AutoNation’s main business is in selling cars, but the company also offers extended warranty plans. You can get an AutoNation Vehicle Protection Plan if you purchase a car from one of the company’s dealerships. But is the coverage any good?
To find out, we researched AutoNation’s extended warranty plans, reputation, customer reviews and more. At the end of the day, it’s an average provider, and there are likely better options out there. Read on to learn more, or start getting quotes from some of the best extended car warranty providers on the market below.
AutoNation Overview
AutoNation is a large auto retailer that also offers financial products and vehicle protection plans. The only way to get an AutoNation Vehicle Protection Plan is to purchase one when you buy a new or used car from the dealer.
The company has been in business since 1996 and currently operates over 300 dealerships in 18 states. Some are called AutoNation USA, while many are run under the names of different manufacturers like Chevrolet or Toyota. The company’s headquarters has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), though each location has a separate BBB page.
Here’s an overview of the different review areas we looked at:
| Overall Rating | 6.6 |
|---|---|
| Industry Reputation | 7.0 |
| Coverage | 8.0 |
| Warranty Cost | 4.0 |
| Transparency | 6.0 |
| Customer Experience | 8.0 |
AutoNation Vehicle Protection Plan Coverage
The AutoNation Vehicle Protection Plan comes in five varieties: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Powertrain and Engine.
- Platinum: This is an exclusionary contract, so it covers anything except a list of certain parts and situations. It’s comparable to a bumper-to-bumper factory warranty.
- Gold: This plan covers parts of most systems of the vehicle including the powertrain, electrical system, air conditioning, suspension, steering and advanced hybrid components.
- Silver: This plan covers parts on major vehicle systems including the powertrain, steering, brakes and electrical system. It’s a good option for vehicles with a decent amount of miles.
- Powertrain: This plan covers components in the engine, transmission and drivetrain.
- Engine: This is AutoNation’s most basic plan, and it only covers certain parts of the engine (including turbochargers). It would be a good option for vehicles with high mileage.
All plans come with a list of exclusions, which is why it’s important to take the time to read the whole contract. Here are a few examples:
- Regular maintenance services
- Cosmetic items
- Wear items like brake pads, bulbs and batteries
- Failure due to misuse or lack of maintenance
- Aftermarket accessories
- Pre-existing conditions
- Normal wear and tear
- Exhaust system and catalytic converters
AutoNation Vehicle Protection Plan Perks
AutoNation provides three standard perks with each extended service contract:
- Roadside assistance: Includes towing, lockout services, battery jump-starts, flat tire services and fuel delivery
- Rental car reimbursement: Covers up to $35 per day for 10 days in the case of a covered repair
- Travel expense reimbursement: Covers up to $200 per day for food and lodging for a maximum of five days
What is AutoNation Appearance Protection?
AutoNation Appearance Protection is a collection of treatments for different car surfaces. This plan consists of:
- Paint Protection to enhance longevity of exterior paint
- Fabric Protection to prevent stains on interior fabrics
- Leather Protection to help leather resist cracking and fading
Beyond what we’ve talked about so far, AutoNation offers numerous plans for cosmetic care and maintenance services, including those for tire and wheel road hazard protection, guaranteed asset protection (GAP), excess wear and tear, dent and windshield protection, and more.
Can I Cancel an AutoNation Vehicle Protection Plan?
Yes, you can cancel an AutoNation Vehicle Protection Plan at any point. However, to get a full refund, you’ll need to cancel within 60 days without using the plan. If you cancel after that, or if you’ve used the plan, you’ll get a prorated refund minus a $50 cancellation fee.
You can also transfer the AutoNation contract to a subsequent vehicle owner for a $50 fee.
Cost of an AutoNation Extended Warranty
Since the only way to get an AutoNation Vehicle Protection Plan is through one of the company’s dealerships, there’s no online quote system. AutoNation gives drivers a variety of deductible options, but it doesn’t publish pricing information on its website.
How Much is an Extended Auto Warranty?
We’ve received quotes from many top extended warranty providers for different vehicles. The total cost can range from about $1,500 to $3,000 depending on the length of time and mileage covered. You can use this range to judge whether an AutoNation plan you find would be a good deal.
