Best Extended Car Warranty, Reviewed By Experts (2024) (2024)

In our study of the best extended car warranties, five providers stood out: Endurance, autopom!, Carchex, CarShield and Olive. In the sections below, we’ll discuss the extended warranty coverage offerings from these providers in detail.

Comparing the Best Extended Car Warranty Providers

Based on these criteria, our researchers found that the following providers offer the best extended car warranties on the market. Each provider is graded on a 10-point scale:

Read more:Best Car Warranty Companies

The sections below will detail the best provider and plan for bumper-to-bumper warranties, stated component coverage and powertrain warranties.

Endurance Supreme: Best Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty

In our 2024 extended car warranty study, the Endurance Supreme plan received our highest score because of its comprehensive coverage, plan benefits and the fact that the company is a direct warranty provider. This plan provides bumper-to-bumper coverage for your vehicle, covering most parts, minus a short list of exclusions. Endurance vehicle warranty plans can last up to eight years and advertises unlimited mileage.

In addition to its strong coverage, Endurance also offers a free year of Endurance Elite with the Supreme plan. This package includes perks like key fob replacement, a tire allowance, collision discounts and up to $1,000 in total loss replacement. Other standard benefits that come with the plan include roadside assistance, towing services and rental car reimbursem*nt.

Read more: Endurance warranty reviews

CarShield Platinum: Best Stated-Component Extended Warranty

In our research, we found that the CarShield Platinum plan is one of the most comprehensive stated-component extended warranties in the industry. It covers 15 major systems of a vehicle, including air conditioning, power steering and cooling parts.

In addition, while there are some exclusions to the CarShield Platinum plan, the warranty covers most of a vehicle’s electrical system, including its power windows, GPS unit and infotainment system.

Read more: CarShield reviews

Omega Auto Care Powertrain: Best Powertrain Warranty

Omega Auto Care’s powertrain warranty coverage stands out for a couple of reasons. The fact that you can upgrade to either Powertrain Plus or Powertrain Enhanced is a bonus. Each option adds more covered components to the engine, transmission and drive axles.

The maintenance benefits Omega Auto Care offers also strengthen the provider’s powertrain coverage. Oil changes, brake pad and shoe replacements, battery replacements and free safety inspections are among the services that can be covered.

Read more: Omega Auto Care reviews

Read more: Best Extended Car Warranty Coverage Plans

Now that we’ve covered the providers with the best coverage option, our editorial team analyzed the best cheap extended car warranty companies, looking specifically at costs and plan offerings. For this category, we gave Olive, CarShield and Concord Auto Protect the highest cost ratings in our industry-wide study.

The table below provides a closer look into these companies, including the overall cost score given by our team, the cheapest plan and rate.

Overall, we gave Olive the highest cost rating because of its low monthly plan costs compared with other companies like Endurance and Carchex. Olive’s Complete Care plan, which is similar to a powertrain warranty, can be purchased for as little as $32 per month, according to quotes we received from the company. The company offers deductible options of $100, $250 and $500.

Comparably, Carshield also offers some of the cheapest car warranty rates we’ve seen in the industry. Despite its slightly higher rates, CarShield stands out for having monthly payment plans, which give drivers the flexibility to end their coverage when they want. The company also offers eight plans, ranging from powertrain to full bumper-to-bumper coverage, with costs for the Diamond plan averaging around $120 per month.

Rounding out the top three for the cheapest extended car warranty companies is Concord Auto Protect. The company offers three different warranty plans that range in price from $75 to $85 per month, according to our research. Each Concord Auto Protect comes with a $100 deductible.

Compare Extended Car Warranty Prices

To find the cheapest car warranty company that fits your needs, it’s best to compare free quotes from several providers. Here are a few extended warranty costs we received from Endurance, Olive, Carchex, CarShield and Omega Auto Care:

Read more: Cheapest Extended Car Warranties

While there are many manufacturers in the car industry, Audi, Ford and Honda stood out for offering the best extended manufacturer warranties. Each brand offers extensive extended warranty plans that can be added on once the factory warranty expires.

The table below lists more information about each of the top three extended warranty manufacturers, along with the number of plans each offers and the term length.

1. Audi: Best Overall Manufacturer Extended Warranty

Audi stands out from other vehicle manufacturers because it offers protection up to 10 years or 150,000 miles. The manufacturer offers three warranty plans — Platinum, Gold and Powertrain — that range from comprehensive bumper-to-bumper protection to basic powertrain coverage.

