Extended Warranty Program
Learn more about the country's Top Extended Car Warranties. We review and compare the Best Extended Car Warranty providers. Top 15 Extended Auto Warranty Companies For You. Owners to find peace of mind with an extended warranty or maintenance plan for their.
X To that end, you should know that many advertisers pay us a referral fee if you purchase products after clicking links or calling phone numbers on our website. The following companies are our partners in Car Warranties: Endurance, Carchex, Warranty Direct, autopom!, Toco Warranty, Concord Auto Protect, Complete Car Warranty, and Auto Warranty Value. We sometimes offer premium or additional placements on our website and in our marketing materials to our advertising partners. Partners may influence their position on our website, including the order in which they appear on a Top 10 list. For example, when company ranking is subjective (meaning two companies are very close) our advertising partners may be ranked higher. If you have any specific questions while considering which product or service you may buy, feel free to reach out to us anytime. If you choose to click on the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
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The analyses and opinions on our site are our own and our editors and staff writers are instructured to maintain editorial integrity. Our brand, ConsumersAdvocate.org, stands for accuracy and helpful information. We know we can only be successful if we take your trust in us seriously! To find out more about how we make money and our editorial process. Car warranties are agreements that cover vehicle malfunctions and defects for a certain period of time. For new cars, warranties generally protect the owner from paying repair costs for an average of three years, or 60,000 miles driven, from the date of purchase. When the warranty expires, or when purchasing a used vehicle, drivers can opt for the security of an extended warranty from an independent provider.
Car warranties are best for people unable to cover the large potential costs associated with a sudden repair, which can amount to thousands of dollars. Without a warranty, and depending on the severity of the breakdown, it may sometimes be more cost-efficient to replace the car entirely. Depending on the plan, warranties are also useful as they provide services like roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement. When selecting a car warranty, consider the vehicle's specific coverage needs. There are three main types of coverage: powertrain, inclusionary, and exclusionary. Powertrain warranties only cover the main generative components, and are the least comprehensive.
Inclusionary warranties provide a list of specifically covered components. Exclusionary warranties are the most comprehensive, and therefore will usually only list what is not covered rather than what is.
Finally, before committing to a car warranty agreement, look at the fine print, and make sure you understand all the terms of the contract. Some good questions to ask include: How long is the initial enrollment waiting period? Which documents are needed to file a claim? Are repairs covered by the warranty company, or are they reimbursed later? Will deductibles be charged?
Companies generally offer three main types of warranty plans, barring individual differences that vary according to each individual business. The first and most basic plan is commonly known as a powertrain warranty, in reference to the main components that generate power in a car, (the engine, transmission, and drive shafts). Should any of these critical parts fail, the cost for repair is covered under the warranty terms of a powertrain plan, with additional parts usually set to a total of less than 30 components, which are quite often the least likely to fail. The average vehicle contains thousands of parts, which makes the powertrain warranty the least comprehensive plan available. The second type is called an inclusionary, or named parts, warranty. Under this plan, all of the covered parts are listed in the terms of the contract.
If a part that is not listed in the contract fails, then the consumer is responsible for the cost of repairs. With these types of warranties, it’s incredibly important to read the contract closely before signing to make sure that it specifically lists all of the parts for which you need and want coverage. The most comprehensive plan that companies offer is an exclusionary warranty, commonly and inaccurately referred to as a “bumper-to-bumper” warranty. Under this plan, there are so many parts and systems covered that it’s much easier for the contract to simply state which parts are not covered, hence the use of the term “exclusionary”.
If you’re looking for the best and most complete warranty, this is the plan to choose. Many companies also offer additional benefits, which are included in most extended warranties but must be paid for seprately for other plans, such as: roadside assistance, rental car coverage, towing, lockout benefits, and fuel delivery.
When shopping around for a car warranty provider, ask which additional benefits are offered under specific plans to make sure you get the most bang for your buck. Additional Benefits. There are many factors to consider when choosing a warranty, also called a vehicle protection plan. Most extended car warranty providers base your premiums and deductibles on several factors, including the make and model of your vehicle, as well as its age and mileage when the service goes into effect. These also determine when it may become void.
It's therefore very important to provide completely accurate information about your vehicle, since erroneous information could cancel your warranty. Vehicles outside of their original manufacturer warranty with less than 100,000 miles driven will generally have no problems obtaining an extended policy. Beyond that, it’s up to the warranty provider, and coverage can be costly.
Contract length generally depends on two factors: maximum number of years, and maximum number of miles. Once either of these numbers is reached, the warranty becomes null and void, so it's important to make sure you’re aware of the contract length and plan accordingly.
Contract renewal is neither automatic nor guaranteed, and most companies have the same eligibility requirements for renewals as they do for new policies. If your vehicle no longer meets one of the requirements, you may be out of luck. Many companies offer a full refund within the first 30 days, often referred to as the policy review period. Most companies have sample policies available on their sites, which is helpful when shopping, but no matter what anyone tells you, and despite anything you have read before, your specific guarantees will be in the policy you receive after signing up. The most common complaint from car warranty customers tend to be about claims being denied. Most of these complaints can be avoided by understanding your policy from the beginning. This is why it is so important to use the policy review period to make sure you are getting what you think you bought, make any changes necessary, and ask any questions you may have. Contract Length.
