Best Used Car Warranty Companies, Reviewed By Experts (2024) (2024)

In our research into the best used car warranty companies, we found five providers that offer exceptional vehicle protection plans. Carchex, Endurance, CarShield, Olive and Omega Auto Care all offer comprehensive coverage with long term lengths for used vehicles.

Best Extended Warranty For Used Cars

Let’s take a closer look at some of the used car warranty coverage options from these top-rated providers.

The sections below will provide you with an in-depth understanding of each of the best used car warranty companies and what they provide.

Read more: Extended warranty for cars over 100K miles

CarShield: High Mileage Limits

We like CarShield because the company offers both month-to-month and long-term warranty contracts with high mileage limits. The company covers vehicles with up to 300,000 miles for a maximum of seven years. That’s about 50,000 more miles on the odometer than most other warranty companies will allow.

CarShield offers sample contracts on its website, meaning you know what to expect before you even talk to a representative. Select plans come with roadside assistance, rental car reimbursem*nt, and trip interruption coverage.

Keep reading: CarShield review

Omega Auto Care: Solid Maintenance Offerings

Omega Auto Care can be a solid option if you are looking for an extended warranty to cover your vehicle with over 100,000 miles on the odometer. The company’s vehicle service contracts can last up to 15 years or 250,000 miles, depending on the plan you purchase.

The company provides three main coverage options to drivers, one of which has two upgrade options. We found that the Powertrain Enhanced warranty tends to be the best for high-mileage vehicles, as it protects powertrain components in addition to providing protection for the cooling and fuel system parts.

Each contract comes with roadside assistance, road hazard coverage, rental car reimbursem*nt and maintenance benefits, including oil changes, brake pads, shoe and battery replacement and cooling system and lube maintenance.

Keep reading: Omega Auto Care reviews

1. Mitsubishi: Top CPO Warranty

We found that Mitsubishi has the best CPO warranty overall. Drivers can get a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty or 5-year/60,000-mile warranty from the vehicle’s original in-service date for all other parts.

The Mitsubishi CPO warranty comes with 24/7 roadside assistance and includes features like flat tire changes, gas delivery and battery jump-starts. Deductibles are not included with CPO warranties.

2. Hyundai: Long Term Limits

Hyundai also offers dependable CPO warranty coverage. Drivers can purchase a powertrain CPO warranty for 10 years or 100,000 miles or the remainder of the 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty on CPO vehicles.

Hyundai CPO warranties come with a 10-year/unlimited mile roadside assistance plan as well as a 10-year/100,000-mile hybrid or electric vehicle (EV) battery warranty for electric models.

3. Kia: CPO Warranty Benefits

We found that Kia’s CPO warranty lasts up to 10 years/100,000 miles on the powertrain or 1 year/12,000 miles for Platinum coverage, which protects all other parts and begins on the vehicle purchase date.

Similar to other CPO warranty programs, Kia provides a 10-year/unlimited miles roadside assistance plan, along with travel breakdown coverage and rental car coverage.

A used car warranty offers covered repair and replacement services for a list of parts until the vehicle reaches a certain age or mileage. Items covered under the best used car warranty plan depend on the level of coverage you purchase and what level of protection the car already has.

Read more: Should I buy an extended warranty on a used car?

Used Car Warranty Plans

Finding the best used car warranty depends on the needs of the car owner, but there are several types of warranties that service different parts of the vehicle. Here are some common coverage levels offered by independent providers:

• Bumper-to-bumper warranty: An exclusionary warranty that covers a vast array of parts that aren’t subject to normal wear and tear, like the air conditioning system
• Stated-component warranty: Provides a detailed list of everything backed by the warranty contract
• Powertrain warranty: Replaces or repairs only essential components like the engine, transmission, driveshafts and axles
• Drivetrain warranty: Similar to powertrain coverage, minus the service for the engine
• Anti-perforation warranty: Repairs or replaces body panels that are affected by rust or corrosion from the inside out
• Wrap warranty: An add-on that extends coverage to the rest of a car for those who already have a powertrain warranty

Used Car Warranty Costs

Our March 2022 extended car warranty survey, which polled 1,000 respondents, found that around 50% paid between $1,600 and $3,200 in total for their extended car warranties. The price you pay for your used car warranty will depend heavily on factors such as:

• Vehicle make, model, model year and mileage
• Chosen coverage level
• Contract length
• Deductible

Used Car Warranty Quotes

To give you a better idea of used car warranty costs, we collected information from the best used car warranty companies. The following table shows quotes we received for powertrain plans for a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox with 90,000 miles. All plans include a $100 deductible.

