extended car warranty cost

How Much Does an Extended Car Warranty Cost?

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Featured Extended Warranty Companies

We reviewed the best extended auto warranty providers, and here are our top picks.

Best Overall Warranty Provider

4.6

  • Coverage:: 6 plan options, from routine maintenance to full coverage
  • Cost:: Several discounts available
  • Reputation:: Smooth claims experience as a direct provider
Affordable Monthly Payment

4.5

  • Coverage:: 6 plan options, some that last up to 300,000 miles
  • Cost:: Flexible month-to-month contracts
  • Reputation:: Most popular warranty provider
Best Warranty Provider for Used Cars

4.4

  • Coverage:: 6 plan options, the highest similar to a manufacturer’s warranty
  • Cost:: No down payment required
  • Reputation:: Strong BBB (Better Business Bureau) rating
  • Extended car warranty costs vary from driver to driver. 
  • Factors like the contract you choose, the deductible you choose, and the type of car you drive will influence the cost of your extended warranty.
  • We’ve collected quotes for extended car warranty plans from each of the industry’s top providers and outline these costs for you to compare above.

An extended car warranty is a great option for drivers looking to protect their car after their factory warranty expires. Instead of paying out of pocket for repairs, you’re just responsible for a deductible and a monthly or one-time coverage payment – but how much does an extended car warranty cost?

In this article, we’ll explain the average cost of both bumper-to-bumper and powertrain protection plans. We’ll also go over the different factors that affect your extended car warranty cost and whether the extra coverage is worth the investment.

After thoroughly researching the warranty industry, our review team ranked the best extended car warranty providers for 2023. You’ll find our list of recommended providers in the article ahead.

What Does the Average Extended Car Warranty Cost?

Like car insurance, extended car warranty costs are personalized and vary from driver to driver. Based on the quotes our review team has collected, an extended car warranty can cost anywhere from $1,300 to $4,600, with the average cost being around $2,600. 

Prices vary so widely because there are many factors that can influence costs, such as the plan type and contract length you choose. The contracts included in the data above ranged from three-year terms up to seven-year terms and included bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties. You can see a breakdown of costs for each type of coverage below.

Average Bumper-to-Bumper Extended Car Warranty Cost

Since bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage is so comprehensive, it tends to cost more. On average, we found these types of contracts to cost between $1,700 and $4,600. Here are a few sample quotes from our top recommended providers for their bumper-to-bumper plans:

Car Warranty Provider Plan Name Term Length Extended Car Warranty Cost
Endurance Supreme 5 years/100,000 miles $2,732.89
CARCHEX Titanium 5 years/100,000 miles $2,451.06
CarShield Diamond 5 years/100,000 miles $1,794.04

The prices above represent coverage for a 2018 Toyota Camry with 28,000 miles on the odometer for a driver located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Keep in mind that your own extended car warranty cost may vary.

Average Powertrain Extended Car Warranty Cost

We also got quotes for powertrain coverage from the same providers. The average total cost ranged between $1,300 and $3,400, depending on the provider. Below, we’ve outlined estimated powertrain warranty costs from Endurance, CARCHEX, CarShield, and Protect My Car.

Car Warranty Provider Plan Name Term Length Extended Car Warranty Cost
Endurance Secure Plus 5 years/100,000 miles $3,114.87
CARCHEX Silver 5 years/75,000 miles $2,786.16
CarShield Gold Unlimited $99.99 per month
Protect My Car Driveline 4 years/75,000 miles $3,397.12

The prices listed were for a 2013 Honda Accord with 90,000 miles on the odometer for a driver located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Again, the quotes you receive may vary.

What Factors Affect the Cost of an Extended Auto Warranty?

a graphic using red icons on a white background to describe the main factors that contribute to the cost of an extended car warranty, including type of vehicle, deductible, coverage, warranty provider, age of vehicle, and mileage

Your extended car warranty cost will be determined by several factors. The most important factors include the following:

  • Mileage: Higher-mileage vehicles are more likely to suffer a mechanical breakdown and need car repairs. To account for this, extended warranty providers tend to charge more to cover high-mileage cars.
  • Vehicle age: Older cars tend to break down more easily and often face more expensive repairs than newer cars. As a result, vehicle protection plans for older model-year vehicles typically cost more than plans for newer ones.
  • Level of coverage: More comprehensive coverage plans, like exclusionary bumper-to-bumper warranties, will cover more parts and systems. As a result, they will have a higher price tag than basic powertrain warranties.
  • Deductible: Similar to auto insurance, choosing a lower deductible will lead to a higher overall premium cost for extended warranties. Most companies offer deductible options ranging from $0 to $200.
  • Provider: You can purchase an extended warranty from your vehicle’s manufacturer or an independent provider. Manufacturer-backed warranties tend to be more expensive, as they usually include dealership markups and set deductibles. You may also pay interest with your manufacturer warranty.
  • Vehicle type: Luxury and classic vehicles are also more expensive to cover, as their repair costs are usually higher than those of standard vehicles. Depending on your make and model, your prices may also fluctuate.

How Does an Extended Car Warranty Work?

When you buy a new car, it typically comes with a manufacturer’s warranty that covers auto repairs for a pre-determined amount of time and miles. Once that coverage ends, you’ll be responsible for the full cost of the repair shop bill unless you choose to extend your coverage.

