Best Extended Car Warranty 2022 [With Informative Charts]

The best extended car warranty is offered by Endurance, a provider with comprehensive coverage, competitive pricing, and solid customer service.

Affiliate Disclosure

An extended warranty can help you protect your finances from expensive unexpected car repairs. But determining which extended car warranty plans offer the best coverage, prices, and convenience during claims processing can be tough. Our team researched the industry’s top providers to find the best extended car warranty on the market. 

Table of Contents

Extended Car Warranty Reviews

We’ve reviewed the top extended car warranties, comparing coverage terms, pricing, reputation, & other features — finding the best deal for your budget & needs.

If you think you may need extra protection and are considering purchasing an extended car warranty, we hope our ratings and guide help you make an informed consumer decision so you can choose the best extended warranty that fits your need.

Featured Extended Warranty Companies

We reviewed every major warranty company for coverage, affordability and more. Here are our recommendations.

Endurance

Our first choice for comprehensive coverage.

CARCHEX

CARCHEX

Runner-Up, Best Provider

Industry leader with one of the highest mileage limits of any extended warranty provider.

Protect My Car

Protect My Car

Best Financing

Get extended warranty coverage or a maintenance plan for your vehicle.

Extended Car Warranty Ratings:

We performed an in-depth analysis of the best aftermarket extended car warranty providers and ranked them in the following categories:

  • Reputation
  • Coverage
  • Warranty cost
  • Transparency
  • Customer experience

The Top 5 Extended Car Warranties

Based on our findings, the providers below offer the best extended car warranties:

Best Extended Car Warranty Superlative Extended Car Warranty Ratings Coverage Warranty Cost
#1 Endurance Best Provider 9.6 / 10.0 10.0 9.0
#2 CARCHEX Best for High-Mileage Cars 9.4 / 10.0 9.5 9.0
#3 CarShield Most Affordable 9.0 / 10.0 9.5 10.0
#4 Protect My Car Best Long-Term Financing 8.7 / 10.0 9.0 8.0
#5 autopom! Runner-Up 8.5 / 10.0 8.0 8.0

The Best Extended Auto Warranty Plans

When choosing the best extended warranty plans, the most important consideration should be your needs. Once that’s determined, you can do a car warranty comparison to find the best plan to fit your budget. Below are our picks for the top 5 extended warranties:

#1 Endurance: Best Provider
Endurance  - Best Warranty Provider Badge

Endurance has the top rated aftermarket car warranty in the business. Endurance Warranty Services, LLC has 14 years of experience – fewer than many competitors – but it has already built a strong reputation for customer service. As a direct provider of extended car warranties, Endurance takes care of customers from beginning to end. It’s our experts’ top pick for the industry’s best extended car warranty.

  • Direct provider (no middleman)

  • Friendly customer service

  • Extra perks through Endurance Elite Benefits

  • High-mileage coverage

  • Generous roadside assistance, including towing and other emergency services

Endurance Warranty Plans

The most obvious distinction between Endurance and the competition is that the company is the direct administrator of its plans. Other companies market plans that are administered by a separate company. Endurance offers six transferable/cancelable plans — ranging from comprehensive coverage to powertrain-only protection — to fit your needs: 

  • Supreme: Exclusionary coverage
  • Superior: Highest stated-component coverage
  • Secure Plus: Shortest waiting period (30 days/1,000 miles)
  • Secure: Basic, affordable powertrain coverage
  • Select Premier: For high-mileage vehicles (up to 200,000+ miles)
  • EnduranceAdvantage™: Combines mechanical breakdown coverage with routine maintenance items, including oil changes, engine diagnostics and brake pad replacements

In addition to roadside assistance and trip interruption coverage, extended auto warranty contracts include one free year of Endurance Elite Benefits, which offers perks like key fob replacement, tire repair services and up to $1,000 toward replacing a totaled vehicle.

Endurance’s prices are competitive with other popular extended warranty companies. The best way to find out how much each Endurance plan will cost you is to reach out for a quote.

Read our head-to-head comparison of Endurance vs. CARCHEX.

