Updated: January 25, 2023
Specializing in coverage when your manufacturer warranties have expired, Endurance Car Warranty LLC has been called “the most customer-driven company in the industry” in the 2018 Inc. 5000. The company’s coverage options, reliability and excellent customer service make it a standout among extended warranty providers.
Editorial Breakdown
Coverage
Customer Service
Price
Ease of Purchase
Overall Rating
Bottom Line
Endurance offers four types of car warranty plans: Select Premier, Secure, Superior and Supreme. All plans include 24-hour roadside assistance and rental car benefits.
The Northbrook, Illinois-based Endurance car warranty started in 2006 and has built a reliable name for itself with a variety of coverage and service options, and a reputation for customer service and reliability. Endurance is uniquely positioned among competitors with two of the most recognized third-party accreditations in the industry: gold certification from the Vehicle Protection Association and Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation with an A+ rating.
Endurance manages contracts and administers its claims without using another company to service their contracts as some competitors do. It guides you through every step of the coverage and claims process, lending the company a strong reputation for customer service. The company offers multiple, easy-to-understand coverage options for consumers with different needs and budgets, and includes sample contracts on its website so consumers can see the exact terms before they buy. If you sign up and change your mind, Endurance allows you to cancel your policy within 30 days and get a full refund.
Endurance gets high marks for service during the claims process. The company works exclusively with service providers recognized by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and offers roadside assistance and rental car coverage with all contracts.
Read more about how car warranties work on our car warranties guide.
Pros
Cons
Endurance offers a range of coverage to meet the needs of new and pre-owned vehicle owners with various levels of protection. The type of plan you need depends on the make, model and year of your vehicle, how you drive and, of course, your budget. All plans include 24-hour roadside assistance and rental car benefits, and all are accepted at auto dealerships as well as at more than 350,000 certified mechanic shops in the U.S. and Canada.
Plan* | Covered | Not Covered |
---|---|---|
Select Premier (High Mileage) | – Air conditioning – Cooling system – Drive axle assembly – Electronics – Engine – Fuel system – Transfer unit – Transmission – Turbocharger | – Brakes – Front and rear suspension |
Secure (Economical) | – Drive axle assembly – Engine – Transfer unit – Transmission – Turbocharger | – Air conditioning – Brakes – Cooling system – Electronics – Suspension – Fuel system |
Superior (Complete Coverage) | – Air conditioning – Brakes – Cooling system – Drive axle assembly – Electronics – Engine – Suspension – Fuel system – Transfer unit – Transmission – Turbocharger | – Any part not listed under covered plus other components like safety restraints, light bulbs, glass and other specified parts in the contract |
Supreme (Max Protection, Bumper to Bumper) | – Air conditioning – Brakes – Cooling system – Drive axle assembly – Electronics – Engine – Suspension – Fuel system – Transfer unit – Transmission – Turbocharger – Exclusionary coverage | N/A |
*All plans cover seals and gaskets only when these are part of a larger repair.
Many factors go into determining the cost of an extended car warranty, such as the make, model, condition and age of the car, the length of the contract, your driving habits and the deductible. It is impossible to find specific price information due to all these variables, but Endurance says its plans cost on average anywhere from $350 to $700 per year. For specifics, you can get a free, no-obligation quote online or by phone from an Endurance representative.
Great Coverage
Endurance Auto Warranty
According to the Federal Trade Commission, upfront costs for extended warranties can range from $1,000 to several thousand dollars, not including a deductible. The government agency recommends consumers find out in advance whether deductibles are charged per visit or per repair. You also need to determine whether there are limitations on how much the company will pay for towing and rental car expenses.
When selecting an extended car warranty, it’s important to make sure the company backing the warranty is trustworthy. One good source to investigate is the Better Business Bureau. The BBB has noted a pattern of complaints about customer confusion in regards to what is covered under their warranty.
Positive reviews highlight the personal connection, praising individual service people who “answered every question I had,” “treated me like an individual,” “went above and beyond” and “put good customer service first.”
Negative reviews tend to revolve around customers waiting a long wait time on hold when calling Endurance, regional coverage issues or a policy cancellation that did not go through. There are also concerns about confusing or misleading advertising that make it seem the warranty provider is related to the manufacturer or dealer. These tactics are common among warranty providers, and Endurance includes regulated disclosures in its advertising. Among customers who understand what they are signing up for, Endurance seems to be highly considered.
If you plan to own your car well after the manufacturer’s warranty expires, an extended warranty can be a good investment. The warranty contract can cover costly repairs and help keep your vehicle on the road. Some extended warranties are transferable if you sell your car, which can increase the vehicle’s value.
The earlier, the better. An extended warranty doesn’t become effective until after the manufacturer’s warranty expires, but you’ll pay a lot less for it when your car is newer. When you buy early, you are covering your vehicle for life with no risk of interruption.
Dealership extended warranties may offer limited coverage and pricing options, but you can shop around among direct providers to find a policy that suits you. Be aware that not all third-party warranty providers are alike. Some warranty companies are brokers who sell service contracts for other extended warranty providers, and others manage their own warranty contracts and claims.
With an Endurance car warranty, there is a toll-free number to call to get help with a roadside emergency. The company dispatches roadside assistance and will either repair the problem or deliver the vehicle to a local, reputable mechanic. If your Endurance car warranty covers the repairs, the company pays the claim up front, so you have no out of pocket costs.
To transfer an extended warranty with the sale of the vehicle, you will need to deal with some additional paperwork. You must fill out a warranty transfer form, provide information on the vehicle’s history along with regular maintenance and service records, get an inspection report and present the receipt of the sale. You may have to pay a transfer fee — and there is a limited time to do it. Not all extended warranties are transferable, however, and warranties may become non-transferrable under certain conditions, including lack of regular maintenance on the vehicle, so be sure to understand the terms and conditions of your warranty before you buy.
Not all providers allow you to cancel an extended warranty, but Endurance gives you 30 days to decide if the policy is right for you. If you change your mind within the first 30 days of signing up for coverage, you get a full refund.
Endurance is easy to work with, backed by solid financials and a strong reputation for paying claims. If you buy a transferable warranty, save all service-related paperwork and receipts because you will need these records to complete the transfer when you sell the vehicle.
If you’re in the market for an extended warranty, the Federal Trade Commission has some great advice to help you get started, which will likely point you in the direction of Endurance. The company has become an industry leader by making the warranty repair process easy for customers. For the most part, consumers seem to be happy working with Endurance.
Great Coverage
Endurance Auto Warranty