Auto Warranty Buyer’s Guide

Our auto warranty guide will keep you from having to push your car.

My extended warranty buyer’s guide will teach you everything you ever wanted to know on how to find, research, select and purchase a new or used car extended auto warranty. Also known as vehicle service contracts when offered by a third party, these types of contracts can vary greatly in price, coverage or both.

Table of Contents

What is an extended auto warranty?

By law, the maker of the product (vehicle) is the only one that can provide you with warranty coverage and refer to it as such.

When coverage is provided by a third party service provider, it is considered an after-market product. These types of policies go by different names, such as vehicle service contracts, extended service agreements, or mechanical breakdown agreements.

An extended warranty is a contract stating the warranty provider will repair or remedy any defects or damage when something breaks on the vehicle within a certain period of time or mileage. The seller will repair the vehicle and there will be no cost to the buyer unless otherwise stated in the contract agreement (deductible may or may not be required).

NOTE: Many times the dealer owns the company providing the extended warranty policies they sell. Car dealers make a ton of money selling extended warranties, it’s all a numbers game. Dealer’s sell way more policies than claims being made. This in turn makes for a profitable product. There are coverage plans are available for new and used cars alike. Keep in mind, If you buy a warranty for a new car, it will run concurrent with the manufacturer’s factory warranty. If you have a repair that’s covered the manufacturer’s warranty will take precedence until it has expired.

Did you know?

You have many choices when it comes to protecting your vehicle from mechanical breakdown. It can be very discouraging to know which company to choose and what type of coverage to buy. Select the right auto warranty and you’re protected, select the wrong coverage and you may be paying thousands of dollars out of pocket.

My guide will take the fear out of shopping for an auto warranty, and I’ll also show you how to steer away from unethical companies and scams.

Learn faster - Insider car buying tips

Trade-in value - estimate your cars worth – Estimate and find the value of your trade-in vehicle while avoiding scams.
Used car price quotes online – Finding local used cars for sale online, getting car dealerships to send free, no-obligation used car price quote.
Compare and research new cars online – Complete guide on how to shop, compare, and research new cars online to guarantee you buy the right vehicle.

Types of available warranty coverage

I’ve personally witnessed customers buy extended service contracts by just listening to the salesperson or finance manager’s pitch. Many times salespeople will unknowingly (or knowingly) mislead customers by making statements such as, “bumper-to-bumper coverage” and “if it breaks, it’s covered” when it’s simply not true.

All warranties are not created equal, each provider has their own tiered levels of protection and they all have different names they go by.

Examples of tiered levels of coverage:

Power train Coverage (lowest level and least expensive)
Standard Coverage
Comprehensive Coverage
Ultra Wrap Coverage (highest level and most expensive)

Don’t ever take a salesperson’s word for what’s covered on a plan. Salespeople will say whatever it takes for a sale. Each provider has their own explanation of “bumper-to-bumper,” our advice is to do the research yourself and ask each company what their definition of the term is.

Recommended warranty coverage:

Mechanical Breakdown Coverage
Wear and Tear Coverage
Exclusionary Coverage

I recommend you purchase coverage that includes both “mechanical breakdown coverage” and “wear and tear” coverage. This will provide you with the greatest level of protection and not only cover large expensive items like engines and transmissions but also lesser, more common parts and systems.

You also want exclusionary coverage instead of an inclusionary policy. Exclusionary policies cover everything on the vehicle unless it is listed on the their exclusionary list. An inclusionary warranty only covers what is specifically listed on the contract.

What to look for in a good extended warranty

Always ask what is NOT covered and review it well.
When does the mileage limitation start, mile zero or the mileage currently on the vehicle.
How much is the deductible? (higher the deductible, the cheaper the warranty)
Is the deductible “per visit” or “per repair item?”
How many months and miles will your vehicle be protected?
Can you choose any repair shop or dealership to have repairs done?
Is the company certified with the Better Business Bureau?
Does the company pay for repairs upfront with a corporate credit card?
Is the policy transferable to another person or vehicle?
Call their customer service line…How fast do they pick up and are they rude?
Is the warranty provider insured and re-insured by a major company?
Will the company pay claims for the life of the contract?

