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While First Automotive does not sell vehicle protection plans directly to consumers, First extended warranty products can be purchased from participating dealerships across the U.S. Practically every car dealer sells extended vehicle service contracts, and a First Automotive warranty may be available at your local dealership.
In this article, we’ll take a look at First Automotive warranty coverage options, customer reviews, costs, and more.
Our review team has researched the best extended car warranty companies in the industry. To see how First Automotive compares with some of the leading names in extended vehicle service contracts, start getting free quotes from our top recommended providers below.
First Automotive Extended Warranty: What You Need to Know
First Automotive contracts are sold by SouthwestRe, which also sells service contracts under the names PowerRev and ProTrek. SouthwestRe is a subsidiary of Industrial Alliance (iA) Financial group and has been in business for over 30 years.
Today, First Automotive has an A+ rating from the BBB, which is a good sign that it uses sound business practices and communicates well with its customers.
First Automotive Warranty Coverage
First Automotive offers a wide variety of coverage options for vehicles of all ages. Plans range from basic powertrain warranties to exclusionary coverage. There is also a lifetime warranty offered, which is particularly unique and not something that is offered by many competitors.
| First Automotive Warranty |
Vehicle Eligibility | Coverage Details | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard VSC | New vehicles up to 4 years/60,000 miles and used vehicles up to 12 years/125,000 miles |
Not specified | Not specified |
| Enhanced Care | New vehicles up to 1 year/7,500 miles |
Covers all mechanical and electrical components, as well as wear-and-tear items like brake pads, batteries, headlamps, belts, and hoses | 24 months/24,000 miles or 60 months/60,000 miles |
| Xtended Care | Vehicles up to 20 years/200,000 miles |
Four sub-levels of coverage but details not specified on the First Automotive warranty website | Not specified |
| Powertrain Wrap | New vehicles up to 1 year/12,000 miles and used vehicles up to 4 years/50,000 miles |
Coverage for items not covered by the manufacturer’s powertrain warranty | Not specified |
| 5-Year/ 100,000-Mile Protection |
Vehicles up to 15 years/150,000 miles |
Powertrain coverage (Engine Plus plan) or advanced coverage (High-Tech plan) | Not specified |
| 3-Year/ 100,000-Mile Protection |
Vehicles up to 15 years/150,000 miles |
Covers the engine, transmission, and transfer case components | Not specified |
| Lifetime Powertrain Limited Warranty |
New vehicles up to 1 year/12,000 miles and used vehicles up to 10 years/100,000 miles |
Covers powertrain components and requires that the covered vehicle be returned to the selling dealer once every five years for a complimentary powertrain inspection | Lifetime of your vehicle |
| Limited Warranty | Vehicles up to 20 years/200,000 miles |
Covers all internal lubricated parts of the engine, transmission, transfer case, and differential | Not specified |
As you can see, there is much information missing on the First Automotive warranty website, so you’ll need to take a look at sample contracts and get more details from your dealership before deciding to purchase a First extended warranty.
All plans come with the following benefits:
- Rental car reimbursement
- Trip interruption reimbursement
- Emergency roadside assistance
First Automotive also sells the following additional coverage packages:
- Theft protection
- Key replacement
- Appearance protection
- Dent and ding protection
- Expanded tire and wheel protection
First Automotive Warranty Cost
To give you an idea of First Automotive warranty costs, we researched what other customers have paid.
One driver reported paying $3,000 for a five-year/60,000-mile warranty on a 2014 Chevy Silverado. Another customer paid $1,978 for a five-year/100,000-mile warranty on a 2011 Buick Lacrosse CXS. These are standard prices for the industry, though it is hard to compare against competitors without more information such as coverage level and vehicle mileage.
First Automotive warranty products are sold exclusively through dealerships, so the final price may be negotiable. Additionally, the cost of your extended warranty will depend on a number of factors, including your vehicle make, model, age, and mileage. Your location may also influence the final price of your First extended warranty.
