When your car starts making strange noises, it’s time to take it in for a check-up. But what if the problem is bigger than you thought? What if the cost of repairs is more than the car is worth? Don’t worry—a car warranty allows you to relax and enjoy your drive.
There’s a reason they call it a “warranty.” When you buy a car, a manufacturer essentially offers you a guarantee that the vehicle will function as intended for a specific time.
Even if something goes wrong, your warranty will take care of it. Sounds good? Check out our selection of warranties and find the perfect one for you. You won’t regret it.
What Is a Car Warranty?
An auto warranty is insurance that covers repairs or replacements of your vehicle parts. In fact, many car makers include a basic warranty with new cars, and some dealerships offer extended warranties for an additional cost.
Before you purchase an extended warranty, it’s essential to understand what the coverage length protects.
In addition, many extended warranties have deductibles and may cover only repairs at authorized dealerships or service centers.
When your original warranty expires, you can decide whether to purchase an extended warranty or self-insure by setting aside money each month to cover potential repairs.
What Does a Car Warranty Cover?
Some common things that an auto warranty may cover are:
- powertrain
- electrical components
- air conditioning
- gaskets and seals
- alternator
- safety restraints
In addition, many warranties also cover towing and rental car reimbursement in case your car needs to be towed, or you need to rent a car while your vehicle is being repaired.
Before your warranty expires, take your car in for any scheduled maintenance to help keep it running smoothly and avoid any costly repairs down the road.
Let’s not forget that even though the most frequent car repairs are oil changes and filter replacements, there are also some more expensive ones.
How Long Does a Car Warranty Last?
Most carmakers offer a basic warranty covering your vehicle for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. At the same time, some also offer extended warranties to protect your car even longer.
Whichever you choose, read the fine print and understand what is and isn’t covered. Otherwise, you may find yourself unexpectedly responsible for repairs down the road.
Extended Car Warranty
Many new car owners are faced with whether to purchase an extended warranty. While the cost of these warranties can be high, they can also provide peace of mind in a mechanical failure.
In fact, these warranties protect you for up to 10 years or more than 100,000 miles. One crucial factor to consider is the time you plan to keep your car.
Another factor to consider is your driving habits. If you tend to drive long distances or frequently take your car on off-road adventures, an extended warranty could help cover the cost of repairs.
Types of Car Warranties
There are different types of warranties, and they vary in terms of what they cover and how long they last. Let’s examine the most common ones.
Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty
This is the most comprehensive type of protection for your vehicle. It covers most systems and parts but doesn’t include routine maintenance or wear-and-tear items.
Rust and Corrosion Warranty
It covers replacements or repairs of rusted-through body sheet metal.
Powertrain Warranty
In short, it covers the car parts that make it move, like the engine, driveshaft, transmission, transaxle, and front- and rear-wheel drive systems.
Federal Emission Control or California Emission Control Warranty
The federal government obliges carmakers to provide a limited car warranty on several emission-related parts. California has supplementary emissions laws, which a lot of other states also choose to follow.
Accessory Warranty
Many people are unaware that there usually is an accessory warranty covering a wide range of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) auxiliary components. This can include sound and navigation systems, airbags, and seat belts.
Sometimes, safety features even have a warranty.
Best Car Warranty Companies
There are a lot of different auto warranty companies to choose from, so it’s important to do your research before buying. Some things to look for include coverage options, pricing, and customer reviews.
To help you get started, here are some of the best auto warranty companies:
- Concord Auto Protect
- Carchex
- Protectmycar.com
- Autopom!
- Endurance
- CarShield
Concord Auto Protect
We highly recommend Concord Auto Protect, one of the leading car warranty companies. It offers 24/7 support through an online form, email, phone, and Facebook Chat.
Concord Auto Protect is an extended warranty service company that backs its warranty plans. Unfortunately, if Concord were to go out of business, your investment in the extended warranty would not be protected by an insurance company.
Additionally, we found that Concord’s online service contract doesn’t mention optional coverage for commercial vehicles or GPS devices.
