Best Extended Car Warranty Companies of 2023

Endurance offers six auto warranty plans, and most are directly administered by the company. It’s a good option for used cars with higher mileage, which can sometimes be challenging to find coverage for from other warranty providers.

All Endurance warranty plans come with a year of Elite Benefits, including roadside assistance, key fob replacement, coverage for repair or replacement of up to two tires and a collision discount. Check out the Select Premier plan for high-mileage vehicles, the Superior plan for comprehensive stated-component coverage and the Supreme plan for exclusionary coverage.

Protect My Car offers three vehicle service contract plans: Supreme, Select and Driveline. Each plan has different coverage limits, with the Driveline plan covering cars with the higher mileage.

The Supreme and Select plans have a $100 deductible, while the Driveline plan has a $200 deductible. Protect My Car covers all expenses for covered repairs above your deductible.

The plans come with perks, like 24/7 roadside assistance, free oil changes and free tire rotations.

The company does not use outside contractors, so your claim is handled completely by Protect My Car employees.

CarShield has comprehensive coverage options, wide availability and great reviews. It also has flexible monthly payment plans, and you can transfer most contracts. CarShield covers cars with up to 300,000 miles, one of the highest limits among extended auto warranty companies.

CarShield’s best coverage includes everything from engine and transmission to the factory audio system and GPS. You can choose from Diamond exclusionary coverage, Platinum comprehensive coverage, Gold powertrain-plus coverage, Silver powertrain coverage and Aluminum specialty coverage. There is also a plan for motorcycles and ATVs.

CarShield’s plans are administered by American Auto Shield. Most contracts come with 24/7 roadside assistance, and some include rental car reimbursement.

CARCHEX offers more coverage plans (21 options across five levels of coverage) than our other top picks because it works with multiple warranty providers. It’s a good pick for anyone who wants instant quotes online for up to 10 years of coverage.

Each plan — whether it’s Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum or Titanium — offers term options that range from monthly to at least five years. If you’re looking for comprehensive, exclusionary coverage, check out Titanium plans.

In addition to repair costs, plans cover 24/7 roadside assistance, gas delivery, towing, rental car coverage and trip interruption service. They also come with CARCHEX’s “No-Haggle, Low Price, Everyday Guarantee.” CARCHEX requires small down payments and lets you spread the remaining cost out over six to 24 months.

1800Warranty.com offers four levels of protection that start at $39 dollars a month. The company’s Level 4 plan provides exclusionary coverage and starts at $55 a month. You can also add tire and wheel coverage to any plan.

Unlike many other extended auto warranty companies, 1800Warranty.com offers month-to-month plans. It also states that the company’s team works with potential customers to help them find a plan option that fits their budget and needs.

The company has a 30-day waiting period, but you can start receiving coverage on your first day if you opt to have your vehicle inspected to ensure there are no preexisting conditions. 1800Warranty.com’s Stacks Reward Plan reimburses your monthly premiums — minus some fees — if you don’t make any claims during the term of your service contract.

Concord Auto Protect offers three plans that come with direct support and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Plans include roadside assistance and can be transferred from one vehicle owner to another.

You can take your car into any repair facility, and Concord will pay for covered repairs directly over the phone — all you have to pay is the deductible (if applicable). There’s no paperwork required to file a claim, and you can make as many claims as you want.

Toco Warranty offers pay-as-you-go plans with no down payment. Your cost for a vehicle service contract (or in California, mechanical breakdown insurance policy) depends on your car’s make, model, year, mileage and how many miles you drive each month.

Toco coverage works a little bit differently — Orange plans are for cars with less than 100,000 miles, yellow is for cars between 100,000 and 150,000 miles, and the Blue plan is for vehicles with 150,000 to 200,000.

If your car has 200,000 to 250,000 miles on it, you have Green-level coverage. The Orange plan is an exclusionary plan, while the others are stated-component plans. Unless stated otherwise in your terms, the standard deductible is $100.

