Best Used Car Warranty

Key Points:

• Carchex is our top pick for the best used car warranty company because it offers a variety of plans that can all cover up to 250,000 miles.
• On average, used car plans from third-party companies cost about $135 per month.
• You can get a vehicle protection plan for a used car from franchise dealerships, used car dealers, and third-party companies.

Sometimes it just makes more sense to buy a used car instead of a new car–it saves money. But one thing you might miss out on with a used car is a warranty from the manufacturer. While it’s possible to get an extended used car warranty from the manufacturer, you should also compare plans from third-party companies.

We’ve reviewed the best extended car warranty companies to look into if you have a used car, and we’ll cover our top picks in this article. We’ll also look at the best certified pre-owned (CPO) programs and the best warranties for cars over 100,000 miles.

An extended car warranty refers to mechanical breakdown coverage offered by a vehicle manufacturer. However, this term is often mistakenly used to describe coverage from third-party companies. Independent providers offer similar protection through vehicle service contracts, but we’ve used the terms interchangeably in this article for convenience.

Best Used Car Warranty Companies

Our top five picks for the best used car warranties are Carchex, CarShield, Endurance, Omega Auto Care, and Olive^®. All of our recommendations allow you to visit any licensed repair shop for breakdowns. They all pay the repair shop directly for covered repairs, unlike some companies that reimburse customers after the fact.

1. Carchex: Best Industry Reputation

Mileage limit: 250,000
Number of plans: 5
Monthly cost range: $100 to $160
Added benefits: Roadside assistance, rental car coverage, trip interruption reimbursement

Carchex is our top pick for the best used car warranty for having many plans to choose from and coverage that extends to 250,000 miles. Its plans range from basic to new vehicle factory-level comprehensive coverage and it offers good benefits with each. Plus, Carchex has a strong industry reputation with an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). It’s also endorsed by trusted industry brands like Kelley Blue Book, Carfax, and RepairPal, which led us to give it our Best Industry Reputation award. 

Carchex Coverage Levels

Carchex offers five vehicle protection plans:

• Titanium: This is an extensive plan that covers any mechanical breakdown except for a list of exclusions.
• Platinum: As a high-level plan, this covers 15 systems of the car, including audio, emissions, electrical, cooling, air conditioning, fuel, and more.
• Powertrain Plus: This is a good option for older vehicles with high mileage. It covers the powertrain along with important systems like A/C, cooling, fuel, and electrical.
• Powertrain: This car warranty covers the crucial systems of the engine, transmission, and drivetrain.
• Extra Care: This plan covers systems outside the powertrain like audio, electrical, steering, air conditioning, and more. It can supplement an existing powertrain warranty.

Read more: Carchex Review

2. CarShield: Best Flexible Payment Plans

Mileage limit: 300,000
Number of plans: 8
Monthly cost range: $110 to $150
Added benefits: Rental car reimbursement, trip interruption, roadside assistance

CarShield makes our list for offering flexible monthly payments. CarShield’s plans are month-to-month contracts, so you can make a plan as long or short as you want. CarShield can also cover vehicles up to 300,000 miles. If you’ve taken good care of your used car and want to keep it in good shape for many more miles, CarShield is a good option.

CarShield has covered over 2 million vehicles to date. It also maintains a 4.3-star rating from over 50,000 Trustpilot customer reviews.

CarShield Coverage Levels

CarShield has eight plans to choose from:

• Diamond: This is CarShield’s comprehensive plan which covers almost any mechanical breakdown.
• Platinum: This plan covers most systems of the vehicle and is a good option for used cars with fewer miles.
• Gold: This level of coverage includes the powertrain plus the fuel, A/C, cooling, electrical, drive axle, and more.
• Gold Select: This plan is for high-mileage vehicles and covers the engine, transmission, water pump, starter, A/C, and power window motors.
• Silver: This is a basic plan that provides coverage for the engine, transmission, and drive axle.
• Aluminum: This plan supplements existing powertrain coverage and includes things like the electrical, steering, A/C, brakes, and suspension.
• Motorcycle & ATV: CarShield offers various warranty coverages under this plan for motorcycles and ATVs.
• Electric Vehicle Coverage: This plan is designed for fully electric cars. It covers the EV drive components and can also cover most of the vehicle’s other systems.

Read more: CarShield Review

3. Endurance: Best Overall

Mileage limit: 200,000
Number of plans: 6
Monthly cost range: $85 to $146
Added benefits: Rental car coverage, trip interruption, roadside assistance, extra Endurance Elite Benefits

Endurance stands out for offering used cars the best coverage options and benefits. The company has six plans that provide a range of options. One plan, EnduranceAdvantage™, covers regular maintenance services like oil changes and tire rotations. This can make it easier to maintain your used vehicle over time.

