The next time you visit a dealer to purchase a used car, you might be presented with a Zurich warranty. The problem is, you might not have much time to decide if it’s a good deal in the heat of the moment.
Our Zurich auto warranty review dives into the details of this provider, so you can be a more informed car buyer. We’ve reviewed a number of the best extended auto warranty companies on the market and encourage you to call around and get quotes from multiple providers to find the plan that fits your budget.
All of these companies have multiple payment choices. Compare quotes from leading extended warranty providers to find the best option.
Zurich Warranty Coverage Overview
Based in Switzerland, Zurich offers a huge range of car insurance, automotive and financial products for businesses and consumers. Its subsidiary Zurich North American Insurance Company sells extended warranty plans exclusively through a number of dealerships in the United States. Here are a few quick facts about the insurance company:
- Coverage is applicable to most vehicles that are less than 15 years old and have fewer than 150,000 miles.
- Drivers can visit any mechanic certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) for repairs.
- Plans are cancellable and transferable.
Zurich warranty coverage options range from basic to high-level and come with a few perks. The plans may require a small deductible, usually between $0 to $200, though the exact choices aren’t listed online. The three main extended warranty plans are called Powertrain, Standard and Comprehensive. Here are the details on coverage:
| Powertrain | Standard | Comprehensive | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transfer case | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transmission | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drive axle | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Suspension | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Steering | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Brakes | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Heating and A/C | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Electrical | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Cooling system | ✓ | ||
| Interior/exterior | ✓ |
Zurich’s extended Powertrain warranty coverage will repair basic parts that are expensive to fix. The Standard plan adds coverage for more essential systems, and Zurich’s Comprehensive plan is similar to a factory warranty.
These are the plans currently listed on Zurich’s website. We also found older dealership brochures that gave details on a Preferred plan that fits in between Standard and Comprehensive. This plan may still be available from some dealers, and it’s possible there are more plans not listed online as well.
Another thing to know is that Zurich offers vehicle service contracts for motorcycles and other powersport vehicles. Not every company will cover specialty vehicles, so that’s good to see.
Zurich Warranty Benefits
One thing that sets Zurich extended auto warranties apart from other options is that you can go to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs. When you buy an extended warranty from a manufacturer, you’ll have to return to your dealer for vehicle repairs. With a Zurich warranty, you aren’t tied down to a specific shop or network of shops.
Each plan also comes with the following perks:
- Emergency roadside assistance: Covers towing, spare tire installation, fluid delivery, jump-starts and lockout services
- Rental car reimbursement: Pays rental car costs up to a limit in the case of a covered repair
- Trip interruption: Reimburses lodging and food costs for three days up to a certain amount if your car is disabled because of a covered repair more than 100 miles from home
Zurich Extended Warranty Claims Process
If your check engine light comes on, or if your car breaks down, the first step is to take it to any ASE-certified mechanic. Show them your coverage booklet and give them the claims number for Zurich so they can verify that the part is covered and receive an authorization number.
Once Zurich authorizes the repair, the shop will move ahead with the job. The mechanic will give you an invoice after the repair, which you will forward to Zurich to officially file a claim. You’ll pay a deductible, and Zurich will pay the repair facility directly for the work. You might also have to pay for non-covered parts if those needed to be repaired at the same time.
Downsides to Zurich Auto Warranties
While it can be convenient to purchase an extended warranty at a dealership, the fact that the Zurich warranty is only offered by dealers is a limitation.
As an example, let’s say you’re in the process of purchasing a used car. You take it for a test drive, look at the service history and feel good about the car. Next, you sit down with the salesperson, and they tell you about the Zurich auto warranty. If you haven’t heard of third-party warranty plans, you might think that Zurich was your only option.
You might feel a bit of pressure to buy the warranty right there, and the salesperson is probably going to encourage you to sign the deal instead of leave to do research on the warranty company.
The salesperson will have a brochure detailing the different Zurich extended warranty options for you to compare them, but that’s not the same as calling around and comparing different warranty companies. That would be difficult to do at the dealership when you’re in the middle of signing papers.
