We evaluated the best extended auto warranty companies in the nation to help you find the right extended warranty coverage, price point, and customer experience.
In this article, we will discuss the benefits of extended warranties and provide comparisons of top warranty companies. Before making your final decision, we strongly encourage you to get several quotes so you can compare coverage options and cost side-by-side.
Get free quotes from some of the best extended auto warranty providers below:
| Best Coverage | Best Service | Best Budget Warranty |
 |  |  |
| Endurance | CARCHEX | CarShield |
| ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote |
| (877) 374-1840 | (866) 254-0205 | (800) 563-2761 |
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Table of contents
- Best Extended Auto Warranty Companies
- #1 Endurance: 4.9 Stars
- #2 CARCHEX: 4.8 Stars
- #3 CarShield: 4.6 Stars
- #4 Protect My Car: 4.5 Stars
- What is an Extended Auto Warranty?
- Types of Extended Warranties
- Benefits of an Extended Car Warranty
- Car Warranty Company Comparison
- Selecting the Best Extended Auto Warranty
- Frequently Asked Questions
Best Extended Auto Warranty Companies
When it comes to purchasing an extended warranty, you have two choices: dealership warranties or third-party extended warranties.
While dealership extended warranties come with the advantage of providing original manufacturer parts when repairs are needed, they are generally much more expensive than third-party extended warranties at a similar level of service.
Among third-party providers, our research found that four are clearly the best when it comes to coverage and benefits. Here are our top choices for the best extended auto warranty in the industry.
| Best Extended Auto Warranty Providers | Superlative | Star Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endurance | Best Coverage | 4.9 | Drivers who want a reputable extended warranty with excellent coverage |
| CARCHEX | Best Service | 4.8 | Drivers who want a reputable extended warranty with outstanding service |
| CarShield | Best Budget Warranty | 4.6 | Drivers who want great extended warranty coverage at a low price |
| Protect My Car | Best Long-Term Financing | 4.5 | Drivers who want smaller monthly payments over a long period of time |
#1 Endurance: 4.9 Stars
Based in Northbrook, Illinois, Endurance is our pick for the best extended auto warranty company overall with a 4.9-star rating.
Endurance is a direct provider, meaning the company files its own quotes and claims. Many other extended car warranty companies work with third-party administrators to file quotes and claims, and this can sometimes lead to inconsistent coverage. Endurance is available in every state except for California.
Endurance holds great customer review ratings, earning a 4.0-star rating on Trustpilot and nearly a 4.0-star rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Endurance is the only extended auto warranty company we examined that was featured in the 2019 Inc. 5000, a list of the 5000 fastest growing companies in the United States. From 2015 to 2018, Endurance grew over 280 percent in revenue. We think the reason for Endurance’s quick growth is its outstanding coverage and Endurance Elite Membership.
| Coverage Level | Details |
|---|---|
| Supreme | Bumper-to-bumper exclusionary coverage |
| Superior | Most component coverage |
| Secure Plus | Shortest waiting period |
| Secure | Most affordable |
| Select Premier | For high mileage vehicles |
An Endurance car warranty covers vehicles with over 150,000 miles through the Select Premier plan, which is relatively rare in the industry. In addition, its five plans serve a wide variety of warranty needs. Because of its great coverage plans and ability to cover high-mileage vehicles, we recognized Endurance as having the Best Coverage among competing providers.
The Endurance Elite Membership is what sets Endurance apart the most from other extended warranty companies. It’s free to new customers for one year and includes benefits like:
- Tire repair replacement: Endurance will reimburse you for up to two replaced or repaired tires per year.
- Personal assistant: The Endurance Personal Concierge provides live, human help with everything from reservations to tickets, directions, and emergencies.
- Member rewards: Endurance gives you $250 to spend with select partners, plus discounts at select merchants.
The membership also includes standard industry benefits, such as a 30-day money back guarantee and emergency roadside assistance.
In addition to its excellent membership program, we named Endurance the best extended auto warranty provider for its five levels of coverage targeted to customers’ needs. Only CarShield offers more warranty plans than Endurance.
|
★★★★★
Endurance is our pick for best direct provider with its comprehensive coverage options.
|
#2 CARCHEX: 4.8 Stars
CARCHEX is based in Baltimore, Maryland and has been in business since 2004. Compared to other best extended auto warranty companies, we found CARCHEX to have the Best Service. This is because CARCHEX has a sterling reputation in the industry for its positive treatment of customers and employees. It is also available in all 50 states of the US.