Endurance has decent ratings from its customers. It has a 3.6-star rating on Trustpilot and a 3.7-star rating on the BBB. 

Endurance Coverage Levels

Let’s take a closer look at Endurance’s extended warranty plans:

• Supreme: This plan covers everything except for a list of exclusions.
• Superior: One step down from factory-level coverage, this plan includes hundreds of components on all major systems of the vehicle.
• Premier: This mid-level plan covers the cooling system, A/C, fuel system, electrical components, and luxury electronics plus the powertrain.
• Secure Plus: This plan covers the powertrain along with the steering and air conditioning systems.
• Secure: This is a basic powertrain plan that includes the engine, transmission, and drive axle.
• Advantage: This option covers routine maintenance like oil changes and tire rotations plus one-time services like cooling system maintenance and brake pad replacement. It also covers mechanical breakdowns.

Endurance Elite Benefits

Endurance also offers a unique perk called Endurance Elite Benefits. All plans come with one year of Endurance Elite Benefits for free. You can continue the benefits for a small charge after that.Here are the details:

• Key fob replacement
• Up to $500 in collision discounts
• Up to $1,000 in total loss replacement
• Tire repair and replacement for road hazards

Read more: Endurance Warranty Review

4. Omega Auto Care: Best Maintenance Benefits

Mileage limit: 250,000
Number of plans: 5
Monthly cost range: $119 to $175
Added benefits: Rental car coverage, trip interruption, roadside assistance, road hazard tire repair, maintenance benefits for one year

Omega Auto Care is another company that can help take care of your used car with its mechanical breakdown and maintenance coverage. The company offers five plans and all of them come with maintenance benefits for some time.

Omega Auto Care has a good reputation in the industry. It has an A+ rating with accreditation from the BBB and a 3.6-star customer rating. It also has a 3.8-star rating on Trustpilot. 

Omega Auto Care Coverage Levels

Here’s a closer look at Omega Auto Care’s five plans:

• Exclusionary: This plan is similar to the coverage found in a manufacturer’s warranty, covering any mechanical breakdown except for some exclusions.
• Used-Stated: This extensive plan covers many systems of the vehicle and is good for cars less than 150,000 miles.
• Powertrain Enhanced: This option is better for high-mileage vehicles. It covers the powertrain plus the A/C, electrical, fuel, and cooling systems.
• Powertrain Plus: This plan covers the powertrain plus the A/C and electrical systems.
• Powertrain: Omega’s basic plan covers the engine, transmission, and drive axle.

Omega Warranty Perks And Benefits

Omega offers one year of free maintenance on all plans. This coverage starts a month after purchase and expires 13 months later. It covers oil changes, one battery replacement, brake pad replacement, cooling system maintenance, and a safety inspection up to certain limits. 

Omega also includes tire road hazard repair and replacement on all plans. In the event of a road hazard damage, this covers $20 toward repair or $100 toward replacement per tire.

5. Olive: Best Online Process

Mileage limit: 185,000
Number of plans: 3
Monthly cost range: $50 to $276
Added benefits: Rental car coverage and trip interruption coverage

Last on our list of the best used car warranty companies is Olive. This provider covers up to 185,000 miles, so it might not be best for all high-mileage vehicles. That said, Olive offers great prices and simple contracts. We noticed how user-friendly Olive’s website is for comparing the fine print between plans. You can also submit claims and find repair shops through the site.

Olive is a newer company, founded in 2019. However, its parent company Repair Ventures has been around since 2000 and has an A+ rating with accreditation from the BBB.

Olive Coverage Levels

Olive offers three plans:

• Complete Care: This plan covers almost any breakdown except for exclusions.
• Powertrain Plus: This mid-level plan covers the powertrain plus the front suspension, brakes, steering, climate control, and electrical systems.
• Powertrain: This is a basic coverage plan that includes the engine, transmission, drive axle, and fuel system.

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Best High-Mileage Used Car Warranty

If your car already has 100,000 miles, it makes sense to shop from providers that offer high-mileage plans. Our top two picks for the best high-mileage car warranties include Endurance and Carchex.

Read more: Extended Warranty For Cars Over 100,000 Miles

Endurance: Best High-Mileage Maintenance

Endurance is the best option if you want maintenance and warranty coverage for a car with over 100,000 miles. Since it covers up to 200,000 miles, it can help take care of your car for years to come. The Secure Plus plan is a good option for high-mileage vehicles because it combines decent coverage with affordability.

Carchex: Longest Fixed-Term Contracts

Carchex plans can cover up to 250,000 miles. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy your car beyond 100,000 miles. The Powertrain Plus plan is a good option because it covers the most expensive repairs on specific parts plus a few more important systems. Carchex offers fixed-term contracts that can last up to 10 years.

