Car warranty comparison guide
Start by checking whether a plan covers the repairs that concern you. Then compare its full price, deductible and claims rules with other plans available for your car.
Need a starting point?
Our recommendations for used cars, high mileage, luxury vehicles and more.
Find your starting point →Plan costsMonthly payments, the full premium, deductibles and costs that stay with you.
Understand the price →Cost calculatorCompare an average-based repair budget with coverage over your chosen years.
Run your comparison →Comparing on Chaiz
You'll see eligible quotes and buy coverage on Chaiz. Our site helps you understand repair costs and compare the offer; we don't issue quotes or approve coverage.
Have the year, make, model, mileage and state ready. Chaiz says viewing quotes does not require your phone number or email. Checkout requires additional information.
Use the same car details for every quote. Compare the total price, deductible, term, mileage limit and exclusions.
The provider or administrator named in the contract handles claims. Check authorization rules and waiting periods before buying; an existing problem is generally excluded.
Process sources: Chaiz: how it works and Chaiz FAQ, reviewed September 3, 2026. Current plan documents take priority. No example price here is a live quote.
The comparison in one minute
A service contract helps pay for certain breakdowns; prepaid maintenance pays for scheduled work. Both may be offered at the dealership, so check which product you're comparing before looking at prices.
Check how much factory coverage remains. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warns that optional coverage can overlap with protection already on the vehicle. Compare what the new plan adds.
Rule out unsuitable coverage before sorting by price. If transmission repairs are your main concern, confirm that the plan covers the transmission and the relevant causes of failure. A cheaper plan that excludes them won't help with that repair.
Four ways to handle the risk
You can choose a manufacturer-backed plan, look at independent providers or save for repairs yourself. The right starting point depends on your car's eligibility and how you'd handle a large bill.
Ford Protect, Toyota Extra Care and GM Protection Plans
A provider that sells coverage and administers claims
Independent programs sold online or through a dealer
Savings kept for future mechanical bills
Current marketplace examples
Provider details reviewed September 5, 2026. Eligibility and plan terms can change.
| Provider | Who it may suit | What stands out | What to verify | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EnduranceRead full reviewChaiz source | Owners of older or higher-mileage cars who want the provider to handle claims too. Endurance says it generally considers vehicles up to 20 model years old and offers high-mileage options. Mileage eligibility varies by plan and vehicle. Check the quote and declarations page, which lists your selected coverage. | It's easier to identify who will handle your claim when the provider also administers the plan. | Ask for the exact coverage form, obligor and state amendment attached to the quote. | Compare on Chaiz |
| Omega Auto CareRead full reviewChaiz source | Drivers of high-mileage cars looking mainly for powertrain coverage. Omega's official coverage page says New Exclusionary is for the current model year plus seven and under 100,000 miles; Used Stated reaches the current year plus ten and under 150,000 miles; Powertrain Protection reaches the current year plus fifteen and under 250,000 miles. | Its powertrain mileage limit gives some older, high-mileage cars another option. | Confirm the mileage limit for the exact tier and whether it means additional covered miles or the odometer reading when coverage ends. | Compare on Chaiz |
| Express Service ProtectionRead full reviewChaiz source | Shoppers comparing lower-cost powertrain-plus or named-component plans. Express says Exclusionary generally requires a vehicle no more than 10 years old and under 60,000 miles, while Enhanced Powertrain reaches vehicles up to 20 years old and under 150,000 miles at sale. Other tiers have their own limits and may add covered miles. | Its lowest published monthly example is below the starting examples for the other priced providers here. | Match the exact age, odometer and additional-mile limits to the quoted tier; those are three different measurements. | Compare on Chaiz |
| ServiceContract.comRead full reviewChaiz source | Drivers who need coverage for rideshare, commercial use, a branded title or certain modifications. ServiceContract.com's page for businesses advertises vehicle service contract programs ranging from 36 to 120 months and 45,000 to 150,000 miles. These ranges describe its programs; they do not establish which terms a particular shopper or vehicle can qualify for. | Chaiz lists four levels, from basic protection to broader coverage. | Require the consumer sample agreement and identify the seller, administrator, obligor and insurer before paying. | Compare on Chaiz |
These providers appeared on Chaiz when we reviewed them. They're examples to compare, not a best-to-worst ranking. Each can offer different plans, and availability varies by state and vehicle. Use the actual quote and sample agreement to check your options.
