If you’ve shopped for or purchased a used car, you might have been presented with a MasterTech™ warranty. Having an extended warranty can be a good idea, especially as repair costs increase as your odometer miles go up.
But is MasterTech a good company? It’s backed by Assurant, a Fortune 500 insurance company, but it doesn’t get the best reviews. Along with MasterTech, we’ve reviewed a number of the best extended car warranty providers to give drivers a better sense of what’s available.
Check out multiple companies and get quotes from each of them to find the best option for you.
MasterTech Overview
The MasterTech Vehicle Protection Program is primarily administered by American Financial Warranty Corporation based out of The Woodlands, Texas, but is administered by different companies in Florida, Arizona, Wisconsin and Utah.
Below is how we rate this provider in our categories:
| Overall Rating | 6.0 / 10.0 |
|---|---|
| Industry Reputation | 8.0 |
| Coverage | 8.0 |
| Warranty Cost | See dealership |
| Transparency | 4.0 |
| Customer Experience | 4.0 |
MasterTech Warranty Coverage Options
You can choose from five plans in the MasterTech Vehicle Protection Program®. Coverage is available for new and used cars up to 10 years/120,000 miles.
MasterTech warranties are sold by dealerships through agents, not direct to customers online. Because of that, it’s possible the company may offer more options than what’s listed online.
Here are the main coverage options:
| Ultra Plus | Ultra | Elite | Premier | Primary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transmission | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drive axle | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Suspension | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Steering | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Electrical | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Brakes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Fuel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Cooling | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| High-tech | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Exclusionary coverage | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Wear items | ✓ |
You have the option of just covering the basics with the Primary plan or going all the way and covering some wear items with Ultra Plus. Here are a few notes about the plan differences:
- Primary, Premier and Elite: These plans are stated-component contracts. They only cover exactly what is included on the contract.
- MasterTech Warranty Ultra coverage: This is an exclusionary contract, similar to factory warranty coverage. It covers anything that is not listed under exclusions.
- MasterTech Ultra Plus: This plan is also exclusionary. It adds coverage for some wear items like the battery, belts, hoses, brake pads, diagnostics, fluids, headlamps, spark plugs, alignment and windshield wipers.
However, there are some exclusions in MasterTech warranties, such as:
- Damage from inadequate maintenance
- Damage from accidents
- Corrosion
- Lenses, filters and glow plugs
- Pre-existing mechanical problems
- Carburetor
- Exhaust system
- Engine cradle and body parts
- Paint and upholstery
- Wear items like filters and lubricants (unless covered by Ultra Plus)
- Any non-authorized repair
- Regular maintenance
- Normal wear and tear
MasterTech Perks
All MasterTech plans come with roadside assistance provided by Road America Motor Club, Inc. Here’s what that includes:
- Towing
- Fuel delivery
- Winching
- Jump-starts
- Lockout services
- Spare tire installation
MasterTech also provides rental car reimbursement up to $40 per day for six days. To qualify, your car needs to be held overnight at a repair facility for a covered breakdown.
Drivers also get trip interruption reimbursement up to $200 per day for five days. At a maximum of $1,000, MasterTech’s trip interruption program is on the generous side.
Additional Coverage Options
Besides standard warranty coverage, you can also get coverage on other parts of your vehicle like glass and wear items. These include:
- Dent protection
- Environmental protection
- Key replacement
- Road hazard (tires and wheels)
- Theft deterrent
- Windshield protection
- Complete protection (combo packages)
The MasterTech Debt Protection Program can cover the gap between your car’s actual value and the amount you owe on your loan. MasterTech GAP claims can extend up to $50,000.
MasterTech Vehicle Protection Program Cost
There are a few main things that affect the cost of an extended car warranty, including:
- Make and model of your car
- Your car’s mileage
- How much coverage you want
- The deductible you select
Since MasterTech vehicle protection plans are only available through dealerships, it’s difficult to compare prices online.
