Best Extended Warranty Companies for Trucks

Our 4 picks for the best truck extended warranties

• Best overall: Endurance Auto Warranty
• Best for plan selection: CarShield
• Best for customer service and claims handling: Toco Warranty
• Best for older or high-mileage trucks: Omega Auto Care

A guide to extended truck warranties

If your truck suffers a mechanical breakdown after the factory warranty has expired, you may be facing a repair bill you can’t afford. The problem is, most truck owners can’t afford to be without their truck either.

An extended warranty for your truck can ensure you don’t suffer the double financial hit of unexpected and expensive repairs or downtime while your commuter or work vehicle is out of commission.

Choosing the best extended warranty for your truck means weighing coverage, costs and eligibility requirements.  Here are some key factors to keep in mind before you buy:

How extended truck warranties work

A truck extended warranty, also called a vehicle service contract, helps pay for mechanical repairs after the factory warranty expires. Extended truck warranties are typically offered by third-party warranty providers rather than the truck manufacturer. These companies sell vehicle service contracts that cover certain mechanical repairs after the factory warranty expires.

To use your extended truck warranty, take your truck to an approved mechanic, get a diagnosis, pay your deductible and the provider will pay the shop directly for covered repairs.

Most extended warranty companies maintain a repair network of approved mechanics and repair facilities. In many cases, you can take your truck to any licensed repair shop, but using a shop within the provider’s network can simplify the process. Network shops are often familiar with the provider’s requirements and can communicate directly with the warranty administrator to confirm coverage and obtain authorization for repairs.

Extended truck warranties usually include a deductible. This is the amount you pay out of pocket when you file a claim before the warranty provider covers the rest of the repair cost. Deductibles can vary widely depending on the plan you choose, and some providers allow you to select a higher deductible in exchange for lower monthly payments.

If your truck experiences a mechanical failure, you’ll typically begin the claims process by taking the vehicle to a repair facility. The mechanic diagnoses the issue and contacts the warranty provider to verify coverage.

Once the repair is approved, the provider pays the shop directly for covered repairs, minus your deductible. Understanding how the claims process works ahead of time can help you avoid delays and ensure you know what to expect if your truck needs service.

What truck extended warranties don’t cover

Even the most comprehensive extended truck warranties don’t cover every repair or expense. Warranty contracts include exclusions that outline what the provider won’t pay to repair. Common exclusions include:

• Routine maintenance: Oil changes, tire rotations, fluid services and other scheduled upkeep
• Wear-and-tear items: Brake pads, tires, wiper blades, filters and similar parts that naturally wear out
• Cosmetic damage: Paint damage, dents, upholstery wear and other appearance-related issues
• Accident-related damage: Repairs resulting from collisions or road incidents, which are typically handled by auto insurance
• Environmental damage: Problems caused by flooding, fire, storms or vandalism
• Misuse or abuse: Damage caused by improper use of the truck, such as exceeding towing limits
• Neglect or lack of maintenance: Failures that occur because recommended service was skipped or not documented

Reviewing the exclusions listed in a warranty contract before buying coverage can help you understand what costs you may still need to pay out of pocket.

How to choose a truck extended warranty

Some truck extended warranties will be a better fit for your truck, your needs and your preferences than others.

Here’s how to select the best warranty for you and your truck:

1. Figure out your extended warranty budget

The first step to choosing a coverage plan for your truck is deciding what you can afford to spend on it. Most providers offer monthly payment plans, so you’ll be able to see whether the warranty cost fits into your monthly budget as soon as you get a quote.

While an extended warranty can reduce repair costs, it won’t cover everything. Be sure your budget leaves room for deductibles, routine maintenance and other out-of-pocket expenses.

2. Decide on the coverage you want

Once you know how much you can spend on a truck extended warranty, the next step is to determine the level of coverage that offers you the most benefit.

While providers offer a variety of plans, extended warranties for trucks typically fall into one of two categories of coverage:

• Bumper-to-bumper warranty: Comprehensive coverage that protects every component in your truck except those named specifically in the contract as exclusions, often called exclusionary coverage
• Powertrain warranty: The most basic level of truck warranty available that covers only the most essential systems and components that keep the car moving, such as the engine, drivetrain components and transmission

Many companies will offer a mid-level warranty, which typically features coverage for additional parts, such as the electrical and fuel systems, on top of powertrain coverage.

Additional plans you’ll find on the market are typically inclusionary warranties, meaning they list the components and systems they do cover in the contract instead of the ones they don’t.

» COMPARE: Stated-component (inclusionary) vs. comprehensive (exclusionary)

3. Determine your truck’s eligibility

Your truck may not be eligible with every provider. Extended warranty companies have varying eligibility requirements for vehicles they’ll cover, with the most important criteria being the age of the vehicle and the mileage.

