DriveSmart Warranty Reviews

DriveSmart offers three levels of coverage, called Voyager, Travelers and Travelers MAX plans. All plans come standard with towing, car rental, roadside assistance and trip interruption services.

• Voyager/Voyager Plus: This plan is the most basic and affordable tier of coverage intended for vehicles up to 20 years old with up to 200,000 miles. Coverage focuses on the powertrain and the most expensive systems in a car.
• Travelers: Travelers is DriveSmart’s middle-tier warranty. It’s available for cars up to 15 years old and up to 150,000 miles. It covers most major vehicle systems.
• Travelers MAX: Travelers MAX covers most car systems but is only available for newer cars up to 6 years old with up to 60,000 miles. This is the company’s most popular policy.

» RELATED: Is labor covered under an auto warranty?

To get a free quote from DriveSmart Warranty, consumers submit basic information about their car by clicking on the “Get a Quote” link on the company’s website. Information you may need to enter includes your vehicle’s VIN number, make and model of your car, mileage and year. You can also call 888-980-7459 to speak with a representative and get a quote.

Pricing is dependent on the make, model, year and mileage of the car and what tier of coverage you qualify for and choose. Most policies have a term of five-year/100,000 miles, but newer cars may qualify for terms of six to seven years and up to 100,000 miles. There’s also a mandatory 30-day/1,000-mile waiting period before any warranty goes into effect.

When your car needs repairs, you can take it to any licensed repair shop and provide your warranty information. The repair shop will assess your vehicle and contact DriveSmart to arrange the work and payment. Importantly, all repairs must be pre-authorized by a DriveSmart administrator.

For each visit, the policyholder is responsible for paying a $100 deductible. All covered repairs and parts are paid directly to the service provider, so the policyholder doesn’t have to submit a claim.

If you need roadside assistance, you can call the provided number listed on your policy card. If the issue can’t be fixed right away, the company will help get your car to a licensed mechanic.

» RELATED: How an extended auto warranty works

The price of your warranty depends on your vehicle and the type of plan for which you qualify. DriveSmart doesn’t list any pricing online, and the only way to know your specific costs is to request a free policy quote.

ConsumerAffairs received a sample quote for a fictitious Voyager Plus plan for a 2014 Toyota Rav4 with 130,000 miles on it. The total premium was $4,197 for a five-year/100,000 mile warranty. There are also mandatory surcharges for certain vehicles, including:

• Commercial
• 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (AWD)
• Diesel engines
• Turbo/supercharger engines
• Hybrid or electric
• Vehicles weighing over one ton

Policyholders can pay upfront or have their premiums prorated into equal payments over 18 months. All plans are subject to a deductible of $100 per visit, which remains the same even if multiple repairs are performed. The company offers 0% financing options and advertises that customers who sign up upon initial contact can save up to 10% on their policy.

Depending on the type of car you have, you may also be able to add the following coverage options for an additional charge:

• Technology Group: Includes repairs to components like GPS navigation, entertainment systems and passenger ventilation controls.
• Enhanced Labor: Allows the maximum payable dealer labor rate instead of the average labor rate for repairs in your area. Ideal for luxury cars.
• Emissions: Covers components like the air fuel ratio sensor/oxygen sensor, air pump and barometric pressure sensor.

» READ MORE: How much does an extended auto warranty cost?

A DriveSmart warranty covers parts and labor for vehicle repairs, but policyholders also receive additional services that come standard with all plans. Unlike payments for covered repairs that are made directly to the mechanic, these additional services may be reimbursed to the policyholder, in which case a claim must be filed within 21 days of the service.

• Towing assistance: Complimentary towing services to the nearest licensed repair facility.
• Car rental: Rental car reimbursement up to $35 a day for up to five days if your vehicle can’t be fixed the same day for a covered repair.
• 24-hour roadside assistance: Services include fuel delivery, dead battery jumpstart, tire changes and lock-out assistance.
• Trip interruption: Provides reimbursement for meals and lodging if your vehicle can’t be repaired the same day and you’re more than 100 miles from home. This benefit pays up to $80 a day for up to three days.

As with any vehicle protection plan, there are limits to DriveSmart’s coverage:

• All repairs must be preauthorized and any repairs done without approval may not be paid. However, exceptions may be made for emergency repairs outside of business hours and approval can’t be obtained in a reasonable time frame.
• Policyholders are responsible for performing regular maintenance on their vehicles.
• All plans have a maximum coverage limit of $15,000 or the current National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Used Car Guide/Trade-In Value at the time of the repair; whichever is less.
• Each tier of coverage has its own limits for how old the car can be and how many miles it can have to qualify.
• Your individual contract lists the components and systems that are covered in your plan.

Third-party extended warranties can help consumers save on car repairs, but they won’t be right for everyone. If you suspect your car will need repairs in the future or if covering an unexpected repair bill would present a financial hardship, purchasing an extended warranty may be worth it. Plus, many of these warranties (like DriveSmart’s) also come with additional services like roadside assistance, adding to their value.

However, if you have a newer car that’s still protected under the original manufacturer's warranty or you plan to sell or trade in your car in the near future, an extended warranty may not be worth it.

If you decide to purchase a warranty from DriveSmart, make sure you review your coverage options thoroughly before signing up. This ensures you understand the total costs, what is and isn’t covered and how to use the services.

» READ MORE: Is an extended auto warranty worth it?