Cheap Car Warranty Companies
Through our cost analysis, we found that Endurance, autopom!, Toco, Olive, and CarShield have the cheapest car warranties with the best value.
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Provider
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Affordability Rating
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Overall Rating
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|---|---|---|
| Endurance | 5.0 | 4.8 |
| autopom! | 5.0 | 4.7 |
| Toco | 4.9 | 4.5 |
| Olive | 4.1 | 4.2 |
| CarShield | 4.2 | 4.2 |
Read below for more details about each provider.
Endurance: Best Value Extended Car Warranty
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Monthly Cost Range $87 – $141 -
Number of Plans 6 -
Highest Milage Limit Unlimited
Endurance is our go-to provider for direct coverage. Rather than working through a middleman, the company works directly with customers on claims and coverage for an overall efficient process. Here’s an overview of Endurance vehicle protection plans:
- Supreme: This exclusionary coverage acts as a bumper-to-bumper extended warranty.
- Superior: The Superior plan provides stated-component coverage to protect most major parts.
- Secure Plus: This plan protects components like the brakes, engine, transmission, air conditioning, steering and some electrical parts.
- Secure: The Secure plan covers your powertrain at a budget-friendly price.
- Select Premier: Crafted for high-mileage cars, this plan covers vital systems like the engine, transmission and drive axle.
- Advantage: This plan provides extensive component coverage with the addition of maintenance coverage, including oil and filter changes, brake pad and wiper blade replacement, and more.
Endurance also offers customers additional benefits with its warranty coverage, including roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, oil changes and tire rotations. Because Endurance works directly with drivers, its claims process can be more straightforward than other third-party providers. In reviews of Endurance, customers often mention helpful service representatives and easy claims processing.
Endurance is an extended warranty brand that truly lives up to its name, standing out for offering a wide range of plans. Overall, Endurance has plans that fit any needs and budget, allowing drivers to stay on the road. Coverage is available for vehicles with up to 150,000 miles on the odometer.
AmTrust Financial Services secure Endurance’s warranties, which means your claim with the company is guaranteed to be paid out even if Endurance fails financially. The provider carries an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), along with an average customer rating of 3.8 stars out of 5.0 on the platform.
Though Endurance isn’t the cheapest car warranty provider, its discounts and variety of coverage options, unlimited mileage cap, and additional benefits – including a maintenance plan – make it our pick for the provider that offers the best value for your money. Plans range in price from $87 per month to $141 per month with 30-month payment terms, based on quotes we received in April 2024. This means you’re looking at paying between $2,641 and $4,255 in total or an average of $1,257 per year – just slightly more than the industry average of $1,054.
See Moreautopom!: Cheap Extended Warranty With The Best Affordability
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Monthly Cost Range $126
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Number of Plans 3
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Highest Mileage Limit 150,000
autopom! has three different coverage levels to choose from, each of which has multiple extended warranty plan options from various providers. autopom!’s Powertrain Plus plan covers the basic parts of a vehicle that make it run plus the power door locks and windows. With a small number of exceptions, the company’s Exclusionary plan covers every component on the vehicle. In addition to the coverage provided in its plans, autopom! warranties also include added perks like rental car assistance and tire protection.
Here’s an overview of autopom! vehicle protection plans:
- Exclusionary: This is a comprehensive plan that covers most of the parts and systems in your car, other than a list of exclusions.
- Mid-Level: This plan covers your vehicle’s major systems, including the engine, transmission, drive axle, steering, brakes, air conditioning, and electrical system.
- Powertrain Plus: This plan covers your car’s powertrain, air conditioning, and some electrical components.
Founded in 2009, autopom! boasts an A+ from the BBB and a 3.9 out of 5.0-star rating from customers on the site. The provider also has an impressive 4.7 out of 5.0-star rating on Trustpilot. Positive customer feedback for autopom! often focuses on helpful and patient representatives and a smooth claims process.
autopom! warranty plans have a mileage limit of 150,000, which is lower than what many of our top providers offer. All of the company’s protection options feature added perks like roadside assistance, rental car coverage, and trip interruption benefits. Certain plans also include tire repair and replacement coverage.
