Advertising disclosure — Many companies featured here are our advertising partners. Compensation, along with our research, determines which companies appear and in what order.
The average car extended warranty claim saves drivers $1,200+ per repair. Compare our top-
rated providers and get your free quote in under 2 minutes.
Our partner Our score 9.9/10Get Up to $360/Year Off a New Plan
Our partner Our score 9.7/10$300 Off + Free Year of Elite Benefits
Our partner Our score 9.1/10Get up to $500 Off Your New Policy
Our partner Our score 8.7/102M+ Vehicles Covered in ~2 Decades
Our partner Our score 8.4/10Up to 60% Less Than Dealer Rates
Our partner Our score 9.0/10Vehicle Protection Plans For Your Budget
After the factory warranty ends, every failure is yours to pay for. Price one repair against what a car warranty costs per month — the same cover some providers sell as an auto warranty.
Covers specific parts listed in your contract.
Based on a Representative 8-Year-Old Midsize Sedan at Named Component. Over 2 years of coverage at this plan level — estimated, not a quote.
Repair costs are based on typical U.S. prices and vary by vehicle, model, year, location, and repair shop. Coverage pricing is illustrative and not a quote. Final pricing is provided during your quote. The vehicle shown is a representative model and may not match your vehicle.
An extended warranty — sold as an extended auto warranty or a vehicle service contract, depending on the provider — pays for covered mechanical and electrical repairs once your factory coverage runs out. Here are three ways to handle that repair risk, and who each one fits.
| Extended warranty (VSC) | Factory warrantyIncluded with the car | Pay out of pocketNo contract | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A service contract you buy to cover repairs after the factory coverage ends | Coverage the automaker includes with a new car | No contract — every repair is on you |
| What it covers | Mechanical & electrical breakdowns per your plan tier; wear items usually excluded | Defects in materials and workmanship, typically 3yr/36k basic and 5yr/60k powertrain | Whatever breaks, whenever it breaks |
| When it applies | After a short waiting period; often cheapest if bought before the factory coverage lapses | From purchase until the time or mileage cap | Always |
| Typical cost | About $60–$210/mo by vehicle and coverage level | Included in the car's price | $0 until something breaks, then the full bill |
| Who pays the shop | On approved claims most providers pay the shop directly; you owe the deductible | Dealer bills the manufacturer | You, in full, up front |
| Flexibility | Cancel inside the money-back window (often 30 days); some plans month-to-month | Fixed terms; transfer rules vary | Total — no commitment |
| Best for | Owners of out-of-warranty, high-mileage cars who are risk-averse | Owners with vehicles still inside the factory term | Newer cars, or drivers with a healthy repair fund |
Extended warranty (VSC)
Factory warranty
Pay out of pocket
For educational purposes; this is not financial advice. Coverage, exclusions, and costs vary by contract and vehicle — always read the sample contract before you buy.
Older and higher-mileage vehicles are where an extended vehicle warranty earns its price, but eligibility caps and waiting periods matter more than they do on a newer car. See our used-car coverage guide
Every provider earns a 0–10 score built from the same three weighted factors that matter most for a vehicle service contract, then refined by our editors' hands-on review. On-page order also reflects partner compensation — see how that works below.
Breadth of covered systems — engine, transmission, drivetrain, electrical, A/C — and how reliably and quickly covered claims are paid, including direct-to-shop payment.
Typical monthly cost weighed against the coverage you actually get, plus the deductible structure.
Cancellation window, month-to-month vs. locked terms and money-back guarantee, weighed with aggregate customer sentiment.
How the top 6 providers score
| Provider | Coverage & claims40% | Price & value30% | Flexibility & reputation30% | Overall score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1CarShield | 9.9 | 9.9 | 9.9 | 9.9/10 |
| 2Endurance | 9.8 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 9.7/10 |
| 3American Dream Auto Protect | 9.2 | 8.8 | 9.2 | 9.1/10 |
| 4Protection Auto | 8.6 | 8.5 | 8.9 | 8.7/10 |
| 5Complete Car Warranty | 8.2 | 8.9 | 8.0 | 8.4/10 |
| 6Elite Auto Protect Car Warranties | 9.1 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 9.0/10 |
Each factor score is our editorial assessment on that dimension; the overall score is the weighted average of the three scores (40/30/30) on a 0–10 scale. Scores are as of November 2026.