Car Price Quotes

Use our recommended tools to find the best deals in your local area.

Rydeshopper
Edmunds
MotorTrend

Find the dealer with the lowest price and save. When dealers compete = You WIN!

When you should avoid a warranty company

Customer complaints and satisfaction not strong with the Better Business Bureau.
Policy is not transferable.
You pay for repairs upfront and out of pocket.
Cold calls to your home. (reputable companies don’t operate this way)
Extremely low prices, scare tactics or bad mouthing the competition.
Limits on spending and repair costs.
Very large exclusions list on what the plan will not cover.
Lifetime or unlimited mileage contracts.
You’re solicited you through the mail claiming your warranty is expired.

Analyze deeper - Insider car buying tips

Negotiating with car dealerships by email – Email templates for contacting and negotiating to get the lowest price when buying a new car.
Get the most money for your trade-in vehicle – Low-cost tips and tricks to help increase the value of your car before trading or selling it to a dealership.
Estimate used car cost on a dealers car – Calculate how much a car dealer paid for a used car by figuring a dealer's true used car cost.

Additional extended auto warranty buying tips

The golden rule to buying an auto warranty is to research what’s covered and what’s not covered by the policy. You will find this information on the warranty contract, normally found somewhere on the back in the fine print.

Don’t overbuy coverage for your vehicle.
Never take a salesperson’s word on what a plan covers.
You don’t have to buy a warranty from a car dealership.
Make sure you read the actual contract before signing anything.
Don’t include (roll) the cost of a warranty into your car loan.
Leave room in your budget for an extended service contract.
Get competitive quotes before contacting a car dealership.
The cheapest warranty is not always the best coverage for you.
You don’t have to buy a policy at the same time you buy a car?

Deal with trusted online auto warranty companies

Instead of paying too much at a dealer, I recommend contacting online third party extended warranty companies such as Complete Car Warranty. This company provides you with extended warranties, legally named extended service contracts, with equal or better coverage at a lot cheaper price than what the dealer will charge you.

Endurance allows you to submit your vehicle’s information to receive free, no-obligation warranty price quotes. No games, gimmicks or high pressure tactics … just straight up coverage options from top administrators within the industry so you can decide on which level of protection is best for you. Once you’ve received your quotes, you can use them to leverage yourself when negotiating a warranty with a dealership.

My Recommended Extended Warranty Companies

Complete Car Warranty offers free no obligation quotes and a broad range of coverage. Get full protection for up to 60% off of dealer prices when you go direct.

Visit Complete Car Warranty Now >>

Endurance Vehicle Protection offers a 30 day money-back guarantee. They are the direct administrator and obligor so you can rest assured, there’s no middleman involved.

Visit Endurance Now >>

See All Online Car Buying Tools

See more automotive insider tips

Figure new car dealer holdback – Learn how to calculate a car dealer's secret holdback amount on any new vehicle.
Extended auto warranty quotes online – Extended auto warranty companies that provide free no-obligation auto warranty quotes.
Low-interest car loan quotes online – Where to find free, no-obligation, car loan quotes, and pre-approved auto loans online.

Do you really need to buy an auto warranty?

Vehicle technology is moving at an incredible pace, the repair costs for that technology is moving just as fast. There are some situations purchasing an extended warranty will be waste of money and other times when you should consider protecting your investment. Keep in mind that one costly repair could pay for your policy.

Reasons to think about purchasing an extended warranty:

The vehicle’s manufacturer warranty is about to expire or has expired by miles or time limit.
You plan on driving the vehicle for longer than the factory warranty coverage.
Peace of mind when purchasing a vehicle with no coverage and higher mileage.

Most new cars sold have a comprehensive bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers the whole vehicle for at least 3 years or 36,000 miles (excluding consumable items such as clutches or brakes).

Why you may not want to buy an extended warranty:

You will trade the vehicle before the factory coverage will expire.
You’re leasing a vehicle for less than the manufacturer’s warranty term.
You’re financially stable and can afford any possible future repairs.

