Reviews and Cost-Saving Guide (2024)

Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.

Cheapest Car Warranty

When conducting our industry-wide review of the cheapest car warranty companies, we researched the costs and plan offerings in detail — through surveys, secret shopping and more. Overall, we determined that an extended car warranty could be found for as low as $66 per month.

Best Car Extended Warranty Prices

Below, you can see five reliable warranty companies that scored highest in our review for the cost category specifically. We ordered these providers by the cheapest monthly rate from sample quotes we received. You can also see the cheapest plan and lowest deductible by company.

Cheapest Car Warranty Companies

Our warranty experts conducted an industry-wide review of the cheapest car warranty companies on the market. Here’s what we found.

Cheap Extended Car Warranty Buyer’s Guide

Since buying an extended warranty plan is a significant financial decision, it’s no surprise that cost is an essential factor that customers consider when choosing a car warranty company. In fact, in our most recent 2024 survey 25% of the 1,000 participants said cost was the most important factor when choosing a warranty provider. With that in mind, it’s important to know that the cheapest car warranty isn’t always the best decision.

When shopping for a car warranty, it’s smart to carefully evaluate your needs to avoid being stuck with unnecessary coverage or a low-quality provider. Our team put together the following sections as a shopping guide to help you make an informed decision.

How Can I Find a Cheap Car Warranty?

There are a few things you can do when looking for an affordable vehicle protection plan. Here are some tips we recommend:

• Compare multiple quotes: Most car warranty providers have ways that you can easily get free quotes, either through a calculator tool on the website or by contacting a representative. Comparing quotes from several different companies will help you get a good sense of what it may cost to cover your vehicle and which tier of coverage is best for your needs.
• Purchase your warranty from a reputable provider: Dealerships often inflate the prices of their coverage plans to make a higher commission. Buying directly from a third-party provider may save you money.
• Ask about discount opportunities: Most extended warranty providers offer discounts, so even if you don’t see any listed on a provider’s website, it’s always good to ask.
• Carefully read the contract: Some providers hide complicated deductible policies or extra fees deep in the fine print of your vehicle warranty contract. Make sure you thoroughly read the contract to avoid any surprises.
• Bargain: Don’t be afraid to bargain with your car coverage provider for a better price. Remember, car warranty prices are not set in stone, so there’s likely more flexibility in the price than you think.
• Purchase it soon: Older cars with higher mileage are more costly to cover, so the sooner you purchase coverage, the less you’re likely to pay.

Are Extended Car Warranties Expensive?

Our research shows that the average extended car warranty costs around $138 monthly. In our 2024 survey 35% of 600 respondents reported paying between $50 and $75 per month, this is what the rest said:

• 21% paid less than $50 per month
• 21% paid between $75 and $100 per month
• 12% paid between $100 and $125 per month
• 5% paid between $125 and $150 per month
• 5% paid more than $150 per month

However, car coverage prices can vary by thousands of dollars depending on your vehicle and chosen plan. We found that the total cost of an extended service plan tends to range from $1,500 to $4,000 in total.

Affordable Car Warranty Cost Factors

The reason for such a wide range in the cost of the best extended car warranty plans is that prices are based on several different factors. These include:

• Coverage level: The more comprehensive a coverage plan is, the more it will likely cost. Bumper-to-bumper extended warranty plans tend to be the most expensive, while powertrain warranties are usually the cheapest.
• Vehicle make and model: Cars that are more expensive to repair or more likely to need repairs typically cost more to cover. For example, pricier vehicles like luxury or classic cars are generally more expensive to cover under warranty.
• Vehicle age: Older vehicles and used vehicles are more prone to mechanical breakdowns than new cars. As a result, warranty plans tend to be more expensive for older models.
• Mileage: Cars are also more likely to break down when they have more miles on the odometer, leading to pricier coverage for high-mileage vehicles.
• Deductible: Most of the best extended car warranty plan providers allow you to set your own deductible. A lower deductible means less to pay out of pocket for repairs, but it also leads to higher total costs for your coverage plan.
• Provider: Prices often vary between warranty companies, even for similar types of coverage on the same vehicle.
• Location: The cost of auto protection varies by where you live. Each state has different regulations and risk factors so the cost to cover your car will depend on those.

