For the first four years of your Volvo’s life, the manufacturer’s factory warranty has you covered. But after that, you’re on your own to foot repair costs – unless you opt for extended coverage. Is a Volvo extended warranty right for you, or is it better to go with a third-party provider?
We’ve done the homework on both options, and in this article, we’ll break down the Volvo extended warranty and compare it with the best extended auto warranty providers on the market today.
You can use the links below to start comparing quotes from our top-rated providers.
What Does the Volvo Extended Warranty Cover?
After your factory warranty expires, Volvo offers extended service plans with three coverage levels through what’s called the Volvo Increased Protection (VIP) Extended Warranty. Depending on your vehicle’s model and mileage, you can get up to 6 years/120,000 miles of additional protection with your Volvo extended warranty.
The three plans of increasing coverage levels are called Powertrain, Gold and Platinum. Here’s what each option includes:
| Volvo Extended Warranty | Coverage Terms | Coverage Details |
|---|---|---|
| Platinum | 6 additional years of coverage/120,000 miles | Exclusionary coverage with only a few listed limitations or exclusions like brake drums and rotors, brake linings, airbags, and glass |
| Gold | 6 additional years of coverage/120,000 miles | Stated-component coverage plan that protects major powertrain components and additional systems including cooling, electrical, steering, air conditioning, brakes and suspension |
| Powertrain | 6 additional years of coverage/120,000 miles | Covers your vehicle’s engine, transmission and drive axle |
You can see a more in-depth list of exclusions on Volvo’s website, but full coverage details are only available in the service contract, which you must get through a Volvo dealer. We found a sample contract online through one dealer’s website, but it’s unclear whether the terms outlined are standard among all Volvo dealers, so make sure you confirm all details with your local seller.
What’s Not Included in the Volvo Extended Warranty?
Like most manufacturer vehicle service contracts, the Volvo extended warranty does not cover damage caused by accident, theft, fire, natural calamities, negligence, or improper maintenance.
Another drawback of getting a Volvo extended warranty is that you’ll need to bring your vehicle into a Volvo dealer for service. This may be a problem depending on where you live.
Additional Perks of the Volvo Extended Warranty
All of Volvo’s extended warranty plans come with added benefits, including:
- Alternate transportation coverage (up to $40 per day for 10 days per covered repair)
- Towing coverage (up to $100 per occurrence)
- Travel coverage if you break down more than 100 miles from your home ($100 per day for up to five days)
- Fluid coverage
- Transferability to a subsequent owner ($40 fee)
These are great perks, but one big thing Volvo plans are missing is emergency roadside assistance, which is offered by many third-party extended warranty providers.
Dealership vs. Third-Party Extended Car Warranties
While Volvo’s extended warranty options seem pretty comprehensive, there are a few ways in which they don’t measure up to third-party vehicle service contracts. For example, an aftermarket provider offers:
- Longer term limits: Volvo will only protect your vehicle up to 120,000 miles, while companies like Endurance and CARCHEX can give you peace of mind up for up to 200,000 or even 250,000 miles.
- More coverage options: Volvo has three comprehensive offerings, but top third-party providers offer many more tiers of coverage and can better customize plans to suit your needs and budget.
- Your choice of repair shops: Instead of having to take your car to the Volvo dealership, you can pick from any number of certified repair facilities, including mom-and-pop shops and national chains like Pep Boys or Firestone, depending on your third-party provider.
- Additional perks: As mentioned, Volvo warranties do not come with 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, which is a pretty standard offering from the top third-party providers.
- Better pricing: In general, third-party providers offer cheaper coverage than manufacturers.
How Much is a Volvo Extended Warranty?
The cost of your Volvo extended warranty will depend on the plan you choose, as well as factors such as your deductible (which can range from $0 to $250) and your vehicle’s model, age and mileage.
Volvo doesn’t publish extended warranty costs online, but through Steingold Volvo we found the following prices:
- For Volvo XC40 and S60 models, warranty prices range from $1,481 to $3,358.
- For all other models, warranty prices range from $1,606 to $4,132.
However, pricing may vary from dealer to dealer and can change at any time, so it’s best to contact your local dealer and get a quote specifically for your vehicle.
One nice thing about Volvo’s extended warranty is that, unlike most manufacturers, Volvo allows customers to purchase coverage even after their factory warranty expires. This means you won’t have to make a decision on extended coverage when you purchase a vehicle, and you can avoid paying for overlapping protection. However, keep in mind that you may get a better deal on your Volvo extended warranty if you purchase sooner rather than later, as your vehicle’s age and mileage will be lower.
If you do decide to purchase extended coverage when you buy your vehicle, be mindful that the cost of your plan may be rolled into your auto loan, which means you’ll be paying interest on it.
Conclusion: Is the Volvo Extended Warranty Worth It?