No matter what situation you’re in, a dealer will attempt to sell you an extended service contract. They don’t care if you’re leasing or you trade your car every two years. All they want to do is put another “warranty sale” on the board. The decision to purchase coverage for your vehicle is ultimately up to you. If you’re still undecided if you should purchase a policy or not, here’s some auto warranty buying questions to ask yourself.

Save Up to 60%

Get full protection for up to 60% off of dealer prices when you go direct.

Check Warranty Prices

What is length of coverage?

There are several different types of plans available for you to buy. You should not only consider the type of coverage for your vehicle but also how long you would like to be covered.

Most extended service contracts have a time and mileage limitation or “length of coverage.” The longer the term and the higher mile limitation, the more expensive the policy will be.

Common extended warranty coverage lengths:

24 months / 24,000 miles
36 months / 36,000 miles
48 months / 48,000 miles
60 months / 60,000 miles
60 months / 100,000 miles

The months will start on the date you purchase your vehicle, the coverage range can be anywhere from 3 months to 10 years. Always ask the warranty provider how much it would cost to add another year to your plan, it’s normally pretty cheap and well worth the additional coverage.

Mileage calculations can be a little misleading. Some plans define the term mileage to be from mile zero and other plans mean additional mileage above and beyond the accumulative mileage at the date of purchase. This can have a huge impact on how long your vehicle will be protected.

Mileage example: You buy a car that already has 65,000 miles on it and the coverage you purchased is for 36 months / 100,000 miles showing on the odometer. You will only be covered for another 45,000 miles or when your odometer reads 100,000 miles. If your coverage states an additional 100,000 miles, you will be covered all the way up to 165,000 miles.

Always inquire with the company you’re dealing with to fully explain the mileage limitation of the policy you want to purchase. This information should be listed somewhere on the actual contract agreement you will sign also.

Be very careful with warranty companies offering unlimited mileage policies. These plans most likely have a hidden clause, hidden disclaimers, or they’re just a scam to get your money. My advice is to avoid them altogether.

Vehicle coverage eligibility explained

A vehicles age, make, model, and features such as engine size, turbo, diesel or 4×4 will determine if a vehicle qualifies for a certain level of protection and the cost for that protection.

Some warranty providers have additional coverage supplements (additional fees) for certain items such as diesel engines, dual wheels, hybrid, one ton trucks, and turbochargers. Some policies may have an additional charge for sensor or technology package coverage.

Vehicle usage and history are also taken into consideration when considering eligibility. Business or commercial use will add to the cost of coverage. Some warranty providers will not cover certain vehicles such as salvage or branded titles, police vehicles, lemon law vehicles, gray market vehicles, trucks over a ton, and vehicle’s used as taxis.

Each auto warranty company has its own list of ineligible vehicles, you should inquire with the provider and find out if your vehicle is eligible before purchasing coverage.

You will want to know how your vehicle is equipped before contacting a warranty provider. It’s in your best interest to give them accurate information about your vehicle such as the exact mileage and options such as a turbocharger. This information has a direct reflection on the eligibility and price quoted to you for coverage.

Why waiting to buy could cost you more

You do not have to buy a warranty at the time you purchase your vehicle. However, the longer you wait and the more miles accumulated, the more it will cost you. Cost of coverage has a direct correlation to age and miles of the vehicle.

For example, an extended service contract for a brand new car with 89 miles on it will be cheaper than the same car a year old with 12,000 miles on the odometer.

The reason the plan’s cheaper is because there is less risk for the provider. If you don’t buy a warranty at the time you buy a vehicle, don’t wait too long to finally purchase one.

Choose better - Insider car buying advice

New car - buy or lease? – New car leases often look like a great deal but it's important to understand the downsides.
Top 10 end-of-year car buying tips – The end of the year is a great time to buy a car but it takes planning to do it right.
Car dealership trade-in process tips and secrets – Explore the process of trading in a car at a dealership, while avoiding scams.

Recommended auto warranty sites

Complete Car Warranty and Endurance Vehicle Protection are the quickest way to see what an extended warranty will cost you for the vehicle you’re buying. This online site will provide you with free, no-obligation quotes and the prices are normally pretty good. You can also use these quotes to negotiate an even better price with a dealership.

When do scams occur?