Most of the extended warranties offered by Audi come with a $100 deductible and benefits like roadside assistance, towing, rental car coverage and trip interruption protection.

Read more: Audi extended warranty

Ford offers four different coverage levels for drivers who want to purchase an extended warranty from the manufacturer. Plans can last up to 10 years or 175,000 miles, with most plans coming with a $100 deductible. The highest-tiered plan, PremiumCARE, protects over 1,000 vehicle components, while the most basic plan, PowertrainCARE, covers 29 components including the engine and transmission.

Read more: Ford extended warranty

3. Honda: Robust Vehicle Protection

Honda’s Honda Care extended warranty is a single plan that can offer protection up to eight years or 120,000 miles. This plan is different from the others on this list because it can only be purchased when you buy your new Honda vehicle. Despite this, Honda Care offers robust protection for your vehicle, covering the powertrain, electronic systems, air conditioning, heating, suspension, brake and steering systems.

The Honda Care service plan also includes benefits like roadside assistance, rental car reimbursem*nt and trip interruption coverage.

Read more: Honda extended warranty

Read more: Best Extended Manufacturer Warranties

An extended car warranty (also called a vehicle protection plan or vehicle service contract) foots the bill for damage caused by defective materials and workmanship after your factory warranty expires. In doing so, they protect you from having to pay out of pocket for certain vehicle repairs or part replacements.

How Do Extended Warranties Work?

An extended warranty is a contractual agreement that says a company will cover specific repairs for a monthly or total plan cost. The contract is important to understand. All plans come with exclusions, so a warranty won’t cover every single breakdown.

Most extended warranty providers are actually brokers that sell plans by other administrators. This is the most common industry practice, so it’s important to look into a company’s administrators when you shop around. The administrator is the one you call to file a claim.

Extended Car Warranty Coverage

Extended warranties cover major mechanical repairs and replacements for parts that break down over time as a result of normal use. Examples include your air conditioning blowing warm air, an alternator failing or the fuel system not providing the right mix of fuel and air. Some aftermarket contracts include prepaid maintenance or tire protection as well, but these are less common.

Types of Extended Auto Warranty Plans

The specific parts and repairs covered in your extended warranty depend on what coverage level you choose. The three main types of extended warranty coverage plans are bumper-to-bumper, stated-component and powertrain.

The components covered in each warranty type are explained below:

• Bumper-to-bumper warranty: These contracts are also referred to as exclusionary coverage plans. They protect almost all mechanical and electrical components between your bumpers, aside from a list of exclusions. These exclusions will vary from company to company but typically include brakes and tires. Bumper-to-bumper warranties are most similar to your original manufacturer’s warranty.
• Stated-Component Warranty: These plans may also be called named-component warranties and are considered inclusionary coverage. This means contracts will list each covered component, whereas an exclusionary contract only lists the parts that aren’t covered.
• Powertrain warranty: These warranties cover only your vehicle’s major systems, including the engine, transmission and drive axles. A powertrain warranty is the most basic type of stated-component contract.

What an Extended Car Warranty Doesn’t Cover

While specific coverage varies from one provider to the next, there are certain parts that almost every extended warranty plan leaves out. For the most part, extended warranties won’t cover any routine maintenance or wear and tear items. A comprehensive list of the most common exclusions are:

• Wear and tear items: Brake pads, rotors, windshield wiper blades and inserts, tires, hoses, spark plugs, filters, bulbs, belts and other items that need regular replacement are rarely covered, even by the best extended car warranty plans.
• Routine maintenance: Most warranties don’t cover services like oil changes, alignments and tire rotations that are part of your regular maintenance schedule.
• Collision damage: Damage that comes as a result of an auto accident falls under the responsibility of your car insurance company and is not typically covered by an extended auto warranty plan.
• Damage from neglect: Failing to follow your manufacturer’s suggested maintenance schedule could void your warranty coverage.
• Damage from misuse: If your car breaks down as a result of using it in reckless ways like street racing or towing over capacity, your coverage plan won’t pay for repairs.
• Damage from modifications: Most warranty plans won’t cover damages caused by unauthorized aftermarket parts or modifications you’ve made to the vehicle.
• Environmental damage: Corrosion and other damages caused by weather or other environmental factors are not typically covered by an extended car warranty.
• Incidental damage: Damages caused by theft, vandalism, fire or sources other than normal mechanical failure won’t usually be covered by an auto warranty provider. These repairs are instead typically covered under a comprehensive auto insurance policy.

