Extended Car Warranty Cost
Extended car warranty costs range from $1,000 to $4,000, averaging around $2,500. Specific prices vary by location, vehicle, and several other factors.
With our #1 rated provider, 
Extended car warranty costs range from $1,000 to $4,000, averaging around $2,500. Specific prices vary by location, vehicle, and several other factors.
If you’re interested in protecting your vehicle long-term, you may be interested in an extended car warranty. But how much does an extended car warranty cost, and is it worth the investment?
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.
In this article, we’ll help you decide on the best extended warranty for your vehicle by reviewing average extended car warranty costs from industry-leading providers. We’ll also give tips on how to find cheaper coverage.
As costs can vary by location, vehicle make and model, and more, we recommend getting personalized quotes from several companies and weighing all of your options before signing any contracts. Compare multiple free quotes to find the best price and coverage for your situation.
What’s The Average Extended Car Warranty Cost?
Based on our research, the average extended car warranty cost is about $2,550, though it can range from $1,000 to $4,500 or more depending on the plan. Instead of having set rates, manufacturers and third-party providers use factors such as your vehicle, the level of coverage you choose, and your deductible to determine your extended car warranty cost.
Bumper-to-Bumper Extended Car Warranty Cost Comparison
Drivers looking for the same kind of comprehensive coverage offered by their factory warranty should look into an extended bumper-to-bumper warranty. This type of plan is similar to an original warranty and covers any mechanical breakdown except for a list of exclusions.
We reached out to four of the top reputable extended car warranty companies for quotes for a 2017 Honda CR-V with 45,000 miles and received the following prices. Each bumper-to-bumper plan came with a $100 deductible.
| Warranty Company | Bumper-to-Bumper Plan | Monthly Extended Car Warranty Cost | Down Payment | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endurance | Supreme for 5 years/100,000 miles | $86.00 for 36 months | $186 | $3,096.00 |
| CARCHEX* | Titanium for 6 years/125,000 miles | $105.00 for 24 months | First month’s payment | $2,520.00 |
| CarShield | Diamond with an unlimited term | $99.99 monthly | First month’s payment | Varies |
| Autopom! | Exclusionary for 5 years/75,000 miles | $174.11 for 18 months | $295 | $2,782.56 |
*CARCHEX Titanium plan is its highest level of coverage and is similar to a bumper-to-bumper plan
As you can see, most providers offer similar monthly payments of around $100 or below while CARCHEX provided the most affordable overall price. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that each of these coverage plans comes with a different term length that has both a year and mileage cap.
Powertrain Extended Car Warranty Cost Comparison
If you’re just looking to protect the most essential components of your vehicle, you might consider a powertrain warranty, which covers the engine, transmission, and drivetrain. We reached out to the same providers above for quotes for the same vehicle and received the following prices. Each powertrain plan came with a $100 deductible.
| Warranty Company | Powertrain Plan | Monthly Extended Car Warranty Cost | Down Payment | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endurance | Secure for 5 years/54,000 miles | $72.65 for 36 months | $138 | $2,615.40 |
| CARCHEX | Silver for 5 years/100,000 miles | $110.00 for 24 months | First month’s payment | $2,640.00 |
| CarShield | Silver with an unlimited term | $89.99 monthly | First month’s payment | Varies |
| Autopom! | Powertrain Plus for 4 years/48,000 miles | $183.72 for 18 months | $289 | $2,666.64 |
Of the five providers listed above, Endurance offered the lowest overall extended car warranty cost. The company offers financing terms so you can space out your payments over several years if that’s how you would like to pay.
The unlimited plan from CarShield may be cheaper than CARCHEX on a monthly basis, but because there is no specified time at which your monthly payments would stop, if you have the plan for a few years, you could actually end up paying much more in the long run. With Endurance and CARCHEX, your plan is paid off within 24 to 30 months. This is just one aspect to consider when determining which extended warranty is right for your lifestyle and budget.
