By: Mitch | Last updated June 12, 2021 
When it comes to cars, you can never be too sure about its performance. In the middle of the road, mechanical breakdowns are bound to happen no matter how new the vehicle is. Because of this, original manufacturer warranties are important.
However, when this expires, users are left to pay completely for the damaged parts which may be a big hassle for those who have not allotted a specific budget as it is mostly unexpected. They may also have difficulties in choosing the best repair sites for their vehicles especially if they are far from home.
As the name implies, extended auto warranties are contracts that you can purchase to extend the duration of the warranty. However, it is not directly from the car’s manufacturer and is instead purchased from a third-party company. While this may be seen as a risky move, it can actually be to your advantage. This is because through this, you can have more variety for the plans that you will purchase. This can differ in terms of the exact coverage, the price for the plan, and the exact features that you will be given.
First, we look at the different coverages of the vehicle. Most of the time, there are at least three options for users including a Powertrain which covers only the most important parts such as the axle and the engine, a Mid-tier plan, and one that covers the car from bumper to bumper which is called an Exclusionary plan. Having a lot of these plans available for your vehicle can make it easier for users to look for one that fits their budget more as not everyone wants a full coverage. Not to mention, the age and mileage restrictions by the company will differ for each contract as older ones may be more prone to mechanical breakdowns.
Next, we look at the overall customer service of the company. First, this can be seen with their sign-up process. We check if their representatives are pleasant, informed, and consistent all throughout the process. This can also be seen with the claims process. This can also be seen with how quick they are to respond to inquiries and emergency services. Lastly, this can be seen with how quick they are to answer 30-day money back guarantees in case they offer this.
Lastly, we also must look at the different features offered by the company. There are staples among them which must be expected. First, they offer 24/7 available roadside assistance for problems while on the road such as running out of gas, needing a tow, having a flat tire, and more. Next, they must also have flexible payment plans that can be extended for more than a year. It is also good for them to have reimbursements in case the user’s car will be repaired. Lastly, some companies even offer discounts for hotel and motel trips which makes it easier to manage having a mechanical breakdown far from home.
Our top choice is Autopom which is also known as Automotive Peace of Mind. The service is based in California which means that they offer premier services for the residents of this state unlike other services which always have exceptions for them. The service has more than 20 contracts available which are offered by companies such as Royal, Integrity, Omega, and more which ensures that many users can find plans that are more suited for their needs. Their plans are divided into the tiers of Exclusionary, High-Level, Mid-level, and Powertrain Plus.
They offer a lot of benefits that make them a good choice for customers. First, they have a 30-day money back guarantee that is very easy to pursue in case you are not satisfied with their service. Next, they have 24/7 available roadside assistance. They also offer additional help for your tire for some of their plans. The company also reimburses users who will have their trips interrupted from a place far away from home by paying for their accommodation. They can also be paid for the need to have a rental car while theirs are being repaired. Users are also free to choose the exact repair shop for this. The service also offers competitive payment plans and coverage that makes them a very good choice.
Toco Warranty greatly differs from Autopom as it has only three choices to pick from namely the Blue, Yellow, and Orange plan, with the first being the simplest one. They offer coverages for vehicles whose mileage range from 0 to 175,000 miles and made from 2001 to the latest ones. The unique aspect of Toco Warranty is that they offer protection for electronics, modern parts, and technologies of the car which ensures that the most expensive parts of the car will be reimbursed. This is only available for the Yellow and Orange plan, though. They also have a separate plan for California-based users named the Mechanical Breakdown Insurance or MBI.
Next, the company does not require any down payment upon registration which removes the initial headache that most users encounter when signing to an extended auto warranty company. Next, they have some of the most affordable monthly payments that are very generous. They are also willing to extend the plan. With them, users can have their cars repaired in any certified shop nationwide.
AA Auto Warranty also has a lot of options given to its users. The company’s most basic plan is the Premium Powertrain while their most expensive one is the American Auto Shield Diamond. They can extend the plans to 6 years and up to 100,000 miles which makes it usable for a long time. The service can be automatically activated upon signing up. They can also extend the contract up to two years which is very flexible compared to other companies. The monthly payments are also very affordable.
Next, the company can reimburse you for up to $30 per day which is one of the highest offered among other companies. However, this lasts for only 5 days.
Endurance is one of the well-known companies. Their limit for accepted vehicles is up to 160,000 miles which means that a lot of owners can subscribe to their company. Next, their contracts can cover users up to Canada. Their plans are limited to three like Toco which includes Secure, Superior, and Supreme. Before starting their plan, users are required to have a test period of 30 days and a thousand miles.
Warranty Direct can extend your warranty contract up to five years or 100,000 miles which is a standard for most companies. They allow payment to be extended up to a year and a half which makes it good for long-term coverage. Next, they offer one of the longest money back guarantees with 60 days in total which means that receiving your money back is easier.
CARCHEX is another recognizable name in the industry. With them, users can be covered for up to 7 years or 150,000 miles which is one of the longest among other brands. They also allow payment to be extended up to 2 years using affordable rates. They also have a 30-day money back guarantee that is easy to pursue. Their plans include the Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The only downside to the company is that their deductible is $200 which is more expensive than the industry standard of $100.
USAA is a company that mainly caters towards military members and their immediate family members. Because of this, they tend to give features that are geared towards them such as free oil changes and tire maintenance for those who will be deployed to a military service far from home.
The service offers up to two choices which depend upon the coverage that you want.
ASAP offers one of the longest payment periods, reaching up to 36 months. They also offer up to 160,000 miles or six years of coverage which is also among the longest in terms of contract coverage. They give coverage to the United States and Canada. Their plans include the Total Shield, Total Care, and Total Performance.
EasyCare has one of the most limiting plans, not allowing those that go beyond 24,000 miles or two years which may be because of having less risk of having a mechanical breakdown. Their plans include the Primary, Power, Total, and Stated packages. With them, users only need to submit a $100 deductible.
They offer a total of three plans namely the Driveline, Select, and Supreme plan. With them, users can pay for a total of 36 or 42 months which makes it very comfortable to pay.