Extended car warranties allow you to continue to cover unexpected repairs in exchange for an upfront or monthly payment. Under an extended warranty, you’ll pay only your deductible for covered repairs and the provider will pay the repair facility. Having an extended car warranty gives you the peace of mind while on the road that in the case of a breakdown, you won’t have to pay out of pocket. They’re especially useful for used vehicles that are more likely to have issues.

Manufacturer Extended Warranty vs. Third-Party Provider

Some automakers offer extended coverage plans, but you can also buy a vehicle protection plan from a third-party provider that specializes in warranties. While they may offer similar coverage, there are some key differences between the two, including:

  • Cost: Coverage plans from third-party providers is often cheaper than extended coverage from the manufacturer.
  • Coverage choice: Most manufacturers offer only one or two coverage plans. Independent warranty providers usually offer several levels of coverage, allowing you to buy only the coverage you want or need.
  • Choice of repair shop: Typically, manufacturer warranties only cover service done at branded service centers. Warranties from third-party providers usually let you choose to have service done at any certified repair facility.
  • Benefits: Independent warranty providers often include perks with their coverage plans such as towing, roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, trip interruption coverage, and more.

What Don’t Extended Car Warranties Cover?

Much of what your extended warranty will and won’t cover depends on the plan you choose. An exclusionary warranty, for example, will cover almost all of the components in your vehicle with only a few exceptions. A bare-bones powertrain plan, on the other hand, tends only to cover the drive axle and other critical drivetrain components and may not cover systems like air conditioning or power windows. Plans will typically vary based on provider, and details will be available in your contract.

However, no matter which plan you choose, there are a few things that most vehicle protection plans simply won’t cover, including:

  • Exterior body damage
  • Damage caused by misuse
  • Pre-existing mechanical issues
  • Routine maintenance
  • Interior cosmetic damage
  • Environmental damage
  • Damage from modifications or aftermarket accessories

Is an Extended Car Warranty Worth It?

The cost-effectiveness of an extended car warranty varies from driver to driver. While vehicle service contracts can provide peace of mind on the road after your factory warranty expires, it may make more sense for some car owners to pay for repairs outright. 

If you own a highly reliable car, plan on trading in your car shortly after your factory warranty expires, or feel comfortable paying for unexpected repairs out of pocket, buying an extended warranty might not be as beneficial for you. 

However, if you’d be unable to afford a large, unexpected repair bill, it makes sense to finance repairs over time with an extended car warranty. This way, you know you won’t be stuck without a usable vehicle if a major breakdown occurs.

It’s difficult to predict a vehicle’s expected repair costs and long-term reliability, but data from RepairPal can help us get a better understanding of average costs and how a vehicle will perform down the road. Below, you’ll find the overall reliability ratings and average annual repair costs of a few popular vehicle models, according to RepairPal.

Vehicle Make Reliability Rating Average Annual Repair Cost
Toyota 4.0 / 5.0 $441
Ford 3.5 / 5.0 $775
Hyundai 4.0 / 5.0 $468
Honda 4.0 / 5.0 $428

Even the most reliable vehicles can still experience an unexpected mechanical or electrical failure. Extended car warranties can remove some of the stress following a breakdown knowing you’re protected against most repair costs. That peace of mind alone may be worth the cost to some car owners.

Our Top Picks For Extended Car Warranty Coverage

Our review team thoroughly researched the extended auto warranty industry, rating providers based on their plan options, customer service, reputation, transparency, and affordability. There are certain pros and cons of extended car warranties with any provider, but we stand behind Endurance and CARCHEX as our top choices for coverage. Below, we give overviews of each company and its extended car warranties.

Endurance: Best Overall

Overall, we rated Endurance 4.6 out of 5.0 stars. We also gave the company a 4.4 rating or higher in each of our research categories. Endurance has also earned a 4.4 out of 5.0 from Trustpilot. The provider offers six different extended warranty coverage options with term limits up to 8 years or 200,000+ miles.

Endurance is a unique provider, as it works directly with drivers rather than using independent contact administrators. This means that you’ll receive the same great customer service when getting quotes and filing claims, and as there’s no middleman, these processes can be more efficient. It also means that they pay directly to repair shops, so you can just pay your deductible and not have to worry about anything else, Endurance should handle it from there.

Read our full Endurance warranty review for more details, and click below to receive a free, non-committal quote from the provider.

Best Overall Warranty Provider

Our Rating: 4.6 out of 5.0

CARCHEX: Best For Used Cars

CARCHEX is a reputable extended car warranty company that has been in the business for over 20 years. The company offers five extended warranty plans with term limits up to 10 years or 250,000 miles and can cover vehicles up to 20 years old.

Along with receiving positive customer feedback, CARCHEX currently holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). It also partners with well-regarded businesses such as Kelley Blue Book, CARFAX, and Edmunds.com.

Read our CARCHEX review for additional information, and our Endurance vs. CARCHEX review for a head-to-head comparison. You can also click below to receive a free, personalized quote from the provider.

Best Warranty Provider for Used Cars

Our Rating: 4.4 out of 5.0

Our Methodology

Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best extended auto warranty providers.

  • Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations to give this rating.
  • Coverage: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that a car warranty company offers an array of coverage options. We take into account the number of plans offered by each provider, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
  • Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, availability, and years in business when giving this score.
  • Customer Service: Reputable extended car warranty companies operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.