Best Extended Car Warranty Companies
We reviewed every major warranty company for coverage, affordability and more. Here are our recommendations.
If you’re thinking about extending your coverage once your car’s factory warranty expires, you might also be wondering which extended car warranty company is right for you. This in-depth look at CARCHEX vs. Endurance explores the coverage, cost, customer service and benefits of two leading extended warranty providers.
CARCHEX Overview
CARCHEX was founded in 1999 as a national provider of mobile pre-purchase car inspections. In 2004, the company added vehicle service contracts to its suite of products and quickly grew to become one of the biggest and most popular names in the industry. It has since received numerous endorsements from industry leaders such as CARFAX, SiriusXM, Edmunds.com and Kelley Blue Book. CARCHEX has even made the Inc. 5000 list for several years running.
A broker of extended warranties, CARCHEX offers affordable, customizable protection plans from top-rated administrators to its customers.
Endurance Overview
Endurance Warranty Services, LLC is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois where it was founded in 2006. Endurance is one of the most popular warranty companies on the market and boasts a positive customer service reputation along with a Gold certification status from the Vehicle Protection Association.
While CARCHEX offers vehicle protection plans from multiple providers, Endurance is a direct administrator of most of its extended warranties or extended protection plans.
CARCHEX
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5 coverage levels
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A+ rating from the BBB
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Covers most older vehicles up to 10 years old and up to 250,000 miles
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Full refund if canceled within first 30 days
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Transferable plans
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Extended warranty broker
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Doesn’t cover repairs needed because of neglect, weather, accidents or wear and tear
Endurance
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Certified by the Vehicle Protection Association
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Covers most older cars up to 200,000 miles or more
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Full refund if canceled within first 30 days
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Free one-year Endurance Elite Benefits
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Endurance mobile app to manage your warranty
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Transferable plans
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Direct provider
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Doesn’t provide coverage in California
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Doesn’t cover repairs needed because of neglect, weather, accidents or wear and tear
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C rating from the Better Business Bureau
The provider you pick should be the one that best suits your financial needs and gives you the most peace of mind. Regardless of which extended auto warranty company sounds best on paper, you should always reach out for free quotes so you can compare warranty costs and coverage before buying.
Best Extended Car Warranty Companies
We reviewed every major warranty company for coverage, affordability and more. Here are our recommendations.
CARCHEX Vs. Endurance Coverage
CARCHEX offers five levels of coverage that range from basic powertrain protection to full-coverage bumper-to-bumper extended warranty contracts. Endurance has six plans that offer similar coverage, including a plan unique in the industry that combines extended warranty and maintenance coverage. CARCHEX contracts go up to 250,000 miles, while Endurance offers up to 200,000+ miles.
CARCHEX Coverage
CARCHEX offers five levels of extended warranty coverage, with multiple options at each level. Coverage terms range from five to ten years. Here are the five levels:
- Titanium: The Titanium level provides bumper-to-bumper protection, similar to a manufacturer’s warranty. Most suitable for newer cars, it includes coverage for all car components other than stated exclusions in the contract.
- Platinum: The Platinum level is the highest level of stated-component coverage available at CARCHEX. It provides protection for the major systems in your car, including suspension, enhanced electrical, heating/cooling, and all the parts in the Gold, Silver and Bronze tiers.
- Gold: The Gold level protects all the major car systems. CARCHEX recommends this level for cars with more than 60,000 miles, which is when most warranties expire.
- Silver: The Silver level provides essential coverage for the major car systems – fuel delivery, electrical, air conditioning and powertrain.
- Bronze: The Bronze level protects the engine, transmission and drive axle, which can be some of the most expensive parts to repair.
Regular maintenance, batteries, tires and other wear-and-tear items are not covered under CARCHEX warranties. However, this is true for most vehicle service contracts. For more info, check out our in-depth CARCHEX review.
Endurance Coverage
Endurance warranties come in six coverage levels. However, since it is a direct provider of plans and doesn’t offer plans from multiple providers, each coverage tier has only one plan.