Do I Need a Used Car Warranty?

While purchasing one of the best used car warranties could seem like a smart choice, you may not actually need one. This could be because your car already has warranty coverage or the cost of the policy outweighs your vehicle’s maintenance needs.

Check for Existing Coverage

Before you begin a search for the best extended warranty plan, check to see if your vehicle has any pre-existing coverage. When a new car leaves the dealership, it comes with an original warranty that provides bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage for a predetermined amount of time or number of miles.

The length of coverage varies by carmaker. For instance, the Toyota warranty and the Honda warranty each offer bumper-to-bumper coverage for 3 years/36,000 miles and powertrain protection for 5 years/60,000 miles. Most factory warranties can also be transferred to subsequent owners, so ask the seller or read the fine print when you’re making a purchase.

Many automakers also operate certified pre-owned (CPO) programs for cars that meet certain criteria and quality specifications. These usually add more time to the factory warranty or provide similar coverage up to a certain limit.

If the car you’re buying isn’t under a factory warranty or lacks CPO coverage, the owner may have purchased an extended auto warranty from the dealership or manufacturer. While this usually doesn’t cover repair bills to the same extent as a factory warranty, it guarantees vehicle owners access to genuine parts and authorized technicians. Similar to other warranties offered by carmakers, these can be transferred to subsequent owners either at no cost or for a small fee.

Consider Breakdown Costs

For most vehicle owners, buying one of the best used car warranties is a matter of price. The car repair estimation site, RepairPal, reports that the industry average for vehicle repairs and routine maintenance is $652 per year. While a used car warranty can cover surprise repair costs for covered parts on your vehicle, there’s no guarantee you’ll pay less for the service contract than you’d pay a repair shop out of pocket.

You should also consider your car’s dependability when making your decision. Some vehicles are more expensive to maintain year-over-year than others, so you need to be able to budget for potential repairs as the car ages.

Should You Buy an Extended Warranty on a Used Car at the Dealer?

In general, it’s not the best idea to buy an extended warranty or vehicle service contract at a used car dealership when you get your car. Here are a few reasons why:

• Used car dealers may sell only one or two warranty options — third party providers will often offer many more choices.
• Warranty plans may be marked up significantly because the dealer knows you don’t have time to compare other options.
• Including an extended warranty into an auto loan means that you will be paying interest on both your car loan as well as your extended warranty.
• Dealership warranties often require you to go back to the selling dealer for repairs.

Manufacturer Extended Warranties

If you’re buying a certified pre-owned (CPO) car or have access to a manufacturer’s plan, it could be worth it to get an extended warranty through the manufacturer. This is because the plan is backed by the manufacturer and it should include original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts and service by factory-trained technicians.

However, there are downsides to this. The automaker usually requires you to go to one of its dealerships for service. You also may not be able to get the plan if the new car warranty has expired. Finally, our research shows manufacturer warranty plans can be more expensive than third-party options.

Third-Party Extended Warranty Companies

After you purchase your used vehicle, you have time to shop around and compare aftermarket warranty plans from third-party providers like Endurance and Carchex. These companies specialize in vehicle protection products and offer many different plan levels and monthly payment options.

Going with a third-party provider gives you the time to look over the fine print and exclusions at your leisure instead of in a high-pressure dealership negotiation. Additionally, third party warranties typically allow you to visit any licensed repair facility.

Warranties from manufacturers will also have stricter mileage limits than protection plans at independent companies. Warranties from third-party providers can often cover cars with over 150,000 existing miles on its odometer.

When You Should Buy an Extended Warranty on a Used Car

There are some situations where it’s worth getting an extended warranty on a used car (from the right provider). For example, if your car has high average repair costs according to industry resources, you’re more likely to actually make use of the extended warranty.