Cost and break even
The FTC says service contracts can cost several hundred dollars to several thousand. Add up all payments to see how much the plan would need to pay in eligible claims to recover its cost.
Thirty-six payments cost $2,700. Add one $100 deductible, and the first covered repair would need to cost $2,800 to break even.
The plan costs $3,960 over three years. Add one $100 deductible before comparing that total with a covered repair bill.
The same term costs $5,040 before a claim. Broader coverage may be worth the higher price, but exclusions still determine what the plan pays.
Our current benchmarks place head gasket replacement around $2,543 - $3,337 nationally, while a modeled transmission replacement can cost much more. One covered failure may be enough to break even on a lower-priced plan. A smaller repair or denied claim will not.
Continue comparison on ChaizWhich cars fit the product?
A plan may be worth considering if a covered breakdown would put real pressure on your budget. Age alone isn't enough reason to buy: the plan still needs coverage for the repairs you need, adequate payout limits and a full price you can justify.
Stronger case to compare
Weaker case to buy
Vehicle-specific quotes
What to look for in the contract
Find each term below in the sample agreement and write down the answer for every plan you compare. Ask the provider to explain anything you can't find or don't understand.
| Clause | Question to answer | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Covered parts | Is this exclusionary coverage, or does it pay only for named components? | A sales summary without a sample agreement. |
| Cause of failure | Can an uncovered seal, leak or worn part defeat a claim for a covered assembly? | Consequential-damage terms that exclude otherwise covered major repairs. |
| Waiting period | When do time and mileage requirements both finish? | Coverage represented as immediate when the contract says otherwise. |
| Maintenance | Which records must you produce, and does the schedule follow the manufacturer? | A vague right to demand records that is broader than the vehicle's own schedule. |
| Claim authorization | Must the shop call before diagnosis, teardown or repair? | You can lose coverage by approving work before the administrator does. |
| Labor and parts | Is the shop's labor rate capped, and may remanufactured parts be used? | A low labor allowance that shifts part of every invoice back to you. |
| Payout limit | Is there a cap per repair, per term or based on the car's value? | A long coverage list with a low total payout limit. |
| Deductible | Is it charged per visit, repair or covered component? | Two failed components creating two deductibles during one shop visit. |
| Cancellation | How is the refund calculated after the initial review period? | Fees or claim deductions that make the advertised refund less useful. |
| Transfer and use | Does the plan follow a new owner, rideshare work or commercial use? | A business-use exclusion that applies to how you normally use the car. |
Common questions
Start with a plan that covers the expensive parts on your car and works with a shop you'd use. Then compare its full price, deductible and payout limits with other eligible plans. There isn't one best company for every driver.
The FTC says service contracts can range from several hundred dollars to several thousand. Vehicle age, mileage, coverage level and deductible change the quote, so compare total cost rather than the monthly payment.
Many third-party plans accept vehicles after factory coverage ends, subject to age and mileage rules. Manufacturer-backed programs may impose earlier purchase windows, so check eligibility before the deadline.
Vehicle service contracts generally exclude problems that existed before coverage began. Waiting periods and inspection rules help administrators distinguish a future breakdown from an existing fault.
Financing spreads the payment but adds interest for the life of the loan. Compare the financed total with a separate plan price, then include likely deductibles in both figures.
Sources and limits
Provider details are a dated snapshot of published marketplace material. Current contracts, quotes and state forms take priority when they differ from this guide.
Compare quotes
If a major breakdown would strain your budget, compare eligible plans for your car on Chaiz. Choose one only if the coverage, full price and claims rules make sense together. If your main concerns are excluded or you can comfortably fund repairs yourself, keeping your money in a repair fund is also a sound option.
Continue comparison on Chaiz Third-party marketplace. We may receive compensation if you purchase through this link. Chaiz does not offer plans in California.