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The best car warranty companies are Endurance, autopom!, Carchex, CarShield and Everything Breaks based on reputation, customer experience, cost and plans
Find the best car warranty by comparing plans from Endurance.
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We at the MarketWatch Guides team have compared over 40 providers to find the best car warranty companies in the industry. No warranty plan is one-size-fits-all, so we offer up the top five companies from the results of our review process. In this article, we’ll discuss each top provider in detail, focusing on business practices and industry reputation. We’ll also touch on what factors are most important to think about when considering a car warranty company.
Key Takeaways:
Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.
We’ve extensively researched auto warranty companies throughout the industry. In addition to cost and coverage options, the factors we use to determine the best car warranty companies on the market heavily focus on industry reputation and customer experience.
The table below showcases our research team’s top 10 picks for the best car warranty companies in addition to the overall rating for each:
Our team polled 1,000 consumers who had experience with car warranty companies, either through buying coverage or shopping for coverage. See below for some of the highlights we found in our extended warranty survey:
Here’s how the five best car warranty companies in this review stack up against each other:
| Car Warranty Company | Trustpilot Rating | Number of Plans | Highest Mileage | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7/5 | 6 | 200,000 | ||
| 4/5 | 3 | 150,000 | ||
| 2.2/5 | 5 | 250,000 | ||
| 4.2/5 | 8 | 300,000 | ||
| 3.1/5 | 5 | 250,000 |
| Car Warranty Company | Trustpilot Rating | Number of Plans | Highest Mileage | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7/5 | 6 | 200,000 | ||
| 4/5 | 3 | 150,000 | ||
| 2.2/5 | 5 | 250,000 | ||
| 4.2/5 | 8 | 300,000 | ||
| 3.1/5 | 5 | 250,000 |
If you don’t see your provider in our list of the best car warranty companies, look below for other options that we’ve thoroughly researched and awarded ratings to. All ratings are out of 10 points each.
| Extended Car Warranty Provider | Overall Rating |
| CNA National Warranty Corporation | 8.4 |
| MPP | 8.3 |
| Ally | 8.3 |
| Olive® | 8.2 |
| Select Auto Protect | 8.1 |
| Carvana | 8.1 |
| Assurant | 8.1 |
| Allstate | 8.1 |
| Old Republic Insured Automotive Services | 8 |
| GWC Warranty | 8 |
| NVP Warranty | 8 |
| Vehicle Assurance | 8 |
| National Vehicle Protection Services | 7.9 |
| Fidelity Warranty Services | 7.9 |
| Gold Standard Automotive Network | 7.9 |
| CornerStone United | 7.8 |
| Warranty Solutions | 7.7 |
| Century Warranty Services | 7.7 |
| Fenix Protect | 7.7 |
| Wholesale Warranties | 7.7 |
| Smart AutoCare | 7.7 |
| ASC Warranty | 7.6 |
| AutoNation | 7.6 |
| Zurich | 7.6 |
| Cars Protection Plus | 7.6 |
| Autoplex Extended Services | 7.6 |
| MasterTech | 7.5 |
| Safe-Guard | 7.5 |
| Route 66 Warranty | 7.5 |
| Elite Warranty | 7.4 |
| Carefree Auto | 7.2 |
Along with affordable rates and strong coverage, it’s best to look for reputable extended car warranty companies when shopping for vehicle protection. In the following sections, we’ll touch on how the best car warranty companies are determined, according to consumers.
While any group that provides extended car warranties could be considered a car warranty company, the term usually refers to a third-party provider that specializes in brokering or administering aftermarket vehicle service contracts.
Car warranty companies shouldn’t be confused with car insurance providers. While car insurance companies often offer mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) as an add-on to consumers, these plans rarely have the extensive coverage of the best car warranty companies.
Drivers have two main options for getting extended coverage: through a dealership or through an independent provider. There are pros and cons to buying coverage from each provider type, which we’ll discuss further in the following sections.
While automakers aren’t generally known as car warranty companies, drivers can buy coverage from their vehicle manufacturers. Since these contracts are usually backed by the automakers themselves, they can reduce buyer anxiety about reputability. Their costs are also typically rolled into the overall cost of the vehicle itself.
A benefit of buying extended coverage from an automaker is the guaranteed use of genuine parts for auto repairs and factory-trained technicians for repair work. However, these warranties typically come with the following drawbacks:
With plans from a third-party warranty company, a provider apart from your car’s manufacturer covers certain repairs. While these companies may not always provide original-manufacturer replacement parts, there are some advantages of aftermarket car warranty companies:
Along with a small monthly payment, you may be required to pay a portion of the repair costs if you choose a third-party warranty company. Though some providers may require you to pay for repairs upfront and submit receipts for reimbursement, the best car warranty companies pay the repair shop directly. All you have to cover is a small deductible.
