5 Most Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies (2021)

Are you looking to extend your warranty coverage after your manufacturer’s coverage has expired? You may consider investing in an extended warranty from one of the industry's most reputable extended car warranty companies to cover the unexpected repairs and services you’re likely to need over many years of wear and tear.

Unfortunately, not all extended warranties are equal, so it's important to do the research to ensure that you are purchasing coverage from a reputable provider. In this guide, we’ll give a short overview of the best extended car warranty companies in the industry, focusing on industry reputation, coverage plans, and customer service ratings. By the end, you’ll be on your way to making a well-informed and educated decision about your extended warranty.

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In this article:

Top Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies 

Without properly vetting companies, you could end up wasting your hard-earned money on an extended warranty that will give you a major headache anytime you try to get a repair covered. Luckily, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Here are the five most reputable extended car warranty companies:

Each of these providers scored highly for industry standing and transparency in our in-depth market review. Here’s a closer look:

Endurance: Best Coverage

Endurance is a well-known direct provider backed by an AM Best A-rated insurance company. It holds a place on the 2020 Inc. 5000, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing companies, and sponsors Jarett Andretti of Andretti Autosports.

Reputation

The extended warranty company has a 4.3-star “Excellent” rating on Trustpilot based on over 2,300 positive Endurance warranty reviews. Its Better Business Bureau (BBB) page has a 3.54-star rating from customers based on more than 1,100 reviews. The BBB itself rates Endurance at a C+ due to promotional mailers sent out in the Chicago area that were confusing to consumers.

Customer Service

Endurance is a direct administrator of warranty plans, so there is no middleman when filing claims. You’ll always deal with Endurance directly, which can simplify and speed up the filing process. It’s one of the reasons we think Endurance is one of the most reputable extended car warranty companies.

Levels of Coverage

Endurance offers six tiers of coverage. However, the term lengths are not specified for each tier. That said, we were able to find that coverage is offered up to 8 years/200,000+ miles. Let's take a look at the different tiers and what each car warranty plan covers:

Additional Information

Endurance is great for motorists that want a quick and easy claims process. Customers can file claims through an online portal or by phone, making the process pain-free. Plus, you’ll always get personalized assistance from an online concierge who will assist you anytime you need it.

As an added bonus, Endurance offers two free tire repairs or replacements per year, which is uncommon amongst extended warranty companies. It also offers identity protection tools to make sure you are reimbursed if your identity is ever compromised.

CARCHEX: Best For Used Cars

CARCHEX is one of the most well-known and reputable extended car warranty companies around. Established in 1999, CARCHEX has an A+ BBB rating, BBB accreditation, and numerous endorsements from trusted brands like Kelley Blue Book, CARFAX, RepairPal, and Edmunds.com.

Reputation

Along the way, CARCHEX has racked up an impressive trophy case, with awards like the Thoroughly Reviewed 2017 Top Pick, a five-star rating on TopConsumerReviews.org for six consecutive years, and the BestReviewsHub.com Best Choice Award for four years in a row.

Customer Service

CARCHEX has a no-pressure signup process and generally low prices. You can call the company anytime and be sure that you’ll get a clear explanation of pricing and coverage terms, without a pushy salesperson on the other end.

The contracts and plans for the different levels of coverage that CARCHEX offers are long and rather confusing, but a representative can walk you through them, which is a major help. If you’re not satisfied with your warranty plan within the first 30 days, you can cancel it and receive a full refund as part of CARCHEX’s 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

Levels of Coverage

CARCHEX has five tiers of coverage:

Additional Information

CARCHEX is a good option for vehicle owners that already have a preferred mechanic or auto repair facility, as the company has a large, nationwide network of approved service providers. Vehicle owners don’t have to go through lengthy claims proceedings. Instead, the auto shop can file the claim directly with CARCHEX, saving you a lot of time and stress.

As an added bonus, CARCHEX offers 24/7 roadside assistance as a perk in all its coverage plans.

Protect My Car: Best Maintenance Benefits

Established in 2005 and based in Saint Petersburg, Florida, Protect My Car is a popular choice among car owners for vehicle service contracts.