#2 CARCHEX: Best for High-Mileage Cars
Carchex - Best Warranty Provider Badge

CARCHEX has been in the car warranty industry for more than 20 years. Their motto is “Customer experience above all,” and it boasts an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB.

  • Knowledgeable customer service representatives

  • Large network of authorized repair facilities

  • Many industry endorsements and partnerships

  • No-Haggle, Low-Price, Everyday Guarantee™

  • Limited coverage for luxury vehicles

  • Exclusionary coverage not as comprehensive as other warranties

  • Additional charges for hybrid/electric vehicles

CARCHEX Warranty Plans

CARCHEX markets service plans backed by insurance carriers with A and A+ ratings. Whether you’re looking for a basic powertrain warranty or a bumper-to-bumper warranty, CARCHEX offers five coverage levels: 

  • Titanium: Exclusionary coverage for most of your car’s systems and components
  • Platinum: High-level stated-component coverage, including your car’s electrical components
  • Gold: Covers all major systems and is best suited for high-mileage vehicles
  • Silver: Offers coverage only for your most essential systems
  • Bronze: Protects powertrain components like the engine, drive axle and transmission

Plans cover new vehicles and used vehicles over 150,000 miles, but do not expect your Porsche or exotic vehicle to have very many coverage options. However, we were impressed with coverage options for older vehicles, with plans covering up to 10 years or 250,000 miles.

Compared to the other providers on our list, CARCHEX uses its buying power to find competitive rates for customers. CARCHEX touts its No-Haggle, Low-Price, Everyday Guarantee™ and offers contracts from a network of administrators. Many vehicle warranty plans come with deductibles as low as $0.

If you’d like to learn more about this provider, read our in-depth CARCHEX review.

Industry leader with one of the highest mileage limits of any extended warranty provider.


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If you’d like to see how the top two providers in our study stack up against each other, check out our Endurance vs. CARCHEX review.

#3 CarShield: Most Affordable
Carshield - Most Affordable Warranty

CarShield is a company commonly featured in radio and television ads. Upon closer review, we found it to have low prices and some of the best extended auto warranty plans in the industry. However, it is not a direct provider of warranty coverage. CarShield plans are administered by established companies such as American Auto Shield.

To learn more about what these warranties cover and what their costs are, check out our in-depth CarShield review.

  • High-tech and specialty vehicle coverage plans

  • Allows repairs at your dealer or any mechanic certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence

  • Month-to-month contracts

CarShield Warranty Plans

CarShield offers more coverage tiers than competitors. Here are its warranty options:

  • New Car Diamond: Exclusionary, bumper-to-bumper coverage
  • Platinum: Covers the engine, transmission, air conditioning, electrical system and more
  • Gold: Mid-level coverage for some of your vehicle’s essential components and some accessory parts
  • Silver: No-frills powertrain coverage
  • Aluminum: Covers many of your car’s electrical components, such as your alternator, and computer-related parts
  • Motorcycle and ATV: Covers motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles

CarShield markets itself as an affordable option for extended car warranties, and it offers plans with low or no deductibles.

Our research shows that CarShield has some of the lowest warranty rates available.


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#4 Protect My Car: Best Long-Term Financing
Protect My Car - Best Long-term Warranty Financing

Protect My Car has offered vehicle service contracts for 15 years. Rounding out our top four best extended car warranty providers, here are some pros and cons about Protect My Car to help you make a more informed decision about your extended warranty.

  • Covers cars up to 10 years old

  • Extensive coverage with all plans

  • High customer satisfaction rating

  • Some plans have no deductible

  • Military and student discounts

  • Long payment plan terms

CarShield Warranty Plans

With Protect My Car, you have the choice between an extended auto warranty and an Ambassador maintenance plan. If you opt for an extended warranty, there are three levels of coverage, which isn’t as many as our other top providers.

  • Supreme: This plan is Protect My Car’s highest level of coverage. However, it’s stated coverage, so it will have more exclusions than a bumper-to-bumper warranty. Most systems are covered though, such as turbochargers and high-tech equipment (optional).
  • Select: The Select plan covers everything the Supreme plan covers except for turbochargers and high-tech equipment. It’s also a great option for cars with over 50,000 miles.
  • Driveline: This “powertrain plus” plan covers the basic essentials, plus a few major systems like the air conditioning and cooling system. It’s available for cars that have more than 80,000 miles and are between four and 10 years old.