Each company sets its own limits when it comes to mileage. These limits reflect the maximum mileage that a truck can have on its odometer and still be eligible for an extended warranty. If your truck has more than 200,000 miles on it, you’ll have fewer provider choices.

The mileage on your truck can also affect plan eligibility. For example, while you may be able to get a powertrain warranty for a high-mileage truck, you may not be able to buy more comprehensive coverage plans from that same provider.

4. Weigh the value of an extended warranty for your truck

Extended warranties can provide valuable financial protection for truck owners, but they aren’t always a good investment. You can’t predict whether you’ll use the coverage you pay for, but some trucks are more likely to need repairs than others — and repairs cost more for some brands of cars than others.

We recommend looking up the average repair costs and vehicle reliability rating for your truck on sites like RepairPal to get a sense of how likely you are to use your warranty coverage. The reliability rating tells you the likelihood that you’ll need mechanical repairs in the near future. Average repair costs can tell you how much you can expect to have to pay out of pocket for common repairs.

Compare the cost of an extended truck warranty to average annual repair costs for the duration of a warranty contract. This will give you a sense of what you may spend with and without extended coverage.

5. Consider all costs before signing up

If you decide that an extended warranty is worth it for your truck, the last step is to factor in the additional costs of coverage. These include:

• Deductible
• Cancellation fees
• Optional coverage (roadside assistance, maintenance plans, etc.)

6. Read reviews for extended warranty providers

It’s important to choose a company you can trust to honor its contract. Some providers are easier to work with than others when it comes to claims and customer support.

Reading reviews from real customers is one of the best ways to understand what working with a provider is actually like. Researching the best extended car warranty companies can also help you compare how different providers handle coverage and claims. Saving a few dollars a month won’t mean much if your provider denies repairs or makes it difficult to use your plan.

Truck extended warranty costs

The average bumper-to-bumper extended warranty for trucks costs between $1,400 and $4,000 per year of coverage on average. Costs vary based on the age and mileage of the truck in question, the level of coverage selected, the warranty provider and other factors.

You can pay for an extended warranty plan for your truck up front, but you don’t have to. Most providers offer monthly payment plans that require a deposit and regular monthly installments, usually ranging from around $90 to $150.

Getting actual quotes from extended warranty companies is the only way to get a precise estimate on the cost of coverage for your particular truck.

What affects the cost of a truck extended warranty

Providers calculate pricing based on the risk of repairs as well as the level of protection you choose. Common factors that affect the cost include:

• Truck age: Older trucks typically cost more to cover because they are more likely to experience mechanical failures.
• Mileage: Higher-mileage vehicles present a greater repair risk, which can increase warranty prices or limit plan options.
• Coverage level: Comprehensive bumper-to-bumper plans cost more than basic powertrain coverage.
• Truck make and model: Trucks with higher repair costs or lower reliability ratings often have more expensive warranties.
• Deductible amount: Choosing a higher deductible can lower your monthly payment, while a lower deductible usually increases the price of the plan.
• Contract length: Longer warranty terms generally increase the total cost of coverage.
• Usage: Using your truck for heavy-duty work or high annual mileage may increase warranty pricing.

Save on coverage

If you’re offered a warranty at the dealership, get an outside quote first. Third-party providers often have lower prices and more flexible terms.

Do extended warranties cost more for trucks than cars?

Strictly speaking, warranty coverage for pickup trucks isn’t inherently more expensive than it is for cars. However, certain factors about your truck affect what you’ll pay for a warranty. These include:

• Annual mileage: You may need to pay more for coverage if you put significantly more miles on your truck each year than the average driver. This may be a factor if you drive long distances for work.
• Usage: Some providers may charge more to cover your truck if you use it for heavy-duty work, such as construction.
• Make and model: In general, the larger and more expensive a vehicle is, the more it will cost to cover with an extended warranty. Many trucks have high price tags that will also net a higher price for extended coverage.

FAQ

Is an extended warranty for a truck worth it?

For many truck owners, the financial protection and peace of mind that an extended warranty offers make extended warranties more than worth the purchase price. Extended warranties can provide extra value for people who rely on their trucks for work, helping ensure they aren’t left scrambling to pay for repairs and get back on the road.

One key factor to consider is how the cost of coverage compares to the cost of major repairs. While extended warranties for trucks can cost a few thousand dollars per year, a single major repair — such as a transmission replacement or engine repair — can cost several thousand dollars on its own. In some cases, one covered repair could equal or exceed the total cost of a warranty contract, making coverage a worthwhile investment for higher-risk trucks.

However, an extended truck warranty may not be worth it to everyone. If you drive a reliable truck that’s inexpensive to repair, you may be better off paying for services out of pocket. If you have significant cash reserves to pay for repairs comfortably, an extended truck warranty is likely to be just an additional, unnecessary expense.