Purchasing an extended warranty for your new car from the dealership may seem like the easiest choice, but it’s not always the best choice. Shoppers often need to develop a certain level of trust in a salesperson before shelling out thousands of dollars for a new car. And a good salesperson may take advantage of this to sell you an extended warranty for your new car.

Overall, purchasing extended coverage from the dealer typically is more expensive than going online. Why? Dealerships purchase extended warranty contracts and then resell them to customers at inflated rates. After all, this is where salespeople and dealerships tend to make the greatest commission. Also, some dealership-driven extended warranties are not as comprehensive as aftermarket warranties that cover a wider range of mechanical break and wear-and-tear issues, such as overheating. And don’t let the salesperson try to convince you that the only time you can get an extended warranty is when you first purchase the car. You can buy an extended warranty at any time during the car’s life, though it may cost you more as your car gets older.

Finally, don’t let the dealer dupe you into thinking that you have to purchase the extended warranty in order to qualify for financing, or that purchasing the extended warranty will result in a lower APR on your loan. When this comes up, get it in writing. Odds are the salesperson will come down with a case of amnesia. If so, this is a good sign that it might be better to buy from someone else.