In-depth reviews of the providers leading our rankings. Every provider in the table above is scored on the same three factors.
1 
About CarShield: CarShield offers month-to-month plans — no multi-year lock-in. It accepts vehicles with up to 300,000 miles and up to 30 years of age, one of the widest eligibility windows in the category. Plans range from basic powertrain protection (Silver) up to Diamond, its most complete tier.
2 
About Endurance: Endurance is one of the only major providers with a dedicated maintenance plan, EnduranceAdvantage, which pairs breakdown coverage with up to $3,500/year to pay for maintenance like oil changes and replacing brake pads. Every plan includes a free first year of Endurance Elite Benefits (repairs or replacement of tires and key fobs, windshield repairs, and up to $500 towards collision repairs) plus 24/7 roadside assistance and rental-car reimbursement.
3 
About American Dream Auto Protect: American Dream Auto Protect offers three core tiers plus the option to customize coverage around your specific vehicle and priorities. Plans top out at 20 years or 200,000 miles, and most claims are authorized within 48 hours through its network of 250,000+ ASE-certified mechanics.
About Protection Auto: 2 Million+ Vehicles Protected Since 2005 Offers Highly Customizable Plans Easy, Flexible Payment Terms Choose from Thousands of Repair Shops 30-day Money-back Guarantee
5 
About Complete Car Warranty: Complete Car Warranty is a vehicle-service-contract marketplace that markets coverage for up to 60% less than dealer prices when you buy direct. Plans place no cap on the number of repair claims, are accepted at any dealer or licensed mechanic, and include 24/7 roadside assistance — with a money-back window (often 30 days, varies by contract) if no claims are filed. Coverage is administered by third-party providers and confirmed at quote.
About Elite Auto Protect Car Warranties: Vehicle Protection Plans For Your Budget Major repair coverage options 15+ years in automotive industry Roadside assistance on eligible plans Rental car benefits for approved repairs
We're an advertising-supported publisher, and some providers we list are our partners. Here's exactly how that does — and does not — shape what you see.
Read the full policy. See our complete scoring methodology and how editorial evaluation is kept separate from compensation.
Freelance Writer/Editor · Former Insurance Editor, Money
Paul is a freelance writer/editor and the former Insurance Editor at Money.com, where he oversaw coverage of warranties and insurance policies. Earlier he spent two decades at Consumer Reports covering appliances and home services. He holds a journalism degree from Carleton University and has made 100+ media appearances, including CNN and the Today Show.
Executive Editor · Money
As Money's Executive Editor, Mike oversees content strategy across the site, newsletters and video. He was previously an editor at The Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone and MTV, and his writing has appeared in GQ, Esquire, Time and Reuters. He holds a BA and an MA in Sociology (Virginia Tech; The New School) and authored the 2020 book One Last Song.
We review publicly available data, disclosures, and sample contracts, then score every provider against the same weighted criteria. We fact-check figures against reliable sources, refresh the page as terms change, and keep our written assessments separate from paid placement. In November 2026, our editors pulled live quotes from all 6 featured providers, read each company's sample service contract for waiting periods, deductibles, and exclusions — including CarShield's Platinum coverage contract (PDF) — and contacted the providers' claims lines to confirm how approvals and direct-to-shop payment work in practice.
Explore coverage plans from CarShield and see what fits your vehicle and budget. Get a free, no-obligation quote in minutes—no pressure.
Get your free quoteGet your free quoteDisclaimer
Starting prices are the lowest published or company-quoted rate and are confirmed at quote; your price depends on your vehicle, mileage and coverage level. Deductibles and money-back windows vary by plan and by contract — the money-back refund generally requires that no claim has been filed.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.