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Top 5 Extended Warranty Providers for Used Cars

Overview

Discover the top 5 extended warranty providers for used cars and learn how these plans can save you money and provide peace of mind.

Discover the top 5 extended warranty providers for used cars and learn how these plans can save you money and provide peace of mind.

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New cars come with a factory warranty, which is often a huge draw-card when sourcing a car. Finding peace of mind when buying used is possible with a vehicle service contract.

Factory warranties protect the owner of a vehicle against factory defects or workmanship, or when components are below par. Usually, the manufacturer provides these warranties for a certain period. 

A new car warranty is a big reason to buy a new vehicle. However, you can still find peace of mind when buying a used car.

Extended Vehicle Service Contracts for Used Cars

Buying a used car might not automatically have a warranty. Some used cars have extended warranties. However, if you buy a used car, it likely won't have much coverage or any at all.  

Discover your choices for extended warranties from the top 5 providers for used cars in the US today.

Understanding everything about car service contracts. Learn more about buying a car that has a warranty. Discover how to find the right extended warranty. Also, check out some smart tips. 

Warranty reviews will put you on the right track - so will comparing coverage options side by side in one place. The Chaiz marketplace is a good place to start, where you can compare quotes and coverage plans.

How to Find the Right Aftermarket Vehicle Warranty 

Here are some of the top companies for extended warranties on used cars. This information comes from recent industry reviews and rankings.

Top 5 Providers at a Quick Glance:

SERVICE PROVIDER HIGHLIGHTED FEATURES
  • No. 1. AUTOPOM!
  • Rated no. 1 for best customer satisfaction and is available nationwide. Autopom! has an A+ BBB rating, and a 4.75 rating on TrustPilot
  • Endurance
  • Offers the most variety of extended warranties and is a direct provider. There is no middleman administering Endurance plans. Endurance offers cover for high-mileage cars with unlimited miles. Pricing is transparent
  • CARCHEX
  • Carchex offers coverage for high-mileage vehicles - up to 250,000 miles! You can tailor and customize plans. CARCHEX boasts a BBB A+ rating
  • CarShield
  • CarShield offers cover for the highest mileage up to 300,000 miles. Get flexible month-on-month contracts at affordable prices. There are some negative customer reviews and deceptive advertising
  • Omega Auto Care
  • Omega Auto Care sells comprehensive plans with some including maintenance add-ons. Omega has a BBB A+ rating and is best known for its customer care

Other Vehicle Protection Plans Worth Mentioning:

How to Buy Used with a Remaining New Car Warranty

Looking for pre-owned vehicles with some of the original manufacturer’s warranty ensures the guarantee is transferable. This is a simple, cost-saving option to get cover for a used vehicle. It might take some research, but might be worth it in the end.

Checking how much time and mileage left on the warranty is also important. This can vary between cars.

Taking full advantage of the original manufacturer’s guarantee is straightforward. There are no deductibles payable on factory warranties either.

Customers must pay deductibles upfront for vehicle protection plans once approved.

What to Look For When Buying Extended Warranty for Used Cars

You can find the date of a vehicle history report on Carfax.com Warranty Check report if you are shopping for a used car at a dealership. If you are not too sure about a warranty, ask the dealership consultant for assistance.

Unlike a new car buyer in the US, choosing a high-mileage vehicle service contract or extended warranty will differ from cover with a new purchase. 

You want powerful protection against repair costs. Look for flexible options for high-mileage vehicles. Choose a service provider with an excellent reputation for honoring repairs and claims.

Used Car Warranty Comparisons. Features to Look For:

Features Why it makes a difference to your high-mileage car
  • Mileage limit
  • Most high-mileage service providers have mileage limitations. These can range from 100,000 miles to 150,000 miles. Yet there are some that go as high as 200,000 to 250,000 miles
  • Coverage of certain parts
  • Be sure to get the cover for the parts you need covered. Older vehicles often experience issues with specific parts. These could be suspension, transmission and drivetrain. Source powertrain coverage and cover for other major systems coverage
  • No lengthy waiting period
  • You could wait 30+ days or 1,000 miles to qualify for a repair. This could pose a problem should you need an expensive repair within that time frame.
  • What is the claims process like?
  • Reading reviews will give you some idea how fast claims are paid out and whether the provider rejects many claims
  • Is your vehicle service provider available in all states
  • California does not provide vehicle service contracts from all providers
  • Does your service provider have a solid reputation?
  • By reading reviews and other customers’ experiences, this will give a clear indication what to expect from your vehicle service contract provider. High BBB ratings could paint a clear picture
  • Qualified, certified network of mechanics and repair facilities
  • Does your vehicle service contract provider have qualified mechanics and repair shops on its books? Some repair shops reject extended warranty providers.
  • Can you transfer your vehicle service contract?
  • If you change your mind or want to sell your vehicle, a transferable warranty is a useful selling tool
  • Benefits
  • Discover whether your warranty plan offers benefits like roadside assistance, towing, car rental reimbursement, and trip interruption