Other Zurich Auto Products
Zurich has a huge menu of auto products besides vehicle service contracts. These include:
- Zurich Shield Warranty
- Select Care Plan
- Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP)
- Road Hazard Tire and Wheel
- Prepaid Maintenance
- Environmental Protection Plan
- Universal Security Guard
- Premier Dent Repair Coverage
- Key Protection
- Simoniz GlassCoat
- Windshield Repair
Basically, if an item can wear out or break, Zurich offers some type of coverage for it.
How Much Does a Zurich Extended Warranty Cost?
Prices aren’t available online for Zurich warranty plans. Instead, you need to contact a dealer to get an exact price for your situation. Extended warranty costs are usually based on the car you have, its condition and the length of coverage that you want.
In our research, we found some example prices given by drivers on different Zurich extended warranty forum threads. One driver was quoted $3,338 for a 10-year/120,000-mile Comprehensive plan in 2019. Another was quoted $2,612 for a 10-year/85,000-mile Comprehensive plan in 2017. Keep in mind these are single cases, and you will probably find different prices.
Zurich Auto Warranty Reviews
Zurich North America has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with accreditation. It has two stars from customer reviews on the BBB, though the BBB tends to attract more negative reviews than positive in the first place.
From what we could tell, there aren’t any glaring customer service issues, which is good. We’ll give a few example reviews here.
Positive Reviews
“The warranty covered everything in full and paid for itself! I am 100% fully satisfied!”
– Matt M., BBB
“The process was streamlined and very easy. Brought my car to the dealer, they fixed it, I received it back the next day and only had to pay a $100 deductible.”
– Quincy C., BBB
Negative Reviews
“Terrible misleading company! Avoid their car service contracts like the plague. Their paperwork and pamphlets that come with the contract are misleading and I would have never bought the warranty if I would have known that. Stay away. Go with someone else. Now I am out $1,200…”
– Chandler S., BBB
“Bought an extended warranty from [a] GM dealer. Will not cover two inches of rain water in it.”
– Frank G., BBB
This second review seems to be about a common issue, which is that many drivers expect certain things to be covered under the Zurich warranty when they actually aren’t. However, the misunderstanding may be the result of going through the coverage quickly at a dealership.
Conclusion: Is a Zurich Warranty Worth It?
So, are Zurich warranties any good? Well, it seems like the company has a good range of coverage options, and it does pay for covered vehicle repairs. However, plans are a bit expensive, and they are only available from dealerships, which is a limitation. Overall, we rate Zurich at 6.7 out of 10.0.
If you are happy with the price and coverage you find from a dealer, a Zurich warranty could be worth it. But it’s always a good idea to look at other warranty options as well. There’s no requirement that you have to purchase a Zurich warranty on the day you buy your car, anyway, so you can always go back to the dealer and add a plan.
Our review team found that a few other companies should be at the top of your list for extended warranties. CarShield, the most popular extended coverage provider, offers six plan types and covers up to 300,000 miles. CARCHEX and Endurance are two more reputable companies that pay claims directly and allow drivers to visit any ASE-certified mechanic.
All of these companies have multiple payment choices. Compare quotes from leading extended warranty providers to find the best option.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is covered under an extended warranty?
An extended warranty covers the cost of parts and labor to repair specific items on a car. It usually excludes cosmetic items, paint and glass, in addition to maintenance and wear items like brake pads. Extended warranties can cover just the basic powertrain all the way up to most mechanical parts.
Are extended car warranties worth it?
Under the right circumstances, an extended warranty can be worth it. This would be the case if your car had a history of breakdowns or if the brand was not known for its reliability.
An extended warranty could also be a good idea if you don’t have a couple thousand saved up in the bank to cover possible repairs. Some drivers buy extended warranties mainly for the peace of mind that a number of repair costs are covered.
How do I cancel my Zurich extended warranty?
Zurich’s cancellation policy isn’t very clear from the website, which only says to contact the finance department at the dealership where you purchased the plan.
The dealership will then submit a request to cancel the Zurich car warranty. It’s possible that you’ll have to pay a cancellation fee, which is a common requirement in the industry. Refunds can take four to six weeks to process.
Is a Zurich warranty transferable?
Yes, you can transfer a Zurich warranty to a secondary owner. Depending on your contract, you may have to pay a small transfer fee.
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.