Despite its limited number of plans, autopom! offers some of the most consistently affordable aftermarket warranties on the market. We received an April 2024 quote of $126 per month over 24 months for an Exclusionary plan, with a total cost of $3,177. This amounts to $794 per year of coverage, or $260 less than the industry average.
See MoreToco: Cheap Extended Warranty With Beginner-Friendly Plans
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Monthly Cost Range $97
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Number of Plans 4
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Highest Mileage Limit 250,000
Endurance is our go-to provider for direct coverage. Rather than working through a middleman, the company works directly with customers on claims and coverage for an overall efficient process. Here’s an overview of Endurance vehicle protection plans:
- Supreme: This exclusionary coverage acts as a bumper-to-bumper extended warranty.
- Superior: The Superior plan provides stated-component coverage to protect most major parts.
- Secure Plus: This plan protects components like the brakes, engine, transmission, air conditioning, steering and some electrical parts.
- Secure: The Secure plan covers your powertrain at a budget-friendly price.
- Select Premier: Crafted for high-mileage cars, this plan covers vital systems like the engine, transmission and drive axle.
- Advantage: This plan provides extensive component coverage with the addition of maintenance coverage, including oil and filter changes, brake pad and wiper blade replacement, and more.
Endurance also offers customers additional benefits with its warranty coverage, including roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, oil changes and tire rotations. Because Endurance works directly with drivers, its claims process can be more straightforward than other third-party providers. In reviews of Endurance, customers often mention helpful service representatives and easy claims processing.
Endurance is an extended warranty brand that truly lives up to its name, standing out for offering a wide range of plans. Overall, Endurance has plans that fit any needs and budget, allowing drivers to stay on the road. Coverage is available for vehicles with up to 150,000 miles on the odometer.
AmTrust Financial Services secure Endurance’s warranties, which means your claim with the company is guaranteed to be paid out even if Endurance fails financially. The provider carries an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), along with an average customer rating of 3.8 stars out of 5.0 on the platform.
Though Endurance isn’t the cheapest car warranty provider, its discounts and variety of coverage options, unlimited mileage cap, and additional benefits – including a maintenance plan – make it our pick for the provider that offers the best value for your money. Plans range in price from $87 per month to $141 per month with 30-month payment terms, based on quotes we received in April 2024. This means you’re looking at paying between $2,641 and $4,255 in total or an average of $1,257 per year – just slightly more than the industry average of $1,054.
See MoreOlive: Best Online Experience
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Monthly Cost Range $50 – $232
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Number of Plans 3
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Highest Mileage Limit 185,000
Olive is a newer extended warranty provider that launched in 2019. As a fully-online provider, you can get a quote, purchase coverage, and manage your plan entirely online without dealing with a sales agent. The company offers three coverage plans, including a comprehensive warranty, mid-level warranty, and powertrain warranty for up to three years or 185,000 miles.
Here are details about each of Olive’s coverage plans:
- Complete Care: This is an exclusionary plan that covers nearly all of your car’s parts and systems.
- Powertrain Plus: This is a mid-level plan that covers your vehicle’s powertrain and other parts and systems, including the front suspension, brakes, steering, air conditioning and heating, and some electrical components.
- Powertrain: This plan covers your vehicle’s powertrain, including the engine, transmission, and drive shaft.
Coverage is available for vehicles up to 10 years old or with 140,000 miles. Unlike most other providers, there’s no waiting period before you can use your coverage – you can start using your Olive extended warranty the day after you purchase it, and there’s no inspection required before you can file a claim.
On BBB, Olive’s parent company, Repair Ventures, LLC, has an A+ rating on BBB and a customer review score of 1.8 out of 5 stars, though the company only has 10 reviews. Positive reviews praise the company’s claims approval and response time, while negative reviews complain about denied claims. However, because Olive is only a broker, claims are ultimately decided by QBE Administration Services, which administers the plans.
Olive plans are available on a month-to-month basis, like a subscription model. In April 2024, we received quotes ranging from $50 to $232 per month, depending on the plan and vehicle. The lowest price per year of coverage we received was $599, making Olive significantly less expensive per year than the industry average.
See MoreCarShield: Cheap Extended Warranty With High Mileage Limits
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Monthly Cost Range $150 – $170
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Number of Plans 8
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Highest Mileage Limit 300,000
Drivers looking for budget-friendly aftermarket car warranties should turn to CarShield. CarShield warranties are excellent for drivers who want short-term, pay-as-you-go coverage. CarShield covers vehicles for up to 300,000 miles, making it our choice for the best cheap car warranty for vehicles with high mileage.
