The best extended car warranty companies are Carchex and autopom!, according to WalletHub’s analysis of 11 major providers. These extended warranty companies rank highest due to a combination of low prices, varied coverage options, and strong ratings from industry watchdogs.
The Best Extended Car Warranty Companies
- Carchex
- autopom!
- Endurance
- Toco Warranty
- Omega Auto Care
- Infinite Auto Protection
- Concord Auto Protect
- CarShield
An extended car warranty is a vehicle service contract that pays for repairs to a vehicle’s major mechanical components, including the transmission and engine. In addition to repair coverage, many extended warranty providers offer benefits such as towing services, rental car coverage, and travel insurance. You can purchase an extended warranty directly from your vehicle manufacturer or from a third-party provider.
Best Extended Car Warranty Companies
CARCHEX
Rating, 4 out of 5 623 Reviews (623)
CARCHEX
Rating, 4 out of 5 623 Reviews (623)
The best extended car warranty company is Carchex because it offers five levels of coverage, with multiple contract options ranging from 12 to 84 months. In addition to the specific components covered by each plan, all Carchex extended warranties include additional perks such as 24/7 roadside assistance, towing, rental car reimbursem*nt, and trip interruption service.
Carchex warranties are written and backed financially by American Auto Shield, Royal Administration Services, and Allegiance Administrators, making them more secure than many other options on the market.
autopom!
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 96 Reviews (96)
autopom!
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 96 Reviews (96)
Autopom! offers four categories of plans for drivers to choose from, and each category offers multiple contract options with different providers. The exclusionary plans cover every part of the car with only a few exceptions, while the basic powertrain coverage includes coverage for power window doors/locks. Autopom! contracts also include extra benefits such as tire protection and rental car assistance.
Endurance
Rating, 4 out of 5 1,824 Reviews (1,824)
Endurance
Rating, 4 out of 5 1,824 Reviews (1,824)
Each of the four plans offered by Endurance is designed to meet a driver’s specific needs, whether that’s covering a vehicle with up to 150,000 miles or finding the closest option to manufacturer-level coverage.
In addition, all Endurance warranties are secured financially by AmTrust Financial Services, meaning that all approved claims are guaranteed to be paid out if Endurance fails. However, despite its highly competitive coverage options, Endurance has only earned a “C” rating from the Better Business Bureau based on its reliability and performance as a company.
Best for Coverage Options
Toco Warranty
Rating, 4 out of 5 280 Reviews (280)
Toco Warranty
Rating, 4 out of 5 280 Reviews (280)
Toco Warranty offers three coverage options that are sold based on the age and mileage of the vehicle. The Yellow and Orange plans offer the most comprehensive coverage, including coverage for high-tech systems and a vehicle’s suspension. Even the basic Blue plan covers additional systems like air conditioning, too.
Toco earned an “A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, and its policies are backed by AmTrust Financial Services.
Omega Autocare
Rating, 4 out of 5 763 Reviews (763)
Omega Autocare
Rating, 4 out of 5 763 Reviews (763)
Omegaonly offers three plans, based on a car’s age and mileage, and their prices are slightly above average. However, their coverage is fairly extensive compared to some competitors, and they offer benefits such as towing, roadside assistance, rental car reimbursem*nt, and maintenance. They are also a reliable company, having received an “A+” from the Better Business Bureau.
Best for Customer Satisfaction
Infinite Auto Protection
Rating, 4 out of 5 96 Reviews (96)
Infinite Auto Protection
Rating, 4 out of 5 96 Reviews (96)
Infiniteonly offers three plans, though its most basic policy is slightly more comprehensive than the cheapest policies offered by some of its competitors. In addition, Infinite’s Prime plan offers unique high-tech protection that covers features such as automatic temperature control and power window motors.
The company boasts a commendable “B+” rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, its plans do not have any additional financial backing, so if the company fails financially, claims are not guaranteed to be paid.
Concord Auto Protect
Rating, 5 out of 5 701 Reviews (701)
Concord Auto Protect
Rating, 5 out of 5 701 Reviews (701)
Concord’sextended warranty plans are not unique compared to those of its top competitors, but Concord still offers enough coverage to be considered a good option. The company has also received high marks for its customer service, and all of its plans include 24-hour roadside assistance, gas delivery, and trip interruption coverage.
Unlike other reputable warranty providers, however, Concord does not have financial backing from an outside company, so policies do not have an additional safety net if the company fails.
CarShield
Rating, 4 out of 5 15,785 Reviews (15,785)
CarShield
Rating, 4 out of 5 15,785 Reviews (15,785)
CarShield’s extended warranties are good for drivers who want short-term coverage. Unlike other extended car warranty providers, CarShield offers month-to-month extended warranty coverage for as little as $99 per month.
However, drivers should exercise caution before purchasing an extended warranty from CarShield. According to the Better Business Bureau, there has been a pattern of customer complaints alleging poor customer service and a failure to cover repairs, among other things.
Best Extended Car Warranty Companies Comparison
| Rank | Company | WalletHub User Rating (Out of 5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carchex | 4.1 |
| 2 | autopom! | 4.5 |
| 3 | Endurance | 4.1 |
| 4 | Toco Warranty | 4.1 |
| 5 | Omega Auto Care | 4.2 |
| 6 | Infinite Auto Protection | 3.8 |
| 7 | Concord Auto Protect | 4.8 |
| 8 | Carshield | 4.2 |
How to Get the Best Extended Car Warranty
Shop around for the best deal
You should get quotes from at least three different extended warranty providers before purchasing a plan, just like you would if you were shopping for car insurance. Considering how many reputable companies there are on the market, you should be able to find a policy that meets your needs and fits within your budget.
Check a company’s reputation
In addition to a good price, you should look for a reputable extended warranty provider with a strong customer service record. One of the best ways to do this is by checking a company’s rating with the Better Business Bureau, which bases its scores on factors such as customer complaints and company reliability.
Consider alternatives
If you’re struggling to find an affordable extended car warranty, you should consider purchasing mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) instead. MBI is a type of insurance offered by several major companies that provides coverage similar to an extended warranty. However, MBI is much more affordable, only costing about $100 each year.
Methodology
WalletHub editors identified the best extended car warranty companies by comparing 11 major providers based on the following factors:
- Better Business Bureau rating
- Number of coverage options
- Number of additional services
- AM Best Rating
- Cost relative to competitors
Companies earned a maximum of 5 points for each category. WalletHub editors then ranked the companies by total points to determine the most reputable extended car warranty companies.
Video: Best Extended Car Warranty
Ask the Experts
To gain more insight about best extended car warranty, WalletHub posed the following questions to a panel of experts. Click on the experts below to view their bios and answers.
1. Do you have any advice for someone searching for the best-extended car warranty?
2. What are the biggest mistakes that people make when it comes to extended car warranties?
3. When does paying for an extended car warranty make the most/least sense?
Ask the Experts
Abhijit Roy
D.B.A., Associate Professor of Marketing, School of Business, Howard University
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Rhett Epler
Assistant Professor of Marketing, Old Dominion University, Strome College of Business
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Dinakar Jayarajan
Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Marketing, Stuart School of Business, Illinois Institute of Technology
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W M Eric Lee
Ph.D., CPA, Deloitte Associate Professor of Accounting, David W. Wilson College of Business, University of Northern Iowa
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Blake Nielson
Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Professional Sales, Weber State University
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Matthew Glennon
Senior Lecturer of Marketing, Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst
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