Running into a $500 surprise repair bill isn’t fun. If you’re searching for extended warranty coverage to avoid this type of situation, you might have come across AutoAssure. The third-party warranty company offers plans to cover repairs after your factory warranty expires, but it’s important to take a closer look before signing a contract with the company.
In this article, we’ll discuss AutoAssure’s plan options, customer reviews, claims process and more, so you can make an informed decision about the provider. We’ve also reviewed the best extended car warranty companies on the market and will include a couple of our top picks if you’re not sold on AutoAssure’s coverage. Read on to learn more, or start getting free quotes from our top recommended providers below.
Best Extended Car Warranty Companies
We reviewed every major warranty company for coverage, affordability and more. Here are our recommendations.
Is an AutoAssure Extended Warranty Worth It?
AutoAssure is based in Plano, Texas. The company has been in business for 10 years, and it sells vehicle service contracts that are administered by Endurance, a leading warranty company. You can get plans through AutoAssure in most states. Endurance is our top pick for coverage in the industry, and at the end of the day, we don’t think there’s a good reason to go with AutoAssure instead of heading to Endurance directly.
AutoAssure has a B rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The company has over 600 customer reviews that give it a 4.24 out of 5-star rating. However, it has also received almost 500 complaints in the past three years, which isn’t a good sign. Many complaints are about misleading advertising practices and unpaid claims.
| Overall Rating | 6.2 |
|---|---|
| Industry Reputation | 8.0 |
| Coverage | 7.0 |
| Warranty Cost | 6.0 |
| Transparency | 6.0 |
| Customer Experience | 4.0 |
Is an AutoAssure warranty worth it? Because AutoAssure doesn’t have a great track record for customer service, we recommend getting an Endurance plan directly from Endurance instead.
AutoAssure Extended Car Warranty Coverage
AutoAssure has four extended vehicle service plans to choose from. Here’s a summary of what’s available:
- Platinum Exclusionary: This plan covers almost any mechanical part, except for a list of exclusions. It’s similar to a factory warranty and is designed for newer vehicles with fewer miles.
- Gold Component: This plan is a good choice for cars with 100,000 miles or less. It includes many parts on most major systems, like the engine, transmission, air conditioning, brakes, electrical system and steering.
- Powertrain Plus: This plan covers the engine, transmission, drive axle, basic electrical components and water pump.
- Powertrain Basic: This plan covers just the engine, transmission and drive axle.
All plans come with rental car coverage, trip interruption coverage, 24/7 roadside assistance and tire repairs in the case of a blowout.
While AutoAssure offers Endurance contracts, you don’t get everything you would if you purchased a plan directly from Endurance. For example, AutoAssure only offers four coverage options, while Endurance offers six. AutoAssure plans come with standard perks like roadside assistance, but Endurance plans come with much more, like repair financing and identity theft protection.
What AutoAssure Doesn’t Cover
Like all other extended warranties, AutoAssure plans don’t cover everything. Here are a few examples of exclusions:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Cosmetic damage
- Damage from lack of maintenance
- Regular maintenance items
- Normal wear and tear
- Wear items like brake pads
- Damage from a collision
Cost of an AutoAssure Extended Warranty
We received quotes for two plans from AutoAssure: the Platinum Exclusionary and Powertrain Plus plans. The Platinum Exclusionary plan quote was for a 2018 Toyota RAV4 with 30,000 miles, and the Powertrain Plus quote was for a Chevrolet Equinox with 90,000 miles. Here are the prices we received:
| AutoAssure Plan | Term Length | Monthly Payment | Down Payment | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum Exclusionary | 7 years/126,000 miles | $92.41 for 36 months | $175.00 | $3,501.76 |
| Powertrain Plus | 7 years/191,000 miles | $95.34 for 36 months | $181.65 | $3,613.89 |
The Platinum Exclusionary plan we were offered came with a deductible of $100, and the Powertrain Plus deductible was $50. Overall, these prices are slightly more expensive than plans of similar length from other leading providers.
Of course, you’ll see different prices if you get a quote yourself. Extended warranty prices are based on your vehicle’s model, mileage and condition. For example, if the Toyota RAV4 mentioned above had 60,000 miles instead of 30,000, prices would be higher or it wouldn’t qualify for the same level of coverage. Depending on the quote you receive, you can choose between a $0, $50 or $100 deductible.
