Since 1998, Elite Warranty has sold vehicle service contracts through dealerships across the U.S. If you’re offered an Elite Warranty while buying a new car, should you purchase coverage, or is it better to search for a vehicle protection plan elsewhere?
It’s important to research any extended warranty company before signing a contract. To make it easier for consumers, our review team collects information on cost, plan details and customer service for the best extended car warranty companies in the industry. Read on to learn more about Elite Warranty, and click above to start comparing free quotes from our top recommended providers.
Is an Elite Warranty Worth It?
Elite Warranty is headquartered in Springville, Utah. It underwrites its own claims in-house and is backed by insurers with over $150 million in assets. The company has a good customer service reputation and doesn’t work through any middlemen. However, its contracts are sold exclusively through dealerships, which can be a pain.
Here’s an overview of our thoughts on the provider:
| Overall Star Rating | 7.0 out of 10.0 |
|---|---|
| Reputation | 8.0 out of 10.0 |
| Coverage | 7.0 out of 10.0 |
| Price | See dealership |
| Customer Experience | 7.0 out of 10.0 |
Is it worth it? Yes, it is worth considering an Elite Warranty if one is offered at your dealership.
Elite Warranty Coverage
Elite Warranty offers three coverage levels and terms lengths ranging from three months to six years. An Elite Warranty contract promises to pay repair costs for select mechanical and electrical parts after a breakdown. Coverage details for each plan are outlined in the chart below:
| Standard | Premium | Stated Care | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any vehicle | Vehicles with up to 120,000 miles | Vehicles up to 6 years old and with up to 75,000 miles | |
| Eligible Vehicles | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Engine | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transmission | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Four-Wheel Drive | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cooling System | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fuel System | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Air Conditioner | ✓* | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Seals and Gaskets | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Alternator | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Starter Motor | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Navigation | ✓ | ||
| Exclusionary | ✓ |
Elite Warranty also offers contracts for lifted and diesel vehicles. All plans include roadside assistance for services including towing, jump-starts, flat-tire assistance, fuel delivery and lockouts.
Cost of an Elite Warranty Vehicle Service Contract
Elite Warranty products are sold exclusively through dealerships, and contract quotes are not offered directly from Elite Warranty. The final cost of your contract may vary from dealership to dealership and will be mainly based on:
- Vehicle age and mileage
- Vehicle make and model
- Contract term
- Coverage level
- Deductible
- Location
The typical extended warranty can cost anywhere from $1,700 to $4,000 depending on the length and breadth of coverage.
How to Get a Quote and File a Claim
Elite Warranty promises to pay for the cost of labor and parts for all covered components. Payout amounts are based on standard repair times and local shop rates. All claims are administered in-house by Elite Warranty.
To keep warranty coverage valid, customers must maintain their vehicles in accordance with their factory-recommended maintenance schedules. When a covered repair is needed, vehicles can be taken to any facility certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®).
The shop should contact Elite Warranty for authorization before beginning repairs, and once your claim is approved, Elite Warranty pays the repair facility directly. You’ll only be responsible for paying your deductible.
Elite Warranty Reviews
Elite Warranty is accredited and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). It also has just over a 3.0 out of 5-star customer review score, based on about 20 reviews. The company has fielded fewer than five complaints in the past three years, which is exceptionally low for an extended car warranty provider.
Customers who did complain were upset by coverage limitations and claims denials, but Elite Warranty took the time to address each customer complaint–in most cases to the customer’s satisfaction.
Happy customers were pleased with quick claims servicing and the fact that Elite Warranty made good-faith efforts to address customer complaints and confusion.
Our Verdict on Elite Warranty: 7.0 / 10.0
Despite its 20-year history, Elite Warranty is not as established as some of the bigger names in the auto coverage industry. It does not have as large of an online customer review profile, but what does exist is promising. Elite Warranty offers reasonable coverage and treats customers well.
Our Picks for Best Extended Car Warranties
Elite Warranty is a good choice for your extended warranty needs. However, you may be able to find budget-friendly contracts that are just as comprehensive from other providers. The best way to find the lowest price for your extended car warranty is to shop around and compare quotes. Two reputable extended car warranty companies with low-cost contracts are CARCHEX and CarShield.
CARCHEX: Best for High-Mileage Cars
CARCHEX contracts are affordable and provide extensive coverage. When we asked CARCHEX for a quote on a Titanium plan – the provider’s highest level of coverage – for a 2018 Toyota RAV4 with 30,000 miles, we were offered the following terms:
- Term length: 7 years/125,000 miles
- Financing: $190.00 per month for 18 months
- Down payment: $342.00
- Deductible: $100.00
- Total cost: $3,420.00
We also asked for quotes on the CARCHEX basic powertrain plan, called Silver coverage, for a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox with 90,000 miles. We were offered the following quote:
- Term length: 5 years/75,000 miles
- Financing: $225.00 for 18 months
- Down payment: First month’s payment
- Deductible: $100.00
- Total cost: $4,050.00
Get your own free, personalized CARCHEX quote to see how much you would pay for coverage.
CarShield: Most Affordable
Like Elite Warranty, CarShield reviews are largely positive. This may be attributed to the fact that CarShield offers comprehensive coverage at a low cost with generous financing terms. We asked CarShield to supply a quote for Diamond coverage, a bumper-to-bumper exclusionary warranty, for a 2018 Toyota RAV4 with 30,000 miles and were offered the following terms:
- Term length: 5 years/100,000 miles
- Financing: $88.78 for 18 months
- Down payment: $295.00
- Deductible: $100.00
- Total cost: $1,893.04
When we requested quotes for Gold coverage, CarShield’s basic powertrain warranty, for a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox with 90,000 miles, we were offered a month-to-month contract with flexible term limits:
- Term length: 4 years/100,000 miles
- Financing: $127.67 for 18 months
- Down payment: $99.99
- Deductible: $100.00
- Total cost: $2,398.05
Although you’ll pay more for coverage in the long run with a month-to-month contract, it ensures you’re not locked into a long-term financial commitment. This can be beneficial for drivers with less stable financial situations.
See how much your own CarShield contract would cost by getting a free quote.
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.
