USAA is one of the premier insurance providers in the US. It might follow that a USAA extended warranty would also be top-notch. But does USAA even sell an extended warranty? And if so, is the USAA extended warranty worth considering?
Here, we’ll explore USAA’s offerings and provide tips on finding the best extended car warranty company for your needs. Even if you’re just looking into warranties, it’s a good idea to compare quotes. Getting quotes from different providers is the first step to deciding if an extended auto warranty makes sense for your needs and budget.
| Best Coverage | Best Service | Best Budget Warranty |
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| 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
Does USAA Offer an Extended Car Warranty?
Many people think that USAA offers an extended car warranty—and with good reason. While there is no longer a USAA extended warranty, there used to be. As recently as 2018, USAA sold vehicle protection plans, but that service has since been discontinued.
USAA auto insurance is top-notch, so it makes sense to think of it when exploring extended warranty options. Unfortunately, there is no USAA extended warranty for new customers. However, some customers are still covered under contracts that were put into place before 2018.
Does USAA Cover Mechanical Problems?
USAA does not cover mechanical problems. The most common types of car insurance only pay for expenses that are the result of an accident, not mechanical breakdowns. Some insurance providers offer what is called mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI), but USAA is not one of those companies.
Mechanical breakdown insurance is similar to an extended warranty. The major difference between MBI and an extended warranty is that the former is considered an insurance product and thus regulated by the state insurance commissioner. Only businesses with a property and casualty insurance license can sell MBI policies.
Some states, such as California, do not allow for the sale of extended car warranties. Extended warranty companies must sell MBI and therefore must be licensed by the state. This is why not all providers offer extended warranties in the state of California.
Do You Need an Extended Car Warranty?
Car insurance will help you repair your vehicle in the event of a major accident, but what about a common breakdown such as engine failure? Factory warranties typically protect you from such expenses, but when these expire you have the option to purchase an extended warranty.
When considering an extended car warranty, you should compare the price of your warranty with the cost of your vehicle’s annual repairs. Research the common repairs and typical maintenance costs for your vehicle to help determine the value an extended warranty could provide. Prices for extended car warranties vary depending on your vehicle. Older, high-mileage vehicles are generally more expensive to cover. We found that the typical price for an extended warranty can range anywhere from $600 to $1,000 per year.
There are a number of different warranty coverage levels ranging from a simple powertrain warranty intended to cover the engine and related components up to a bumper-to-bumper warranty intended to cover all major vehicle systems.
Even if you don’t take full advantage of your extended warranty monetarily, just having one may bring peace of mind. It can let you rest easy knowing that should an unexpected breakdown occur, you will be covered.
Our Recommendations for Extended Car Warranties
While there is no USAA extended warranty, there are a lot of other good options. In addition to manufacturer extended warranties, there are reliable third-party providers. Two of our top recommendations are Protect My Car and CARCHEX.
Protect My Car: Best Long-Term Financing
Protect My Car reviews with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) are some of the highest we have seen from any company. Customers are extremely pleased with the company’s customer service and report friendly and courteous service representatives.
We think that Protect My Car offers some of the best long-term financing options. It has payment contracts that extend as long as 60 months. This means lower monthly payments, which could be more affordable for customers with a monthly budget.
To find out how much you would pay for a Protect My Car extended warranty, get a free quote for your vehicle.
 ★★★★½
Protect My Car is our pick for best long-term financing.
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CARCHEX: Best Service
CARCHEX reviews are also very high for an extended warranty provider. The company is accredited by the BBB and holds an A+ rating. CARCHEX offers some of the lowest contract prices among top-tier providers, especially considering its long coverage terms.
CARCHEX is available nationwide and offers some of the longest coverage terms, which go as high as 10 years and 250,000 miles. It is a good option for those who drive a lot.
Learn more about CARCHEX extended warranties by getting a free, personalized quote.
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★★★★★
Our research found this provider to be the best for used cars.
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