An aftermarket auto warranty, also called an extended warranty, can be a great investment for many drivers. But which company offers the best aftermarket car warranty?
Our review team thoroughly researched the best extended car warranty providers throughout the industry, evaluating coverage, affordability, added benefits, customer service and more. In this review, we’ll discuss four of our highest-rated independent providers to help you choose the best aftermarket car warranty for your vehicle.
To start getting quotes from some of the best aftermarket car warranty companies, click below.
Table of Contents:
What is an Aftermarket Auto Warranty?
After your manufacturer warranty expires, an aftermarket auto warranty foots the bill for car repairs. You’re only responsible for a deductible per repair visit and the cost of the contract. Depending on the provider you choose, vehicle protection plans can be paid for upfront, monthly or rolled into your auto financing plan.
What are the Best Aftermarket Car Warranty Companies?
Our research team thoroughly researched every major auto warranty provider in the industry, considering each company’s coverage options, pricing, customer reviews and more. We also reached out to providers for sample quotes and evaluated the experience of working with company representatives. Based on this research, four providers stand out against the competition:
- #1 Endurance: Best Provider
- #2 CARCHEX: Best for Used Cars
- #3 CarShield: Most Affordable
- #4 Protect My Car: Best Financing
| Endurance | CARCHEX | CarShield | Protect My Car | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start Date | Anytime | Anytime | Anytime | Anytime |
| Maximum Length of Coverage |
8 years/ 200,000 miles or more |
10 years/ 250,000 miles |
200,000 miles | 125,000 miles |
| Coverage Levels | 6 | 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Deductible | $0 to $200 | $0 to $200 | $0 to $100 | $100 |
| Transferrable? | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Repair Network | Repair facilities certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®) | More than 30,000 facilities nationwide | ASE-Certified® repair facilities |
Any licensed repair shop |
| Availability | Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote |
#1 Endurance: Best Provider
We named Endurance the Best Provider overall based on its high-quality coverage plans and extensive Endurance Elite perks. The company has been in business since 2006 and is a direct provider, meaning it handles all payments and claims directly instead of administering other companies’ plans.
- Industry Reputation: 9.5 out of 10.0
- Coverage: 10.0
- Warranty Cost: 9.0
- Transparency: 10.0
- Customer Experience: 9.5
Endurance Aftermarket Auto Warranty Plans
Endurance offers six coverage plans that extend up to 8 years or 200,000 miles or more.
| Aftermarket Auto Warranty | Coverage Details |
|---|---|
| Supreme | Offers maximum breakdown protection for all vehicle parts and systems, except for a few exclusions |
| Superior | Covers hundreds of listed car parts and components |
| Secure Plus | Covers the powertrain components, steering, brakes and electrical |
| Select Premier | Designed for high-mileage cars and protects the powertrain components, air conditioning, cooling and electrical systems |
| Secure | Protects the engine, transmission and drive axle |
| EnduranceAdvantageTM | Combines prepaid maintenance with stated-component warranty coverage |
Added Perks
Each Endurance warranty includes a one-year Endurance Elite membership at no additional cost. This program offers the best aftermarket car warranty perks on the market, including:
- Trip interruption coverage: Reimburses lodging and meals if you break down more than 100 miles from home
- Roadside assistance: Includes flat tire assistance, fuel deliveries, lockout service and more
- Rental reimbursement: Covers alternative transportation while your vehicle is being repaired
- Personal concierge: Assistance with reservations, tickets, directions, emergencies and more
- Key fob replacement: Up to $500 for lost or broken fobs
- Tire replacements: Up to two tire repairs or replacements per year
- Member discounts: Savings on services and merchandise at certain retailers
- Repair financing: Up to $5,000 in repair loans
- $250 in vouchers: Redeemable through Endurance’s partner companies
Read more about the provider in our comprehensive Endurance warranty review, and click below to get a free, no-obligation quote.
|
Best Provider
Editor’s Rating: ★★★★★ |
Industry leader that offers no-interest payments of 12-24 mo. |
#2 CARCHEX: Best for Used Cars
CARCHEX offers vehicle protection up to 250,000 miles, one of the longest mileage term limits on the market. The company also covers vehicles up to 20 years old, earning it the Best for Used Cars award in our 2021 best extended car warranty review.
With over 20 years of business in the industry, CARCHEX has earned an excellent reputation. It holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), has made the Inc. 5000 list eight times and partners with industry leaders like CARFAX, Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds.com.