Though cost data isn’t available directly from car warranty companies, our recent survey of 1,000 respondents found that warranty customers pay a median of $2,500, with costs ranging from $1,700 to $3,200. However, remember that some warranty policies will be priced well outside of this range. For example, Porsche owners on Reddit have reported being quoted as much at $11,000 for an extended warranty plan from the manufacturer.
Your exact extended warranty costs may look different than those above due to many factors, including vehicle age, vehicle mileage, vehicle make and model, the specific car warranty company, deductible costs, and the plan you choose. A vehicle with high mileage, for example, may not be eligible for certain comprehensive coverages or may cost more to cover. Also, your deductible choice can raise or lower your monthly and total rates. A good rule of thumb is that the higher your deductible is, the lower your warranty price will probably be.
Take a closer look at factors that may impact your warranty costs below:
If you’d like to purchase an extended warranty but are worried about costs, Jesse Bellamio, a warranty sales consultant with Sonic Automotive, urges customers to “think about how much you’re willing and able to spend on an unforeseen repair for your vehicle if you didn’t have a warranty.” This can help you make an informed decision on protection that will fit your budget.
Coverage, claims service and cost typically play a large role in the quality of any warranty. Before making a purchase, look at sample contracts to know what’s covered. You should also read customer reviews and industry ratings to find a car warranty company that’s affordable, reliable and trustworthy. You don’t want to work with a company with poor business practices or a spotty customer service record.
When considering a car warranty company, a reputable provider should tick off the following boxes:
We turn to the BBB and AM Best when considering a warranty company’s industry standing. The BBB grades companies on their ability to respond to and settle customer issues. If a provider holds a high BBB rating, there’s a good chance it effectively communicates with contract holders in a timely manner.
Some providers work with vehicle service contract underwriters to guarantee claims payouts. To check these underwriters’ financial strength ratings, we look to AM Best, which rates a business’ financial ability to pay claims and manage risk.
Some extended warranty providers like Carchex are also endorsed by industry-leading companies. Prominent partnerships are a good sign of a reputable provider.
The BBB, Google and Trustpilot all provide customer review ratings for the best car warranty companies. We recommend browsing through multiple review sites when deciding on a provider. Keep in mind that it’s common to see low customer review scores on the BBB, as customers looking to resolve complaints are more likely to post reviews on this platform.
Positive customer reviews are an important way to gauge how you’ll be treated by an extended warranty provider. Look for companies with reviews that mention a quick claims process and helpful service representatives. Also, beware of companies that customers say practice poor habits like scam calls and misleading advertisements.
Many reputable extended car warranty companies offer sample contracts so customers can read coverage details before signing on the dotted line. This is to help prospective customers get a clearer understanding of what to expect. Sample contracts are especially important to third-party warranty companies because the most common complaint they get in bad reviews pertains to claims denials.
By choosing a provider that readily offers information about its contracts, you’ll be better equipped to understand what is and isn’t covered. However, you should always read the fine print regardless of the provider you choose.
In our research, we’ve found that the most reputable providers have been in business for more than a few years. The warranty industry is highly competitive, making it easy for companies to come and go. This is especially true if they have negative customer reviews and shady business practices.
It’s also important to find a vehicle service plan that’s easy to use. To know if a company will be simple to work with, consider these questions when picking out a provider:
All of our best car warranty company recommendations offer these benefits. Sometimes, a company doesn’t pay for what should have been a covered repair. But in many situations, the contract clearly excludes the repair in question. Read all of the fine print, and don’t count on a salesperson to mention every exclusion to you.
In this article, we reviewed the best car warranty companies and found that Endurance is the top provider based on industry reputation, customer experience, cost and extended warranty coverage. In addition to discussing the top five providers, we touched on what determines the best car warranty companies based on customer preferences. We recommend keeping these determining factors in mind as you shop around for car warranty quotes.
Below are some frequently asked questions about car warranty companies:
After comparing leading providers, we chose Endurance as the best coverage provider available. The company works with customers directly and offers six coverage plans—more than most competitors. Endurance contracts extend up to eight years with unlimited miles.
Extended warranties can be worth it for the peace of mind they provide. After your factory new car warranty expires, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for all car repairs. With a vehicle service contract, you’re only responsible for a deductible and the cost of the contract. Warranties are also worth it for drivers who want a predictable auto budget.
Extended warranties cover your vehicle mechanically, keeping you from paying out of pocket for expensive repairs due to a mechanical failure. Extended warranties don’t typically cover wear and tear items like brake pads or routine maintenance like oil changes. However, they usually do come with perks like rental car coverage and roadside assistance.
CarShield is not a rip-off. Generally speaking, we found it to be one of the most affordable providers overall. The company also offers benefits like towing and rental car reimbursement with its plans.
In the world of extended warranties, a manufacturer’s warranty is usually the most expensive option considering the time and mileage limits you receive. However, it also pays for dealership service and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. Compare coverage terms from your dealer with free quotes from third-party providers to find out if it’s worth it for you.
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
Our credentials:
*Data accurate at time of publication.
If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides.