With Volvo’s low reliability rating, above-average repair costs and short factory warranty terms, we think considering an extended car warranty is worth it for Volvo owners’ peace of mind. The Volvo extended warranty offers up to 6 years/120,000 miles of extended protection.
However, a third-party warranty provider might give you better coverage options, pricing and flexibility than going through Volvo directly. We recommend getting quotes from multiple providers to find a plan that meets your needs and budget before signing on the dotted line. Take a look at some of our top recommended providers below.
Recommended Extended Warranty Providers
In our review of the top third-party extended car warranty providers, Endurance, CARCHEX and CarShield stood out. We recommend getting a quote from each so you can compare cost and coverage for your vehicle.
Endurance was our pick for the overall Best Provider due to its positive customer reviews, numerous company awards and direct service model, meaning it handles all plans and claims directly – no middleman required.
We identified CARCHEX as the Best for High-Mileage Cars in our in-depth CARCHEX review. If you’ve put a lot of miles on your Volvo, this might be your best bet, as the company offers plans for vehicles over 15 years old or with more than 100,000 miles. Finally, CarShield won the title of Most Affordable in our CarShield review, thanks to its month-to-month contracts that can be canceled at any time. If you’re looking for financial flexibility, CarShield is a great choice.
| Volvo Extended Warranty | Endurance Extended Warranty | CARCHEX Extended Warranty | CarShield Extended Warranty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Length of Coverage | 6 years/120,000 miles | 8 years/200,000+ miles | 10 years/250,000 miles | 200,000 miles |
| Number of Plan Options | 3 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Deductible | $0 – $250 | $0 – $200 | $0 – $200 | $0 – $100 |
| Repair Network | Volvo dealers only | Repair facilities certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®) | More than 30,000 facilities nationwide | ASE-Certified® repair facilities |
| Availability | From local dealer | Free online quote | Free online quote | Free online quote |
Do You Need Extended Warranty Coverage?
Volvo has built a reputation for having some of the safest vehicles on the road. However, “safe” and “reliable” aren’t the same thing. When it comes to vehicle reliability, Volvo ranks low to average among car manufacturers. RepairPal gave the company a 3.5 out of 5.0 Reliability Rating, which places it 17th out of 32 for all car brands – right at the middle of the pack.
Volvo vehicles also have high repair costs, averaging $769 in repairs per year, according to RepairPal. That’s a bit higher than the industry-wide average of $652.
These are some of the most common Volvo repairs and what they cost on average, according to RepairPal:
| Model | Repair | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Volvo 740 | Radiator replacement | $439 – $515 |
| Volvo S60 | Air conditioning compressor replacement | $1,216 – $1,281 |
| Volvo V90 | Radiator hose replacement | $84 – $94 |
| Volvo XC90 | Catalytic converter replacement | $1,894 – $1,943 |
What Volvo Warranty Coverage Do You Already Have?
Volvo’s manufacturer warranty can also be considered average. We compared new vehicle warranties from best to worst, and Volvo came in 17th out of 34 brands. It certainly doesn’t offer the longest coverage terms on the market. Kia, Hyundai, Mitsubishi and Genesis all offer industry-leading 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranties and 10 years/100,000 miles of powertrain coverage. But Volvo doesn’t have the shortest terms available, either.
Here’s a breakdown of the Volvo factory warranty to help you decide if a Volvo extended warranty is worth it for your vehicle.
| Volvo Warranty | Coverage Terms |
|---|---|
| New Vehicle Limited Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Hybrid battery | 8 years/100,000 miles |
| California hybrid battery | 10 years/150,000 miles |
| Corrosion protection | 12 years/unlimited miles |
| Federal emissions | 2 years/24,000 miles or 8 years/80,000 miles depending on part |
| California emissions | 3 years/50,000 miles or 7 years/70,000 miles depending on part |
| California transitional zero emissions vehicle components | 15 years/150,000 miles |
| Roadside assistance | 4 years/unlimited miles |
| Adjustments | 12 months/12,000 miles |
| Safety restraint systems | 5 years/unlimited miles |
Volvo’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Coverage
Volvo’s certified pre-owned (CPO) program, called Certified by Volvo, gives drivers a CPO bumper-to-bumper warranty that lasts for 5 years/unlimited miles from the vehicle’s original in-service date. This warranty is fully transferable, and there is no deductible required for repairs.
After this expires, drivers of CPO Volvo cars have the option to purchase an extended warranty that covers repairs up to 10 years from the vehicle’s in-service date. Drivers can choose either a $0 or $100 deductible, and according to Steingold Volvo in Rhode Island, the total cost of the Certified by Volvo extended warranty ranges from $1,818 to $3,940 depending on your choice of deductible and the vehicle’s model, age and mileage.
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.