Other reasons include lowering out-of-pocket costs or having peace of mind that certain car repairs would be handled in the event of a mechanical breakdown.

Your Car Has High Average Repair Costs

Not all vehicles have the same average repair costs. Some cars are known for going 200,000 miles on basic routine maintenance, while others need all kinds of work after 100,000 miles. The good news is that you don’t have to be a car expert to get this knowledge.

Sites like RepairPal, Edmunds and YourMechanic can provide average repair costs for different makes and models. These are great resources if you’re shopping for a used car or considering a warranty on your own vehicle. For example, RepairPal ranks the top eight most-reliable brands and their annual repair costs as follows:

With sites like these, you can see average costs for models, model years and even specific repairs. Use these resources to research the model you’re considering getting a warranty for to see if it’s worth it. If a particular warranty costs $600 per year of coverage and your model has an average repair cost of $1,000 per year, having a warranty could be a good idea.

You Want To Pay Less Out of Pocket

It’s possible that an extended warranty doesn’t cover as much in repairs as you paid for it during the life of the plan. However, if a warranty covers a major repair that you wouldn’t have been able to pay for otherwise, that can make it worth it.

Would you be able to cover an unexpected repair of $1,000 without taking out debt? This is something to consider when deciding if you should buy an extended warranty on a used car.

You Want Peace of Mind That Repairs Are Handled

Maybe the security of knowing you’ll have repairs covered is more important to you than the total cost. In other words, when your car breaks down, you don’t have to wonder where to take it or how to get it there.

Many used car extended warranties come with perks like towing and roadside assistance. They typically cover repairs at any repair shop licensed by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) as well. You just need to connect the shop with the warranty provider and have it authorize the repair.

When You Shouldn’t Buy an Extended Warranty on a Used Car

There are also some situations where it wouldn’t be worth it for you to buy an extended warranty on a used car. For example, if the car has low average repair costs or you have a budget set aside for repairs, then a warranty wouldn’t be worth it.

Your Car Has Low Average Repair Costs

If you use resources like RepairPal or Edmunds and notice the used car has affordable average repair costs, it might not be worth it to get an extended warranty. Some vehicles are known for performing well even after hundreds of thousands of miles. You’d save more money in the long run by covering maintenance and occasional repairs yourself with a vehicle like this.

You Have a Budget for Auto Repairs

Consider your financial situation. If you have a budget set aside for costly repairs, why should you buy an extended warranty on a used car? One of the main benefits is avoiding out-of-pocket expensive repair costs, but that doesn’t apply if you’re already prepared.

You Have Mechanical Breakdown Insurance

Some car insurance companies like Geico offer mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI), which is similar to an extended warranty. If you already have MBI with your company, a used car warranty is not necessary since it doubles up on coverage.

Keep in mind, though, that MBI has stricter limitations than standard extended warranties. Unlike extended coverage from an independent warranty company, with MBI, there will likely be fewer repair centers you can choose from. Additionally, MBI isn’t always as comprehensive in what it covers compared to a car warranty from other companies.

How To Buy a Used Car Warranty

Some used cars still come with a warranty attached. In most cases, however, you’ll need to purchase a used vehicle warranty from your car’s manufacturer or from a third-party company. When looking for an extended coverage plan, there are a few steps you should take.

1. Find Out if Your Used Car Is Already Covered

Many new cars come with a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Before buying an extended coverage plan, make sure that your vehicle’s original warranty has already expired. If you’re buying a used car from a dealership, find out whether it’s being sold “as is” or with remaining warranty coverage.

2. Research Extended Warranty Providers

When investigating third-party extended warranty companies, look at customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. Also, be sure to read the fine print when looking over vehicle service contracts so you’ll know exactly which components will receive extended coverage.

In our 2022 survey of 1,000 extended warranty customers, 51% bought a comprehensive or bumper-to-bumper plan. The remainder of survey respondents purchased either mid-level or powertrain protection.

3. Compare Different Coverage Options and Pricing

Before selecting a warranty plan, reach out to various coverage providers for free quotes. That way, you’ll figure out whether you’ll be paying a reasonable amount for the desired level of coverage. Resources like Edmunds and RepairPal are also helpful in this stage to determine which level of coverage is most worth it for you.

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