The Protect My Car Ambassador maintenance plans are a hybrid between prepaid maintenance and an extended warranty. Repairs are covered, but only up to a certain percentage. You also get a few free regular maintenance services, such as three oil changes and two tire rotations per year. These plans also come with rental car coverage.

You have three options with Protect My Car Ambassador plans:

  • Ambassador Elite
  • Ambassador Pro
  • Ambassador Platinum

Almost any car can be covered by an Ambassador plan. That makes it a good option for older cars.

Protect My Car has payment terms from 36 to 48 months, so plans can be affordable on a monthly basis. The deductible for visits to the repair shop is $100 or $200 for its extended warranties and either 25% or 50% of the repair cost for maintenance plans. If you’re not sure about your decision to purchase an extended car warranty, it’s good to know that Protect My Car offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

We took a closer look at the provider in our Protect My Car review, where you can learn more detailed information about coverage, pricing and reviews.

Get extended warranty coverage or a maintenance plan for your vehicle.


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#5 autopom!
Autopom! - Best Warranty Claims Process

Even though autopom! is only 10 years old, it has some of the highest customer service ratings on our list. If you are a California resident, then autopom! is one of the best extended car warranty providers catering to California vehicle service contract regulations.

  • Excellent claims servicing

  • Quick customer service

  • Plans specifically for California customers

  • Coverage up to 150,000 miles

To get a quote from autopom!, call 888-691-2354 or fill out this simple form.

Extended Car Warranties Comparison

The chart below contains a side-by-side comparison of our top picks for the best extended car warranty. While these three providers are all great choices, a plan that works for one driver might not work for another. Prices are also based on your car and its current mileage and condition. For the most accurate car warranties comparison, get multiple quotes and compare the plans that are available to you.

CarShield Endurance CARCHEX
Coverage Options 6 6 5
Maximum Mileage 300,000 200,000+ 250,000
Perks Roadside assistance, towing and rental car coverage Roadside assistance, concierge, shopping discounts, tire repair and more Roadside assistance, towing and rental car coverage
Deductibles $0+ $100–$200 $0–$200
Repairs Any ASE-certified mechanic Any ASE-certified mechanic Any ASE-certified mechanic
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee Yes Yes Yes

What is an Extended Car Warranty?

An extended car warranty covers repair costs and replacements for certain vehicle components after a mechanical breakdown. Also called a vehicle service contract, this plan takes effect after your factory warranty has expired. For many, these plans can help keep auto repair costs manageable and help drivers maintain peace of mind on the road.

The last time you purchased a new car from a dealership, you may have been offered an extended auto warranty as a way of extending the coverage you got with your manufacturer’s warranty. You can purchase coverage from your dealer or from an aftermarket provider. With most of these plans, you can either pay for the entire policy up front or break it up into monthly payments.

Third-party extended warranty providers offer car owners many benefits, including longer coverage terms, lower prices, and the flexibility to take their cars to any authorized auto repair shop. However, it’s important to know all of the fine print and details of your vehicle protection plan, including a list of covered repairs. Otherwise, you could end up with an unexpected repair bill for something your extended car warranty plan doesn’t cover.

What To Look For To Find The Best Extended Car Warranty

When considering an extended warranty, your needs are what matter most. Below are the factors to take into consideration when looking for the best extended car warranty plan:

  • What is covered? What is included and excluded in your coverage is the most important characteristic of a plan itself. Ranging from warranties that are extensive and similar to your factory warranty all the way to plans that cover only the major drivetrain systems, providers usually offer multiple tiers of coverage at different price ranges.
  • When does the plan start and end? The length (and end date) of a policy is either determined by miles, years, or both (which ever comes first). When a plan begins is determined by specified the waiting period , as most plans don’t start until at least 30 days after purchase.
  • What is the cost and payment policy? What the plan costs overall in relation to coverage determines how much value you are getting. Another important factor in price is the payment policy, including the overall payment period, whether or not you can pay in installments, deductible types and cost, and any additional fees. Also, many providers require you to pay out of pocket and then reimburse you later, which is generally less convenient.
  • What restrictions/exclusions are stated in the plan? Ask about any mileage or year restrictions and any conditions that might void your warranty and make sure to read the fine print to know what parts/services might be excluded. A service contract can be voided due to things like misuse/abuse, a total loss, odometer tampering, unauthorized modifications, improper maintenance, or environmental damage.
  • Can you customize your plan to fit your needs? In addition to having multiple coverage options available, the best extended warranties can be customized, allowing you to add/remove coverage items to fit your needs. Pay attention to what added perks are included, such as trip interruption, roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, towing and recovery, or even rewards programs.
  • What is the cancellation and transfer policies? It’s important to know if, when, and how difficult it is to cancel your plan, whether or not there is a money-back guarantee, and how long the refund window is.If there’s a chance you’ll sell your vehicle before your warranty expires, make sure you know the transfer policy. Warranty coverage can increase the selling price of a vehicle and/or be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations.
  • How easy is the claims process? Some providers make you pay for repair expenses out of pocket and reimburse you later, which is a hassle. The best extended warranty plans pay for repairs directly and have an easy claims process with great customer service.
  • What mechanic can you use? If you strongly prefer that a particular mechanic works on your vehicle or like to do some minor repairs yourself, this will be an important question for to ask. The best extended warranty plans cover repairs made by mechanics ranging from a limited network of providers they work with to any ASE-certified mechanic in the country, allowing you to use your preferred mechanic that works out of a gas station, as long as he/she is ASE certified.

Featured Extended Warranty Companies

We reviewed every major warranty company for coverage, affordability and more. Here are our recommendations.

Endurance

Our first choice for comprehensive coverage.

CARCHEX

CARCHEX

Runner-Up, Best Provider

Industry leader with one of the highest mileage limits of any extended warranty provider.

Protect My Car

Protect My Car

Best Financing

Get extended warranty coverage or a maintenance plan for your vehicle.

Extended Car Warranty Cost

To determine whether purchasing an extended warranty is worth it, compare the vehicle maintenance costs with the extended warranty prices in this section. This comparison, along with your financial preparedness and tolerance for the unanticipated, should determine whether it is worth it to purchase an extended warranty.

How Much Should an Extended Car Warranty Cost?

Based on our research, the average extended car warranty cost is between $300 and $700 per year of coverage, but prices can vary widely based on your vehicle and the plan you choose.

The point of an extended warranty is to protect you from having to pay high repair bills out of pocket. In some cases, you will end up paying more for an extended warranty than you would pay for repairs as they arise. Even still, warranties can be worth it for the peace of mind they bring, but you don’t want to pay much more for coverage than what repairs would cost.

To determine a fair cost for an extended car warranty, researching your vehicle is a smart first step. Try to plan out how much you expect to pay for repairs over the course of your warranty’s lifetime. This can be done by using cost estimate sites such as RepairPal. For more on service contract price info, check out our guide on extended car warranty cost.

Having a wide service network is an important factor when choosing an extended warranty if you take many long trips.

What Factors Affect Extended Car Warranty Cost?

The factors that affect extended car warranty cost include:

  • Vehicle make and model
  • Vehicle age and mileage
  • Level of coverage
  • Length of coverage
  • Deductible
  • Location

The cheapest extended car warranties are offered for low-mileage, highly reliable cars. The age of your vehicle is likely to have the biggest impact on cost. You can get the best price for an extended warranty by purchasing coverage as soon as your bumper-to-bumper factory warranty expires.

Prices will also vary depending on your coverage level and contract length. Exclusionary warranties with a lot of additional benefits will cost more than basic, bare-bones coverage plans. Some providers also offer add-ons such as coverage for routine maintenance services. Finally, the lower the deductible you choose, the higher your contract cost will be.

Most providers offer financing options to help you pay off your extended car warranty cost over a number of months. In many cases, contracts can be financed with zero interest.

Is an Extended Warranty Worth It?

