Find the Best Extended Car Warranty Companies

Whether or not an extended car warranty is worth it depends on a number of factors, including its cost, coverage and average customer satisfaction.

Not all vehicle service contracts are created equal, so it’s important to vet companies and look for any red flags before signing on the dotted line. To make it easier for you, we compared top providers to come up with a shortlist of our top extended car warranty providers.

How we chose

In order to determine our top picks for extended auto warranties, we started with a list of 33 providers and compared their customer ratings and review totals on ConsumerAffairs. For each company, we looked at the ratio of 5-star to 1-star reviews and only selected companies with a ratio above 2-1.

• Our pick for choosing your own mechanic: Toco Warranty
• Our pick for nationwide availability: CARCHEX
• Our pick for used cars: Endurance Auto Warranty
• Our pick for high-mileage vehicles: Protect My Car
• Our pick for flexible coverage: CarShield

From there, we narrowed our list down to only include companies that received at least 300 5-star reviews in the past year and had at least a 4-star rating overall. We then compared our top picks by looking at their plans, additional services and availability.

Toco Warranty offers pay-as-you-go coverage. It has three auto warranty plans for cars of various ages and mileages:

• Blue: Toco’s Blue plan is for cars made in or after 2000 that have between 100,000 and 175,000 miles.
• Yellow: Toco’s Yellow plan is for cars from 2011 or after with 60,000 to 100,000 miles.
• Orange: Toco’s Orange plan is for vehicles from 2016 or later with up to 60,000 miles.

Unlike most other warranty providers, Toco doesn’t have set term lengths or a required down payment. Instead, you’ll have set monthly payments that allow you to cancel service at any time. However, there may be a cancellation fee. Toco also lets you work with any licensed mechanic rather than having a set network.

Restrictions: Toco is not available in some states, including Alaska, Missouri and Washington. Toco does offer mechanical breakdown insurance in California, though. Repairs must be made at a licensed repair facility to qualify for coverage. If you cancel your service with Toco, you may have to pay a cancellation fee.

Key benefits:

• Three simple plans
• No long-term contracts
• No down payment required
• Vehicles can have up to 225,000 miles

Each of CARCHEX’s 16 plan options provides a base level of powertrain coverage, meaning they all cover the most essential components of your car’s engine, transmission and drive axle(s). Its Titanium plan provides the most comprehensive bumper-to-bumper coverage, though.

While CARCHEX offers 16 plans in total, its plans can be broken down into the following coverage categories:

• Bronze Coverage: Covers major systems in your vehicle, like the engine and transmission.
• Silver Coverage: A more inclusive version of basic powertrain coverage.
• Gold Coverage: Comprehensive coverage for all major systems.
• Platinum Coverage: Covers stated components as well as all major systems.
• Titanium Coverage: CARCHEX’s highest level of coverage, providing maximum breakdown protection.

In addition to mechanical coverage, CARCHEX plans may cover other costs that accompany a breakdown, like roadside assistance, towing or rental car reimbursement. Emergency fuel delivery and locksmith services are also available.

Restrictions: Repairs must be made at an ASE-certified repair facility. CARCHEX also sets a maximum 24-month payment schedule for its service contracts, which means you have to pay your policy off in full during that time period, regardless of the term length.

Key benefits of Bronze Coverage:

• Available in California and nationwide
• Roadside assistance
• Rental car reimbursement
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Endurance offers six extended auto warranty plans, including:

• Secure: Coverage for select components of your vehicle, such as lubricated parts of the engine, transmission and water pump.
• Secure: A more inclusive version of Secure coverage.
• Secure: Coverage for vehicles with high mileage.
• Superior: Comprehensive stated component coverage.
• Supreme: Maximum breakdown protection coverage with a short list of exclusions.
• Advantage: Extensive component coverage with coverage for maintenance.

Endurance provides coverage for older cars, which can sometimes be difficult to get from other providers. The Select Premier plan covers cars up to 20 years old and with up to 150,000 miles.

In addition to roadside assistance and rental car coverage, Endurance also offers trip interruption reimbursement, which can help cover lodging if you're stranded far from home.

Restrictions: Repairs must be made at an ASE-certified repair facility. Rental car reimbursement is available but limited to a maximum of $150. Endurance plans are transferable, but a transfer fee may apply.