How to Get a Quote and File a Claim
You can either fill out an online quote form or call AutoAssure directly to get a quote. The form is simple and asks for your contact information along with your vehicle’s year, make, model and mileage. Once you click submit, you’ll have to wait for a representative to call or email you with information about your quote.
Out of all the providers we called for a quote, we noted that the phone wait time for AutoAssure was especially long. But once the company answered the phone, the process for getting a quote was easy.
Filing a claim is also simple, since Endurance administers the contracts. You can go to any licensed repair shop for service. Be sure to connect the shop with Endurance’s claims department so the company can authorize the repair. If it turns out the part or breakdown isn’t covered, you’ll have to pay for initial diagnosis charges in addition to the repair.
How Do I Cancel AutoAssure?
You can cancel an AutoAssure plan within 30 days for a full refund by contacting customer service. After 30 days, you can still get a partial refund if you submit a notarized cancellation form. It can take a little while for the cancellation to go through, so be sure to continue payments during that time. AutoAssure may withhold a refund if you miss a payment in the interim.
AutoAssure Extended Warranty Reviews
The BBB is alerting consumers to use caution when doing business with AutoAssure because of a lawsuit involving the Minnesota Attorney General. In 2018, the Minnesota Attorney General filed a complaint against AutoAssure for using deceptive marketing tactics. In 2019, the court ruled that AutoAssure was barred from marketing to or selling contracts to residents in Minnesota for the next four years.
Many negative reviews and complaints have to do with AutoAssure using language in mailers that suggested the recipient’s vehicle warranty was about to expire, or that it was communicating as their vehicle manufacturer’s official warranty department. Some also mention unpaid claims and poor customer service. Below are a few examples of both positive and negative AutoAssure reviews.
Positive AutoAssure Reviews
“AutoAssure has provided excellent and reliable coverage for an older car for seven years. Recently, I purchased coverage for another car and have no complaints.”
– Nancy A. via BBB
“I’ve had this service for a little over a year, and I am very satisfied with the service that they provide. [A service representative] helped me transfer my coverage to a new vehicle and was very helpful and made the transition a smooth one.”
– Darlene M. via BBB
Negative AutoAssure Reviews
“[AutoAssure] would not let [me] cancel a policy that was opened by my 83-year-old dad. They told him that it was a one-time payment of $198. (That was his understanding.) The elderly have no idea the bullying process these companies use.”
– Alton H. via BBB
“I canceled my policy with AutoAssure because the list of parts covered under the bumper-to-bumper policy is too narrow to make the policy worth more than $4,000. Three of my claims were denied when the dealership said they should have easily been covered.”
– Blair R. via BBB
Our Verdict on AutoAssure: 6.2 / 10.0
AutoAssure offers standard coverage options for the industry. There isn’t a large range of choices, but you can get by with what’s available. However, since it has a high number of complaints and a history of questionable advertising practices, we’d recommend taking a pass on AutoAssure and looking for coverage elsewhere.
Our Picks for Best Extended Car Warranties
AutoAssure isn’t your only option for vehicle protection. There are a number of reputable extended car warranty companies to choose from, so you don’t have to settle for the first provider you come across. In fact, it’s a good idea to get quotes from multiple providers to find the best deal. We recommend getting free quotes from at least two top companies: Endurance and CARCHEX.
Endurance: Best Provider
We ranked Endurance as the best provider overall for its strong customer service reputation, industry standing, coverage variety, transparency and affordability. Endurance’s six plans range from comprehensive to basic and can cover vehicles up to 200,000+ miles.
Although AutoAssure sells Endurance contracts, Endurance has received much more positive customer feedback. In fact, Endurance warranty reviews give the company a 4.2 out of 5.0-star rating on Trustpilot. Click below to get a free, personalized quote from Endurance.
CARCHEX: Best for High-Mileage Cars
If you have an older vehicle with more miles, CARCHEX can be another great option. The company offers five plans that can cover vehicles up to 250,000 miles. You can read sample contracts for each of its plans online so you can know what they cover before getting a quote.
CARCHEX has been in business for 21 years and has an A+ rating from the BBB with accreditation. Learn more about this provider in our CARCHEX review, and get a free quote from CARCHEX below.
Methodology
The Detroit Bureau collects data from every major car warranty provider to formulate rankings of the best warranty companies. Our in-depth rating system takes into account coverage, pricing, transparency, customer satisfaction and ratings from industry experts. Each provider is given a weighted score in five categories, as well as an overall score out of 10.0.
We recommend auto warranty companies based on these rankings, but we also encourage you to perform your own research and compare quotes to find the best coverage.
