Olive Warranty Reviews

Backed by 1,475 hours of research into the extended car warranty industry, our team gave Olive Warranty 4.5 stars out of 5.0 and named it the Best Online Warranty of 2023. We found that the provider makes it easy to get quotes and purchase coverage with its fast and easy-to-navigate website.

We evaluated Olive based on industry standing, cost, coverage options, and other key criteria. Our research team updates our review standards several times each year to give you the clearest possible picture of the auto warranty marketplace and the best providers in the industry.

As we do with all warranty providers, we evaluated Olive based on its strength in five key categories: industry standing, coverage, cost, transparency, and customer service. Here are some details on how we evaluate these criteria and how Olive measured up in each category:

Industry Standing

When we weigh a warranty company’s industry standing, we consider Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, plan administrators, state availability, and more. Olive is available in all 50 states and is administered by QBE, a multinational insurer and warranty company with high financial strength ratings from Standard & Poor and AM Best. Olive also carries an A+ rating from the BBB. For all these reasons, we award the company 4.8 out of 5.0 stars in this category.

Coverage

We give Olive a 4.2 out of 5.0-star rating for coverage. The company offers three levels of coverage, which is fewer than many of its competitors. Olive also doesn’t feature a maintenance plan among its coverage options. However, the company doesn’t have a waiting period for its coverage to kick in, which is a rarity in the extended warranty world.

Cost

Olive offers low average rates and three deductible options: $100, $250, and $500. For this review, our team gathered quotes for several coverage levels on a 2017 Honda CR-V with 45,000 miles. We also performed a secret shopper analysis to verify advertised Olive prices. In the end, we gave the company a strong 4.8 out of 5.0 stars in the cost category.

Transparency

Olive provides peace of mind through a 30-day money-back guarantee. The company also features sample contracts for coverage plans on its website. When you get a quote from Olive, you receive a summary of what’s covered rather than full contract terms. All in all, we give the company a solid 4.5-star rating for transparency.

Customer Service

We give Olive 4.3 out of 5.0 stars for customer service due to solid customer reviews on Google, Trustpilot, and the BBB. When we reached out for quotes, we found the process to be simple and straightforward. Additionally, Olive’s representatives were helpful and provided clear pricing information, making it an all-around smooth process. The company also offers an online chat feature to complement its fast and well-designed website.

Olive and its affiliates have been in business since 2000, but Olive.com is a brand-new digital-focused warranty company. It began by offering mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) in California in 2020 and expanded to offer extended auto warranties in all other states soon after.

Olive is unique in the industry for a few reasons. For example, it uses a subscription-based billing model that customers can cancel at any time. Olive also has one of the best websites we’ve seen. It’s fast, easy to navigate, and clear about its warranty plans and how to get them. With Olive, coverage starts when you buy your plan online, which is unique. The company doesn’t require a waiting period or inspection for pre-existing conditions.

Olive keeps it simple and offers three coverage options that can cover vehicles up to three years at a time until they reach 185,000 miles. Below is a birds-eye view of each Olive car warranty plan: Complete Care (a bumper-to-bumper extended warranty), Powertrain Plus, and Powertrain.

Olive Car Warranty Extras

Aside from warranty coverage, Olive offers a few benefits to make breakdowns less of a hassle. All plans come with towing reimbursement of up to $100 per breakdown. They also come with rental car reimbursement, which:

• Covers up to $35 per day for 5 days
• Covers an extra 2 days if Olive requires an inspection of the breakdown
• Applies to breakdowns covered by Olive or your car’s manufacturer

What An Olive Car Warranty Doesn’t Cover

Like most extended warranty programs, the Olive car warranty doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, whether the driver knows about them or not. Because Olive doesn’t require a waiting period or inspection before coverage, the company is very clear about this issue.

In fact, every page on its site contains a statement about Olive excluding pre-existing conditions. When companies are honest about this with their customers, everyone is more likely to be happy.