- Industry Reputation: 10.0 out of 10.0
- Coverage: 9.5
- Warranty Cost: 9.0
- Transparency: 9.5
- Customer Experience: 9.0
CARCHEX Aftermarket Auto Warranty Plans
Here is how the five CARCHEX extended warranty plans break down:
| Aftermarket Auto Warranty | Coverage Details |
|---|---|
| Titanium | Covers almost all mechanical and electrical components except few listed exclusions |
| Platinum | Considered stated-component coverage and protects most major vehicle systems and components |
| Gold | Protects the powertrain, brakes, steering, fuel system, air conditioning and electrical components |
| Silver | Covers the engine, drivetrain, transmission, fuel delivery system, air conditioning and some electrical components |
| Bronze | Covers the engine, transmission and drive axle |
Added Perks
CARCHEX offers the following perks with every vehicle service contract:
- Emergency roadside assistance: Includes battery jump-starts, gas deliveries, lockout service and more
- Towing: Includes tows to the nearest CARCHEX-authorized repair facility
- Rental car reimbursement: Covers rental fees while your car is being repaired
- Trip interruption coverage: Covers some lodging and meal costs if you break down during a trip or far from home
To learn more about the provider, read our full CARCHEX review. You can also get a free, personalized quote by clicking below.
|
Best for High-Mileage Cars
Editor’s Rating: ★★★★½ |
Offers comprehensive service and covers vehicles with over 100,000 miles |
#3 CarShield: Most Affordable
CarShield is our top choice for affordable coverage. The company offers flexible payment options, including month-to-month contracts that can be canceled at any time. If you’re worried about being locked into a long-term contract, a CarShield aftermarket auto warranty may give you extra peace of mind in your investment. The company has covered more than one million vehicles since opening up shop in 2005.
- Industry Reputation: 8.5 out of 10.0
- Coverage: 9.5
- Warranty Cost: 10.0
- Transparency: 8.5
- Customer Experience: 8.5
CarShield Aftermarket Auto Warranty Plans
The company offers six vehicle service contracts, including motorcycle and ATV coverage:
| Aftermarket Auto Warranty | Coverage Details |
|---|---|
| Diamond | Protects virtually all parts and systems aside from a short list of exclusions |
| Platinum | Best for high-mileage vehicles, covering the engine, transmission, drivetrain, air conditioning, electrical system and more |
| Gold | Covers a variety of major and minor vehicle parts, including the powertrain, air conditioning and some electrical components |
| Silver | Protects the engine, transmission and drive axle |
| Aluminum | Covers most electrical and high-tech systems, including the engine control module and starter |
| Motorcycle and ATV | Covers motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles |
Added Perks
CarShield contracts come with a few additional benefits, such as:
- Emergency roadside assistance: Covers services like battery jump-starts or fuel deliveries
- Courtesy towing: Covers towing to a CarShield-approved repair facility if a breakdown occurs
- Rental car reimbursement: Reimburses alternative transportation costs if your vehicle is in the shop for a covered repair
Read more in our CarShield review, and click below to get a free quote.
|
Most Affordable
Editor’s Rating: ★★★★½ |
Affordable plans with great perks, such as roadside assistance |
#4 Protect My Car: Best Financing
Established in 2005, Protect My Car is a popular choice among car owners looking for aftermarket auto warranty coverage. One of its most attractive features is its monthly payment plans that can span from 36 to 60 months, significantly longer than other industry-leading providers. This makes coverage more affordable in the long term.
The provider also holds high ratings across the industry. Protect My Car has an unaccredited A+ rating from the BBB alongside a 4.66 out of 5-star customer review score. Similarly, the company holds a 4.3-star on Trustpilot backed by over 1,300 customer reviews.
- Industry Reputation: 9.0 out of 10.0
- Coverage: 9.0
- Warranty Cost: 8.0
- Transparency: 8.5
- Customer Experience: 9.0
Protect My Car Aftermarket Auto Warranty Plans
Protect My Car has just three warranty plans, but each offers high-quality coverage. If you’re interested in maintenance coverage, the provider also offers five prepaid maintenance programs called Ambassador Maintenance Plans.