Deciding to buy an extended auto warranty is ultimately left to the vehicle owner. Typically, car owners pay more for an extended warranty than they receive in coverage. Also, over half of customers never using their warranty plans during the coverage period. This may leave you wondering if an extended warranty worth it.

To help gauge the value of extra protection, our review team conducted a survey of 1,000 consumers who had either purchased an extended auto warranty or had considered buying a service contract.

Here are some of the numbers we saw:

  • Around 41% of respondents said they were satisfied with their purchase because it covered critical repairs.
  • Approximately 24% said they were satisfied with their warranty despite never filing a warranty claim.
  • Factors like cost, covered components and warranty terms were listed as the most important factors for consumers.

Still, an extended warranty may not always be the smartest investment. It’s possible that your extended car warranty cost could exceed repair costs, and there’s no guarantee your service claim will be approved. If you do choose a third-party provider for an extended auto warranty, you could also lose access to genuine replacement parts from the manufacturer.

Vehicle Maintenance Costs

To decide if extended car warranties are worth it consider how much common repairs costs and if you are in a good position to pay those costs out of pocket.

It’s no secret that the cost of auto repairs really adds up. In fact, the average annual cost of owning a car is $8,469, with the average American spending nearly $2,000 in vehicle maintenance/repair costs every 5 years. After selecting a few common repairs and costs, below are how much you would save in out-of-pocket costs:

Car Repair Average Repair Cost Cost with Extended Warranty
Alternator replacement $500–$1,000 $0
Fuel injector replacement $1,009–$1,416 $0
Steering column replacement $450–$1,100 $0
Starter replacement $389–$562 $0
Radiator replacement $300–$1,200 $0

Extended Car Warranty vs. Mechanical Breakdown Insurance (MBI)

If you’re shopping for an extended car warranty, you may have also come across what is known as MBI. These are similar products. Both offer extended auto protection against unexpected repairs after your car’s factory warranty expires.

The major difference is that MBI is an add-on for your auto policy sold by your insurance company. Extended car warranties, on the other hand, are bought independently of your insurer or car manufacturer.

Pros and Cons Of Extended Car Warranties

Choosing to buy an extended warranty is like most purchase decisions; there are benefits and downsides. Below are the pros and cons of extended warranties:

Benefits Of Extended Car Warranties

Extended warranty PROS include:

  • Peace of Mind: Unexpected vehicle expenses come at the worst moments. If worry about the unexpected, knowing your coverage will prevent unanticipated vehicle expenses from emptying your wallet can reduce stress.
  • Predictability:  Not having to deal with unexpected auto expenses allows you to more accurately predict your monthly costs in general, making budgeting a simpler task.
  • Convenience: Having an extended auto warranty removes the added inconvenience of dealing with the unexpected, making car repairs less of a hassle.
  • Reliability: Extended warranties allow drivers extend standard warranty coverage, helping the vehicle run longer with less hassle due to better maintenance.
  • Your Financial Situation: Around 30% of Americans don’t have the cash on hand to pay the average repair bill of around $500. If you are near this category, an extended warranty could allow you to spread costs out over time instead of facing a large payment (and potential financial emergency).
  • Potential Savings: The cost of an extended warranty is cheaper than many common car repairs, especially if your vehicle is unreliable.

Why You Shouldn’t Purchase An Extended Car Warranty

Extended warranty CONS include:

  • Exclusions: If the plan that fits your price range contains exclusions on several parts likely to wear out on your vehicle, it may not be worth it.
  • Cost: Financing car repairs out of pocket may cost you less than the warranty. Many personal finance experts recommend a you set aside an emergency fund instead.
  • You Might Not Use It: If you have a plan that doesn’t cover the costs of regular vehicle maintenance, you may never use your extended car warranty, especially if your vehicle is reliable.
  • Limited Approved Repair Providers: For some providers, the list of approved repair shops may be sparse.
  • Your Vehicle Is Already Under Warranty: If your vehicle is already under warranty, you may not need coverage. You can find out by a vin lookup.