Here are a few more things Olive’s extended warranty doesn’t cover:

• Wear items like wiper blades, brake pads, belts, and hoses
• Regular maintenance like oil changes and filter changes
• Damage from accidents, misuse, or lack of maintenance
• Environmental damage or damage from theft or vandalism
• Vehicles used for commercial and ridesharing services

On its website, Olive advertises that most of its extended warranty plans cost between $30 and $80 per month. We did a “secret shopper” analysis to determine if this was realistic, and after receiving multiple quotes from Olive for different vehicles, the company’s claim checks out.

Below are a few example quotes we received for a 2017 Honda CR-V with 45,000 miles. Keep in mind that Olive requires a down payment in the amount of your first monthly payment.

Monthly payments apply for the 36-month warranty term or until your contract is canceled. Since you make payments during the entire warranty period, you can simply cancel at any point, like ending a subscription. You’ll get a full refund if you cancel within 30 days and a prorated refund if you cancel after that.

Compared to other providers, Olive is affordable. Olive car warranties cost about $64 per month on average, while the average monthly payment across all extended warranty companies we reviewed is $117.

The average total cost of an Olive plan is about $2,300, though plans can start as low as $750 for three years of coverage. That’s $250 per year of coverage, which is very low for the industry.

Olive Deductible Options

Olive car warranty plans come with three deductible options: $100, $250, and $500. (There is no $0 deductible option.) You pay this deductible each time you visit a repair shop. Choosing a higher deductible lowers your monthly payment. Between three plans and three deductibles, you can choose from nine total price points.

Since Olive is a digital-first company, it is very easy to get a quote or file a claim.

Getting A Quote From Olive

When our team tested the quote system, it took us about two minutes to fill out the necessary information and arrive at the final purchase screen.

Olive makes it easy to go back during the process and update details about your vehicle or even add a second vehicle. The site saves your information so you can shop around and come back later if you want.

Once you’re ready to make a purchase, you can simply sign the agreement electronically and make your first monthly payment online. Coverage begins at midnight the day after you purchase an Olive car warranty.

If you need any help during the process, you can chat with a live agent or a chatbot outside of business hours. We found the chatbot to be fairly smart for helping with basic things like updating your account or filing a claim.

Olive’s website links to full contract terms at the bottom of every page. However, it doesn’t present a full contract during the actual quote process – only a summary of what’s covered.

Filing A Claim With Olive

When you experience a breakdown, you can take your car to a shop near you and call Olive to file a claim. Olive has a partnership with RepairPal Certified Shops, which provide repair warranties for 12 months or 12,000 miles. You can find shops in your area and schedule repairs through RepairPal’s website or its mobile app.

There are over 2,500 RepairPal Certified Shops nationwide, but if you can’t find one in your area, you can also take your vehicle to any state-licensed mechanic.

Once you get to the shop, connect the mechanic with Olive so Olive can approve the repair. If Olive will cover the repair, it will pay the repair shop directly and you’ll just pay your deductible. If the warranty doesn’t cover a specific repair, Olive can still help negotiate affordable repair rates with RepairPal Certified Shops.

Over 200 customers have weighed in on Google, giving Olive car warranty coverage a 4.7-star rating overall. Below are a few examples of positive and negative reviews.

Positive Olive Reviews

“Thank you, Olive, for keeping your end of the bargain! You guys are a game changer! I’ve had my policy for about six months now and couldn’t be happier.”

– Greg W. via Google

“The folks at Olive were straight-up with prices and no down payment to start. Thank you, Olive, for giving me peace of mind for my truck.”

– Kelly R. via Google

Negative Olive Reviews

“They denied me because they claimed my engine failure was pre-existing. How would anybody know that?”

– Mel M. via Google

“According to Olive, they only fix mechanical issues and not something from environmental wear and tear like belts and hoses. Very disappointed.”

– Michael N. via Google

Our team gives Olive a healthy 4.5 out of 5.0 stars and recommends that you include the company in your search for an extended car warranty. The provider’s fresh approach to pricing and excellent online experience help it stand out in a competitive marketplace.