Best Car Warranties

We review and analyze many providers to find the best the auto warranty industry has to offer. The ratings we give are for independent companies that offer vehicle service contracts like Endurance and CARCHEX. Our methodology for this article does not apply to car manufacturers that provide warranties, like Kia and Hyundai. 

Each third-party warranty provider is given an overall score based on their ratings in five main categories: industry standing, coverage, cost, transparency, and customer service.

How We Rated Independent Car Warranty Providers

To give you the most current information, we update our review standards several times each year. Below are more details for what we look for in each rating category: 

Industry Standing

Providers are given a high score in this category based on any awards, ratings, or recognitions by trusted warranty evaluators, like Kelley Blue Book, CARFAX, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB). We also consider customer reviews on sites like the BBB and Trustpilot, and how much experience a warranty provider has.

Coverage

Providers that offer several different coverage options are rewarded with a higher score in this category. If a company offers plans with long term limits and several benefits, its Coverage score increases.

Cost

Providers that offer affordable coverage plans as well as deductible options can expect to see a higher score in the Cost category. If these same providers offer discounts, their score will increase. 

CarShield’s overall prices for its warranties are slightly cheaper than autopom!’s, so it gets a higher rating. CarShield’s month-to-month payment structure also allows for more flexibility and affordability for its customers.

Transparency

When it comes to this category, if a company offers a money-back guarantee and allows customers to view sample contracts on coverage-plan pages, it will receive a high rating. Its website also has to be relatively clear and easy to navigate.

Customer Service

Strong customer reviews online bring providers high scores in this category. If a provider has a mobile app and offers an online chat option for customers, its score for customer service will increase as well. We usually browse websites like Trustpilot and the BBB to see common complaint patterns and things that customers like for each provider.

Virtually every car manufacturer includes warranty protection with its new vehicles. A new car warranty is a guarantee that vehicles are free of defects in materials or workmanship. Standard new car coverage is divided into several individual warranties, each covering specific parts for different lengths of time.

The two most important new car warranties are bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties. Under car manufacturers, bumper-to-bumper warranties are typically called new vehicle limited warranties, and they usually cover the majority of mechanical and electric vehicle components, with a few exceptions. Common exclusions include wear-and-tear parts like tires and brake pads and routine maintenance services like oil changes. 

A powertrain warranty covers components such as the engine, transmission, and transfer case. Powertrain-plus warranties typically include what powertrain warranties cover while adding on coverage for the alternator, and systems in steering, electrical, air conditioning, and more.

Powertrain coverage often lasts a few years longer than bumper-to-bumper coverage. Many car manufacturers also offer anti-perforation warranties, which cover damages from rust corrosion on body sheet panels of cars.

Roadside Assistance

While roadside assistance isn’t a warranty itself, it’s a benefit that’s often included in most factory warranties – though some companies allow you to purchase additional roadside assistance. Roadside assistance happens when your car breaks down on the side of the road, and it usually includes:

• Towing services to the nearest repair facility
• Battery jump-starts
• Fuel deliveries
• Lockout assistance
• Key fob replacements

New Car Warranties Comparison

Most car manufacturers will offer the same types of warranties that cover almost nearly the same items. So the most effective way to evaluate which companies offer the best warranties is to look at the length of coverage. 

Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Jaguar, and Acura offer the longest term and mileage limits for new car warranty coverage and benefits. The list below provides the main coverage details – so you can compare warranties from the top providers:

#1 Hyundai

Here are some of the main warranties that Hyundai offers:

• 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty
• 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty
• 7-year/unlimited-mile anti-perforation warranty
• 5 years/unlimited miles of 24-hour roadside assistance

Hyundai makes it into the top ten reliable brands for the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠. This shows that on top of having some of the longest car warranties on the market, Hyundai vehicles are much less likely to break down or have mechanical malfunctions when compared to most vehicles from other auto manufacturers.

#2 Kia

Kia takes the number two spot on the list for having a slightly shorter anti-perforation warranty. However, this manufacturer shows the same length of powertrain and bumper-to-bumper coverage as Hyundai:

• 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty
• 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty
• 5-year/100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty
• 5 years/60,000 miles of 24-hr roadside assistance

Kia actually scores higher than Hyundai in terms of vehicle reliability. In the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, Kia produces the third-most reliable cars, beating out 28 other auto brands. With a steady warranty package and a good car brand, your Kia vehicle will be heavily protected from mechanical breakdown, offering maximum peace of mind.

#3 Mitsubishi

Here are some of the main warranties that Mitsubishi offers:

• 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty
• 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty
• 7-year/100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty

Like Hyundai, Mitsubishi also makes the top ten in J.D. Power’s study. The auto manufacturer only has an average of 167 problems per 100 vehicles. The industry average is 186 problems per 100 vehicles.

#4 Jaguar

Jaguar’s EliteCare program includes these warranties:

• 5 years/60,000 miles of coverage for a new vehicle limited warranty, complimentary scheduled maintenance, and 24/7 roadside assistance
• 1-year/unlimited-mileage parts and accessories limited warranty
• 6-year/unlimited-mileage paint and corrosion warranty

It’s worth noting that Jaguar isn’t one of the most reliable auto brands, despite its popularity. In a way, this makes Jaguar’s length of coverage and complimentary maintenance services much more useful.

#5 Acura

Acura provides a 4-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and a 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain limited warranty for its new vehicles. Like Jaguar, Acura is under the industry average for vehicle reliability according to J.D. Power, so longer warranties for this auto brand are useful.

Certified Used Car Warranty Comparison

The list below provides coverage details for some of the top certified pre-owned (CPO) car warranties. These warranty options cover used cars sold by the manufacturer that meets specific quality control standards.

#1 Mitsubishi

A Mitsubishi CPO warranty covers powertrain components for 10 years/100,000 miles and the remaining parts for 5 years/60,000 miles. CPO warranties from this manufacturer don’t include deductibles, although other warranties might.

#2 Hyundai

Hyundai CPO warranties cover powertrain components for 10 years/100,000 miles and all other parts for 5 years/60,000 miles, much like Mitsubishi. Unlike with Mitsubishi, Hyundai CPO warranties come with a $50 deductible.

#3 Kia

Kia CPO warranties cover powertrain components for 10 years/100,000 miles and other parts for 1 year/12,000 miles. These warranties include a $50 deductible.