how I should pay this extra money to cover it if it breaks down as it gets older!
Being able to spread the cost over 10 months will make paying for the warranty easier to stomach, but still I’m in two minds.
I have a Miele washing machine and vacuum cleaner and they have both performed admirably (touch wood).
Likely replying to Sponge
Sponge, if the odds were that you will need to use this insurance then it would not exist because they would lose money on it. It exists, and remains profitable because you are fairly unlikely to need to use it. It’s the basis of all insurance that the majority of people will not need it. However, my view is that insurances that insure against very serious (even if extremely unlikely) events such as death, car accidents etc are a very different matter and should be taken out. It’s insuring against relatively trivial events that I personally find pretty unnecessary. With all the things we have to worry about why should we insure against potentially having to pay out a couple of hundred pounds? It borders on paranoia to me and the insurance companies love it.
You could need it, as presumably a small minority end up doing, but what about your washing machine and vacuum cleaner? What about your cooker, hob, television and all your other appliances? They could all equally break down so are we supposed to insure all of them? If we need to insure one then why not the others?
If you insure all of them and continue to do so I’d bet you’ll spend a fortune during your life. If peace of mind is worth a lot of money to you and you can afford it then fair enough but I would also think if you can afford to insure all your appliances indefinitely you can obviously afford to just deal with any repairs if and when they pop up. If you are considering it as a potential money saving venture I think the strong odds are that you will spend considerably more insuring than saving money in the long run.
Even if the worst happens and within the next 4 years your fridge freezer does break down and you had to fork out a few hundred on a repair you will soon recoup that back in saved insurance payments over the following few years. You’d already have £100 toward the bill in the saved premium so if you had to find £200 you’d only really be £100 worse off.
The cover is only £99.90 now because the next 4 years are the years it’s least likely to break down. After 5 years the cost goes up a lot more. Most people take it out when it’s cheap, during the first 5 years when they don’t really need it and many problems would be covered under the Sale of Goods Act anyway but after 5 years, when the price starts going much higher they drop it because it’s too expensive even though they are more likely to need it (which is why the price goes up).
In my opinion, if you buy a Miele product and it needs expensive repairs within the first 5 years you’d have a strong case against the seller anyway under the Sale of Goods Act claiming that the product didn’t last a reasonable time or was not the expected quality – especially as it’s a premium quality brand. However, you would probably need to fight for that right and threaten the seller with small claims court action to get it.
1 reply White goods have a 5 year guarantee anyway irresepective of any warranty (UK law)
White goods have a 5 year guarantee anyway irresepective of any warranty (UK law)
Likely replying to David
Thanks David: The guarantee is different to our statutory rights. The guarantee is included in the price and lasts for 12 months or sometimes longer. Our statutory rights however are our rights for a product to be fit for purpose and to last a “reasonable” time. However, to enforce them you have to take a seller to court if the seller won’t comply.
“UK consumer law allows up to 6 years from purchase (5 in Scotland) to take legal action against a seller. Therefore it is possible to claim that your washing machine was inherently faulty if it suffers a major fault even at 5 or 6 years old. All circumstances must be taken into account and it may need a court to decide. The amount of use the washing machine has had is one factor, and the amount the washing machine cost may be another. It’s possible that a court could decide a washing machine costing a mere £200 has lasted a reasonable time if it expires after 5 or 6 years, whereas the same conclusion would be surprising about a washing machine costing £500.”
My washing machine is now out of guarantee, but I don’t think I should have to pay for a repair
0 replies Andy, Thanks very much for your reply. I'll not be taking out the extra warranty. I'm willing to take a chance on the build quaility of this particular machine. My wife is religiously mopping out the residue of water in the drum rubber fold after every wash so hopefully this will give this item a longer life. Ha! Once again, thanks for taking the time to reply and I hope this answers anybody else in the same dilemma. Robert
Andy,
Thanks very much for your reply. I’ll not be taking out the extra warranty. I’m willing to take a chance on the build quaility of this particular machine. My wife is religiously mopping out the residue of water in the drum rubber fold after every wash so hopefully this will give this item a longer life. Ha!
Once again, thanks for taking the time to reply and I hope this answers anybody else in the same dilemma.
Robert
To add to the mix:
The FF wasn’t technically bought ‘new’. It was bought from a local retailer that specialises in new & graded goods. (I can supply the web address if required.) As far as I can tell, and was led to believe at the time, the FF is ‘as new’: It came with a few cosmetic blemishes (a very small scratch) and a sticker on the front that still hasn’t fully come off after 2 years of trying!
I don’t know if buying in such a way precludes me from actually taking out the extended warranty. From their terms & conditions:
1.2 apply only to purchases of new Miele appliances from authorised Miele specialist dealers…
I registered the FF with Miele within a week of buying it and it wasn’t flagged up as outwith their warranty.
My washing machine came with Miele’s ‘free’ 10 year warranty. They’ve been out to it once, to replace a circuit board.
As for my vacuum cleaner, I actually bought the extended warranty for that as it worked out very cheap. At the time it included a years supply of bags, delivered free every year and a service. After deducting the cost of the bags, the warranty worked out at only a couple of quid. Just before the warranty expired I sent it away with a ‘funny noise’ and they serviced it, found no fault, replaced a broken hinge in the lid and returned it all shiny in it’s own little Miele bag. So I think I got my moneys worth out of that policy. :D