CARCHEX holds a strong 3.5-star rating on Trustpilot and was awarded the Top Workplaces Award by the Baltimore Sun for seven consecutive years. In addition, CARCHEX has made the Inc. 5000 eight times in its history, making it a Hall of Fame honoree of the rankings. Beyond its awards, CARCHEX holds notable partnerships with industry leaders, such as CARFAX, Kelley Blue Book, and Edmunds.com.
CARCHEX offers five outstanding levels of extended warranty coverage.
| Coverage Level | Details |
|---|---|
| Titanium | Bumper-to-bumper coverage |
| Platinum | Highest level of component coverage available |
| Gold | Coverage for all major systems on a vehicle |
| Silver | Provides essential coverage to the major systems of your vehicle |
| Bronze | Provides basic coverage for the major systems of your vehicle |
Though not as comprehensive as Endurance’s Elite Membership benefits, CARCHEX offers a number of helpful benefits that are available during the first year and beyond. And because CARCHEX is known for its great treatment of customers, you can expect positive customer service experiences when using your benefits.
- 30-day money back guarantee
- Choice of over 30,000 repair shops in the US
- Emergency roadside assistance
- Rental car benefits
- Towing benefits
- Trip interruption benefits
|
★★★★★
Our research found this provider to be the best for used cars.
|
#3 CarShield: 4.6 Stars
Based in St. Peters, Missouri, CarShield is arguably the most popular provider from our list of best extended auto warranty companies in the nation. CarShield has been selling extended warranties since 2005 and has paid over one billion dollars in claims to customers during this time period. CarShield extended warranties are not available in California.
CarShield offers six different extended car warranty protection plans. Notably, CarShield covers motorcycles and ATVs in addition to automobiles.
| Coverage Level | Details |
|---|---|
| New Car Diamond | Bumper-to-bumper coverage |
| Platinum | Best for high-mileage vehicles |
| Gold | Great for major and minor vehicle parts |
| Silver | Most affordable |
| Aluminum | Great coverage for most electrical and high-tech problems |
| Motorcycle & ATV | For motorcycles and ATVs |
We named CarShield the Best Budget Warranty after our CarShield review found that the company offered the lowest monthly cost among many top providers.
CarShield offers all of the standard extended warranty benefits, including the following:
- 30-day money back guarantee
- Emergency roadside assistance
- Rental car benefits
- Towing benefits
- Trip interruption benefits
 ★★★★½
Our research found this provider to be the most affordable. Plus, it offers monthly plans.
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#4 Protect My Car: 4.5 Stars
Protect My Car is located in St. Petersburg, Florida and was established in 2005. This best extended auto warranty company holds nearly a 5.0-star rating with the BBB based on more than 600 reviews, which is very impressive. Protect My Car offers coverage in 44 states. It does not offer coverage in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Missouri, Oklahoma, or Washington.
In our review of Protect My Car, we recognized the provider for having the Best Long-Term Financing because car owners can get extended warranties with payments spanning 36 to 48 months. Our review team reached out to each of the providers highlighted in this guide for quotes, and none of them offered as long of a payment term as Protect My Car did.
Protect My Car has three levels of coverage. It is important to note that Protect My Car does not offer plans for vehicles over 13 years old. For these vehicles, the company has Ambassador Maintenance Plans, which are car maintenance insurance contracts.
| Coverage Level | Details |
|---|---|
| Supreme | Bumper-to-bumper coverage |
| Select | Designed for vehicles with over 50,000 miles |
| Driveline | Covers some components, but excludes the turbo charger, navigation system, and front and rear suspension |
In addition to flexible payment plans, Protect My Car offers these benefits to customers:
- PMC Rewards for dining and shopping discounts
- Emergency roadside assistance
- Rental car benefits
 ★★★★½
Protect My Car is our pick for best long-term financing.
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What is an Extended Auto Warranty?
An extended auto warranty is a service contract designed to protect your vehicle from costly repairs after your manufacturer’s warranty has expired. While a manufacturer’s factory warranty is included with every new vehicle for free, an extended car warranty must be purchased.
A manufacturer’s warranty typically provides bumper-to-bumper coverage for around 3 years/36,000 miles. It may also provide powertrain coverage for a specified period of time that is generally a bit longer than the bumper-to-bumper coverage.