What Factors Affect Extended Auto Warranty Cost?
Your vehicle’s make, model, age, and mileage will all affect the cost of an extended car warranty. Your price will also increase or decrease depending on the provider and level of extended warranty coverage you choose, as well as your deductible. In general, a higher deductible means lower monthly payments, and vice versa. If your vehicle is covered under its original new car warranty at the time of purchase, the contract will also be less expensive.
What To Consider When Shopping For Coverage
Comparing extended car warranty costs can be confusing, especially when one provider offers you coverage for three years and another offers coverage for six years. Here are the most important numbers to consider:
- Total price
- Monthly payment
- Down payment
- Deductible
- Cost per year of coverage
Total Price And Monthly Payment
Comparing the total price of an extended warranty from one provider to the next is easy, but what will your monthly payment be? A $2,400 plan could be paid at $150 over 16 months or $100 over 24 months. So is it more important to you to pay off your warranty sooner or have a lower monthly payment?
Down Payment
A down payment is an amount you will pay upfront when you start your plan. Down payments are often negotiable and may be waived. If you call in for a quote, you may be offered a discount if you are a first-time caller, are purchasing multiple warranties, or even if you mention that you’re comparing extended car warranty costs between multiple companies. However, there is no guarantee.
Deductible
Every extended warranty plan comes with a deductible. This is the amount you will pay when you use your warranty for a covered car repair. If your repair costs $800 and your deductible is $100, your warranty company will pay $700 to the auto repair shop and you will pay $100.
Cost Per Year Of Coverage
Another consideration when comparing extended car warranty costs is the cost per year of coverage. Just because you see a lower total price doesn’t mean that you have found the best auto warranty. Here’s a closer look at the cost per year of coverage for the bumper-to-bumper warranty quotes we mentioned above.
| Warranty Company | Cost Per Year of Bumper-to-Bumper Coverage |
|---|---|
| Endurance | $619.20 |
| CARCHEX | $420.00 |
| CarShield | Varies |
| Protect My Car | Varies |
| Autopom! | $556.51 |
CARCHEX had the lowest extended car warranty cost for the Honda CR-V in terms of total price. When we divided the total price by the number of years you’d be covered, we found that CARCHEX still offered the most affordable rate.
Now, let’s take a look at the powertrain plans.
| Warranty Company | Cost Per Year of Powertrain Coverage |
|---|---|
| Endurance | $523.08 |
| CARCHEX | $528.00 |
| CarShield | Varies |
| Protect My Car | Varies |
| Autopom! | $666.66 |
When we looked at powertrain warranty costs, Endurance had the lowest price overall, and it provided the lowest cost per year, as well. CARCHEX also offers low costs per year.
Keep in mind that every warranty plan comes with a specified time and mileage term, so if you hit your mileage limit first, it won’t matter what you paid per year of coverage.
Cheapest Extended Car Warranty Cost: Conclusion
Because pricing is affected by so many different factors, the cheapest vehicle protection plan for your neighbor might not be the same for you. We recommend reaching out to several providers and getting multiple quotes for extended warranties for different levels of coverage. Also, know that an extended warranty from the dealership is usually more expensive than a third-party option.
In our CarShield review, we found that the popular provider offers the Best Value in the industry. CarShield has been in business for over 15 years and offers coverage for vehicles with up to 300,000 miles on the odometer. The company’s six coverage tiers include a plan specifically for high-tech vehicles.
We also recommend looking into Endurance and CARCHEX. These providers both scored highly in our industry-wide review thanks to their comprehensive coverage and benefits, competitive costs, and exceptional customer service. Learn more in our full Endurance warranty review and CARCHEX review.
Use the buttons below to start getting free, personalized quotes from our top recommended providers.
In addition, we recommend that you read online sample contracts for each provider you are considering. The value of a provider’s extended car warranty depends not only on cost, but also on the quality of coverage and exclusions.