Concord Auto Protect offers three coverage tiers:
- Powertrain (the most basic coverage)
- Advanced (additional features like AWD/4×4 and steering coverage)
- Premium (everything from Powertrain and Advanced, plus Hi-Tech electronic coverage and general bumper-to-bumper protection)
What you will like is that every plan from this extended car warranty company has a 30-day money-back guarantee and is fully transferable, so you can rest assured knowing that your vehicle is fully covered.
Pros:
- includes free roadside assistance
- 24/7 support
- fully transferable
Cons:
- no optional coverage for commercial vehicles
Carchex
We assure you that Carchex offers a wide range of coverage options. Moreover, one of the top used car warranty companies has its warranties backed by three different companies—American Auto Shield, Royal Administration Services Inc., and Allegiance
We also like that Carchex provides coverage for cars with up to 250,000 miles.
Furthermore, we were thrilled to find that Carchex has 5 different plan tiers and 25 coverage packages to choose from:
- Titanium (absolute coverage for the majority of car components)
- Platinum (the highest stated-component coverage level, protecting hundreds of parts)
- Gold (the ideal coverage for high-mileage vehicles, covering all major systems)
- Silver (protects some key systems and powertrain components)
- Bronze (covers the transmission and engine)
The cost ranges between $100 and $200 monthly. However, if you’re not happy with your car warranty plan within the first 30 days, you can cancel it and get a full refund thanks to their 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.
Also, as a bonus, all plans include 24/7 roadside assistance. Most plans also include trip interruption and rental car reimbursement coverage, so you’re covered in case of any unforeseen problems.
Pros:
- 25 coverage packages
- 24/7 roadside assistance
- trip interruption and car reimbursement coverage
Cons:
- not a direct provider
Protectmycar.com
This is one of the most reputable extended car warranty companies. All its plans are backed by Virginia Surety Co., so you can be sure you’re in good hands.
Our team found that the company offers almost complete vehicle coverage on all three of their warranty plans for only $58 and $79 per month, so you can choose the one that’s right for you:
- Driveline (vehicles that are up to 10 years old and have up to 150,000 miles)
- Select (vehicles with age and mileage levels that are just outside of those offered on the Supreme plan)
- Supreme (newer vehicles and those with low mileage, providing coverage for an additional five years and up to 100,000 miles)
We should note that, even though this is one of the best-used car warranty options, it doesn’t provide its services to vehicles that are over 13 years old.
However, they offer Ambassador Maintenance Plans. They are extended warranties for older vehicles. So, if you have an older car and are looking for an extended warranty, Protectmycar.com is a good option.
Pros:
- Ambassador Maintenance Plans
- 50%–75% savings on mechanical repairs
- rental car reimbursement
Cons:
- no services to vehicles that are more than 13 years old
Autopom!
If you’re looking for protection for your car, we believe Autopom! is one of the best car warranty options. As an auto warranty broker, it works with four different providers to offer a variety of plans to its customers.
In addition, we should assure you that all the companies Autopom! partners with are financially stable, meaning you can feel confident that your warranties will be honored.
Overall, the four providers offer three different kinds of plans, and the highest mileage limit is up to 150,000 miles:
- Exclusionary (most mechanical and electrical components, unless stated otherwise)
- Mid-level (stated-component coverage for the engine, drive axle, transmission, steering, air conditioning, brakes, and electrical components)
- Powertrain plus (the powertrain and the air conditioning system)
You will also like that Autopom! car warranty lets you choose any licensed repair shop to fix your car. Furthermore, the company also offers 24-hour roadside assistance, trip interruption, and rental car insurance reimbursement with all its coverage plans in case of a breakdown. In addition, some plans also include tire protection and a rental car accident coverage.
Pros:
- trip interruption reimbursement
- some plans include tire protection
- financially-stable partners
Cons:
- not available in all states
Endurance
We highly recommend this company. In fact, every Endurance car warranty plan comes with Endurance Elite membership, including tire repair/replacement and 24-hour roadside assistance.
Moreover, our team found that the company provides one of the best trip interruption policies, offering a $150 reimbursement a day for a maximum of three days.
Then again, we were disappointed that it has a consequential loss clause, so the warranty won’t cover the damage caused by some uninsured parts.