- Supreme: The Supreme level offers the highest level of coverage and is similar to a new vehicle limited warranty. It provides maximum breakdown protection for all car parts, except certain listed exclusions.
- Superior: The Superior level is the highest level of stated component coverage available at Endurance, covering hundreds of listed car components.
- Secure Plus: The Secure Plus plan provides mid-level comprehensive coverage, including coverage for steering, brakes and electrical components. This plan has the shortest waiting period for an Endurance car warranty at 30 days and 1,000 miles.
- Select Premier: The Select Premier level provides coverage for the most important parts of high-mileage cars. These include powertrain components, air conditioning, cooling and electrical.
- Secure: The Secure level offers the most affordable coverage of all Endurance warranties and protects the drivetrain and some engine components.
- EnduranceAdvantage™: The Advantage plan covers mechanical breakdowns and regularly scheduled maintenance. There are three levels of coverage – Prime, Plus and Preferred – all of which feature high-level stated-component coverage. Maintenance coverage includes oil changes, engine diagnostics, brake pad replacements and more.
Learn more through our article on Endurance warranty reviews.
CARCHEX Vs. Endurance Benefits
While CARCHEX offers standard benefits such as roadside assistance, rental reimbursement and a trip interruption allowance, Endurance provides some of the most extensive benefits in the industry. Both companies offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on their policies.
In addition to standard benefit options, Endurance provides all customers one year of free Endurance Elite Benefits, which includes better perks than any extended car warranty provider we have reviewed.
CARCHEX Benefits
All CARCHEX auto warranties come with additional benefits such as:
- Rental reimbursement: This benefit covers the cost of a rental car up to $40 per day for a maximum of $175 for each repair.
- Trip interruption: If you have a covered breakdown more than 100 miles from home, this service pays up to $50 per day for a maximum of three days for meals and lodging.
- 24/7 roadside assistance: This service pays up to $100 (per occurrence) for emergency roadside assistance with things such as flat tire changes, gas delivery, towing, battery jump-starts and lockout services.
Endurance Benefits
All Endurance warranties include the following benefits, which are found in the sample contracts we’ve obtained:
Rental car reimbursement: This benefit covers expenses (up to $30 per day and $150 per breakdown) to rent a vehicle or use alternate public transportation while your vehicle is being repaired at a licensed repair facility.
24/7 roadside assistance: A covered breakdown will entitle you to any one of the following benefits per 72 hours:
- Towing service (full coverage for a tow of 25 miles or less)
- Fuel/fluid delivery service (covers the cost of delivery only)
- Tire service (covers the cost of changing a flat tire with your spare)
- Trip interruption (up to $150 day for a maximum of three days if a covered breakdown occurs more than 100 miles from home)
- Mechanical first aid
- Battery jump-start
- Lockout service
Endurance Elite Benefits: Every Endurance warranty comes with a membership to the Endurance Elite Benefits program, which offers the following benefits:
- Tire repair/replacement (up to two tires per year)
- Total loss protection (up to $1,000 toward a replacement vehicle)
- Collision discount (up to $500 per covered collision, with $1,000 limit)
- Key fob replacement
- Endurance mobile app
- 24/7 roadside assistance
While this is a great service to have, it is included with your Endurance warranty for only one year. After the first year, you will have to pay extra for Endurance Elite Benefits.
Endurance Vs. CARCHEX Customer Service
Both extended car warranty companies offer excellent customer service. Based on our team’s in-depth look at Endurance vs. CARCHEX, we gave Endurance a 9.5 out of 10.0-star customer experience rating, and we gave CARCHEX 9.0 out of a possible 10.0 stars for customer experience. Learn more below.
CARCHEX Customer Service
CARCHEX operates by the motto, “Customer Experience Above All,” and this is reflected in its ratings. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) gives CARCHEX an A+ rating, which is the highest possible rating. CARCHEX has also been accredited with the BBB since 2009, which indicates its commitment to ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction. On ThoroughlyReviewed.com, CARCHEX scored 10/10 on customer service categories such as claims service, help and support. On Trustpilot, CARCHEX has an average rating of 3.2 out of 5 with over 1,400 reviews. ShopperApproved.com gave similar ratings: 3.8 for customer service and an overall score of 4.5.