Are Auto Extended Warranties Worth the Money?
Auto warranties can provide peace of mind that a range of repairs is covered. If you understand what’s included in the contract, a warranty can be worth the money when you consider a single repair can cost $1,000 or more. Extended car warranties are worth it if you want to keep your monthly costs predictable as well.
How to Get a Quote and File a Claim
As we just mentioned, the only way to get a quote for an AutoNation Vehicle Protection Plan is to ask about the plan when you purchase a vehicle at one of the company’s dealerships. Unfortunately, shopping for an extended warranty through the dealership limits your options. If you’re buying a car from AutoNation, ask if you can take a warranty sample contract home with you for a day or two so you have time to get other quotes as well.
The claims process is fairly straightforward, and AutoNation extended warranty coverage is accepted at over 70,000 repair shops nationwide. Consumer Program Administrators is the contract administrator in most states, and you can find the company’s contact information on your contract.
When you have a breakdown, contact the administrator to file a claim. Take your car to a licensed repair facility (or use roadside assistance for towing) and give them the contract information to verify coverage. You may have to authorize a teardown diagnosis, and this charge would only be covered if the breakdown is also covered.
AutoNation Extended Warranty Reviews
If you are considering shopping at AutoNation, it would be a good idea to check if the specific dealership has a page on the BBB, since locations are rated separately.
AutoNation’s headquarters location has an A+ rating from the BBB, as does a location in Phoenix, Arizona. However, a location in Roseville, California has a B- rating, and one in Littleton, Colorado, has an F rating. Below are a few example reviews from the headquarters location.
Positive AutoNation Reviews
“The total experience was fantastic, absolutely no pressure and I would recommend AutoNation Honda in Hollywood, Florida, for their overall wonderful customer service.”
– Rosario R. via BBB
“Mr. James, the finance guy, was practical; open to reasonably negotiating the interest rate and provided me with a favorable care plan for my car.”
– Soraya H. via BBB
Negative AutoNation Reviews
“I have had issues in the past with getting a refund issued for the warranty they forced me to buy when I originally bought the car. Never buy anything from AutoNation. Horrible customer service. So many issues from the beginning, I wish I never bought a car from them.”
– Krista Y. vía BBB
“I bought a 2016 GMC Sierra with a warranty. When I had both rear window actuators fail in the first week, I brought in the truck for warranty work. I was told it would be ready in two days. It’s now been nine days and I still don’t have my truck.”
– Joe F. via BBB
Our Verdict on AutoNation: 6.6 / 10.0
So, should you get an extended warranty from AutoNation? Overall, we give the company a score of 6.6 out of 10.0. The contracts allow for a good amount of coverage options, but you won’t know the price until you shop for a car. While this isn’t one of the worst companies we’ve reviewed, it’s not one of the best, either. There are better options that provide upfront pricing and better customer service.
Our Picks for Best Extended Car Warranties
A few companies stand out from the rest when looking at qualities like reputation, coverage, cost and transparency. If you’re looking to add an extended warranty to your vehicle, Endurance and CARCHEX are two providers definitely worth considering.
Endurance: Best Provider
In our in-depth Endurance warranty review, we rank the company as the best overall provider, and there are a few reasons why. For example, Endurance has been in business since 2005 and is a direct warranty provider, so you don’t have to work with a third party when filing a claim.
Endurance can cover vehicles up to 8 years/200,000 miles, which means it can be a good option for new as well as old vehicles. You can choose from six coverage levels and read sample plans for each of them online so you know exactly what’s covered before making a decision.
Get a free quote from Endurance to see which plan would be best for your vehicle.
CARCHEX: Best for High-Mileage Cars
CARCHEX is another reputable company to check out. In our CARCHEX review, we rated CARCHEX as the best option for high-mileage vehicles since it covers up to 250,000 miles. That’s longer than any other top provider. The company has an A+ rating from the BBB and a low number of complaints compared to its size. CARCHEX also has transparent contracts in a wide range of options.
Explore plans from CARCHEX and get free quotes 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.
