In light of shoppers spending more time online searching and comparing vehicles, Trustmark Warranty launched a new consumer website this week in an effort to cater to customer’s buying potential beyond the dealership F&I office.

The new website can allow consumers who own a vehicle with an expired manufacturer’s warranty to choose extended auto repair coverage for 12-, 24- or 36-month terms at rates that Trustmark Warranty claims to be as much as 60 percent less than the competition.

Further, the company indicated zero percent financing is available with a $100 down payment.

Trustmark Warranty chief executive officer Luis Nieves mentioned that personal finance experts cite that the average person spends between 30 percent of their monthly take home pay on a vehicle purchase and expenses; and others cite that you shouldn't spend more than half your yearly income on a car.

Either way, Nieves mentioned it’s generally the second largest expense after a mortgage or rent.

"We looked to many tech companies for how to design a modern, tech-friendly product, and Apple and their Apple Care warranty product and service served as an inspirational model for Trustmark Warranty,” Nieves said. “Universally, Apple has set a new bar for customer satisfaction: Their Apple Care customers receive preferential treatment. You can purchase Apple products and warranties all online. The company is incredibly well-funded, and you're not hassled by hard core sales people.

“While extended auto warranties, technically called vehicle service contracts, have been on the market for some time, there's been a lack of trust and transparency in the transaction,” he continued. “Until now, a consumer could only purchase a warranty after dealing with a sales person and incurring the additional cost of that overhead expense. Smart consumers now want to do their own research and make their own online purchase decisions, without the added pressure of a sales person.

“If you're warrantying your cell phone or your laptop, shouldn’t you also purchase a warranty for your car, which entails a much larger financial investment? We think so,” Nieves went on to say about the website now available at www.TrustmarkWarranty.com.