When To Buy An Extended Car Warranty

Your needs are the most important factor when considering an extended car warranty. Below are things to take into account if you are still unsure. You should by an extended warranty if:

  • You’ll keep your vehicle awhile: Extended warranties can save money if you put lots of miles on your vehicle. There are many excellent extended warranty companies for used cars that specialize in this type of coverage.
  • You plan to use your coverage: It’s wasteful to purchase a warranty if you don’t use it.
  • Good timing: It is best to buy a warranty when maintenance costs exceed the cost of the warranty, meaning it may be best hold off for now and purchase a plan when you’ll need it.
  • You prioritize convenience/predictability: Though the cost of a warranty may be more than vehicle maintenance, removing inconvenience of dealing with unexpected vehicle repair costs is worth it for some, especially those who find it hard to save money.
  • You will read the fine print: Understanding what is in your contract is critical. Only sign up for an extended car warranty if you are willing to read the service contract. Often, people are unhappy with their plans because they didn’t read the service contract, leading to out-of-pocket costs they assumed would be covered.

Featured Extended Warranty Companies

We reviewed every major warranty company for coverage, affordability and more. Here are our recommendations.

Endurance

Our first choice for comprehensive coverage.

CARCHEX

CARCHEX

Runner-Up, Best Provider

Industry leader with one of the highest mileage limits of any extended warranty provider.

Protect My Car

Protect My Car

Best Financing

Get extended warranty coverage or a maintenance plan for your vehicle.

Extended Car Warranty Coverage

All extended car warranties cover a vehicle’s repair expenses, including the labor for repairs, replacement parts, and other costs directly related to vehicle repairs. What parts, repairs, and additional services are covered vary depending on your specific plan.

Understanding How Extended Auto Warranties Work

While providers market their products as “extended warranties”, the term is misleading. Extended warranties are actually “service contracts” that provide coverage for specified vehicle parts and labor for an agreed-upon price.

Although it’s a contract, an extended warranty works in a similar way to car insurance policies. In exchange for an upfront payment, your vehicle is covered and you are protected from unexpected costs during the specified coverage period.

Inclusionary Vs. Exclusionary Coverage

All extended warranties fall into two categories: exclusionary and exclusionary. While inclusionary warranties only cover explicitly stated components, exclusionary items are more comprehensive because they cover all components except parts that are excluded in the contract. Besides true bumper-to-bumper plans, most other warranties are inclusionary contracts.

Extended Auto Warranty Coverage Periods

New car warranty periods typically last between three and five years or 36,000 and 60,000 miles, varying by vehicle make. Even with a 5 year/60k mile warranty, new car warranty periods are still below the average of 150k miles most people put on a vehicle during ownership. In order to prevent people from purchasing a plan when vehicle issues arise, most aftermarket extended warranties do not begin until 30 days or 1,000 miles after purchase.

What Extended Auto Warranties Don’t Cover

While some extended warranties cover items related to regular maintenance, wear and tear, and electrical/cooling/tech, below are items typically not covered:

  • Regular maintenancenew tires, tire rotations, filters, oil changes.
  • Wear-and-tear- windshield wipers, brake pads.
  • Damages/liability from accidents– typically covered by car insurance.
  • Factory defects: vehicle brand-related issues concerning factory recalls.
  • Corrosion– damage related to rust and perforation.
  • Modifications– alterations made to the vehicles to improve performance/looks.
  • Interior- issues related to carpeting, interior panels, and upholstery.
  • Pre-existing conditionsdamage occurring before warranty coverage
  • Weather- damage from hail, flooding etc.
  • Cosmetic- body work, paint, wheel scratches.
  • Auto glass parts– lightbulbs, headlights, windshields.
  • Misuse- damage related to the vehicle being abused (racing, off-roading).

Getting The Most Out Of your Extended Car Warranty

To get the most out of your extended car warranty, you’ll need to know how to shop for an extended warranty to get the best value for the money, recognize unreliable providers, and use your warranty effectively when you need coverage.

How To Shop For An Aftermarket Car Warranty

Below are our recommendations for how shop for an extended warranty in order to the get most value for your money.

How To Get The Best Price On An Extended Car Warranty

When shopping for an extended car warranty, you should get quotes from multiple warranty companies. We recommend getting quotes from at least three different car warranty providers.