Unlike many companies, olive does not have a waiting period for coverage. It’s a good pick for car owners who want to manage their policy entirely online. You can file claims online or over the phone, and you can schedule repairs through RepairPal.

Most plans cost $30 to $80 per month, with various deductible options. Complete Care, olive's exclusionary plan, is its most popular. olive also has Powertrain Plus and Powertrain plans.

Total costs for an extended warranty average around $2,500, but the cost varies based on many factors. You can pay the entire cost upfront, but most people pay it off over multiple years in monthly installments.

For example, if you purchase seven years of coverage, you might have the option of a 36-month payment plan. In addition, plans often require you to pay a deductible (typically between $75 and $250) for repairs.

Factors that impact the cost of your extended auto warranty

The best extended car warranty companies examine multiple factors, including your vehicle’s make, model, condition and location, when quoting a price for coverage. Some of the most significant factors that affect the price of your extended auto warranty include:

• Vehicle make, model and year: Contracts tend to cost more for vehicles that are more expensive to repair, such as luxury cars. Parts on these cars tend to be more expensive and may require more expertise to repair and replace.
• Vehicle mileage: Expect to pay more if your odometer reading is higher. That’s because warranty providers know higher-mileage vehicles are more likely to need repairs.
• Level and length of coverage: Bumper-to-bumper plans with comprehensive coverage cost the most, while basic warranties covering only essential parts, such as powertrain and drivetrain warranties, are the most affordable. Also, plans with longer coverage periods have higher costs.
• The deductible: Most car warranties require a deductible, though some companies offer zero-deductible policies. A typical deductible for a repair or replacement is $100. All else being equal, the higher a deductible is on a policy, the less expensive it costs.
• Your driving habits: Before buying an extended auto warranty, you’ll probably be asked about how you use your vehicle and how much you drive. If you spend a lot of time in the car, the price of a contract can be higher.

Extended auto warranty companies offer plans that vary in coverage and other factors, like deductible amounts and perks. It’s important to know what to look for when choosing an extended warranty for your car.

• Compare reviews: Many 5-star reviews about vehicle service contract companies refer to the initial customer service and sign-up process. Friendly reps are a plus, but what you really care about is whether the plan is worth your money — look for positive reviews about making claims, getting claims approved and completing payouts for repairs. If you read about difficulty filing claims or patterns of rejected claims, be wary.
• Consider the waiting period: Many plans require you to wait up to 30 days and 1,000 miles before you can request service. This is intended to prevent car owners from getting repairs on preexisting conditions. However, for some drivers, it could take several months to put another thousand miles on the odometer. Check out olive for same-day coverage.
• Look for perks: Some companies offer extra bonuses alongside their extended warranty coverage, so ask about any additional benefits. These can include roadside assistance, trip interruption service, key fob replacement or discounts from retailers. If you’re hesitant to make a big commitment, look for a company that lets you buy month-to-month coverage or cancel with ease.
• Read the fine print: Be sure you understand what is and isn’t covered. Ask about any restrictions or conditions that might void your coverage. If you prefer having more control over the specifics of your coverage, look for a company that offers multiple plans or lets you customize your coverage.

  If you think you might want to sell your car before the warranty expires, make sure the company will let you transfer the coverage to the next owner — and ask if there’s a fee. This could be a selling point to potential buyers. For more, here are the right questions to ask and tips to help you avoid car warranty scams.

Basic car warranties cover the most essential parts and systems that keep the car running. For example, if you have an engine, alternator or transmission failure, there’s a high likelihood a basic extended warranty covers the needed repairs. Many car warranties cover fuel pump replacement and airbag replacement as well. 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.

Not all extended auto warranties cover the vehicle from bumper to bumper, so remember to choose a plan with the coverage you need — and don’t forget to read the fine print.

