Many Volkswagen owners consider a Volkswagen extended warranty after their factory warranty ends. In this guide, our review team discusses Volkswagen’s extended warranty plan in-depth to help you make a great decision for your vehicle.
Volkswagen Extended Warranty:
A Volkswagen extended warranty exceeds the 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty that protects new Volkswagens from manufacturer defects. Volkswagen offers additional protection for up to 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Below, we’ll explore the VW warranty and see how it compares to the best extended auto warranty providers in the industry. To see how much you would pay for third-party coverage, get a free, personalized quote for an Endurance extended warranty.
| 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 |
To learn more about our editorial integrity policy and how we make money through affiliate partnerships, read our full disclosure here.
Table of contents
Do You Need Extended Warranty Coverage?
Unfortunately, car repairs can be costly. It is not uncommon for repairs to cost over $1,000, which is a major expense for most Americans. For that reason, purchasing an extended warranty is often a smart decision. Doing so gives you peace of mind that your budget will not be disrupted due to an unexpected repair.
The five-year average repair cost for a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan is around $2,609, according to Edmunds.com. That amount does not include any other car expenses like regular maintenance or fuel. The table below highlights some of the more expensive Volkswagen Tiguan repairs, according to RepairPal.
| Volkswagen Tiguan Repairs | Cost |
|---|---|
| Head gasket replacement | $963 – $1,200 |
| Air bag crash sensor replacement | $591 – $619 |
| Steering rack replacement | $346 – $1,617 |
| Turbocharger assembly replacement | $2,031 – $2,165 |
| Catalytic converter replacement | $2,749 – $2,799 |
Volkswagen Reliability
As a brand, Volkswagen has above average reliability, according to RepairPal. RepairPal ranked Volkswagen 12th overall out of 32 automobile brands for brand reliability across 345 unique models. J.D. Power ranked Volkswagen even higher in the 2020 U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM as the sixth most reliable manufacturer.
An important consideration when it comes to reliability is the model of Volkswagen that you own. The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan and the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas were among the Consumer Reports 10 least reliable cars of the year in the magazine’s last survey. On the other hand, the 2020 Volkswagen GTI is considered to have good predicted reliability by Consumer Reports.
Volkswagen Factory and Certified Pre-Owned Warranties
Since every new and certified pre-owned (CPO) Volkswagen comes with a warranty of its own, it’s wise to consider how much of your factory or CPO warranty is left on your current vehicle before purchasing an extended warranty. We recommend that you wait until you are near the end of your bumper-to-bumper warranty before purchasing an extended warranty in order to save yourself money.
The table below shows the bumper-to-bumper coverage that comes with every new and CPO Volkswagen. The amount of factory coverage you were given depends on the year and model of your Volkswagen. Once you exceed this coverage, you will be responsible for repairs that might be needed for your vehicle.
| Volkswagen Warranty Plans | Bumper-to-Bumper Coverage (Includes Powertrain Coverage) |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen new vehicle warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles (2020 and newer models)
6 years/72,000 miles (2018 and 2019 models) 3 years/36,000 miles (2017 and earlier models) |
| Volkswagen certified pre-owned warranty | 1 year/12,000 miles (2018 and newer models)
2 years/24,000 miles (2017 and earlier hybrid, gas, and eGold electric models) 2 years/unlimited miles (2016 and earlier turbocharged diesel engines) |
Volkswagen Extended Warranty Overview
Volkswagen offers three extended warranty plans: Powertrain, Gold, and Platinum. The table below describes the coverage that each plan provides. For every repair visit, you owe a deductible. You will select the deductible when you purchase your plan, and it will either be $0, $100 disappearing, or $250.