The company's flexible and lengthy payment terms of 36 to 60 months are significantly longer than the terms offered by other third-party auto warranty companies. Like other warranty companies, Protect My Car offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of its extended car warranty plans.

Reputation and Customer Service

Protect My Car has hundreds of 5.0-star customer reviews on the BBB. The complaints, though, have shown a pattern of Protect My Car failing to provide the services it has been contracted for. This is why it’s important to clearly understand what is and isn’t included in your contract.

Levels of Coverage

Protect My Car offers three levels of coverage:

Although vehicles over 13 years old can’t take advantage of an extended warranty with Protect My Car, the company does offer Ambassador Maintenance Plans. These car maintenance insurance contracts offer guaranteed discounts between 25 and 50 percent on repairs, 24/7 roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and more for older cars. However, they do not provide protection on the same level as an extended warranty.

Autopom!: Best Claims Process

Autopom! was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Lake Forest, California. The company, the name of which stands for "automotive peace of mind," is known for its customer service and offers four levels of coverage throughout most states, including California.

Reputation and Customer Service

The warranty provider has earned an A+ rating from the BBB, with very few customer complaints, especially compared with other companies of similar size. At the time of publication, autopom! had earned 4.32 out of 5.0 stars from BBB customer reviews and an Excellent rating from Trustpilot, with 4.8 out of 5.0 stars.

Levels of Coverage

Autopom! offers four levels of coverage, though exact coverage details and availability can differ between states.

In addition to extended warranty coverage plans, autopom! offers a few mechanical breakdown insurance plans in select states.

Additional Information

Like all of our other picks for top reputable extended car warranty companies, autopom! lets you choose any licensed repair shop to fix your car. In case of a breakdown, the company also offers 24-hour roadside assistance, rental car insurance, and trip interruption reimbursement with all of its coverage plans. Some plans even include tire protection.

CarShield: Best Value

CarShield has been in business since 2005 and has a 4.1-star rating on Trustpilot based on over 17,700 reviews. The company has the largest market share as far as used cars are concerned. Because of its overwhelmingly good reviews and large market presence, CarShield is one of the most popular extended warranty providers.

Reputation and Customer Service

Unfortunately, a look at the company's BBB page shows over 1,800 complaints filed in the last 3 years, but considering it sold over 500,000 vehicle protection plans in the same time period, this is actually quite impressive. It means the rate of complaints is less than 0.4 percent.

There is also a BBB alert against CarShield, so make sure you understand that you are not talking to a dealer or manufacturer when you speak with a CarShield representative, and always read the fine print before signing any type of contract. Like all extended warranties, CarShield plans come with a number of exclusions, so it’s important to make sure you fully understand what’s covered, and what isn’t, lest you end up an unsatisfied customer.

Levels of Coverage

CarShield offers six levels of coverage:

Additional Information

Some bonuses that come along with many CarShield plans include:

• Low deductibles
• 24/7 roadside assistance
• Complimentary towing services
• Claims paid directly to the repair shop
• Rental car reimbursement with some plans
• Top-rated warranty distributors like American Auto Shield

Who Needs An Extended Car Warranty?

Drivers who are planning to keep their vehicles for a long time should consider investing in an extended warranty. In fact, the opposite is also true. If you plan to sell your vehicle on the private market after a few years, a transferable service contract could make your car more appealing to potential buyers.

The typical manufacturer offers bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage for 3 years/36,000 miles. While some manufacturer warranties, like the Hyundai warranty, cover you for longer (5 years/60,000 miles), they still fall short of the more than 150,000 miles the average car owner can expect to put on their vehicle over the course of its lifetime.

An extended auto warranty is exactly what it sounds like: It acts as an extension to the original manufacturer’s warranty, albeit sometimes from a third-party provider. In a nutshell, it will cover your vehicle after your original warranty runs out, and depending on the provider you choose, it can sometimes offer even better coverage than your original warranty ever did.