First Automotive Warranty Reviews
First Automotive is accredited and holds an A+ rating from the BBB. The company has received just over 20 complaints in the past three years, which is a relatively low number. Customer complaints typically involve slow claims servicing and coverage gaps. These sorts of complaints are typical for an extended car warranty company.
How Do First Automotive Warranties Work?
If you experience a breakdown, call First Automotive at 505-881-2244 or 877-881-2244. A customer service representative can walk you through the next steps. Most minor vehicle repairs will be able to be quickly taken care of by a certified repair shop.
More complex repairs involving the failure of major components such as the engine or transmission may be more involved. In some cases, a First Automotive employee may need to conduct an inspection to decide whether to approve a repair or replacement. This process can take between three and seven days.
Final Thoughts: First Automotive Warranty
A First extended warranty may not be a bad option for your vehicle, but you’ll need to get more information from a dealership to decide for sure. Coverage options are comprehensive, and there are plans for both high- and low-mileage vehicles. However, additional protections such as dent repair and appearance plans can be skipped.
Overall, we rate First Automotive 3.5 out of 5.0 stars. This score was determined based on the following categories:
| Overall Star Rating | 3.5 |
|---|---|
| Reputation | 3.5 |
| Coverage | 4.0 |
| Price | 3.0 |
| Customer Experience | 3.0 |
Because First Automotive extended warranty contracts are sold exclusively through dealerships, it is hard to know exactly what the final cost of a contract may be. Some plans offered through First Automotive may not be available at your dealership.
Our Top Picks for Extended Warranty Coverage
If you are interested in car warranties with extensive coverage options, a First Automotive warranty isn’t the only choice out there. Our research team compiled information on every major warranty company on the market. With this data, we were able to rate and rank the best extended warranty providers. Two companies we recommend based on this research are CARCHEX and CarShield.
CARCHEX: 4.3 Stars
CARCHEX has a well-known reputation for its great customer service, which is just one reason the company has remained a leader in the industry for over 20 years. CARCHEX offers 24-hour customer support and a live chat feature on its website, and it has hundreds of positive reviews online.
CARCHEX extended warranty contracts are also some of the lowest-priced on the market. When we asked CARCHEX for a quote on a Titanium plan (the highest level of coverage) for a 2018 Honda Civic, we were offered the following terms:
- Term Length: 7 years/150,000 miles
- Financing: $2,423.50 upfront
- Deductible: $100.00
- Total Cost: $2,423.50
- Price Per Year of Coverage: $367.71
CARCHEX is a reliable company with a strong history of paying customer claims. To learn more, read our complete CARCHEX review.
CarShield: 4.2 Stars
CarShield has some of the lowest-cost contracts in the industry. When we asked Carshield for a quote for New Car Diamond coverage (the highest level of coverage) for a 2018 Honda Civic, we were offered the following terms:
- Term Length: 5 years/70,000 miles
- Financing: $88.78 for 18 months
- Down Payment: $295.00
- Deductible: $100.00
- Total Cost: $1,708.03
- Price Per Year of Coverage: $341.60
CarShield customers also have access to excellent customer benefits, such as:
- Rental car reimbursement: There is a maximum reimbursement of $40 per day up to $160 per occurrence.
- Roadside assistance: This benefit includes towing, emergency tire service, lockout service, battery service, and fuel delivery service. It reimburses you up to $400 per contract term.
- Trip interruption reimbursement: If your vehicle becomes inoperable more than 100 miles from your home, this coverage provides reimbursement for meals and lodging at $40 per day up to $160 per occurrence.
Read our CarShield review for more information on the company.
Our Methodology
Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best extended auto warranty providers.
- Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations to give this rating.
- Coverage: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that a car warranty company offers an array of coverage options. We take into account the number of plans offered by each provider, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, availability, and years in business when giving this score.
- Customer Service: Reputable extended car warranty companies operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.