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Best Certified Used Car Programs

If you want to get the longest possible factory coverage without buying an extra plan, consider certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles. Manufacturers offer CPO warranties for lightly used vehicles that are under a certain age and mileage limit. These vehicles receive a detailed inspection, mechanical service, and a longer factory warranty. Kia, Hyundai, and Honda are our top picks for CPO coverage.

Manufacturer	CPO Bumper-To-Bumper	CPO Powertrain	Benefits
Kia	Additional 12 months/12,000 miles	10 years/ 100,000 miles	Roadside assistance, towing coverage, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption
Hyundai	Remainder of factory warranty	10 years/ 100,000 miles	Roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption
Honda	Additional 12 months/12,000 miles or 5 years/86,000 miles total depending on the level	7 years/ 100,000 miles	Roadside assistance, trip interruption, concierge service, and maintenance

Read more: Best CPO Programs

1. Kia: Best CPO Warranty

Kia’s CPO plan maintains the original 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Normally, the plan is reduced to 5 years/60,000 miles for secondary car owners. Beyond that, Kia also adds 12 months or 12,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage for CPO vehicles. This coverage begins upon CPO purchase or when the factory bumper-to-bumper plan expires, whichever is later.

2. Hyundai: Long Powertrain Warranty

Hyundai is another good option for CPO vehicles. Like Kia, it extends the original powertrain warranty to 10 years/100,000 miles. This is among the longest factory powertrain warranties in the industry. However, Hyundai doesn’t add any coverage to its bumper-to-bumper plan. Secondary owners simply get whatever is left of the 5-year/60,000-mile warranty.

3. Honda: Best For Free Maintenance

Honda offers a couple of unique CPO options. If a vehicle is under a year old and has less than 12,000 miles, it’s eligible for HondaTrue Certified. This gives the CPO car 7 years/100,000 miles of powertrain coverage and 5 years/86,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage. Standard HondaTrue Certified vehicles come with 7 years/100,000 miles of powertrain coverage plus an additional 12 months/12,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage.

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Used Car Warranty Guide

In this section, we’ll cover what a used car warranty is, the different types of plans you might find, how much one costs, how to get a warranty, and more.

Read more: Used Car Warranty Guide

What Is A Used Car Warranty?

A used car warranty is an optional protection plan that covers specific car repairs. Manufacturers and third-party companies can offer used vehicle, though plans from third-party providers are technically not warranties but vehicle service contracts. 

If you have a covered mechanical breakdown, the provider will pay for the repair bill minus your deductible if one applies. Used car warranty plans come with many conditions, so it’s important to read the fine print.

Types Of Used Car Warranty Plans

Below are some examples of used car warranty plans you might find.

• Bumper-to-bumper: This is the highest level of protection. It’s an exclusionary plan because it covers everything in your car, except for a list of exclusions specified in the contract. It’s also called factory-level coverage. 
• Mid-level: There can be many variations of mid-level plans. These types of contracts cover exactly what is written down, so they’re called stated-component contracts. A typical plan might cover the powertrain plus the electrical, steering, brakes, suspension, fuel system, and A/C.
• Powertrain: This stated-component plan covers the engine, transmission, and drive axle–the parts that propel the car forward and are often the most expensive to fix. Some powertrain warranties also cover hybrid components and turbochargers.

Added Perks Of Used Car Warranties

Used car warranties often come with benefits like:

• Roadside assistance: This helps if you’re stuck on the side of the road. In most cases, it includes towing service, battery jump-starts, spare tire installations, lockout assistance, and fuel deliveries.
• Trip interruption: For covered repairs, this benefit reimburses you for food and lodging costs (up to a limit) if your car breaks down–usually over 100 miles from home.
• Rental car reimbursement: Car warranty companies often cover a rental car during your vehicle’s stay at the shop. This applies up to a set limit. 

What Used Car Warranties Don’t Cover

Even bumper-to-bumper warranty plans don’t cover everything. Here are a few exclusions common to most extended warranty contracts:

• Regular maintenance services
• Normal wear and tear
• Parts that are expected to wear out like wiper blades, belts, and bulbs
• Damage from lack of maintenance or misuse
• Damage from accidents or the environment
• Unauthorized repairs
• Aftermarket modifications
• Cosmetic damage
• Damage to a covered component by a non-covered component and vice versa
• Pre-existing conditions

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How Much Does A Used Car Warranty Cost?

According to our quote analysis, used car warranties cost an average of $135 per month or $1,311 per year. This can vary greatly by provider and type of company. On average, manufacturer plans tend to be a little more expensive for coverage.

Used Car Warranty Quotes

Below are some example quotes we received from different providers. These are all powertrain plans, so they cover the engine, transmission, and drive axle. Some may cover a few more systems.

Is A Used Car Warranty Worth The Cost?

