Toyota RAV4 extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense
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Toyota RAV4s are known to have average reliability, and an extended warranty offers extra protection against unexpected repairs as the vehicle ages.
We’ll break down what a Toyota RAV4 warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new Toyota RAV4s come with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty from the factory.
Jump to insightQuotes we received for an extended auto warranty on a 2021 RAV4 ranged from $648.85 to $1,028.16 a year. That’s less expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightToyota has average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightGetting an extended warranty on a RAV4 gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightToyota RAV4 extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your RAV4 comes with. For context, Toyota RAV4s come with the following warranties from the factory:
- A three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- A five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty
Factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner. So if you buy a 2-year-old car with 20,000 miles on it, you still have one year or 16,000 miles worth of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty remaining.
For an extended warranty on your Toyota RAV4, you have two options:
- Buy the official Toyota extended warranty, called Toyota Extra Care.
- Buy a plan from a third-party extended warranty company, which allows you to take your car to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs.
Most Americans can't pay for a $1,000 repair bill with cash, according to a ConsumerAffairs investigation. Nearly 13% of drivers have no way to handle a bill that large — even by borrowing.
Whether you get a third-party plan or a warranty from a dealer, a plan that offers comprehensive, exclusionary protection (often called bumper-to-bumper or Platinum) will provide the most value. These plans cover almost all the parts on your vehicle. Less comprehensive plans (e.g., Gold, Silver, powertrain) may be cheaper, but they also cover fewer parts per dollar.
Note that auto warranties only pay for repairs and replacements of parts that are specifically covered and fail from normal wear and tear. They don't cover damage from accidents or aftermarket modifications. Repairs also aren’t typically covered under warranty if you don’t properly maintain the vehicle.
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 a Toyota RAV4 extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $648.85 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Toyota RAV4 registered in Austin, Texas, with 40,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,028.16 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” Toyota extended warranty is called Toyota Extra Care, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Toyota dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 RAV4 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 Toyota RAV4 were less expensive by comparison.
Compare quotes from multiple providers to be sure that you're getting a good deal on an extended warranty.
You can save money by going with less coverage, but bumper-to-bumper plans usually provide better value because of how much more protection you get.
Remember that some extended warranty plans, particularly those from manufacturers, start from the date that the original owner purchased the car. In such a case, if you're getting a "seven-year/100,000-mile" warranty and the factory warranty is three-year/36,000 miles, you're really paying for four years or 64,000 miles (whichever comes first) of additional coverage.
Is a Toyota RAV4 extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a Toyota RAV4 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.
Toyota as a brand has average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Toyota 2nd out of 29 car brands for overall dependability.
As for the RAV4 specifically, RepairPal gave it a 4.0 out of 5. Still, issues with Toyota RAV4 maintenance can be expensive, suggesting that an extended warranty is a good idea.
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, “Toyota RAV4 Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