An easy way to think about car warranty costs is that the older or more expensive your car is, the more expensive warranty coverage is likely to be.

Cheap Value Car Warranty: What To Look For

At face value, it can appear as if many extended coverage plans and providers offer basically the same thing. However, differences in the details of contracts can have a significant impact on whether an extended car warranty plan is useful to you. Always read the entire contract before signing anything, as many important details can be buried deep in the fine print.

There are a few key points worth paying attention to when comparing warranty plans. These include:

• Transferability: Many extended warranty plans follow the car if it gets sold to another person, a small fee may apply. This can add value to a vehicle and make it more attractive to buyers.
• Cancellation policy: Some providers make it easier and cheaper to cancel a coverage plan than others. The best offer is a 30-day money-back guarantee or a similar policy. There’s always a chance you could change your mind about the warranty purchase, so be sure to consider the difficulty and cost of canceling a contract.
• Company reputation: An extended warranty plan is only as good as the company that services it. Reading customer reviews and looking for A+ ratings on sites like the BBB can protect you from scams and give you an idea of the customer experience.
• Claims servicing: The best extended warranty providers will deal directly with your repair facility rather than asking you to handle communication and billing.
• Waiting period: Most extended warranty contracts come with a waiting period when you won’t be able to use your coverage. This period is typically 30 days and often includes a mileage limit, but this varies between providers.

Are Cheap Car Warranties Worth It?

Before you start shopping, it’s worth considering whether or not you actually need to buy coverage. Ask yourself the following questions before looking for extended warranty plans:

• Do I already have warranty coverage? You won’t need extended auto coverage yet if your vehicle is already covered. Newer cars may still be under their factory warranties and certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles often come with coverage as well. If the previous owner of your vehicle had a third-party warranty with remaining coverage, expect that it likely transferred over to you.
• Can I afford car repairs that come up? Even the best extended car warranty plan may be unnecessary if you have plenty of cash on hand to cover the cost of vehicle repairs. However, understand that repairs to major components and systems can easily reach thousands of dollars.
• Does my car need coverage? The more reliable your car is, the less likely you’ll use any coverage that’s purchased. Look up your car’s reliability rating online to get an idea of how probable it is that you’ll need mechanical repairs performed in the near future.

Cheap Car Warranty: The Bottom Line

With an extended auto warranty, you can have peace of mind knowing that you won’t have to shoulder expensive car repairs. Depending on what car you have and the plan you choose, however, you may be concerned about spending more than you can afford on auto protection.

When looking for a cheap car warranty, we recommend comparing quotes from autopom!, Endurance, American Dream Auto Protect, Carchex and Concord Auto Protect. Comparing quotes will help you find the best coverage at the lowest price.

Cheap Car Warranties: FAQ

Below are commonly asked questions about cheap car warranties.

Our Methodology

Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best extended car warranty companies. We collected data on dozens of auto warranty providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the companies that scored the most points topping the list.

Here are the factors our ratings take into account:

• Coverage (30% of total score): Companies that offer a variety of choices for warranty coverage, long contract terms and added benefits are more likely to meet consumer needs.
• Cost (30% of total score): Auto warranty companies with affordable rates and multiple deductibles score highest in this category.
• Transparency (20% of total score): This score is based on contract transparency and the availability of a money-back guarantee.
• Reputation (10% of total score): Our research team considers availability, ratings from industry experts and years in business when conferring this score.
• Customer Experience (10% of total score): Based on customer satisfaction ratings and our extensive shopper analysis, we consider the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each warranty company’s customer service team.

Our credentials:

• 500+ hours researched
• 40+ companies reviewed
• 2,000+ consumers surveyed

*Data accurate at time of publication.