Toyota Tundra extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense
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Toyota Tundras 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 Tundra warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new Toyota Tundras 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 Tundra ranged from $765.88 to $1,039.80 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 Tundra gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightToyota Tundra extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Tundra comes with. For context, Toyota Tundras 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 Tundra, 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.
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.
A ConsumerAffairs investigation found most drivers couldn't afford to cover a $1,000 repair bill with cash, and 13% had no way to pay a bill that large, even with credit.
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 a Toyota Tundra extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $765.88 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Toyota Tundra registered in Austin, Texas, with 40,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,039.80 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 Tundra 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 Tundra were less expensive by comparison.
This is a small sample of quotes for a warranty on your vehicle. Shop around and get multiple quotes so you know you're getting the best deal.
Bumper-to-bumper warranties often go by names like "Platinum" or "Complete Care." Lower-tier plans are usually cheaper, but they cover fewer parts per dollar. Based on customer reviews, many people are disappointed by the coverage limits on these plans, so we suggest a bumper-to-bumper warranty for most situations.
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 a Toyota Tundra extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a Toyota Tundra 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 Tundra specifically, RepairPal gave it a 3.5 out of 5.
Still, Toyota Tundra maintenance can be expensive, suggesting that an extended warranty might be 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 Tundra Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