Here’s an overview of its coverage plans:
- Diamond: This plan functions like a bumper-to-bumper extended warranty.
- Platinum: This is the best option for high-mileage cars and covers the engine, transmission, air conditioning, water pump and more.
- Gold: This plan covers the powertrain as well as the air conditioning, electrical systems, fuel system, and seals and gaskets.
- Silver: This plan protects the engine, transmission, transfer case, drive axles, and seals and gaskets.
- Aluminum: This plan protects the electrical and computer systems.
- Motorcycle & ATV: This specialized coverage plan protects all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles.
CarShield provides additional benefits like roadside assistance, towing and rental car reimbursement. The provider also stands out for letting its customers work with any ASE-certified mechanic.
CarShield’s customer reviews are mixed. On Trustpilot, the aftermarket car warranty provider received a 4.2 out of 5.0-star rating, with many reviewers highlighting their positive customer service experience. CarShield currently holds an A+ rating from the BBB, which shows they respond promptly to customer complaints. However, customers on the BBB website only give the company 2.7 out of 5.0 stars.
We received quotes from CarShield that started at $150 per month for coverage, with the exception of Gold coverage for a 2015 RAM 1500, for which the company quoted us $170 per month. In our experience, you can typically negotiate lower rates, though some sales agents may initially give you a higher quote before negotiating down to a typical $150 per month rate.
See MoreExtended Car Warranty Prices
Based on our research, a cheap car warranty can cost anywhere from $1,675 to $8,368, which reflects a three- to seven-year contract length. On average, you can expect to pay $1,257 per year for coverage. This depends on a few factors, including:
- Vehicle make, model and age: Older, high-mileage, luxury and less reliable vehicles are often more expensive to cover.
- Coverage level: Comprehensive aftermarket car warranty plans are typically more costly than a more basic alternative.
- Contract length: Often, a longer contract costs more than a shorter contract.
The provider you choose also affects your extended warranty cost. Our research team reached out for quotes from each of our top five cheap providers and received the following information:
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Aftermarket Car Warranty
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Vehicle Type and Mileage
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Coverage Term
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Monthly Payment
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Deductible
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Total Price
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endurance Supreme | 2021 Nissan Altima with 42,000 miles | 2.5 years/40,000 miles | $88 for 30 months | $100 | $2,663 |
| autopom! Exclusionary | 2021 Nissan Altima with 42,000 miles | 4 years/Unlimited miles | $126 for 24 months | $100 | $3,177 |
| Toco Yellow | 2015 Nissan Altima with 120,000 miles | Unlimited; month-to-month | $97 | $100 | N/A |
| CarShield Diamond | 2021 Nissan Altima with 42,000 miles | Unlimited; month-to-month | $150 | $200 | N/A |
Cheap car warranty companies are also just one piece of the puzzle. Some car manufacturers will let you purchase an extended warranty when your car manufacturer warranty expires. However, these plans tend to be more costly than third-party providers’ plans, but they do offer more specialization.
Manufacturers’ extended warranties usually guarantee factory-trained technicians and authentic parts used in covered repairs, whereas third-party warranties give customers the option to have repairs done either at the dealership with original parts or at an auto repair shop with parts equal to original market value.
Factors That Affect Extended Warranty Cost
The cost of an extended car warranty depends on factors like the level of coverage, length of the coverage period, and the make, model, age and mileage of your vehicle. Generally, coverage for older vehicles is more expensive than coverage for newer vehicles because they are more likely to suffer a mechanical breakdown.
Cheap Auto Warranty Basics
An extended car warranty covers the cost of unexpected repairs in the event of a mechanical breakdown. However, it is important to note that although the extended auto warranty discounts cover repairs for your vehicle, they do not usually cover repairs for the whole vehicle. A car warranty covers only the essential or agreed-upon parts of the car for a certain number of years or miles. Although it may take a while before you finally get to benefit from a cheap extended warranty, it usually comes in handy when you least expect it. In such scenarios, cheap car warranty deals come in handy since you won’t have to worry about footing the repair/service bill if your car has a warranty.
