Audi Q7 extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense
Audi Q7s are known to have below-average reliability, so an extended warranty can help cut down on expensive repair bills and provide peace of mind.
We’ll break down what an Audi Q7 warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new Audi Q7s come with a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a four-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty from the factory.
Jump to insightQuotes we received for an extended auto warranty on a 2021 Q7 ranged from $1,174.08 to $5,412.50 a year. That’s more expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightAudi has below-average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightGetting an extended warranty on a Q7 gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightAudi Q7 extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Q7 comes with. For context, Audi Q7s come with the following warranties from the factory:
- A four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- A four-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty
Factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner. So if you buy a 3-year-old car with 20,000 miles on it, you still have one year or 30,000 miles worth of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty remaining.
For an extended warranty on your Audi Q7, you have two options:
- Buy the official Audi extended warranty, called Audi Pure Protection.
- Buy a plan from a third-party extended warranty company, which allows you to take your car to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs.
Without significant savings, having to deal with a massive repair bill can be disastrous. A ConsumerAffairs investigation found that most drivers surveyed couldn't afford to pay cash for a $1,000 repair bill, and 13% of respondents had no way to deal with a bill that large — even with credit.
In either case, you’ll generally get the most value by purchasing whichever plan offers comprehensive, exclusionary protection (often called bumper-to-bumper or Platinum). These plans cover 90% or more of the parts on your vehicle. Less comprehensive Gold, Silver and powertrain plans may be cheaper, but they tend to cover fewer parts per dollar.
Auto warranties only pay for repairs and replacements of specifically covered parts that fail from normal wear and tear, not from damage or accidents. Repairs generally aren’t covered under warranty if you don’t properly maintain the vehicle or you make aftermarket modifications.
In general, here are the differences between what a bumper-to-bumper warranty and a powertrain warranty cover:
Warranty type | Typically covered | Not covered |
---|---|---|
Bumper-to-bumper | ||
Powertrain | Parts that create power and deliver it to the wheels | Parts not related to the engine, transmission or drive axle |
Note that some extended auto warranty plans fall somewhere between bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage.
» LEARN: What to know about manufacturers’ extended warranties
How much does an Audi Q7 extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $5,412.50 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Audi Q7 registered in Austin, Texas, with 55,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,174.08 annually for 30 months of coverage for the same vehicle with the same mileage. Both quotes assumed a $100 deductible. Note that both of these are third-party extended auto warranty companies.
The “official” Audi extended warranty is called Audi Pure Protection, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Audi dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 Q7 with zero miles typically has cheaper extended warranty options than a 2020 model with 50,000 miles, for example.
For context, the average cost of an extended warranty is around $1,000 per year of coverage. The quotes we collected for our hypothetical 2021 Audi Q7 were more expensive by comparison.
Prices for an extended auto warranty can vary a lot. Get quotes from multiple providers to be sure you're getting a good deal.
Our quotes were for a base model vehicle, but a more expensive trim can raise the price of your plan. For a lower price, you can opt for a powertrain plan or one that covers less than a bumper-to-bumper warranty. Just be aware that coverage limits can lead to a frustrating situation in which you're left paying out of pocket for repairs.
Some third-party providers start counting the coverage at the time when you purchase the plan. For example, if you get a 36-month, 185,000-mile plan from olive, you're covered for three years after purchasing the plan, or when your vehicle hits 185,000 total miles. Other providers may start the timer from the original purchase date of the car. In that case, you'll have to subtract the car's current age and mileage (plus any remaining factory warranty) from the length of the plan to determine how long coverage will last.
Is an Audi Q7 extended warranty worth it?
Yes, an Audi Q7 extended warranty is worth it. In general, an extended auto warranty is worth it if any of the following are true:
- Your vehicle has a bad reputation for reliability.
- The warranty costs less than you expect to spend on repairs.
- A big repair bill could hurt you financially.
- You don’t mind paying for peace of mind.
Audi as a brand has below-average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Audi 28th out of 29 car brands for overall dependability.
As for the Q7 specifically, RepairPal gave it a 2.5 out of 5. Many ConsumerAffairs reviewers reported issues with their Audi Q7s.
“I purchased a 2018 Q7 new from the dealership and I have had nothing but problems with it,” wrote Shelley in California. “Most recently they did a $45k engine repair and now it won't even start. They are asking for another $2500 to do the repair. Since owning the car I have been to the dealership no less than 25 times.”
Ravi in California also complained of issues: “Got a new Audi Q7 in Sept, have had issues with the vehicle, warning lights come on, fluids were not topped off, mismatch between odometer reading and paperwork reading.”
These stories from real customers mentioning issues with Audi Q7 maintenance suggest that an extended warranty is a good idea. The likelihood of needing repairs and the prices we found for Audi Q7 extended warranties means you’re likely to come out ahead by purchasing a protection plan.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:- J.D. Power, “Vehicle Dependability Slumps as Rate of Deterioration Increases, J.D. Power Finds.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
- RepairPal, “Audi Q7 Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.