Remember, car insurance generally doesn’t cover repairs that are due to mechanical breakdowns. It covers damages caused by collisions and environmental factors, so don’t think that you’re in the clear just because you have auto insurance. If you want full financial peace of mind, an extended warranty is worth looking into. Considering that car repairs become more likely and more frequent as a car ages, it’s generally worthwhile to invest in an extended warranty that will cover your vehicle in its later years when the repair bills typically start to pile up.

Why Is It Important To Use A Reputable Provider?

Extended warranties are all about peace of mind, but if you can’t trust your provider to be there for you when you need them, then that peace of mind you’re paying for can easily turn into stress.

Let’s be realistic: Anytime a provider covers a repair, they lose money. While reputable extended car warranty companies will take those hits like champs, untrustworthy providers will do everything they can to weasel their way out of paying up, leaving you to foot the bill for costly repairs on top of the premium you’re paying for your extended warranty coverage.

Before signing on the dotted line with any auto extended warranty company, make sure you check its ratings. Reputable companies tend to be endorsed by major auto brands and even celebrities. Both of these scenarios are generally a good sign that the provider can be trusted.

Where To Find Trustworthy Extended Car Warranty Providers

When searching for reputable extended car warranty companies, you have two options: dealers and third-party providers. Let’s take a look at the differences between the two.

Dealers

Most car dealers and manufacturers offer their own extended warranty options. However, dealers may try to mark up the cost of extended warranties, so it’s a good idea to try to negotiate the price. Always make sure you’re clear on what will and won’t be covered before purchasing an extended warranty from your dealer.

When you purchase a contract from a dealer, you’re usually only able to carry out repairs at a brand-specific service center. This comes with ups and downs. On the one hand, you’re guaranteed to get exact replacements for any faulty parts, but on the other hand, you’ll typically have fewer service location choices.

Third-Party Providers

Third-party warranties are, in many ways, the reverse of dealer warranties. While you generally won’t be guaranteed to receive exact factory replacement parts, many third-party warranty companies have much larger service networks, meaning that there’s a higher chance you can get your car repaired at your favorite local auto body shop and still be covered by your warranty.

The coverage options and additional perks are similar to what you’ll get from the dealership – and sometimes even better. For example, most manufacturer extended warranties don't have six levels of coverage like Endurance. You're more likely to find one to three levels of coverage with a dealer.

How To Avoid Extended Car Warranty Scams

Unfortunately, some providers take their business practices to new lows and are outright scams. Here are a couple of ways to avoid these companies:

Disregard Spam Calls

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports that there are a number of car warranty scams in which a car owner will receive a sales call that states their warranty is about to expire. During these calls, the scammer may pose as an employee from a legitimate company and may even be able to provide specific information about the receiver’s car, further deceiving the receiver into believing the call is from a reputable business.

However, the caller is generally phishing for personal information, so do not provide any sensitive information. If you believe you have been contacted by one of these scammers, you can report it to the FCC.

Recognize Unreliable Companies

Outside of these phishing scams, there are vehicle warranty companies that will simply make getting any of the coverage you’re paying for either impossible or an absolute nightmare. Red flags you should look out for when vetting an extended warranty company are a lack of industry endorsements, major limitations in coverage, and poor ratings on popular review sites.

The BBB lists consumer complaints on its site, so that’s a great place to look. Ideally, you’ll want to look for a company with an A rating or better that’s also BBB accredited, although there are plenty of legitimate companies out there that don’t have BBB accreditation.

Choosing The Best Extended Car Warranty Plan For You

All the reputable extended auto warranty companies we’ve discussed will likely serve you well and provide you with peace of mind. However, each company offers plans that appeal to different types of vehicle owners, so the final decision comes down to your preferences.

More On Warranties:

Complete Review: autopom! Extended Warranty Coverage

Extended Warranty Comparison: Endurance Vs CARCHEX

Extended Warranty Comparison: CarShield Vs CARCHEX

Does AAA Offer An Extended Warranty?

CARS Protection Plus Warranty: Reviews, Coverage, and Cost

A Closer Look CARCHEX Warranty Reviews

Our Review Of Carefree Auto

15 Most Expensive Vehicles To Maintain And Repair

Read our guides to other warranty providers: