Best Auto Warranty Company in 2026

Direct provider with broad coverage · Pricing starts at: $99 per month
Key takeaways
- Direct providers handle claims themselves, while brokers and marketplaces compare plans from several administrators.
- Coverage tiers range from powertrain-only to exclusionary plans that list what is not covered.
- Waiting periods, mileage caps and vehicle age limits decide whether a plan fits your car at all.
- Prices vary by car, age, mileage and coverage, and no invented rates are used in this guide.
Quick comparison
| Pick | Great for | Pricing starts at | Free tier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct provider with broad coverage | $99 per month | No | Visit | |
| Older and high-mileage vehicles | $99 per month | No | Visit | |
| Administrator behind many broker plans | See website | No | Visit | |
| Digital-first buying and claims | $95 per month | No | Visit | |
| Budget plans with simple tiers | See website | No | Visit | |
| Low monthly entry point | $69 per month | No | Visit | |
| Luxury and European cars | See website | No | Visit | |
| Comparing plans from several underwriters | $85 per month | No | Visit |
The best auto warranty companies
An auto warranty, usually called a vehicle service contract, pays for covered repairs after the factory warranty ends. Prices vary by car, age, mileage and coverage, and no company in this list can quote your exact price without your vehicle details, so treat monthly figures as starting points, not promises. Read the contract for what is covered, what is excluded, the deductible and the waiting period before you pay anything.

Endurance is a direct provider, which means it administers its own plans rather than selling someone else contract, and that direct model is a real advantage at claim time. It offers several coverage tiers, from powertrain to exclusionary, and it covers cars with higher mileage than many rivals. For buyers who want one company to deal with from quote to claim, Endurance is the usual first quote to get.
Plans were listed from $99 per month in recent comparisons, with annual costs varying widely by vehicle and coverage. The catch is price spread: a newer low-mileage car and an older high-mileage car can receive very different quotes, and a waiting period of 30 days and a set mileage applies before covered repairs are paid.
- Direct claims handling
- Plans for high-mileage cars
- Roadside and rental benefits on many plans
- Monthly cost rises with age and mileage
- Waiting period applies

CarShield is the high-mileage specialist in this list, with plans that cover vehicles other providers turn away, including cars with very high mileage and older model years. Month-to-month options give flexibility if you do not want a long contract, and the plan range covers powertrain through more complete coverage. If your car is old or has high mileage, CarShield is often the only practical quote.
Plans were listed from $99 per month in recent comparisons. The catch is structure: CarShield acts as a broker, so the administrator behind your plan matters, and you should confirm the administrator, deductible and covered parts in writing before signing, not just the CarShield brand name.
- Covers vehicles up to 300,000 miles in many plans
- Month-to-month options
- Wide plan range
- Broker model means the administrator varies
- Claim experience depends on the underlying plan

American Auto Shield is less a shop-front brand and more the administrator behind many plans sold by brokers, including some CarShield plans. That scale brings a broad repair network and experience across many vehicle types, and it matters because the administrator, not the sales brand, usually handles claims. If a broker quotes you a plan, ask who administers it, and American Auto Shield is a name you may see.
We list pricing as See website because American Auto Shield plans are largely sold through partners and priced by quote for your vehicle. The catch is transparency: buying through a broker can hide the administrator and the exact contract terms, so get the full contract and confirm deductible, coverage tier and claim process before you pay.
- Large administrator with broad repair network
- Plans sold through several brands
- Commercial and consumer plans
- You may buy it under another brand name
- Direct pricing is quote-based
Olive is the digital-first option for buyers who want to get a quote, buy and file claims online without a sales call. Its month-to-month plans suit owners who want flexibility, and its online process is clearer than the phone-heavy sales flow of many rivals. For a newer used car with moderate mileage, Olive is a refreshingly simple way to buy cover.
Plans were listed from about $95 per month in recent comparisons, with eligibility often limited to cars under ten years old and under a set mileage at signup. The catch is eligibility: if your car is older or has high mileage, Olive may not accept it at all, so check the age and mileage limits before you spend time on a quote.
- Fully online purchase with no phone call needed
- Month-to-month plans
- Clear digital claims process
- Vehicle age and mileage limits are tighter
- Not available for the oldest cars
Protect My Car offers straightforward plan tiers aimed at owners who want basic cover without a complex sales process. It suits older cars and budget buyers who need powertrain or stated-component cover rather than a top-tier exclusionary plan. If you want a simple quote for an older vehicle, it belongs on the comparison list alongside CarShield and Concord.
We list pricing as See website because Protect My Car pricing is quote-based and varies by vehicle, plan and state. The catch is detail: simple tiers can hide narrow coverage, so compare the covered parts list, deductible and waiting period against a more complete plan before choosing on monthly price alone.
- Simple plan tiers
- Useful for older cars
- Repair network across the US
- Pricing is quote-based
- Coverage details vary by plan and state
Concord Auto Protect stands out on entry price, with plans listed from $69 per month in recent comparisons, which makes it a tempting first quote for budget buyers. Flexible deductible options let you trade a higher deductible for a lower monthly payment, and its plans cover a range of vehicles. For an owner who needs some cover and cannot stretch to $99 or more per month, Concord is worth a quote.
The $69 per month figure is a starting point, not a guaranteed price for your car, and actual quotes vary by age, mileage and coverage. The catch is coverage breadth: a low monthly payment can mean a narrower plan, so read the covered parts, exclusions and claim limits before you sign, and compare the total cost over the full term, not just the first month.
- Low starting monthly price
- Flexible deductible options
- Plans for a range of vehicles
- Low price may mean narrower coverage
- Check the full contract carefully
Autopom, written as autopom, is known for covering luxury and European cars that some mainstream providers price very high or decline. If you drive a European make with expensive parts and labour, a specialist administrator can be the difference between a usable quote and no quote at all. Its plans cover a range of tiers, and its focus on higher-end vehicles shapes its repair network and claims handling.
We list pricing as See website because Autopom pricing is quote-based and varies sharply by make, model, age and mileage. The catch is cost: luxury cover is expensive even from a specialist, so get at least two quotes and compare the covered parts list for your specific model, especially for electronics and suspension, before committing.
- Experience with luxury and European makes
- Direct plan options
- Claims support focus
- Pricing is quote-based
- Luxury cover costs more than mainstream plans
CARCHEX is a marketplace rather than a single provider: one application can return quotes from several underwriters, which saves time and lets you compare coverage, deductible and price side by side. It covers high-mileage vehicles and offers a money-back period on many plans, and that comparison step is valuable in a market where contract terms vary so much. If you want to shop rather than take the first quote, start here.
Plans were listed from $85 per month in recent comparisons, with terms up to 250,000 miles on some plans. The catch is variation: each underwriter quote has its own contract, deductible and exclusions, so compare the actual contracts, not just the monthly figures, and confirm which underwriter stands behind the plan you choose.
- Quotes from several underwriters in one place
- High-mileage options
- Money-back period on many plans
- Marketplace model means terms vary by underwriter
- Compare each quote, not just the brand
How we picked these
We compared published plan information, consumer guides and recent warranty comparisons, and we kept only companies that are operating and that sell vehicle service contracts in the US. Monthly figures are starting points from recent comparisons, and your quote will vary by car, age, mileage, coverage tier, deductible and state. We did not buy a plan or file a claim for this guide, so claim and service notes reflect published terms and public reviews, not a personal claim test. Prices vary by car, age, mileage and coverage, and no invented rates are used here.
How to choose an auto warranty company
Start with eligibility, not price. Check vehicle age limits, mileage caps and waiting periods first, because a cheap plan that does not accept your car is useless. Note the waiting period in both days and miles, since a claim in that window will not be paid.
Compare contracts, not monthly payments. Read the covered parts list, exclusions, deductible per visit or per repair, claim limits and whether you can use any licensed shop or only a network shop. An exclusionary plan that lists only what is not covered is usually broader than a stated-component plan, but it also costs more.
Get at least three quotes and check the administrator. Ask who administers the plan, how claims are approved, and what happens if a repair shop disputes a claim. Avoid signing on a first sales call, and never buy cover for pre-existing faults, since those are excluded by every provider in this list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best auto warranty company for used cars?
Endurance and CARCHEX are strong starting points for used cars, with broad coverage tiers and high-mileage options. Olive suits newer used cars with moderate mileage, while CarShield suits older used cars that other providers may decline.
What is the best warranty company for used cars with high mileage?
CarShield is the best-known high-mileage option, with plans covering vehicles up to 300,000 miles in many cases. CARCHEX also offers high-mileage quotes from several underwriters, so compare both before choosing.
What are the best car warranty companies for older cars?
CarShield, Protect My Car and Concord Auto Protect all cater to older vehicles, but eligibility and coverage vary by age and mileage. Get quotes from at least two of them and compare the covered parts list, not just the monthly price.
How much does an auto warranty cost per month?
Starting monthly figures in this guide range from $69 to $99 per month, but your actual price varies by car, age, mileage and coverage. Prices vary by car, age, mileage and coverage, so use a quote for your exact vehicle rather than a published starting figure.
Is an extended auto warranty worth it?
It can be worth it for an older car, a car with expensive parts, or an owner who cannot absorb a large repair bill, but it is not worth it for every car. Compare the total contract cost against likely repair costs for your model, read the exclusions, and skip any plan that does not cover the parts most likely to fail on your car.
Sources
- https://www.endurancewarranty.com
- https://www.carshield.com
- https://www.americanautoshield.com
- https://olive.com
- https://protectmycar.com
- https://concordautoprotect.com
- https://autopom.com
- https://www.carchex.com
- https://www.consumeraffairs.com/auto_warranty/
- https://empireautoprotect.com/best-extended-car-warranty-companies-2026/
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