Bag a Bargain by Buying a CPO Vehicle

Buying a certified used car (CPO) will give you the coverage you need. Certified pre-owned cars are usually a couple of years old and in good condition. These vehicles are commonly used commercially as fleet vehicles, where they are regularly serviced before returning to a dealership

CPO vehicles have been given a thorough inspection, have been refurbished where necessary and certified. This is either by a third-parties or by the original manufacturer. 

These vehicles are usually low-mileage, newer-type model cars with extended warranty coverage. They have a reputation for being reliable.

CPO certification differs from one manufacturer to another. Franchised new car dealerships sell CPO vehicles with warranty coverage, typically reaching beyond bumper-to-bumper plans.

Sometimes, CPO cars have add-on perks like roadside assistance and tip interruption reimbursement.

These vehicle warranties either have deductibles or they have a zero deductible amount.

Vehicle Service Contracts and CPO Warranties

The two coverage options have a few similarities. However, there are distinct differences between the two coverage options.

The main differences between a vehicle service contract and CPO warranties are:

CPO Warranty Vehicle Service Contract
  • Provided by the car manufacturer (OEM)
  • Provided by a third party or a dealership
  • Your CPO warranty is available at the time of buying a CPO vehicle
  • Buy your extended warranty anytime, although there are usually some limitations
  • A CPO vehicle’s purchase price includes a CPO Warranty
  • The cost of a vehicle service contract is an extra purchase when buying a used car. This is true unless a contract is already in place and transferred to the new owner
  • Detailed inspections are carried out on all CPO vehicles. These are detailed manufacturer-certified inspections
  • Inspections are not typically required for extended warranties
  • Typical plans are bumper-to-bumper coverage and Powertrain options
  • Extended warranties range from the most comprehensive plan options to more basic Powertrain coverage plans
  • Length of coverage is usually limited. These plans are usually 1 to 2 years long
  • Vehicle service contracts for older vehicles are usually capped. Plans range in terms and are usually tailored to brand and age of the vehicle

Summary of a CPO Warranty:

Summary of a Vehicle Service Contract 

The Bottom Line. The Cost of a Vehicle Service Contract

Expect to pay anything from a thousand to several thousand dollars, based on many factors, for an extended warranty. 

Costs will depend on how long the contract is for and how many miles the vehicle. Costs also depend on the service provider and who administers the contract.

Another factor affecting the cost of your vehicle service contract is the deductible. As with all policies and insurance coverage, a higher deductible will lower the premiums. It’s important to have sufficient cash on hand to afford higher deductibles should your vehicle break down.

Getting quotes from multiple service providers before you decide will make a difference to your bottom line. Comparing quotes and buying coverage online is a straightforward and easy process. 

Expect to pay from a thousand dollars to a few thousand dollars for extended cover. Cost depends on many factors.

Estimates of Extended Warranties

Cars with odometer readings between 100,000 and 150,000 miles. Customers can expect to fork out between $60 and $230 depending on the type of contract, plan,  and service provider. Over an 18-month period, this equates to about $1,000 and $4,200.

Many contracts range from $1,500 to $3,500 in total, but this depends on the specific plan and type of coverage.

Expect to pay around $350 to $700 annually (otherwise $30 to $60 a month).

Are Vehicle Service Contracts for High-Mileage Cars Worth it?

Buying coverage for a high-mileage car depends on the cost of the plan, your budget, and the car. Are you disciplined sufficiently to save for that rainy day? These are all questions you need to ask yourself and only ones you can answer!

If the car in question has a history of regular and expensive repairs, it might be worth your while to get peace of mind with an extended warranty.

Cars best known for low maintenance and repairs, and reliability might not need additional vehicle coverage . You might feel it an unnecessary added expense for something you might never use.

An extended warranty is a predictable cost to factor into a monthly payment to cover unexpected high costs should you need to repair your car.

Car owners sufficiently disciplined to save for an emergency fund that can cover out-of-pocket expenses might feel that an extended warranty is not worth it.

In Conclusion - what to expect from the top 5 warranty providers for used vehicles

Older second-hand vehicles and cars with high mileage on the odometer can still qualify for excellent coverage plans.

Source vehicle service contracts with add-ons that provide more than the original CPO or extended warranty.