national auto care warranty

National Auto Care Warranty Review

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National Auto Care Warranty Review
In Our Opinion:
National Auto Care is a trustworthy provider with a number of choices for coverage. Prices can be higher than average compared to competitors.
Industry Standing:
Coverage:
Affordability:
Customer Service:
Pros:
Many coverage options
Good customer service reputation
Cons:
Only sold through dealerships
Costs slightly more than the industry average
3.5

National Auto Care warranty products are offered through dealerships and some financial institutions. You may have been offered a National Auto Care warranty when you purchased your vehicle, or you might have seen one of the company’s brochures on the table while you were waiting for your salesperson to “check with the head office” about your financing deal.

The best extended auto warranty companies offer peace of mind and vehicle protection at an affordable rate. Read this article to learn about National Auto Care warranty coverage, costs, customer reviews, and more. Then see how it stacks up against our industry-leading providers: Endurance.

We recommend getting quotes from a few top-rated companies to compare with the cost of a National Auto Care warranty. You can get started with free quotes from our recommendations below.

Endurance
4.6
Industry Standing: 4.4/5.0
Coverage: 4.9/5.0
Affordability: 4.5/5.0
Transparency: 5.0/5.0
Customer Service: 4.4/5.0
idée We recommend Endurance as the best warranty provider
  • Best Overall
  • Coverage Plans: 6 options plus maintenance plan
  • Odometer Limit: Up to 200,000 miles
  • Free Cancellation: 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Longest Term: 8 years of coverage
  • Discounts: $300 same-day signup discount, $250 shopping voucher, and others
Plan coverage includes Endurance Elite perks™
Factory-level bumper-to-bumper plan Free membership for first year
Multiple powertrain/mid-level choices $500 collision discount
Scheduled maintenance coverage Tire repair or replacement
24/7 emergency roadside assistance Total loss protection up to $1,000
Trip interruption reimbursement Key fob replacement and repair
Rental vehicle coverage Endurance mobile app
Towing allowance $250 credit with shopping or dining partners

National Auto Care Warranty: What You Need To Know

National Auto Care Corporation, based in Westerville, Ohio, has worked to provide vehicle protection products since 1984. Unlike many reputable extended car warranty companies that sell coverage straight to customers, National Auto Care warranty coverage is only available through auto dealers and financial institutions like a bank or credit union. 

National Auto Care Warranty Coverage

There are six levels of National Auto Care warranty coverage. Each vehicle protection plan has a number of terms limits to choose from. Depending on the plan, limits range from three months or 3,000 miles to 10 years or 100,000 miles. Below are the plan details, eligibility requirements, and longest term limits of each plan.

Pinnacle

  • Longest term limit: 7 years/100,000 miles
  • Eligibility: Cars up to 10 years old with as many as 156,000 miles
  • Plan details: An exclusionary contract that covers most vehicle components, minus a short list of non-covered parts

PowerWrap

  • Longest term limit: 10 years/100,000 miles
  • Eligibility: Cars up to 5 years old with as many as 60,000 miles
  • Plan details: Exclusionary wrap coverage for vehicles still protected under manufacturer powertrain warranties

Preferred

  • Longest term limit: 7 years/100,000 miles
  • Eligibility: Cars up to 15 years old with as many as 156,000 miles
  • Plan details: Stated-component coverage that includes select components of the fuel system, suspension, steering, air conditioning, brake system, and the knock sensor

Medallion

  • Longest term limit: 7 years/100,000 miles
  • Eligibility: Cars up to 15 years old with as many as 156,000 miles 
  • Plan details: Stated-component coverage that includes the alternator, electrical switches, ignition modules, power steering pump, compressor, select suspension components, select fuel system components, and the cooling system

Powertrain

  • Longest term limit: 7 years/100,000 miles
  • Eligibility: Cars up to 15 years old with as many as 156,000 miles
  • Plan details: Coverage for engine components, the turbo/supercharger, transmission, and drive axle

DieselWrap

  • Longest term limit: 5 years/100,000 miles
  • Eligibility: Cars up to 5 years old with as many as 60,000 miles
  • Plan details: Exclusionary coverage for diesel vehicles still protected under the manufacturer’s powertrain warranty

It’s important to note that some vehicle service contract details may vary by state and dealership.