A used car warranty may be worth it for a variety of reasons. Financially speaking, you want to find a warranty at a good price that will cover as much or more in repairs than you paid for it. In another sense, you might be looking for a warranty to help stabilize your monthly budget. If you don’t have much set aside to cover repairs, making a smaller monthly payment for a warranty might make more sense.

People buy used car warranties for other reasons, as well. You might just want peace of mind that repairs are covered and that you have someone to call when your car breaks down. Most warranties come with benefits like roadside assistance, which can make having a breakdown less of a hassle.

Consider Car Reliability

Not all cars have the same average repair costs. A warranty is more likely to be worth it for a less reliable car with higher average ownership costs.

To determine a car’s reliability, take a look at the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study^SM. This study measures reliability by the problems per 100 vehicles of different car brands after three years of ownership. Problems are defined as issues with climate control, driving assistance, exterior, displays/controls, infotainment systems, powertrain, and seats. The study average was 190 problems per 100 vehicles.

See the table below for J.D. Power’s dependability rankings of 29 car brands.

According to J.D. Power, Lexus and Toyota vehicles are the most reliable, while Audi and Chrysler makes are the least. If you need frequent repairs, a used car warranty may help you save money. 

Consider Car Repair Cost

After you’ve determined how frequently your car needs repairs, it’s a good idea to research how costly those repairs might be before deciding whether or not used car warranty coverage is right for you. 

RepairPal ranks manufacturer reliability by considering things like average annual repair and maintenance cost, breakdown frequency, and breakdown severity. According to RepairPal, the average cost of repairs per year across all car brands, makes, and models is $652. 

Search for your specific make and model on RepairPal’s site to determine your potential repair costs. For an overview, see average annual repair costs for the above car brands according to RepairPal in the table below. 

If these are the most reliable brands, hoHonda has the cheapest annual average repair costs, while Land Rover is the most expensive. If you find your car brand toward the bottom of both the reliability and repair cost tables, a used car warranty may be worth it for you. 

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Where To Get A Used Car Warranty

The three main places to find used car warranties are:

• Franchise dealerships (manufacturer): Franchise dealerships sell official extended warranty plans when cars qualify. Some car manufacturers only sell plans when customers buy a vehicle, and others allow customers to buy a plan up until the factory warranty expires. Check with your local dealer to find out if your car is eligible for a factory extended warranty.
• Used car dealerships: Used car dealers also sell extended warranties. These are third-party plans and are not related to the manufacturer. In most cases, a used car salesperson might only provide one or two options to compare.
• Third-party companies: You can get extended plans from third-party providers before and after your factory warranty expires. These plans often come with more flexibility compared to options from franchise dealerships.

What To Look For In A Used Car Warranty Company

When you shop for a used car warranty, make sure you have the time to compare multiple providers. Consider the following things:

• Reputation: Companies that have established histories and good industry ratings show that most of their customers are satisfied.
• Cancellation: Most reputable providers offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. After that, you can cancel for a prorated refund. Take a look at the cancellation policy to be sure you have time to change your mind.
• Transferability: Reputable providers let you transfer the warranty to a secondary buyer if you happen to sell your car. It might require a fee.
• Paying claims: You want to find a warranty provider that pays the repair shop directly. Some companies expect you to pay for the repair and seek reimbursement after the fact, which defeats the purpose of having a warranty to cover costs.

Manufacturer Vs. Aftermarket Used Car Warranties

Next, let’s take a closer look at the difference between automotive manufacturers and aftermarket (third-party) used car protection plans.

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Best Used Car Warranties: Our Take

You have many options for coverage whether your used car has lower or higher mileage. To find the best vehicle protection plan, we recommend comparing free quotes from multiple companies and looking at each provider’s cost, coverage, benefits, and reputation.

Used Car Warranties: FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions about the best used car warranties.

How We Rated The 5 Best Used Car Warranty Companies

Our review team extensively researches extended car warranty providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

• Reliability: Warranty providers that earn strong ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), work with reliable partners and administrators, and have a long history in the warranty industry score well in this category.
• Coverage Plans: We take a close look at the coverage plans available through each provider, including how many are offered, maximum term limits, plan exclusions, and more. We also evaluate the added benefits companies include with their warranty plans, such as roadside assistance and trip interruption benefits.
• Pricing: Our team performs a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicles and coverage plans to get a sense of a provider’s average costs. We see how each company’s pricing, deductible options, and discount opportunities compare to competitors when determining this score. 
• Transparency: We evaluate the availability and transparency of each company’s contracts, as well as whether each provider offers a money-back guarantee.
• Customer Experience: We consider customer reviews and complaints from sites like the BBB and Trustpilot. Our team also reaches out to customer service reps during our secret shopper analysis to get a sense of the customer experience with each company.

*Data accurate at time of publication..