Think through both costs and select the one you feel would serve you best. If you do a thorough job researching your warranty plan and provider before purchasing in order to balance affordable cost with a level of coverage that fits your needs, a cheap car warranty may prove to be worth it. Since used cars have a history of repairs and breakdowns, drivers may not know when or where their vehicle will break down. The cost of repairs may also be on the higher side, depending on what is to be repaired. Therefore, taking out an extended warranty will benefit you as the warranty will alleviate you of the financial risk that comes with vehicle repairs.
Is A Car Warranty Worth It?
A cost-effective aftermarket car warranty should cost less than what you’d pay in out-of-pocket repair costs. For drivers with highly reliable vehicles, mechanical breakdowns may be far and few between, reducing the usefulness of an extended warranty. However, drivers with less reliable vehicles looking to save money may benefit from purchasing an aftermarket car warranty.
Another factor to consider is how long you plan to own your car. If you plan to sell your car before the manufacturer’s warranty expires, buying coverage you won’t use does not make sense. In some cases, a transferable extended warranty can increase the resale value of your used car if you sell to a private owner, though it is unlikely to raise a trade-in offer from a dealership.
Before committing to any cheap auto warranty, it’s a good idea to reach out to multiple providers to get quotes. This allows you to compare not only coverage between companies but also price points. We’ve listed some of the top providers mentioned in this article below. Reach out to receive free, personalized quotes.
Pros And Cons Of Extended Car Warranties
Below are some pros and cons of extended car warranties that you should consider.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Helps you save money on expensive and unexpected car repairs | Exclusions differ between companies and plans |
| Can cover many of the same parts and systems as your vehicle’s warranty | You may never need to use the warranty despite paying for it |
| Covers repairs at your choice of mechanic or repair facility |
How To Get A Good Deal On A Cheap Car Warranty
When shopping for an extended car warranty, there are several steps you can take to ensure that your costs are low. Below are our recommendations for how to shop for a car warranty so you get the lowest price that fits your needs:
- Get Quotes From Multiple Companies: We recommend getting quotes from at least three providers, as this will give you a solid general idea of how much it costs to cover your vehicle and a better chance of getting a cheaper quote.
- Purchase The Warranty Directly From The Provider: Because dealerships tend to mark up prices for commission, you’ll almost always get a lower price if you purchase the warranty directly from a reputable provider.
- Ask About Discounts: Most providers have discounts with varying eligibility requirements. Examples that are common include discounts for veterans, police officers, seniors, or those who purchase contracts for multiple vehicles.
- Avoid Financing: Avoid traditional payment plans that include interest. While this may seem like it saves you money in the short term, you’ll end up paying much more for the loan at the end of the day. To avoid this, look for a provider with an interest-free payment plan.
- Choose The Optimal Payment Structure: Generally, longer payment terms mean you’ll pay more overall. To lower the cost of your extended car warranty, choose a shorter payment period and consider options with a higher down payment. If you aim for lower monthly costs and more spread out payments, you should choose a longer payment plan with a lower down payment.
- Don’t Be Afraid To Negotiate: In order to get a lower price, don’t be afraid to haggle with the provider for a cheaper car warranty.
- Don’t Put It Off: The longer you wait to get your vehicle covered, the more you will end up paying because your vehicle will be older and have more miles.
Affordable Car Warranties: Conclusion
In this article, we provided our list of the most affordable extended car warranties and ways to get a better deal on a car warranty. The cost of an extended warranty depends on so many factors, and you should do proper research to select the right one for you. Speak to your car manufacturer or dealership as they will provide useful advice that will enable you to select the best extended car warranty for your vehicle.
Cheap Auto Warranty: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about cheap car warranties:
What is the cheapest monthly rate for an extended car warranty?
Our reviews have found that with discounts and the proper approach, you should easily be able to find a powertrain extended car warranty under $100, provided your vehicle doesn’t have extremely high mileage.
How much does an extended car warranty cost overall?
In our cost reviews, we found that you can get an affordable extended car warranty for around $1,054 per year if you do your homework and follow the processes outlined in this review.
Who has the most affordable car warranty?
Endurance is our top-rated affordable warranty provider. This review also identified autopom!, Toco, Olive, and CarShield as companies that have affordable car warranties.
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.
- Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, availability, and years in business when giving this score.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