National Auto Care Warranty Benefits

All National Auto Care warranty plans include the following additional perks:

  • Courtesy towing
  • Rental car reimbursement
  • Trip interruption reimbursement
  • Emergency roadside assistance

Additional National Auto Care warranty products that you may be offered at a dealership include:

  • Key replacement
  • Paintless dent repair
  • Tire and wheel repair
  • Windshield protection
  • Excess wear-and-tear lease coverage

National Auto Care Warranty Cost

National Auto Care warranty products are sold through a network of dealerships, and the company does not have sample pricing online, which is common for providers who work through dealers. In our research, we found National Auto Care warranty customers who paid anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 for their vehicle service agreements. One customer reported paying $3,000 for Medallion coverage on a 2012 MazdaSpeed3 with 28,000 miles.

These prices are a little on the expensive side but not significantly more than average. The final price of your National Auto Care warranty will depend on your dealer and may be negotiable. Contract prices will also vary depending on your car make, model, year, and mileage.

National Auto Care Reviews

National Auto Care is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), where it holds an A+ rating. It has received over 50 complaints in the last three years, most of which focus on troubles with claims servicing.

Nearly every complaint filed was addressed by National Auto Care and considered “resolved” or “answered” by the BBB. The majority of disgruntled customers seemed satisfied with National Auto Care’s response.

How Do National Auto Care Extended Warranties Work?

To get a quote for a National Auto Care warranty, you’ll need to contact a participating dealership or financial institution. You can call National Auto Care at 800-548-1875 to ask about retailers in your area.

When it comes time to file a claim with National Auto Care, take your vehicle to any repair facility certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®). Make sure to have the repair shop contact your contract administrator for pre-authorization before any work begins.

If you purchase a contract and then sell your vehicle while it’s still under warranty, your coverage can be transferred to the subsequent owner. Cancellation policies, however, vary by dealership.

Final Thoughts: National Auto Care Warranty

National Auto Care has many contract options, including wrap coverage and options for diesel vehicles. Although National Auto Care warranty prices are slightly higher than average, the company is a trustworthy provider that strives to do right by its customers.

While National Auto Care is a decent choice for an extended warranty contract, it does not have much that especially recommends it over better-known, lower-priced providers.

Top Recommendations for Extended Car Warranties

When making any big purchase, it’s a good idea to shop around and compare costs from different companies, and extended car warranties are no different.

Our review team has rated every industry-leading extended car warranty provider. Based on quality of coverage, affordability, and positive customer reviews, we recommend reaching out for quotes from Endurance.

Endurance
4.6
Industry Standing: 4.4/5.0
Coverage: 4.9/5.0
Affordability: 4.5/5.0
Transparency: 5.0/5.0
Customer Service: 4.4/5.0
idée We recommend Endurance as the best warranty provider
  • Best Overall
  • Coverage Plans: 6 options plus maintenance plan
  • Odometer Limit: Up to 200,000 miles
  • Free Cancellation: 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Longest Term: 8 years of coverage
  • Discounts: $300 same-day signup discount, $250 shopping voucher, and others
Plan coverage includes Endurance Elite perks™
Factory-level bumper-to-bumper plan Free membership for first year
Multiple powertrain/mid-level choices $500 collision discount
Scheduled maintenance coverage Tire repair or replacement
24/7 emergency roadside assistance Total loss protection up to $1,000
Trip interruption reimbursement Key fob replacement and repair
Rental vehicle coverage Endurance mobile app
Towing allowance $250 credit with shopping or dining partners

Endurance: 4.6 Stars

Endurance has been in business since 2006. It offers six levels of coverage, and contracts can give you an additional eight years or a total of over 200,000 miles of protection. 

The most comprehensive Endurance extended warranty is the Supreme plan, which covers most mechanical and electrical components. Endurance also has plans that combine mechanical breakdown protection with coverage for routine maintenance services like oil changes and tire rotations.

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.