Key benefits:

• 36-month payment period
• Coverage for older, high-mileage vehicles
• Roadside assistance
• Trip interruption reimbursement

With coverage for vehicles that have up to 300,000 miles, Protect My Car offers the highest mileage coverage out of our top picks. Protect My Car is an extended car warranty broker, which means it works on your behalf to find a provider that offers the coverage you need. Protect My Car administers its policies, so you won’t have to worry about anything getting lost in translation with a middleman.

Protect My Car is a good choice for older cars and high-mileage vehicles. Its available coverage plans are summed up below:

• Driveline: Offers engine, transmission and drive axle coverage.
• Select: Adds coverage for front and rear suspensions, as well as select brake components.
• Supreme: Comprehensive plan with an option for navigation system coverage.

The company offers three traditional plans and three plans designed specifically for older cars. Its most comprehensive plan, Supreme, covers engines, transmissions, drive axles, fuel systems, electrical systems, heating and cooling systems, brakes, steering components and suspensions. Roadside assistance is available in some plans, and all plans include a maintenance program that covers oil changes and tire rotations.

Restrictions: Repairs must be made at an ASE-certified repair facility. Protect My Car is not available in California, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma or Washington. To qualify for its three standard plans, your car must be under 13 years of age and have fewer than 150,000 miles, but specialty coverage is available for older vehicles.

Key benefits:

• Low down payments
• Coverage for ride-share vehicles
• High-mileage coverage available
• Covers older vehicles
• Maintenance program included

CarShield offers six contract options, ranging from typical powertrain plans to more comprehensive policies. Plans can include coverage for your air conditioning system, fuel system, starter, alternator, power windows, water pump, steering components, suspension, brakes, electrical system, radiator, audio and GPS. Rental car reimbursement and roadside assistance, including towing, are included in some plans. CarShield’s plan options include:

• Silver: Basic powertrain coverage.
• Gold: Coverage for major and minor components, like your engine, transmission, alternator and starter.
• Platinum: Coverage for vehicles with high mileage.
• Diamond: The most comprehensive coverage offered by CarShield.
• Aluminum: Coverage for electrical and computer components.
• Motorcycle/ATV: Coverage for motorcycles and other special vehicles.

CarShield also offers new car plans and coverage for motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, which is less common. The company writes contracts in both English and Spanish.

Restrictions: Repairs must be made at an ASE-certified repair facility.

Key benefits:

• Plans are transferable
• Motorcycle coverage is available
• Roadside assistance
• Rental car reimbursement

A car warranty is a contract between you and a company, often your dealership or manufacturer, to cover repairs within a specific period of time or mileage, typically three years or 60,000 miles. Eventually, the dealer's or manufacturer's car warranty expires. At this point, it’s often a good idea to purchase an extended car warranty that provides coverage for repairs and replacements beyond the initial manufacturer’s warranty.

Auto warranties typically do not cover theft, damage caused by natural disasters or vandalism. You can purchase a plan that only covers the major systems on your vehicle or a full-coverage plan, sometimes called an exclusionary contract. Car warranties are also known as vehicle service agreements or extended auto warranties.

If you have an engine or transmission failure, there’s a high likelihood a full-coverage extended warranty covers the needed repairs. The most comprehensive car warranties cover all parts of the car except for wear-and-tear items that require regular replacement, like windshield wipers or tires. Basic car warranties cover the most essential parts and systems that keep the car running.

How to maintain car warranty coverage

Vehicle service contract agreements require the vehicle owner to perform routine maintenance recommended by the auto manufacturer. Failing to do so voids the contract. Most vehicle service contracts require customers to take care of the following maintenance in order to qualify for coverage:

• Change the oil: A single delayed oil change is unlikely to void a warranty, but repeated misses could leave you facing a full bill on a major system repair or replacement.
• Rotate the tires: If a car has fewer than 36,000 miles on it, oil changes and tire rotations might be the only maintenance the vehicle needs.
• Change the filters: Bad filters can cause buildup that impacts your engine, transmission, intake and other essential systems. It is crucial to clean or change filters regularly.
• Conduct system checks and follow service schedules: Regular testing and visual inspections can catch issues before they become significant. These are typically part of your vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedule.
• Use recommended gasoline type: Every vehicle requires a specific octane rating to help its engine get its best performance. Using the wrong octane level or a lower octane rating than is specified can cause engine damage and void the warranty.

