Warrantybynet and Cars.com Extend Strategic Partnership; Make Buying and Repairing New and Used Cars a Snap

    BRICK, N.J.--April 14, 2003--Buying a new or used car and protecting yourself against skyrocketing repair costs just got a whole lot simpler, thanks to the extension of a strategic partnership between Warrantybynet, a leading online provider of direct-to-the-consumer extended automobile warranties for over 50 different makes of new and pre-owned vehicles, and Cars.com, an online resource that connects car shoppers with information, vehicle listings and local sellers.
    Consumers who use Cars.com to research their new and used vehicle purchases can also get fast, free online quotes for extended warranties from Warrantybynet, one of the largest and most solidly backed extended warranty companies on the Internet. Buying an extended warranty from a warranty provider, rather than an auto dealer, eliminates the middleman mark-up and saves the shopper hundreds of dollars.
    "The last thing you want is to spend a lot of money on a car, and then face hefty repair bills. With today's sophisticated cars running on computers and sensors, you need a professional to diagnose and fix the car's ills, and professionals cost money. Labor rates range from $60-80 an hour, sometimes as high as $100, so it doesn't take much to rack up an astronomical bill," said David Gartenberg, president of Warrantybynet.
    "This continued partnership between Warrantybynet and Cars.com helps take the stress and uncertainty out of buying and owning a new or used vehicle, and it helps put the joy back in driving," Gartenberg added.
    Serving several hundred thousand customers, Warrantybynet is the Internet marketing arm of Automobile Protection Plan, Inc., an offline provider of extended warranty programs since 1994. The company has strategic partnerships with AutoTrader.com, Kelley Blue Book Co, Inc. and AutoCheck by Experian Automotive, among others.

    ABOUT WARRANTYBYNET:

    Warrantybynet, one of the largest and most financially stable extended warranty companies on the Internet serving several hundred thousand customers, currently offers direct-to-the-consumer coverage for 50 different makes or of new and pre-owned cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles and sports utility vehicles throughout the United States. Warrantybynet is the Internet marketing arm of Automobile Protection Plan, Inc., an offline provider of extended warranty programs since 1994. Offering both excellence and convenience, all Warrantybynet programs are fully reinsured by companies rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best and Co., and all claims are paid directly to the repair facility of the customer's choice.

    ABOUT CARS.COM:

    Cars.com is a comprehensive online resource for buying, selling and owning a vehicle. Cars.com pulls vehicle listings from thousands of dealer inventories and classified ads nationwide to offer consumers the best selection of new and used cars. Cars.com combines powerful used-car search and new-car configuration with pricing information, photo galleries, buying guides, side-by-side comparison tools, original editorial content, and reviews to help more than three million consumers research cars and connect with local sellers each month. Cars.com maintains a relationship with consumers throughout the vehicle ownership experience, providing expert maintenance advice from public radio's Click and Clack, recall information, service reminders, industry news and resale assistance.
    Launched in June 1998, cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, (http://classifiedventures.com), which is owned by six leading media companies. For more information, visit www.cars.com.