Endurance Customer Service
Endurance has an exceptional reputation for customer service in the extended warranty market. While it is not accredited with the BBB, it is important to remember that companies are not obligated to register with the organization. The company has earned a 3.4-star BBB customer review score, which is high for the industry. Endurance is currently rated C by the BBB, largely due to an ongoing advertising review of the business. However, we were able to determine that it has had B and B+ ratings in the past.
ThroughlyReviewed.com gives Endurance a 9.6 score. The lower scores are on coverage options and claims service, but they are still positive overall.
On Trustpilot, Endurance warranty reviews are mostly positive, with the company scoring an average rating of 4.4 out of 5.0 with over 3,100 reviews. ShopperApproved.com does not list Endurance.
Endurance Vs. CARCHEX Cost
The cost of your car warranty will depend on the plan you choose with Endurance or CARCHEX, so neither company is definitively cheaper than the other. Both CARCHEX and Endurance offer some of the lowest prices in the industry for high-level coverage.
How Much Does CARCHEX Cost?
CARCHEX warranty prices vary with the age of the vehicle, its make and model, mileage, plan and coverage terms. Some contracts mention surcharges for diesel vehicles, four-wheel/all-wheel drive, turbocharger/supercharger, electric/hybrid vehicles and vehicles with one-ton gross vehicle weight capability. High-mileage vehicles may also cost more to cover.
Since CARCHEX acts as a broker for several providers, its prices will be competitive. The company promises a “No-Haggle, Low-Price Everyday Guarantee™,” meaning when you call for a free quote, you should get the lowest price up front.
On average, a CARCHEX warranty for a 2007-2014 model Toyota will cost around $56 per month.* The company has flexible payment plans that allow you to pay the full amount up front or in monthly payments. You can choose from a deductible of $0, $50, $100 or $200. CARCHEX car warranties can be canceled anytime, but you will receive a full refund only if you cancel within the first 30 days. After that, you will receive a prorated refund.
How Much Does Endurance Cost?
Just like a CARCHEX warranty, your final Endurance warranty price will be affected by multiple factors, including the age, make, model, mileage of your vehicle, your driving habits and the deductible you choose. You’ll be charged extra to include these features:
- High-tech components
- Commercial use
- Tire modification/body or suspension
- Hybrid vehicle
Endurance has the same deductibles to choose from as CARCHEX. You may also be able to choose a disappearing deductible in some cases. The best way to find your Endurance warranty price is to get a free, no-obligation quote.
Conclusion: CARCHEX Vs. Endurance
Based on our research, we find both CARCHEX and Endurance to be excellent options for an extended car warranty and that they offer similar coverage and benefits.
The key difference is that CARCHEX partners with plan administrators while Endurance is a direct provider. If you have a strong preference for one of these, that may be your deciding factor. Otherwise, it may come down to contract details, the quoted price or your experience with customer service. Ultimately, the best extended car warranty is the one that’s best for your specific needs.
Best Extended Car Warranty Companies
We reviewed every major warranty company for coverage, affordability and more. Here are our recommendations.
FAQ: CARCHEX Vs. Endurance
Which extended car warranty provider is better, Endurance or CARCHEX?
During our research of the best extended car warranty providers, our experts found that Endurance offers better coverage at a better price than CARCHEX. However, since companies customize rates for each individual, you may find different results than we did.
How much is Endurance per month?
According to Endurance, extended car warranty coverage costs between $350 to $700 per year, meaning an Endurance warranty could cost as little as $30 per month.
What is the best car warranty to buy?
After reviewing the best extended car warranty providers, our experts rated Endurance as the best overall car warranty.
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.
*Figure accurate as of May 2017. Average monthly coverage cost is based on the average total price of the Vehicle Protection Plan over a four-year coverage period. Actual monthly payments will vary per plan’s payment policy. Individual pricing is subject to change based on the combination of make, model, year and mileage as well as coverage level and term length.