Once the manufacturer’s warranty expires, vehicle owners are completely responsible for all repairs needed on the vehicle. To protect themselves from such costly repairs, many customers buy coverage from the industry’s best extended auto warranty providers. According to IBISWorld, almost 18 billion dollars was spent on extended warranties last year in the US.
Types of Extended Warranties
There are three common types of extended warranties:
- Bumper-to-bumper:Bumper-to-bumper extended auto warranties are comprehensive, exclusionary warranties. As the highest level of coverage, bumper-to-bumper extended warranties will cover almost any type of repair needed on your vehicle. There are certain excluded items, which are listed in the warranty’s contract.
- Named component: A named component extended warranty is an inclusionary contract that specifically names the components covered by your contract. Some named component warranties focus on covering the high-tech items in your vehicle, while some cover hundreds of major and minor car parts.
- Powertrain: This type of warranty covers the powertrain of your vehicle, which consists of your engine, transmission, and drivetrain. Repairs on these parts of your vehicle are typically the most expensive, so some consumers decide to only protect these components with an extended warranty.
All extended car warranties are either inclusionary or exclusionary. Inclusionary warranties provide a list of items that are specifically included in your contract, while exclusionary warranties provide a list of items that are excluded from your contract. Exclusionary warranties are typically more comprehensive, since everything not mentioned is covered by your contract.
Benefits of an Extended Car Warranty
Car repairs can be very expensive—unexpected repairs costing between $1,500 and $3,000 are not uncommon. For people who have very large savings, an extended car warranty may not be needed. But for those who cannot afford to cover repairs, an extended warranty is a great option. For a relatively small monthly payment, you don’t have to worry about bank-breaking repairs.
Here are a few of the benefits of purchasing coverage from one of the best extended auto warranty companies:
- Peace of mind: Though extended car warranties may cost some customers more in the long run, they provide peace of mind. You don’t have to stress about large repair bills when you have an extended warranty.
- Convenience: The most reputable extended auto warranty companies pay your repair shop directly, so you don’t have to worry about writing large checks or acquiring loans from your bank.
- Additional benefits: Most extended auto warranty companies provide additional benefits to customers, including roadside assistance, towing benefits, and rental car reimbursement. Some offer member rewards, such as vouchers that can be used for dining or shopping. Endurance provides a personal assistant and two free tire replacements or reimbursements per year.
Car Warranty Company Comparison
| Best Extended Car Warranty Providers | Overall Star Rating | Coverage | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1: Endurance | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.8 |
| #2: CARCHEX | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4.7 |
| #3: CarShield | 4.6 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| #4: Protect My Car | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| #5: autopom! | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| #6: ForeverCar | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.3 |
| #7: Liberty Bell Auto Protect | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.2 |
| #8: AA Auto Protection | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.0 |
| #9: Infinite Auto Protection | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.0 |
| #10: Concord Auto Protect | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| #11: AutoAssure | 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.2 |
| #12: Delta Auto Protect | 2.1 | 3.6 | 2.0 |
Selecting the Best Extended Auto Warranty
Each of the four companies we highlighted is a great choice for an extended auto warranty. Some of these providers have particular strengths. If you are looking for comprehensive coverage and benefits, then Endurance may be your best choice. If you would prefer to pay for your plan over a period longer than 36 months, then Protect My Car is the best fit for you. Many top providers offer coverage for new vehicles and vehicles with more than 100,000 miles.
The cost of your extended warranty will depend on several factors, including your vehicle, mileage, and location. When we reached out to the best extended auto warranty companies for quotes, we found monthly payments between $65 and $250. Some providers also sell plans for the full price upfront.
For your extended warranty and auto protection service contract needs, our recommendation is to get a quote from several providers. We think it’s worth your time to investigate plans and benefits thoroughly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are extended car warranties worth it?
If you can easily afford an unexpected repair costing hundreds or thousands of dollars, then extended car warranties may not be worth it to you. If you’re looking for peace of mind and small monthly payments instead of unexpected repair costs, vehicle service contracts are worth looking into.
What is the best extended auto warranty company?
The best extended auto warranty company is the one that fits your needs the best. We named these four warranty providers the best in the industry:
- #1 Endurance: Best Coverage
- #2 CARCHEX: Best Service
- #3 CarShield: Best Budget Warranty
- #4 Protect My Car: Best Long-Term Financing
How much should I pay for an extended warranty?
This will depend on several factors, including your budget, the mileage and age of your vehicle, and the specific plan you purchase. Endurance says that the average extended warranty cost is around $350 to $700 per year, but your payment may need to be higher than that.
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