For more information on how to maintain your vehicle, look at the owner’s manual from the manufacturer and take note of the maintenance schedule and suggested repair services. Keep the receipts from these repairs as proof of maintenance.

Ask your provider if there are any rules against performing maintenance work yourself. Keep track of all maintenance records and receipts.

What is not covered in a car warranty?

Not all extended auto warranties cover the vehicle from bumper to bumper, so it’s essential to understand what’s covered by different car warranty companies when buying an extended auto warranty. Most warranties do not cover paint, your car’s interior or issues that result from normal wear and tear. Warranties may or may not cover cooling systems and electronic components. Be sure to read the fine print and choose a plan with the coverage you need. Also, be aware of the car warranty’s requirements — some warranties require auto repairs from mechanics within a specific network, for example. Last of all, an auto warranty doesn’t cover known defects undergoing a recall — the responsibility falls to car manufacturers to fix those issues.

Car warranty coverage restrictions

It’s standard across the industry that extended auto warranties purchased separately from the manufacturer's warranty cannot be used until 30 days after purchase and until the vehicle has been driven 1,000 miles. This policy prevents people from buying a vehicle service contract only after a problem develops.

Car warranty vs. insurance

Many people wonder if car insurance is enough to cover damage to their vehicles. Car insurance covers damage from accidents, theft and extreme weather, but it doesn’t cover damage due to manufacturer error, such as a faulty air conditioner or engine. For more information, read about the differences between car warranties and insurance.

There are several types of car warranty products available, ranging from comprehensive bumper-to-bumper warranties to basic drivetrain service contracts and warranties that cover highly specific defects. When buying an extended car warranty, also consider opting for mechanical breakdown insurance or an additional maintenance or wear-and-tear plan. These plans help keep your vehicle on the road even longer, even if it has more than a hundred thousand miles.

Extended car warranties tend to cost between $350 and $1,000 for each year of coverage. Basic powertrain warranties cost less, while comprehensive, bumper-to-bumper warranties cost more. Some plans have $0 deductibles, but these come with higher premiums. Deductibles can be $250 or more.

You can usually get a quote for extended auto warranty coverage by visiting a company’s website and filling out an inquiry form. The quote you receive from an extended auto warranty company should depend on a few factors, including your vehicle’s make, model, condition and location. See the table below for information on monthly payments, deposits and deductibles for comprehensive plans from Endurance, CARCHEX, Protect My Car and CarShield.

*Quotes for extended auto warranties are based on a 2015 four-door SUV with 40,000 miles.

Authorized Partner
Plan	Supreme package*	Titanium package*	Supreme package*	Diamond package*
Coverage up to	4 years/95,000 miles	6 years/125,000 miles	5 years/100,000 miles	4 years/200,000 miles
Deposit	$130	$0	$249	$295
Monthly payments	$100/24 months	$196/18 months	$156/30 months	$100/24 months
Deductible	$100	$100	$100	$100

*Quotes for extended auto warranties are based on a 2015 four-door SUV with 40,000 miles

		Supreme package*	4 years/95,000 miles	$130	$100/24 months	$100
		Titanium package*	6 years/125,000 miles	$0	$196/18 months	$100
		Supreme package*	5 years/100,000 miles	$249	$156/30 months	$100
		Diamond package*	4 years/200,000 miles	$295	$100/24 months	$100

Factors that impact the cost of your extended auto warranty

Some of the most important factors that affect the amount you pay for an extended car warranty include:

• Level of coverage: Plans with comprehensive coverage cost the most, while basic warranties covering only the vital systems are more affordable.
• One-time and recurring fees: Ask about any recurring charges in addition to the upfront fee and monthly premium. Also, keep in mind that you’ll pay interest on the policy cost if you roll your extended auto warranty into your auto loan.
• Additional charges or deductibles: Most car warranties have a deductible, though some companies offer zero-deductible policies. A typical deductible is $100 for a repair or replacement.
• Maximum payout amount: Most extended auto warranties have a maximum payout, often around the total cash value of the car. Once you're quoted a price for your policy, consider if the cost is reasonable in relation to the limits of the liability terms of your auto protection plan.

How much does a used car warranty cost?

A typical extended auto warranty price for a used car costs $350 to $700 per year. Not all used cars qualify for an extended car warranty, though; if your car is more than 10 years old or has more than 200,000 miles, you may not qualify for coverage at all. A used car extended warranty often pays for itself with the first major repair.