The disappearing deductible option is only available if you take your vehicle to be repaired at the facility where you purchased your extended car warranty. These three plans are also available for CPO Volkswagens with the same level of coverage and benefits. The deductible on CPO Volkswagens for all of the plans is always $50.
| Powertrain Plan | Gold Plan | Platinum Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Maximum Coverage Terms | 10 years/150,000 miles | 10 years/150,000 miles | 10 years/150,000 miles |
| Engine | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transmission | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drive Axle | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hybrid/Electric | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Climate Control | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Shocks | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Front Suspension | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Rear Suspension | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Fuel System | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Electrical System | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Steering | ✓ | ||
| Brakes | ✓ | ||
| CV Boots | ✓ | ||
| Navigation | ✓ | ||
| Audio | ✓ | ||
| High-Tech | ✓ |
What’s Not Included
A Volkswagen extended warranty does not cover the items below. These exclusions are standard among extended warranties.
- Mechanical breakdowns caused by a lack of maintenance or pre-existing conditions
- Mechanical breakdowns caused by accident, collision, vandalism, or weather-related conditions
- Spark plugs, wiper blades, trim pieces, upholstery, and body panels
Additional Perks
Every Volkswagen extended warranty comes with these additional benefits:
- Volkswagen parts and the ability to take your Volkswagen to any nationwide Volkswagen dealership or authorized service provider for repairs
- 24-hour roadside assistance, including battery service, flat tire assistance, lockout assistance up to $100 per occurrence, and fuel or fluid delivery
- Towing reimbursement up to $100 to the nearest Volkswagen dealer or authorized service provider
- Rental car reimbursement up to $35 per day and up to 10 days
- Trip interruption coverage up to $200 per day for a maximum of five days, for a total benefit of $1,000 per occurrence
- Cancelable at any time, with a $50 fee if after 30 days
Volkswagen’s additional perks are fairly generous, but the company does not offer benefits such as tire repair or replacement reimbursement or a personal concierge assistant that you can get with Endurance through its Endurance Elite Membership.
Volkswagen Extended Warranty Cost
The cost of a Volkswagen extended warranty is dependent on your vehicle. If your VW is old or has many miles on it, your extended warranty will cost more than if it is newer and has fewer miles. That’s because Volkswagens that are newer are less likely to need repairs.
According to Money Crashers, an extended warranty from a car manufacturer costs approximately $1,000 to $1,500. Using the same Edmunds.com calculator we used with the Tiguan, we found that a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta costs about $3,500 in repairs over five years. Considering that average repair cost, an extended warranty is very reasonable for Volkswagen owners.
Benefits of a Third-Party Extended Warranty
While car manufacturers like Volkswagen offer reliable extended car warranties, companies such as Endurance, CARCHEX, and CarShield also offer great coverage. Extended warranties from these companies are typically more affordable than manufacturer warranties while providing a similar level of coverage and service.
The table below compares Volkswagen’s extended warranty head-to-head with Endurance. As you can see, Endurance offers longer coverage terms, more coverage levels, and a broader repair facility network. You are also able to start your extended warranty anytime.
| Audi Extended Warranty | Endurance Extended Warranty | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage Start Date | Anytime | Anytime |
| Longest Term | 150,000 miles | 200,000 miles |
| Levels of Coverage | 3 | 5 |
| Deductible | $0, $100 disappearing, or $250 | $0, $50, $100, or $200 |
| Where to Get Repairs | Volkswagen dealerships or limited authorized service providers | Any US or Canadian repair facility certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) |
| Transferability | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cancellation | Refund available within 30 days | Refund available within 30 days |
| Roadside Assistance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rental Car Reimbursement | ✓ | ✓ |
| Availability | Purchase from Volkswagen dealerships | Get Quote |
Conclusion
Your vehicle can be covered for up to 10 years/150,000 miles with a Volkswagen extended warranty. Volkswagen offers some of the best benefits among auto manufacturers with roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage.
With low costs and sometimes even better benefits, extended car warranties offered by third-party companies are often a better choice for Volkswagen drivers. If you are planning to purchase an extended warranty for your VW, the best thing to do is call around and get quotes customized to your vehicle. That way, you can compare prices and get a feel for customer service. You can start by getting quotes from our top four choices:
| 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 |