Disclosure: This content was produced by an independent editorial party for the purposes of educating our customers, and is not influenced by the other business operations of CARCHEX.

Whether your car is new or old, a warranty can help you avoid expensive repairs. But before you buy an extended warranty, it’s best to perform a car warranty comparison to make sure you’re getting the plan that’s right for you.

Read on to learn about the best extended warranty companies, the differences between factory and extended warranties, and whether extended warranties are worth buying.

How to Find the Best Car Warranty

If you’re looking for the best car warranty for your new or used vehicle, know that the top options nearly always provide a few critical elements. Any plan you purchase should at least offer the following:

IMPORTANT CAR WARRANTY PIECES

  • Affordable monthly payments
  • Claims paid directly to a mechanic
  • High Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating
  • Your choice of repair facility
  • Money-back guarantee
  • Roadside assistance and other benefits

CARCHEX offers all of these benefits and will gladly help you perform an industrywide car warranty comparison. Representatives will also provide free, no-obligation car warranty quotes customized to your vehicle’s make, model, and age if you call the CARCHEX team at 866-261-3457.

Manufacturer Car Warranty Comparison

If you have a new or recent-model car, it’s likely still under manufacturer warranty. However, manufacturer warranties — otherwise known as factory warranties — expire quickly and are quite limiting in terms of coverage and repair options.

Here is a car warranty comparison of offerings from some of the country’s most popular automakers:

ManufacturerNew Vehicle Limited WarrantyPowertrain Limited Warranty
Buick3 years or 36,000 miles5 years or 60,000 miles
Chevrolet3 years or 36,000 miles5 years or 60,000 miles
Dodge3 years or 36,000 miles5 years or 60,000 miles
Ford3 years or 36,000 miles5 years or 60,000 miles
GMC3 years or 36,000 miles5 years or 60,000 miles
Honda3 years or 36,000 miles5 years or 60,000 miles
Hyundai5 years or 60,000 miles10 years or 100,000 miles
Infiniti4 years or 60,000 miles6 years or 70,000 miles
Kia5 years or 60,000 miles10 years or 100,000 miles
Nissan3 years or 36,000 miles5 years or 60,000 miles
Subaru3 years or 36,000 miles5 years or 60,000 miles
Toyota3 years or 36,000 miles5 years or 60,000 miles
Volkswagen4 years or 50,000 miles4 years or 50,000 miles
Volvo4 years or 50,000 miles4 years or 50,000 miles

In our car warranty comparison, we found that Hyundai and Kia easily have the best new vehicle limited warranties in the industry.

Extended Car Warranty Comparison

As seen above, manufacturer warranties usually have pretty short lifespans. For a vehicle to keep running smoothly long into the future, it’s important that drivers be ready with an extended car warranty.

Although drivers can pick between manufacturer extended warranties and third-party options, we generally recommended choosing third-party for significantly lower prices and the freedom to select your own repair facilities and parts. Below, we compare the customer service, endorsements, and overall track record of five third-party providers:

CARCHEXAutoAssureConcord Auto ProtectEndurance
Years in Business24131017
Instant QuoteYesYesYesYes
BBB AccreditationYesNoNoNo
BBB RatingA+C+D-Not Rated
BBB Complaints (last 36 mo.)1591171602,029
Partnerships/EndorsementsCARFAX, RepairPal, Edmunds.com, Autoblog, SiriusXM, Vehicle Protection Association, and Goss’ Garage.Vehicle Protection Association, Dun & BradstreetConsumer AffairsCourtney Hansen, Katie Osborne, Vehicle Protection Association

Updated September 2023

CARCHEX is the industry leader for exceptional customer service, affordable pricing options, a variety of coverage plans, and top-tier business ratings.

We are proud to have endorsements from industry leaders such as CARFAX, ThoroughlyReviewed, Edmunds, RepairPal, and Pat Goss, and from our many satisfied customers.

Hear what Pat co-host of acclaimed weekly television series MotorWeek has to say about CARCHEX:

CARCHEX Extended Warranty Plans

CARCHEX offers a variety of extended warranty options that give your vehicle the best coverage possible. Take a look at our five basic levels of CARCHEX warranty coverage, keeping in mind that multiple programs are available under each coverage level and that some stretch as long as 10 years.

From the bumper-to-bumper Titanium plan all the way to our back-to-the-basics Bronze coverage, CARCHEX can fit your needs and your budget with ease.

CARCHEX Extended Warranty Benefits

CARCHEX is committed to providing affordable, high-quality car warranties that suit your needs and driving habits. With a CARCHEX warranty, you’ll enjoy:

  • Low Monthly Payments—You should never have to choose between safety and finances when it comes to repairing your car. CARCHEX provides low monthly payment plans to give you some peace of mind when an unexpected repair comes up.
  • Freedom to Choose Your Repair Shop—We work with more than 30,000 certified, licensed repair shops nationwide. So whether you prefer a dealer, a national chain, or the garage down the street, you’ll be able to find a shop you trust.
  • Claims Paid Directly to a Repair Shop—CARCHEX doesn’t make you wait around to be reimbursed. We make it easy by paying the repair facility directly.
  • A 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee—If you’re not satisfied with your purchase of a used car warranty from CARCHEX, just let us know within 30 days, and we’ll issue a full refund.
  • 24/7 Roadside Assistance—If you break down on the side of the road, our warranty plans can help by offering towing, gas delivery, and trip interruption services.

Get a Quote from CARCHEX Today

Speak with one of our representatives today to perform an industrywide car warranty comparison. We’d be glad to help you navigate the process of finding protection for your car.

Get your free, no-commitment car warranty quote from CARCHEX and receive the affordable rate you deserve. Call us today at 866-261-3457.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources:

BBB: https://www.bbb.org/greater-maryland/business-reviews/extended-warranty-contract-service-companies/carchex-in-hunt-valley-md-23015869

BBB: https://www.bbb.org/council/overview-of-bbb-grade/

ThoroughlyReviewed: https://thoroughlyreviewed.com/car-warranty/extended-car-warranty-company-reviews/

RepairPal: https://repairpal.com/estimator/dodge/ram+1500/head-gasket-replacement-cost

Car Complaints: https://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Accord/transmission/

Goss’ Garage: http://www.motorweek.org/features/goss_garage/

CARCHEX Research Center: https://www.carchex.com/research-center/auto-warranties/mechanical-breakdown-insurance-vs-extended-car-warranty/