American Dream Auto Protect vs. Onust

Compare coverage, cost and reviews

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Written by Matt Zane
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Edited by Jon Bortin

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    American Dream Auto Protect and Onust both offer extended car warranties that protect you financially after your manufacturer’s warranty expires.

    While they offer similar services, there are some differences between the coverage they offer, the cost of their plans and the additional benefits you get. We’ve analyzed both companies to help you decide which is the right fit.

    American Dream Auto Protect is a better choice for buyers who want to maximize savings on premiums. The company offers a wider selection of plans, all of which have lower premiums than the selection at Onust.

    We recommend Onust for buyers looking for the most comprehensive plans. While plans from Onust cost more upfront, a greater number of important components are covered, making it a better option for those who need maximum coverage.

    American Dream Auto Protect vs. Onust coverage

    Plans from American Dream Auto Protect and Onust offer varying levels of coverage for your vehicle's parts and systems.

    American Dream Auto Protect coverage

    American Dream Auto Protect offers three plans. You can fill out an online form to get a quote for your vehicle, but you’ll have to provide your contact information and wait for the company to contact you with your pricing details. You can also call directly to get a quote. Here are more details about each of its plans:

    • Silver provides essential powertrain coverage only.
    • Gold offers comprehensive coverage for your vehicle’s major powertrain systems.
    • Platinum covers all powertrain and electrical systems.

    Onust coverage

    Onust offers two vehicle coverage plans: Onust Connect Tech and Onust Connect Plus.

    • Onust Connect Tech is the most basic plan. The main feature is 24/7 towing and roadside assistance, which covers flat tires, lockouts, dead batteries, fuel issues and other possible emergency situations. It also comes with notifications for vehicle safety and recalls, as well as the ability to connect to certified mechanics to get questions answered.
    • Onust Connect Plus includes everything in the Connect Tech plan, plus mechanical breakdown coverage, rental car coverage and lodging reimbursement. This is more similar to a traditional extended warranty plan.

    We’ve broken down what’s covered under each of the companies’ plans below:

    » LEARN MORE: What does a car warranty cover?

    American Dream Auto Protect vs. Onust cost

    The cost of an extended auto warranty can vary significantly based on several key factors. Vehicle age and mileage are typically the most influential factors — newer cars with lower mileage generally cost less to cover than older vehicles with high mileage. The make and model of your vehicle also impact pricing, with luxury and high-performance vehicles usually commanding higher premiums due to more expensive repair costs.

    Additionally, plans with comprehensive coverage cost more than basic powertrain protection. Plans may also be more expensive depending on where you live.

    We gathered quotes for different vehicles with varying mileage to give you an idea of how prices compare between American Dream Auto Protect and Onust. The prices below are for each company's lowest-tier plan unless otherwise noted. Keep in mind that coverage for these plans varies, so it’s not an exact apples-to-apples comparison of value.

    For American Dream Auto Protect, we got quotes for a Ford F-150 and a Honda CRV with only 120,000 miles, since the company does not cover vehicles that have more than 130,000 miles.

    We received quotes for the Onust Connect Plus plan since it compares most similarly in coverage with a powertrain plan. The Ford F-150 and Honda CRV quotes are only 125,000 miles, since the company does not offer this coverage for vehicles with more than this. Onust plans have an activation fee ($300 for the Toyota Camry and Honda CRV, $569 for the BMW 3 Series and $479 for the Ford F-150) that we have included in the cost per year in our table below.

    American Dream Auto Protect vs. Onust policies

    American Dream Auto Protect only offers a deductible of $125. We couldn’t find any stipulations for varying deductibles on different makes of cars. The company also has a $20 activation fee (one-time payment) when setting up a new policy. You can get a multiple-vehicle discount if you sign up for coverage on two or more vehicles at the same time.

    Onust mechanical breakdown coverage has a $0 deductible and begins immediately. However, there is an activation fee that starts at $125 and varies based on the type of vehicle you’re covering.

