By: Cristina | Last updated January 14, 2020 
Car breakdowns are a nightmare for us all and we all strive to protect our vehicles and wallets from such financial ordeals. While your manufacturer’s warranty may offer you some peace of mind, there are a lot of scenarios in which it may not be enough.
Why should you purchase an extended car warranty service?
When you buy a new car, depending on the car brand, the included warranty may only cover the first 3 years (36,000 miles). If you don’t plan on throwing the car away or sell it after that period and you want to enjoy it for as long as possible (10 years or more), an extended car warranty is a really good idea.
The standard car warranty included when you buy a new vehicle only covers you for the basic parts, such as the engine, transmission, etc. But more often than not, our car problems don’t necessarily fit into those limits. As technology advances and cars are more and more complex, there are also more things that can go wrong and all of them cost money. Extended car warranties usually cover additional parts that are not included in your standard warranty.
Extended car warranty services can offer you peace of mind as they can save you from having to pay a lot of money for general road assistance, towing, maybe even a rental car, money for a hotel and other costs involved with car issues. Most people don’t keep a fund for ‘car emergencies and repairs’ and car problems usually catch them unprepared.
And if extended car warranties make sense for new car owners, they are all the more beneficial to those who own/buy used cars, with a lot of mileage on them, such as 100,000 miles or more. Used cars are more prone to breakdowns, which is why you should be prepared and take additional measures. One of our favorite providers is AuotPom , which stands for Auto Peace Of Mind.
Things to consider when choosing an extended car warranty service
Extended car warranties can be purchased either from the dealership or via a third-app party. You can buy them when you buy the car, or after a few years, before your manufacturer’s warranty expires. There is also the option to buy them after it expires, but you will pay more money then.
One of the things you should pay attention to is the length of the service. Some companies offer as much as 10 years of extended coverage. Have in mind though, that the longer the coverage period, the more expensive the package will be.
It is also important to make sure the service covers your state. The most reputable companies usually cover the entire US and maybe even areas from Canada or even Mexico. Never hurts to double-check though.
What is included in the warranty? This is another aspect to consider. Roadside assistance is pretty important. You should also find out whether the car repair is fully covered or you have to pay yourself and get reimbursed later. Tire damage, oil changes, replacing brake pads, are other things to consider. Most extended car warranty services offer several plans to choose from. The higher the cost, the better the coverage.
It is also important to find out whether the company allows you to go to any service or there are restrictions in that sense.
When it comes to cost, compare prices and choose the company with the best payment options.
Read more on what to look for when choosing an extended car warranty service.
Top 5 best extended car warranty services you can find
Endurance. It is one of the most popular extended car warranty services on the market. The service is available for car owners with cars that haven’t passed the 160,000-mile threshold, for which the company will provide up to 5 years of extended coverage.
Endurance has 3 available plans (Secure, Superior, Supreme) and their services cover the entire US and Canada. The most basic plan is Secure and it covers the most expensive parts such as the engine, the drive axle, the transmission, turbo and super chargers, the transfer unit and seals and gaskets. The most expensive plan, the Supreme, pretty much covers everything your original car warranty did.
Endurance has a great customer service and lets you use any service you want.
AA Auto Protection. It has more than 20 plans you can choose from, it has nation-wide coverage and the possibility to spread out the payment over 2 years. The service doesn’t cover Canada or Mexico, as some of its competitors, nor does it cover cars that have more than 100,000 miles, but the wide selection of plans available and the attractive down payment, place it in our top 5 extended car warranty services.
Carchex. Another reputable brand which is more than 20 years old, Carchex offers great payment options and 5 plans. You can extend your original warranty for up to seven7 years and 150,000 miles and the service covers the entire US. You can spread out the payment over 2 years and their most basic plan (Bronze) will cover the most essential parts of your car like the engine, transmission and drive axle. The most expensive plan is Titanium and will cover all of your car’s components fully for up to 7 years.
Autopom. This service covers the entire US and Canada and offers 5 plans. It can extend your original warranty up to 5 years and covers old cars (up to 20 years) with up to 225,000 miles, which is the highest mileage we’ve encountered so far. Autopom is affordable and offers great customer support.
Delta Auto. Another great service that covers both the US and Canada. Delta Auto has only 3 plans to choose from, but they all include free towing, locksmith on-call and fuel assistance. Their most expensive plan (Diamond Premier) covers your ABS, seals and gaskets, super turbo charger, Hi-Tech, GPS navigation and more.
The company also offers a high reimbursement for rentals while your car is in the shop. This service covers cars with up to 140,000 miles. It also has one of the lowest deductible fees and offers 24/7 support.
