Extended car warranty cost information is not always easy to find. Many extended warranty companies can be unclear about pricing, especially those that deal exclusively through agents and dealerships.
Even companies that are upfront about pricing do not have fixed contract costs. Extended car warranty costs are determined based on the vehicle being covered. This article reviews how contracts are typically priced and lists sample quotes that our research team gathered while evaluating the best extended car warranty companies.
The best way to find out how much an extended car warranty will cost you is to get free, personalized quotes from multiple companies. You can start comparing quotes from our top recommended providers below.
What Factors Affect Extended Car Warranty Cost?
The factors that affect extended car warranty cost include:
- Vehicle make and model
- Vehicle age and mileage
- Level of coverage
- Length of coverage
- Deductible
- Location
The cheapest extended car warranties are offered for low-mileage, highly reliable cars. The age of your vehicle is likely to have the biggest impact on cost. You can get the best price for an extended warranty by purchasing coverage as soon as your bumper-to-bumper factory warranty expires.
Prices will also vary depending on your coverage level and contract length. Exclusionary warranties with a lot of additional benefits will cost more than basic, bare-bones coverage plans. Some providers also offer add-ons such as coverage for routine maintenance services. Finally, the lower the deductible you choose, the higher your contract cost will be.
Most providers offer financing options to help you pay off your extended car warranty cost over a number of months. In many cases, contracts can be financed with zero interest.
How Much Should an Extended Car Warranty Cost?
Based on our research, the average extended car warranty cost is between $300 and $700 per year of coverage, but prices can vary widely based on your vehicle and the plan you choose.
The point of an extended warranty is to protect you from having to pay high repair bills out of pocket. In some cases, you will end up paying more for an extended warranty than you would pay for repairs as they arise. Even still, warranties can be worth it for the peace of mind they bring, but you don’t want to pay much more for coverage than what repairs would cost.
To determine a fair cost for an extended car warranty, researching your vehicle is a smart first step. Try to plan out how much you expect to pay for repairs over the course of your warranty’s lifetime. This can be done by using cost estimate sites such as RepairPal.
Warranty Company Cost Comparison
To give you a better idea of how much an extended car warranty costs, we’ve listed quotes we’ve received from the industry’s top providers below. For personalized quotes, you’ll need to contact these companies yourself.
Endurance: Best Provider
Endurance offers the industry’s best extended warranty coverage with five comprehensive plans and benefits that include tire repairs and replacements, key fob replacements, and a personal concierge service. Here are two quotes we received from Endurance:
| Plan Type | Exclusionary | Powertrain |
|---|---|---|
| Plan Name | Supreme | Secure |
| Deductible | $100 | $100 |
| Vehicle | 2018 Honda Civic with 30,000 miles | 2012 Subaru Outback with 88,000 miles |
| Term Length | 6 years/71,000 miles | 5 years/51,000 miles |
| Financing | $74.60/month for 36 months | $69.96/month for 36 months |
| Down Payment | $161.35 | $152.55 |
| Final Cost | $2,846.95 | $2,671.11 |
| Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote |
CARCHEX: Best for Higher-Mileage Cars
CARCHEX offers plan lengths up to 250,000 miles, making it the best provider if you have an older vehicle. The company is a great choice for new vehicle owners too, though. CARCHEX has an impeccable industry reputation, partnering with leaders like Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds.com, and five comprehensive coverage plans.
These are the quotes we received from CARCHEX:
| Plan Type | Exclusionary | Powertrain |
|---|---|---|
| Plan Name | Titanium | Silver |
| Deductible | $100 | $100 |
| Vehicle | 2018 Honda Civic with 30,000 miles | 2012 Subaru Outback with 88,000 miles |
| Term Length | 7 years/125,000 miles | 6 years/60,000 miles |
| Financing | $107.25/month for 24 months | $108.00/month for 24 months |
| Down Payment | First month’s payment | First month’s payment |
| Final Cost | $2,574.00 | $2,592.00 |
| Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote |
CarShield: Most Affordable
CarShield plans are among the lowest-priced in the industry, and financing terms are generous. Here are two examples of what an extended car warranty costs with CarShield:
| Plan Type | Exclusionary | Powertrain |
|---|---|---|
| Plan Name | Diamond | Gold |
| Deductible | $100 | $100 |
| Vehicle | 2018 Honda Civic with 30,000 miles | 2012 Subaru Outback with 88,000 miles |
| Term Length | 5 years/70,000 miles | Unlimited |
| Financing | $88.78/month for 18 months | $89.99 monthly |
| Down Payment | $109.99 | First month’s payment |
| Final Cost | $1,708.03 | Depends on how long you keep coverage |
| Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote |
Protect My Car: Best Long-Term Financing
Along with standard vehicle service contracts, Protect My Car offers coverage for routine maintenance that can be especially beneficial for older vehicles that don’t qualify for standard coverage. See examples of Protect My Car extended warranty pricing below.
| Plan Type | Exclusionary | Powertrain |
|---|---|---|
| Plan Name | Supreme | Driveline |
| Deductible | $100 | $100 |
| Vehicle | 2018 Honda Civic with 30,000 miles | 2012 Subaru Outback with 88,000 miles |
| Term Length | 4 years/unlimited miles | 4 years/unlimited miles |
| Financing | $58.00/month for 48 months | $79.00/month for 48 months |
| Down Payment | $50.00 | $50.00 |
| Final Cost | $2,834.00 | $3,842.00 |
| Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote |
How to Find Extended Car Warranty Cost Information
When shopping for extended warranties, it’s always a good idea to compare personalized quotes from multiple companies. Finding cost information can be a hassle, but the process can move along smoothly if you keep the following tips in mind:
- Have your information ready: To provide you with the most accurate quote, the majority of companies will need you to provide your vehicle year, make, model, mileage, and vehicle identification number (VIN). Having this information on-hand when you call can make the quotes process quicker over the phone.
- Contact local dealerships: Some extended warranty companies do not sell directly to consumers but instead work through dealerships. Call around to local dealerships and ask about warranty pricing for your vehicle.
- Negotiate: Contract prices may not be set in stone, and many providers regularly run promotions. Ask about any available discounts, and don’t be afraid to try and drive your price down or ask for additional coverage to sweeten the deal.
- Sleep on it: An extended car warranty can be a major investment. Be wary of any sales agents who try to pressure you into making an immediate decision. If you don’t have a favorable experience when trying to purchase an extended warranty, odds are, you’ll run into even bigger issues when it comes to filing claims.
Start comparing extended car warranty cost information from top providers right away by getting a few free, personalized quotes.
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.