    There are some limitations on which vehicles can be covered, however. Onust will not cover vehicles with over 125,000 miles or vehicles that are over 10 model years old. European, diesel and electric vehicles must have less than 65,000 miles. There may also be certain vehicle models that are excluded.

    That said, Onust won’t cancel coverage when you cross these limits — you just have to register the vehicle before reaching them. Once registered, there are no mileage limits and your vehicle is covered for the remainder of its life.

    American Dream Auto Protect vs. Onust additional benefits

    In addition to coverage for mechanical failures of your vehicle's parts, American Dream Auto Protect and Onust offer a few other benefits.

    American Dream Auto Protect benefits

    American Dream Auto Protect offers Elite Benefits as an exclusive package. It includes:

    • Key fob replacement coverage for lost or damaged key fobs
    • Tire repair and replacement services
    • Collision repair discounts
    • Total loss replacement assistance

    Rental car reimbursement is limited to $30 per day or $150 maximum per repair. Trip interruption coverage provides up to $150 per day for up to three days when within 100 miles of your registered address.

    Onust benefits

    All Onust plans include useful benefits, including:

    • Real-time connections with certified mechanics to answer questions
    • Vehicle safety and recall notifications
    • 24/7 towing and roadside assistance benefits
    • Expense reimbursement for rental cars, travel lodging, towing and more

    American Dream Auto Protect vs. Onust reviews

    For an honest assessment of customer satisfaction, let's examine what actual policyholders say about American Dream Auto Protect and Onust.

    American Dream Auto Protect reviews

    Customers have generally had positive experiences with American Dream Auto Protect. Some mention that the signup process was easy and that they appreciated the thoroughness of the coverage.

    • “Filing a claim was much simpler than I thought it would. The radio needed to be replaced on my car. American Dream ended up replacing that and covering it. A wiring harness needed to be replaced as well. They covered that and the car rental.” — Roland from Georgia
    • “I took my car for brakes and it was the easiest claim to ever submit. I picked where I wanted to take my car and took it over there. I gave them the information and they were the ones that submitted my claim to American Dream. Then they called me up and told me it was approved. It was really fast.” — Rosenda from Colorado

    However, there were a few complaints about claim rejections and delays in receiving reimbursement.

    • “When I used the warranty, American Dream covered majority of the cost of the repair, about 70% of it, but the rest came from my pocket. They were also supposed to give me back a refund for the rental but I never received it.” — Denis from Massachusetts

    » SEE FOR YOURSELF: American Dream Auto Protect reviews

    Onust reviews

    Onust customers appreciate how easy the company is to work with and how clear the communication is.

    • “Best investment I ever made. Every now and then, they send a check to use on any service. I also had a claim and it was all paid for. I would recommend Onust to anybody.” — Bill from Massachusetts

    • “When Onust became available, I jumped at it, especially because I can keep it for the lifetime of my car, which is very attractive. The coverage is great too. The warranty covers more than the service contracts I have on my other vehicles.” — S from Colorado

    Most customer complaints focus on certain vehicles not being covered.

    • “After I had paid a couple of months, I had a repair to do and when I went to go over a repair at $3,000, Onust wouldn't cover the cost. I went through their reps a couple of times and I told them that I didn't know about it since they didn't tell me anything about it.” — Sebastiano from New York

    It’s worth noting that Onust does list vehicles it won’t cover in its terms and conditions, but it’s up to the customer to read those conditions before signing up.

    » SEE FOR YOURSELF: Onust reviews

    Bottom line: American Dream Auto Protect or Onust?

    All things considered, what kind of driver is each provider best for?

    • American Dream Auto Protect is best for drivers who prioritize strong customer service and a seamless claims experience.

    • Onust is best for drivers who want day-one coverage and month-to-month plans.

    If neither sounds like a good fit, or if you’d simply like to see more top-rated providers, check out our other picks for the best extended car warranty companies.