What Repair Shops Take Extended Car Warranties?

If you experience a mechanical breakdown, like an air conditioning failure or transmission malfunction, you’ll need to take your vehicle to an in-network repair facility. Most warranty providers offer roadside assistance benefits. So if your vehicle is inoperable, it can be towed to the nearest authorized repair shop at no charge.

Reputable warranties let you go to any licensed mechanic for repairs. However, customers sometimes report that certain repair shops don’t want to work with certain warranty companies. This is why it’s important to research the reputations of different warranty companies.

Extended Car Warranty Claims Process

You’re required to follow your provider’s claims process in order to receive coverage. Before the repair shop can work on your vehicle, you’ll need to get approval from your contract administrator for a covered repair. In some cases, a vehicle inspection or teardown may be required.

After the repair is performed, you’ll pay a deductible to the facility. Based on your provider, either the rest of the repair bill will be paid directly to the shop or you’ll pay the balance and be sent a reimbursem*nt check.

Purchasing an extended warranty can be a smart choice for some car owners, but it isn’t the right decision for everyone. For this reason, it’s best to consider your situation when shopping for a contract.

Since cars with higher repair costs benefit most from extended warranties, your expected vehicle repair expenses are the most important factor in determining whether or not an extended car warranty is worth it. Here are some average annual repair costs for popular automakers, according to RepairPal:

After considering your expected repair costs, you may determine that an extended warranty is worth it because you cannot afford unexpected out-of-pocket repair costs. On the other hand, you may decide that purchasing an extended warranty isn’t worth it.

Should I Buy an Extended Car Warranty?

If you own a highly reliable vehicle with inexpensive repair costs or plan to sell your car before the factory warranty expires, a vehicle protection plan may not be worth the cost. This is also true for drivers with savings set aside for auto repairs.

An extended warranty is typically worth it for drivers who own unreliable vehicles that are expensive to maintain. Others who are likely to see the most benefits from extended warranty coverage include:

• Drivers who want peace of mind: Vehicle repairs can be costly to pay for out of pocket. Once your manufacturer’s warranty expires, you’re financially responsible for any mechanical or electrical breakdowns. Extended warranties foot the bill for covered repairs, easing anxiety over future issues.
• Drivers who want a predictable auto budget: By paying for a vehicle service contract up front, through a monthly payment plan or as part of your vehicle’s financing, you’re protected against paying for a surprise repair bill after an unexpected mechanical breakdown. Instead, just pay your monthly amount and your deductible in case of an accident.
• Drivers who plan on owning their vehicle for a long time: According to research from Statista, the average age of operable light vehicles in the U.S. was 12.5 years as of 2023. Since most manufacturers’ bumper-to-bumper warranties expire within 4 years/50,000 miles, you could be driving an unprotected vehicle for over half its life span.

Read more: Should You Get An Extended Warranty?

If you have decided an extended warranty is right for your situation, it’s important to do your research during the buying process. This starts with understanding the various types of providers that offer extended warranties.

Aftermarket Extended Warranty vs. Manufacturer Extended Warranty

In addition to buying an aftermarket extended warranty from a third-party car warranty provider, you can also purchase an extended warranty from the vehicle manufacturer. Here are a few things to consider when you’re deciding which type of extended warranty you want:

Third-Party vs. Manufacturer Warranties: Pros and Cons

There are pros and cons to any vehicle protection contract, and we’ll outline the main characteristics of third-party and manufacturer warranties below:

Vehicle Service Contracts: What To Look For

It’s also important to understand what is and isn’t covered in your contract. One of the top complaints from drivers who have purchased extended warranties is repairs not being covered.

To avoid disappointment down the road, read the fine print on your contract thoroughly before buying the plan. Look for specifications on:

• Labor rate coverage limits
• What defines mechanical failure
• Maximum payout per contract
• OEM parts coverage
• Waiting periods or inspections required before coverage
• Required maintenance documentation
• Emergency repair procedures
• Cancellations and contract transfers

Compare Extended Car Warranty Quotes

Once you understand the coverage that’s available and have determined the level of protection you need, the best way to get the most bang for your buck when purchasing an extended warranty is to compare costs and coverage options from multiple providers. To get the best deal possible, we recommend getting at least three car warranty quotes.

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