Also, don’t be afraid to negotiate for the best price, as some companies may provide price matching or other benefits that aren’t openly available. If all else fails, you may want to reach out to a contract broker, who work with several extended warranty companies to help you get the best deal.

What to Expect When You Get an Extended Auto Warranty Quote

When you reach out to an extended car warranty company by phone or online, you’ll speak to a member of that provider’s team. Normally, they will ask you questions about your location and car (make, model, year, mileage, etc.). These factors determine what plans you’re eligible for, as well as your price estimate. The company rep should also be able to answer any questions you have about the coverage, claims process or auto warranties in general.

It may be a red flag if you’re not impressed with the customer service on this initial phone call. This is one reason we recommend calling around and getting several quotes. You’ll also be able to compare prices and negotiate for the best extended car warranty price.

How To Get The Best Value On An Extended Car Warranty

Price is not the only factor to look at when considering the best extended car warranty. Finding the best extended warranty requires you to read reviews, learn about the claims process, understand the exclusions, and thinking about your own needs.

In order to get the best value from your plan, make sure to you should also read the fine print of service contracts prior to signing to ensure the coverage you will be getting is as good as the company says it is.

Make sure you are sure your contract explicitly lists the exclusions or covered repairs/parts. make sure you know details such as when the warranty starts and ends, what voids the warranty, where you can get your car serviced, and is the price of the warranty fixed.

One of the most common reasons customers are unhappy with extended warranties is they wrongly assumed they were covered, only to learn that they have to pay out of pocket for a repair that is excluded in their plan, a misunderstanding which happened because they failed to read the fine print and didn’t fully understand their coverage.

Our research shows that CarShield has some of the lowest warranty rates available.


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Watch Out For Extended Auto Warranty Scams

In addition to shady business practices, beware of some companies posing as extended warranty providers who are taking part in scams. According to the FCC, there are many ongoing scams where entities posing as a representative from an extended warranty company use automated robocalls to trick people into believing their car warranty has or is near expiring.

Often using information about your vehicle acquired through public databases, these calls are often a phish attack designed to gather one’s personal information to exploit via identify theft. If you receive one of these calls, don’t give away personal information and notify the FCC.

Using Your Extended Auto Warranty Coverage

In order to get the most out of your extended warranty, you need to know how to use your coverage when you need it. If you have a warranty and need service, the steps below will help with this process:

  1. The first thing you’ll do is gather your warranty documentation and get an estimate for the repair from an approved auto shop.
  2. Next, you’ll submit a claim to the warranty company. They will confirm whether the repair you need is covered and whether they’ll pay for the repair directly or if you’ll get reimbursed, depending on your contract.
  3. Then, you can take your car in for the repair with the peace of mind that it’s covered. Your provider may even cover rental car expenses, if necessary.
  4. When taking your car to get repaired, make sure to take your records with you to the service provider for reference, including the paperwork you have for the car and your service contract.
  5. In addition to your service contract, make sure to present the original, dated copies of service done on your vehicle, including routine maintenance.
  6. Be sure to save records of any emails, records, receipts, and other evidence of repairs done outside of regular vehicle maintenance. These will be helpful if you need to present them to the provider or for legal action.

Best Extended Car Warranty Reviews 

When shopping for an extended warranty on your used car, make sure to buy from a reputable extended car warranty company with excellent customer service. Reading real aftermarket auto warranty reviews from car owners who purchased an extended warranty from companies you are considering is one of the best ways to identify which extended warranty plans come with the best customer support. The best extended warranty reviews come from third-party agencies like the Better Business Bureau and platforms like Trustpilot. Below are examples of positive and negative reviews:

Positive Extended Car Warranty Customer Reviews

Below are examples of positive extended warranty reviews of our top picks from car owners on Trustpilot:

Feeling Very Protected. I had a wonderful experience and was given plenty of information that I was unaware of and I appreciated it all. job well done I felt taking care of.

David Gladden via Trustpilot
Endurance Review

Great Service. My experience with your company was a very pleasant one. The representative assisted me was Ralph. Very polite and informative. He was very thorough and made sure I understood everything he explained to me. He was very professional. I would highly recommend this company. Thank you.

