Insurance is a funny thing - complicated details aside, you can sort of think of it as paying money in case something happens, but you would rather those problems never appear. And the thing is, you could arguably insure so many things. Ask any insurance agent and they can probably cough out 10 different health insurance plans.

I suspect that's why many of us are initially hesitant when approached by an insurance agent. On one hand, they are asking us to cough up money for something with no tangible return. On the other hand, the sheer number of options means that it's hard to decide what you need and what you don't.

How about car warranties then? In a sense, they are also an insurance plan - paying for protection in case something does happen to your vehicle. Now, workshops are also offering various warranty packages. KATC introduced GearLife, a warranty package covering a particularly cumbersome part of the car when it comes to repairs - the automatic transmission.

Who is KATC Autotrans Pte Ltd and what services does it offer?

Established mainstays in the automotive gearbox, repair, restoration, rebuilding and servicing business sector , KATC Autotrans is an automatic transmission specialist workshop. Founded in 1993, it has consistently grown in reputation. With numerous years of experience and technical knowledge and expertise, KATC's mechanics and gearbox specialists are equipped to offer comprehensive repair and servicing for all types of automatic gearboxes. KATC is also a CaseTrust accredited company.

On 1^st June 2016, KATC Autotrans moved to a new and improved 7,000 sqft premise located at First East Centre in Kaki Bukit. With a focus on projecting a highly professional image mirroring that of a large-scale manufacturer, the new workshop has been distinctly organised into various zones, including various service areas, work benches and inventory storage zones. The new premises also mean that the workshop’s capacity has increased - it now has 12 hoists and an active supply of inventory parts to cater for all its daily operations.

Last year, KATC also launched GearLife. GearLife is an extended warranty package that provides comprehensive coverage for the car's automatic gearbox - this includes repair for any faulty parts, as well as coverage on wear and tear (which is seldom covered). GearLife is a one-year extended warranty that is pegged to the Lemon Law (six months Lemon Law plus six months extended warranty), which will cover any repair, restoration, rebuild or replacement of an automatic gearbox and its related parts.
What can I expect from GearLife?

GearLife is a comprehensive warranty package that offers full coverage for the automatic gearbox, including covering wear and tear. It covers repair, restoration, rebuild or replacement of the automatic transmission and related parts, ensuring drivers a peace of mind.

Since its launch, KATC has focused on b2b sales, supporting auto workshops and car dealers in providing the GearLife warranty package. The company is consistently working to forge partnerships with trusted workshops and dealers island-wide to expand the availability of the GearLife warranty.

The company also offers the GearLife package to end-users. To offer customers the maximum peace of mind, KATC has partnered with EZ-Link's TRUST programme. Managed and powered by EZ-Link, a regulated body endorsed by Case Trust, TRUST is a programme designed to instil greater consumer confidence in merchants offering prepaid packages.

When customers purchase the GearLife warranty, payment is made through the EZ-Link TRUST programme. TRUST acts as a guarantor of sorts, safeguarding the consumer's purchase. As custodian, TRUST offers confidence in the merchant's ability to fulfil its service, in this case the warranty package. Should the merchant cease operation, the customer is able to obtain a refund of the un-utilised amount in the prepaid package.

Interested parties are required to send their vehicle to KATC for a pre-acceptance check. With the necessary equipment to do a comprehensive assessment, the mechanics will check to ensure that the gearbox is in good working condition.

To find out more about GearLife, you can either email [email protected] or visit KATC Autotrans' website and Facebook page to find out more about its latest products and services. KATC Autotrans Pte Ltd is located at 10 Kaki Bukit Road 2 #01-08 First East Centre Singapore (417868). For more information, you can also call 6757 5200.