| Aftermarket Auto Warranty | Coverage Details |
|---|---|
| Supreme | Best suited for newer and lower-mileage vehicles, covering most complex vehicle components for up to 5 years/100,000 miles |
| Select | Designed for vehicles with more than 50,000 miles, covering all components of the Supreme policy except for the turbocharger and navigation systems |
| Driveline | Designed for older, higher-mileage vehicles, covering powertrain components, cooling, air conditioning and electrical systems |
Added Perks
If you purchase an extended warranty from Protect My Car, you’ll also receive the following benefits:
- 24-hour roadside assistance: Two courtesy emergency roadside calls per year, then $50 per service for any additional calls
- Courtesy towing: One tow to a licensed repair facility per 72-hour period
- Rental car reimbursement: Up to $30 per day for a maximum of seven days
- Trip interruption coverage: Up to $50 per day for a maximum of three days for lodging and meals if you break down more than 150 miles from home
- Maintenance service: Covers oil changes and tire rotations
To get a full picture of the provider’s offerings, read our Protect My Car review. Click below to receive a free quote.
|
Best Long-Term Financing
Editor’s Rating: ★★★★½ |
Long-standing provider with flexible payment terms and some discounts |
Are Aftermarket Auto Warranties Worth It?
An aftermarket auto warranty can offer car owners the ultimate peace of mind on the road, especially as their vehicles age and factory warranty coverage expires. Typically, the most costly repairs are needed later on in a vehicle’s life. If you don’t have extended warranty coverage, you’ll be stuck paying for repairs out of pocket if your car breaks down.
According to RepairPal, these are some of the most commonly reported problems of popular vehicles and their average repair costs:
| Vehicle | Repair | Average Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Honda Accord | Ignition switch replacement | $158 to $203 |
| Ford Focus | Window regulator replacement | $372 to $462 |
| Toyota Corolla | Air conditioning compressor replacement | $576 to $845 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | Ignition coil replacement | $978 to $1,289 |
| Nissan Altima | Engine oil cooler replacement | $676 to $707 |
If you wouldn’t feel comfortable paying these repair bills, an aftermarket auto warranty may be worth considering.
You should also take your existing warranty coverage into account. Most manufacturers offer a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty with new vehicles. If you plan on selling your vehicle before the factory warranty expires, there’s little reason to buy an aftermarket auto warranty.
What Does an Aftermarket Car Warranty Cover?
Aftermarket car warranty coverage depends on the type of contract you purchase. Vehicle service contracts can be broken down into three types of coverage:
- Exclusionary coverage: Also called “comprehensive” or “bumper-to-bumper” coverage, this type of plan covers all major mechanical parts and systems, except for a short list of exclusions.
- Stated-component coverage: Each covered part and component is specifically listed in the vehicle service contract.
- Powertrain coverage: The most basic level of protection, this warranty covers a vehicle’s most important systems – the engine, transmission and drivetrain.
The best aftermarket car warranty providers also offer additional mid-tier plans that give drivers more opportunity to meet their individual coverage and cost needs.
What’s Not Included in an Aftermarket Auto Warranty
Exclusions vary from provider to provider, but there are some parts and causes of damage that the majority of providers won’t cover, including:
- Wear-and-tear parts
- Environmental damage
- Collision damage
- Vandalism
- Improper maintenance or misuse
- Aftermarket parts or modifications
FAQ: Best Aftermarket Car Warranty
What is the best aftermarket auto warranty?
Our review team named Endurance the Best Provider overall, and the company earned a 9.6 out of 10.0-point rating. We like Endurance’s business model, as it works with customers directly rather than through a middleman. The provider offers six coverage plans with term limits over 200,000 miles, ensuring customers can find a contract tailored to their needs.
Are aftermarket car warranties any good?
For many drivers, aftermarket car warranties are a worthwhile investment. They protect you from paying for out-of-pocket repairs after your factory warranty expires. However, the best aftermarket car warranties go beyond financial protection. They also include added perks, including roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, travel interruption reimbursement and more.
What is a good price for an extended auto warranty?
Based on our research, extended auto warranties cost between $1,700 and $4,000 for three to seven years of coverage. A good price for coverage should be around $2,500 to $3,000. However, extended warranty costs are highly variable, and it may be worth investing more in a high-quality contract.
Methodology
The Detroit Bureau collects data from every major car warranty provider to formulate rankings of the best warranty companies. Our in-depth rating system takes into account coverage, pricing, transparency, customer satisfaction and ratings from industry experts. Each provider is given a weighted score in five categories, as well as an overall score out of 10.0.
We recommend auto warranty companies based on these rankings, but we also encourage you to perform your own research and compare quotes to find the best coverage.
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Best Aftermarket Car Warranty: 2021 Review - Paul Eisenstein
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