Types of extended car warranties

The two main types of car warranties are manufacturer warranties (also called “factory warranties” and original equipment manufacturer warranties, or OEMs) and aftermarket warranties sold by third-party vendors. The most common types of warranty plans fall into one of the following categories:

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

• Powertrain: A powertrain warranty covers parts that generate power and deliver it to the wheels, including the engine, transmission, axles, driveshaft, differentials, axles and transfer case.
• Drivetrain: This is similar to powertrain coverage, except a drivetrain warranty doesn’t include your engine.
• Wrap warranty: A wrap warranty covers what the powertrain warranty leaves out. You can combine a wrap warranty with a powertrain warranty to supplement coverage and get protection similar to bumper-to-bumper plan.
• Bumper-to-bumper: A bumper-to-bumper warranty is also called an “exclusionary warranty,” because it covers everything except for specific components listed in the contract. These warranties tend to be the most comprehensive, but they’re also the most expensive.

Other than bumper-to-bumper warranties, most extended auto warranties are stated component warranties. In stated component warranties, the contract lists exactly the components that are covered. Be sure you understand whether your agreement lists covered or excluded components and parts.

What extended car warranties won’t cover

It’s important to keep in mind that extended auto warranties typically do not cover routine maintenance. Most plans also do not cover paint, your car’s interior or parts that wear out, like windshield wipers or filters. Extended auto warranties also don’t cover accidents, vandalism or theft, and they won’t supersede a still-active manufacturer’s warranty. Below are items that are generally excluded from vehicle service contracts:

• Damage from accidents
• Damage caused by extreme weather
• Cosmetic repairs
• Routine maintenance
• Liability and other insurance-related issues
• Preexisting conditions
• Manufacturer recalls
• Wear-and-tear items (like brakes and tires)
• Problems resulting from alterations or modifications
• Interior or body panel damage

ConsumerAffairs carefully collects in-depth, verified reviews to tell each customer’s experience with a company. We believe customer experiences are a crucial indicator when evaluating companies, so these reviews are a significant factor when selecting our top picks.

To choose our top extended auto warranty companies, we started with the 40 popular providers listed on our site. To ensure we considered experiences from a diverse range of customers, we eliminated any company that had less than five reviews between April 1, 2021, and April 1, 2022, leaving us with a list of 20 brands.

We then analyzed the 7,070 reviews for those 20 vehicle service contract providers provided by customers over the same time period. We focused on companies that demonstrate a proven track record of above-average customer service compared to other companies in this category on our site.

We established our criteria by calculating the average star rating, percentage of 5-star reviews and percentage of 1-star reviews for all extended car warranty companies on our site that received at least five reviews in the targeted date range. Our top eight picks:

• Have a customer rating of at least 3.67 out of 5 stars
• Received 5-star reviews from more than 57% of ConsumerAffairs reviewers over the selected time period
• Were given 1-star reviews from less than 26% of ConsumerAffairs reviewers over the selected time period

From that list, we used comparisons of several key features to ensure that all eight met our standards for consumer-friendly offerings and to more deeply understand each of their strengths. That analysis informed the highlighted headline for each brand plus our write-ups of them guiding consumers’ choice based on their specific situation. These features were:

• Coverage options: We checked every company’s plans to assess whether it offers a variety of coverages for customers in multiple situations.
• Availability: We made sure our top picks operate in the majority of the U.S. states and are available to most of our readers.
• Payment structure: We looked for companies that provide flexible payment options to help meet their customers’ budgets and noted whether the company offers month-to-month options or requires a contract of a year or more.
• Waiting period: Most companies require a 30-day and 1,000-mile waiting period, though a few brands have plans that go into effect immediately after purchase. We ensured our top picks had waiting periods equal to or less than the industry average. We did not consider companies with unreasonably long wait times.
• Cost: The cost of an extended car warranty varies widely based on the vehicle’s make, model, age and mileage, but we confirmed our top picks’ pricing fell within the average range for the industry.