Before submitting a claim, make sure you’re aware of the enrollment waiting period's length, a delay between when you sign the contract and when coverage actually begins. Though commonly 30 days, it can vary depending on the company. There is also usually a miles driven clause, meaning that in addition to waiting 30 days, you also have to drive a certain number of miles before coverage begins. This number is usually 1,000 miles, but some companies have a lower threshold.
When it comes to filing claims for repairs, your warranty provider may have requirements on who completes the work. Almost all companies allow you to choose your own service provider, as long as it’s a licensed repair facility, but some require that you only use providers in their network. Before you take your car to the shop, it’s always a good idea to check with your car warranty provider first.
Then, take your vehicle or have it towed to an approved licensed facility, and present your warranty service agreement. Once the problem has been diagnosed, the repair facility will call the claims administrator and receive repair authorization from your warranty provider. Recent Changes. Most companies pay the repair facility directly for approved claims, so you don’t have to pay out-of-pocket and wait to be reimbursed. Never pay for your repairs and assume your warranty provider will reimburse you later, unless you have this guaranteed in writing. Many consumers have made this mistake and found out after the fact that the repairs or parts were not covered, or that the company will only reimburse a portion of the total cost. Car warranties often have deductibles, or an amount you pay out of pocket before coverage begin, which you pay directly to the mechanic or repair shop. If there are any necessary repairs not covered by your warranty, you will be responsible for paying those expenses out-of-pocket.
It’s important to know whether your deductible is per-visit or per-repair. With a per-visit deductible, each visit to the shop carries a fixed amount cost; with a per-repair deductible, you’ll be charged a separate fee that applies to each serviced part. This can have a major difference on the amount you pay, and other restrictions may also apply, so be sure to read the terms of the contract closely. Deductible Options.
A company's reputation is important, as it gives you a fairly good measure of their commitment to their customers, financial stability, and how they compare to their competitors. Some factors that can indicate your insurance company is a good choice include completing the VPA Certification-Audit Program and receiving a good rating, positive customer reviews and accreditation with the Better Business Bureau, and finally, good customer feedback on independent customer-based review websites such a TrustPilot.
Here are a few suggestions on how to get the most out of reading reviews:. Statistical Significance: The number of customer reviews impacts a company's overall rating, and can help you determine how accurately the score reflects customer satisfaction. Reviews with a considerable amount of customer feedback and ratings are a better indicator of the overall customer experience than reviews with only a few contributors.
If the company has a few reviews, the overall score may not be the best indicator of the company's quality, so we suggest taking the time to read through the reviews to benefit from the feedback provided by those who were willing to share. Word Sentiment: While looking at overall scores can be a fast way to get an impression of a company's quality, it can also be deceiving. Everyone has a different method of scoring: for some a 3/5 score is considered good, while others would rate a good company with a 5/5. This is way taking a few moments to scan over the words used in the reviews to get a better understanding of the review scores being presented. If you notice a lot of positive language like 'great customer service' or 'pleased with purchase', it may be easier to overlook a low overall score (especially if there are limited number of reviews available). However, if you see wording like 'horrible service', 'long waits' or 'rude representatives', this may be a great opportunity to check out another company and compare notes.
Customer Care: When a company has the chance to respond to customer reviews, do they? Whether the review is positive or negative, companies who take the time to respond to individual reviews are often the ones that emphasize and prioritize customer service. Also ask yourself whether the company's responses are polite and make an honest attempt to resolve problems, within reason. If there isn't a place for companies to respond, do any of the reviews talk about how the company addresses customer concerns?. Learn from other people’s mistakes: When you find negative comments about a company, think about how the problem could have been avoided. For instance, if the problem was because someone didn’t understand what was covered under their contract, take the time to read yours carefully.
Best Extended Warranty Program
If the problem was clearly the fault of the warranty provider, and they did little to resolve the issue repeatedly, then be aware that you could find yourself in the same position if you become a customer. Vehicle Protection Association Member? Car warranties aren't generally a scam, and are provided by reputable companies.
As with any service, however, it is wise to be fully educated before making a decision. The most frequent cause of car warranty consumer dissatisfaction is a lack of comprehension of coverage limits and services rendered, as defined by the contract's fine print.
Car warranty providers, whether manufacturers or private entities, operate individually, so we highly recommend that potential applicants read their contracts carefully.
The information on this website is intended to provide only an outline of the coverages, benefits and exclusions regarding Mopar ® Vehicle Protection Plans as offered and issued by FCA US LLC or a subsidiary. Services/component repairs made prior to the purchase of a plan are not covered. Complete details and coverage are provided in the plan provision. All transactions relating to any plan are governed solely by the plan provision of the purchased plan. FCA Service Contracts LLC FCA SC LLC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of FCA US LLC. Your plan is sold and administered by FCA SC LLC if you purchased your plan in: Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, or Wyoming.
Your plan is sold and administered by FCA SC LLC if your plan covers an FCA US vehicle and you purchased your plan in: Alaska, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, or West Virginia. Your plan is sold and administered by FCA SC LLC if your plan covers a non-FCA US vehicle and you purchased your Plan in: Alabama, California, Illinois, Louisiana, Nevada, Utah or Washington. FCA US Vehicle means Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep ®, Ram, FIAT ® or Alfa Romeo brand vehicles only.