Endurance offers some of the best extended car warranty plans, and the highest mileage limit is 200,000+ miles:
- Supreme (most comprehensive plan; almost all electrical and mechanical components)
- Superior (the highest level of stated-component coverage)
- Secure Plus (the powertrain and the brakes, steering and air conditioning, and some electrical components)
- Secure (the engine, transmission, and water pump)
- Select Premier (for older vehicles; the powertrain, cooling, electrical, air conditioning, fuel, and heating system)
- Endurance Advantage (prepaid maintenance and stated-component coverage)
We also like that Endurance provides 24/7 claims processing and extensive options for choosing a mechanic.
Overall, it is one of the most trusted names in the industry regarding car warranty plans.
Pros:
- an Endurance Elite membership
- 24/7 claims processing
- a direct provider
Cons:
- a consequential loss clause
CarShield
Our team found that American Auto Shield administers CarShield contracts supported by insurers who have received A financial strength ratings from AM Best.
What we liked the most is that the company’s plans can cover up to 300,000 miles—the highest limit in the industry. Car Shield Warranty offers six levels of coverage:
- Diamond (almost all electrical and mechanical components)
- Platinum (best for high-mileage vehicles covering the engine, air conditioning, transmission, electrical system, water pump, starter, fuel pump, and more)
- Gold (the engine, water pump, transmission, alternator, air conditioning, starter, and power windows)
- Silver (the engine, water pump, and transmission)
- Aluminum (high-tech and electrical components)
- Motorcycle & ATV (multiple tiers of coverage for motorcycles and other non-standard vehicles)
Not only is this the cheapest extended car warranty, but we were thrilled to find out that some bonuses come with many CarShield plans:
- 24/7 roadside assistance
- complimentary towing services
- rental car reimbursement with some plans
- claims paid directly to a repair shop
- low deductibles
- top-rated warranty distributors like American Auto Shield
Pros:
- many CarShield plans bonuses
- the highest mileage coverage
- affordable
Cons:
- a Better Business Bureau warning
Car Warranty Guide Recap
Do you want the peace of mind that comes with knowing your vehicle is protected? Now that you know everything about warranties for cars, it’s time to make a decision.
We hope this article has helped you understand warranties better. It is important to do your research and compare different warranty providers before purchasing a policy.
Buying an auto warranty doesn’t have to be an arduous process; in fact, it can be downright easy if you know what to look for. Armed with this information, we hope you feel confident enough to purchase a policy and enjoy the benefits that come along with it.
People Also Ask
Is it worth getting a car warranty?
Many people wonder if a warranty is worth the money, and the answer depends on a few factors. If you plan on keeping your vehicle for a long time, then a warranty can give you peace of mind knowing that you won’t have to pay for unexpected repairs.
On the other hand, if you plan on keeping your car only for a few years, then a warranty may not be necessary. Ultimately, whether a warranty is worth is up to the individual owner.
What is the average cost for an extended car warranty?
When it comes to extended warranties, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The extended warranty cost varies depending on several factors, including the model and make of your vehicle, your driving habits, and the level of coverage you choose.
That said, the average cost of an extended warranty is around $2,550. Of course, you don’t have to purchase an extended warranty if you feel uncomfortable doing so.
However, if you decide that an extended warranty is right for you, shop around and compare prices before deciding.
Who has the best auto warranty?
A warranty can give you peace of mind, knowing that your vehicle is covered in case of a breakdown.
But with so many different companies offering extended warranties, it can be challenging to know where to start. When shopping for an extended warranty, things to keep in mind include coverage options, pricing, and customer reviews.
To help you get started, here are some of the best auto warranty companies: Concord Auto Protect, Carchex, Protectmycar.com, Autopom!, Endurance, and CarShield.
With a little research, you can find the perfect extended warranty to suit your needs and give you the peace of mind you deserve.
Should I buy an extended warranty on a used car?
Deciding whether to buy an extended warranty on a used car is difficult. On the one hand, used cars are more likely to need repairs than new cars. On the other hand, extended warranties can be expensive and may not cover all types of repairs.
If you decide to buy an extended warranty, do your research. Read the fine print carefully and understand what it covers. Finally, remember that you can always finance the cost of repairs if you don’t have an extended warranty.
Ultimately, buying this type of car warranty depends on your budget and how comfortable you feel with taking on the risk of repairs.
