Premier Auto Protect vs. Onust

Compare coverage, cost and reviews

Author picture
Written by Matt Zane
+1 more
Author picture
Edited by Jon Bortin

Simplify your search

Compare plans tailored to your car & budget.

    Premier 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.

    Premier Auto Protect charges lower premiums than Onust on most vehicles. While luxury vehicles cost more to cover through Premier, extended warranty options for standard vehicles are more affordable, making it a better option for drivers who want to save on premiums.

    We recommend Onust to buyers who need the most comprehensive coverage. Plans from Onust cover more components than Premier and include an extensive range of complementary roadside assistance services, such as fuel, oil and water delivery as well as lock-out assistance.

    Premier Auto Protect vs. Onust coverage

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

    Premier Auto Protect coverage

    Premier Auto Protect offers four main levels of coverage:

    • Premier Basic covers your vehicle’s engine, transmission, drive axle(s), all-wheel-drive/four-wheel-drive systems, cooling system and brakes.
    • Premier Value combines everything in the basic plan with added protection for steering (manual/power), turbo/supercharger, air conditioning, fuel system, seals and gaskets, and electrical components.
    • Premier Complete builds on the Value plan by including coverage for anti-lock brakes (ABS), heating, high-tech electronics, front/rear suspension and hybrid vehicles.
    • Exclusionary adds coverage for your key fob. While specific details of this plan are unavailable online, it’s Premier Auto Protect’s most comprehensive plan.

    Premier Auto Protect offers two additional plans with slightly different coverage:

    • Premier Powertrain Enhanced is a powertrain warranty (engine, transmission, axles and differential) that also includes coverage for cooling, dead battery, running out of gas, parts and labor, towing, locksmith, 24/7 roadside assistance, turbo/supercharger, air conditioning, fuel system, seals and gaskets, electrical, heating, high-tech electronics and hybrid vehicles.
    • Premier Repair Assist expands the Premier Powertrain Enhanced plan to cover ABS, heating, front/rear suspension and trip interruption.

    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?

    Premier 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 Premier 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.

    Note that some Premier Auto Protect plans are cheaper with higher coverage than basic powertrain coverage. Be sure to speak with a representative and be aware of all your options.

    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.

    Premier Auto Protect vs. Onust policies

    Premier Auto Protect covers vehicles up to 8 years old with up to 100,000 miles under its Exclusionary plan. It also has plans for vehicles with over 200,000 miles.

    Premier Auto Protect offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a prorated refund for those who cancel after this period. Contracts are transferable and allow you to choose any dealer or mechanic (as long as they’re ASE-certified).

    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.

    Premier Auto Protect vs. Onust additional benefits

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

    Premier Auto Protect benefits

    Premier Auto Protect also offers protection plans for power sports (ATVs, UTVs, scooters, personal watercraft and motorcycles) and homes.

    Limits on roadside assistance, trip interruption coverage and rental car reimbursement depend on your policy level.

    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

    Premier Auto Protect vs. Onust reviews

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

    Premier Auto Protect reviews

    Most of Premier Auto Protect’s positive reviews focus on great customer service, ease of sign-up, peace of mind, a good variety of coverage options and fast claims handling.

    • “Premier Auto is the BEST auto protection company out there. When I had a issue with my focus and needed it fixed they were there and covered it totally.” — Crystal from Virginia

    • “Stan was very helpful as we worked out the very best policy for me. I have talked to two other companies and Premier Auto Protection had the best coverage for the price. What also was impressive is their Better Business rating.” — Ella from Kansas

    However, some reviewers express disappointment at dealing with poor follow-up, delayed service or claims, and unclear plan terms that led to additional fees or denied claims.

    • "Premier Auto Protect has denied the claim stating they were worn over time. How would I/they know if nothing before that day indicated a problem? So if it just suddenly goes out, but it’s been used, EVEN NORMALLY, they aren’t going to cover it." — Donna from Texas

    » SEE FOR YOURSELF: Premier 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: Premier Auto Protect or Onust?

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

    • Premier Auto Protect is best for customers who want flexible coverage options and robust sales support.

    • 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.