We did find a quote that one driver shared in an online InsideEVs forum. MasterTech had quoted them $2,500 for a 7-year/70,000-mile Ultra plan for a Honda Clarity hybrid. We don’t know how many miles the driver’s car had at the time. Also, without a sample contract to look at, we don’t know how much of the hybrid drivetrain this plan actually covers.
You can choose between different deductible amounts, though the choices aren’t listed online. The company does offer a disappearing deductible option on many plans, which means your deductible is lower (or $0) if you visit the dealer that sold you the plan.
How to Use a MasterTech Warranty
MasterTech’s authorized repair facility network includes any of the 30,000 shops that have at least one mechanic certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). If your car breaks down or if you suspect a problem, you can take it to the dealer that sold you your plan. You can also call the claims number and find more repair locations.
Once you get to the shop, give the mechanic MasterTech’s claims number. You may have to authorize a mechanical diagnosis. If it turns out to be a non-covered repair, you’ll have to pay for the diagnosis (and repair, of course).
The shop will begin work when they get a repair authorization. In an emergency situation, you may be able to authorize a repair when the claims department is unavailable.
After a covered repair is completed, MasterTech will pay the shop directly and you’ll have to pay your deductible (if you have one).
How to Cancel or Transfer a MasterTech Warranty
MasterTech actually offers a great guarantee. You can cancel within 60 days and get a full refund if no claims have been paid.
After that, you’ll get a prorated refund based on the time, mileage and repairs spent. To cancel, contact the dealer that sold you the plan. There may be a MasterTech warranty cancellation fee.
If you’re selling your vehicle, you can also transfer the warranty for $50 to a secondary owner.
MasterTech Extended Warranty Reviews
There isn’t a central location on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for MasterTech’s warranty program. In fact, the business isn’t considered a separate entity in and of itself.
A sales brochure says MasterTech is a service contract administered by American Financial Warranty Corporation/American Financial & Automotive Services (AFAS). In some states, it’s administered by different companies. AFAS also processes claims for the MasterTech warranty.
AFAS has an A+ rating from the BBB and is also accredited by the organization. There are only eight customer reviews and 13 complaints in total. Unfortunately, all of these reviews are somewhat negative.
The company has a high rating on Google (4.3 stars), but most of the reviews are from business professionals who attended AFAS classes for auto financing.
MasterTech Customer Reviews
“Zero stars is more like it. You sign up for GAP, and you’re told they will cover the remaining balance of your loan (up to a percentage) no matter what. Then when you total your vehicle, they’ll find any excuse to deny your claim. Liars and crooks. Beware. Do not buy anything from them.”
– Jenn W., BBB
“Purchased an extended warranty through this company. Huge waste of money. Full of false promises. Will not stand behind their word.”
– Daniel S., Google
Conclusion: Is MasterTech Warranty Worth It?
If you understand exactly what’s covered under your MasterTech warranty, it could be a good option. We like that the company offers a wide range of plans from basic to comprehensive coverage. MasterTech is backed by a large auto finance company with a good reputation, as well.
That said, comparison shopping is the best way to find a good deal. If you are presented with a MasterTech warranty at a dealership, take some time to compare the plan line-by-line with other reputable extended car warranty companies.
Overall, we think Endurance, CARCHEX and CarShield are a few of the best auto warranty providers out there. In fact, you don’t have to wait to talk with a dealer to compare plans. Just enter some basic information to get quotes from reputable providers online.
Extended Car Warranty Shopping Advice
Problems around the coverage customers expect and what companies actually pay for are common in the industry. A good rule of thumb is to always have at least two conversations with a company before you purchase their plan.
After talking to a salesperson the first time, hang up and go through the sample contract. Take it to a friend or family member for advice. The company has to honor the written word, but salespeople and dealerships may gloss over certain terms during the sale.
Make sure you understand everything in the contract. Don’t just buy a plan the first time you talk to a salesperson.
Here are a few good questions to ask:
- What is the maximum payout amount per repair or per contract?
- If a part fails after many miles, is it considered normal wear and tear?
- Is there a waiting period before I can use the 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.