Valerie Miller via Trustpilot
CARCHEX Review

At first I thought it was like all other companies that make these kind of offers, and I say that out of experience. But as I talked and asked many questions which were answered to my liking and going over the prices . I was reassured after talking to several reps , it was then that I decided to try car sheild, and also ice T is as real real can get.

Fredie Fowler via Trustpilot
CarShield Review

The representative was very helpful and answered all the questions, the work was done professionally! Thank you.

Alex via Trustpilot
Protect My Car Review

Extended Warranty Customer Complaints

Below are examples of negative customer reviews::

When I signed up for the extended warranty plan I asked specifically about 3 parts on my car and was told that it was covered if they were to go bad and today I go to get my car fixed and was told neither part is covered under my warranty plan

BBB Customer
Endurance Review

I paid carchex 135.38 September 22, 20p20. i cancelled this services in a few days which was way within 30 days and never received a refund! refund!

BBB Customer
CARCHEX Review

The AC went out in my Mother’s van. She was going to have it fixed since she’s had CarShield for 11 months. The Dealer told her the parts are $1100 for 2 pipes and CarShield won’t cover it. She should get her 11 months worth of payments back if they are not going to cover it. What is she paying for if they can’t pay for 2 pipes what are they going to do if something more serious happens and it can’t be driven?

BBB Customer
CarShield Review

I signed up for protect my car. And my engine failed. I contacted them to file claim as they say do and they made up excuses of why they couldn’t repair my engine. All the way to me having rims on my car. Basically saying they just didn’t want to pay the claim i was entitled to

BBB Customer
Protect My Car Review

Best Extended Car Warranty: Conclusion

Our study found that Endurance is the best extended car warranty provider, based on its combination of prices, coverage, and reviews. However, CARCHEX, CarShield, and autopom! weren’t far behind and one may be the best option for you and your vehicle. Shopping around and getting quotes from multiple providers will allow you to see who offers the best coverage at the lowest cost.

Featured Extended Warranty Companies

We reviewed every major warranty company for coverage, affordability and more. Here are our recommendations.

Endurance

Our first choice for comprehensive coverage.

CARCHEX

CARCHEX

Runner-Up, Best Provider

Industry leader with one of the highest mileage limits of any extended warranty provider.

Protect My Car

Protect My Car

Best Financing

Get extended warranty coverage or a maintenance plan for your vehicle.

The Best Extended Car Warranty: FAQ

Who has the best automotive extended warranty?

In our research into the best extended car warranty plans, our experts picked Endurance as the best overall provider for its coverage options, claims experience, and cost.  Drivers with older vehicles may want to consider CARCHEX since it offers automotive coverage up to 250,000 miles.

Can you buy an extended warranty after purchase?

You can purchase an extended warranty from an independent provider at almost any point in the vehicle’s life, although different plans may have age or mileage limits. Drivers can also usually buy coverage from the manufacturer while the factory warranty is still active.

How much does an extended car warranty cost?

Generally, the average cost of an extended car warranty is $1,800 for a quality plan with good customer service. The average annual cost of a plan from one of the best extended warranty companies ranges from $700 to $1500.

Is an aftermarket car warranty worth It?

To determine whether purchasing an extended warranty is worth it, compare the vehicle maintenance costs with the extended warranty prices in this section. This comparison, along with your financial preparedness and tolerance for the unanticipated, should determine whether it is worth it to purchase an extended warranty.

How do I cancel an extended warranty on a car?

Many warranty providers offer a 30-day money-back guarantee when you purchase coverage. After that period, read the fine print to see if the company offers a prorated refund or if there are any administrative fees for ending coverage early.

Methodology

The Detroit Bureau collects data from every major car warranty provider to formulate rankings of the best warranty companies. Our in-depth rating system takes into account coverage, pricing, transparency, customer satisfaction and ratings from industry experts. Each provider is given a weighted score in five categories, as well as an overall score out of 10.0.

We recommend auto warranty companies based on these rankings, but we also encourage you to perform your own research and compare quotes to find the best coverage.