Choosing an extended warranty for a used car — especially one with higher mileage — is different from purchasing coverage for a relatively new vehicle. As cars age, mechanical issues become more likely, and an extended warranty (more accurately called a vehicle service contract) can offset repair costs. But coverage availability, length and pricing can look very different for an older car.
To help you compare your options, our editorial team reviewed extended car warranty providers by gathering quotes, examining sample agreements and assessing factors like transparency, customer experience and plan flexibility. Here are the companies that stood out, plus what to know if you’re shopping for warranty coverage on a used car.
Best for coverage quality, consumer-friendly terms, company reputation
Endurance
What we like about Endurance
Endurance has no mileage limits to be eligible for coverage, so it may be a better fit for owners of used cars with higher mileage. It also offers a Select Premier plan, which is designed specifically for vehicles with up to 150,000 miles and covers select internal parts of the engine, transmission and drive axle assembly. We like that Endurance makes it easy to get sample agreements and quotes online; however, some high-mileage vehicles will require a phone call.
What we don’t like about Endurance
Endurance’s quote for a car with 80,000 miles on the odometer was higher per mile and month (based on an average of 1,200 miles driven monthly) than some providers, but it wasn’t the highest. And the company doesn’t cover damage caused by a covered component to a non-covered part — something some competitors allow.
Maximum mileage limit for eligibility: None.
Waiting period for coverage: 30 days or 1,000 miles.
Deductible: $100 per repair.
Aggregate limit: All repairs and benefits can’t exceed the average condition trade-in value per J.D. Power at the time of the vehicle repair. Note that trade-in value amounts are typically well below a car’s retail value.
BBB standing: Accredited with an A rating.
Plan options:
Supreme – exclusionary or bumper-to-bumper.
Superior – stated components.
Secure – basic powertrain with lowest payments.
Secure Plus – powertrain with additional components.
Select Premier – high-mileage vehicles.
Advantage – exclusionary, including up to $3,500 in annual maintenance.
Supreme for Highline Vehicles – specific luxury vehicles.
Some plans can be customized to include limited coverage for hybrids and Tesla EVs.
Included benefits:
First year of Elite Benefits is free with a $29 activation fee. Includes tire coverage and windshield repair from road hazards; key fob replacement; up to $500 collision discount.
24-hour roadside assistance.
Rental car and trip interruption coverage.
Best for consumer-friendly terms, transparency&customer experience
Olive has no waiting period for coverage and doesn’t require an inspection, although, like most other companies, it does not cover pre-existing issues. For older used cars, the ability to buy coverage online and activate it immediately is a notable advantage. Olive’s online quoting includes high-mileage vehicles, with the option to select highe. For older used cars, the ability to buy coverage online and activate it immediately is a notable advantage. Olive’s online quoting includes high-mileage vehicles, with the option to select higher deductibles to adjust the premium. Olive’s quote for a car with 80,000 miles on the odometer was among the lowest per mile and month (based on an average of 1,200 miles driven monthly).
What we don’t like about Olive
Compared to other providers, Olive has the lowest maximums, meaning many older cars wouldn’t be eligible for coverage. Plan options are limited to three, and claims administration is handled by a third-party company.
Maximum mileage limit for eligibility: 140,000 miles (also vehicles up to 10-years-old).
Waiting period for coverage: None.
Deductible: $100, $250 or $500.
Aggregate limit: The total of all claims paid can’t exceed the vehicle’s retail value per NADA at the time of the current claim. Upon reaching this limit, no further claims are paid.
BBB standing: Accredited with an A+ rating.
Plan options:
Complete Care – exclusionary or bumper-to-bumper.
Powertrain Plus – powertrain with additional components.
Powertrain – basic powertrain covering the most expensive parts.
Included benefits:
Rental car coverage.
Towing reimbursement.
Premier Auto Protect
on Premier Auto Protect’s website
What we like about Premier Auto Protect
Compared to other providers, Premier Auto Protect gave us one of the lowest per-mile and per-month quotes for an older, higher-mileage vehicle. While Premier does not enable you to see quotes on its website, you can submit a request and receive a quote and sample contract via email. We also like that Premier offers 24/7 claims submission.
What we don’t like about Premier Auto Protect
Premier’s plan names don’t always match between its website and agreement documents, which leaves one wondering about the legitimacy of coverage in an industry known for scams. The contract is also vague about the valuation sources used, leaving discretion to the administrator. This is something used-car owners should pay attention to, since payouts could be determined by sources with lower values.
Maximum mileage limit for eligibility: 280,000 miles.
Waiting period for coverage: 30 days or 1,000 miles.
Deductible: $100 per repair.
Aggregate limit: The agreement doesn’t give an upper limit. It does state that the contract’s liability limit per claim will be no lower than the vehicle’s actual cash value or cost of repair based on a national labor and parts manual.
BBB standing: Accredited with a B rating.
Plan options (per website):
Exclusionary – bumper-to-bumper.
EV Exclusionary – includes certain named EV components.
Premium – essential parts like engine and transmission, plus additional components like high-tech electronics and hybrid systems.
Essential – basic systems and parts.
Website also lists Premier Repair Assist, Powertrain and Premier Powertrain Enhanced as “nationwide coverage.”
Included benefits:
24-hour roadside assistance (towing, tires, lockout, battery, fuel).
Rental car coverage.
What we like about CARCHEX
We were offered CARCHEX’s month-to-month Platinum plan, which may be a good fit for used-car owners who prefer flexibility over locking in a long contract. Because higher-mileage vehicles may reach a plan’s mileage cap sooner, paying month-to-month can offer protection without a commitment to years of coverage you might not fully use.
What we don’t like about CARCHEX
CARCHEX requires calling for quotes, which can slow comparison shopping. As a broker, it sells plans administered by outside companies, such as American Auto Shield. In our testing, CARCHEX’s offerings mirrored Carshield’s but cost slightly more. CARCHEX’s quote and deductible for a stated-component plan is one of the highest among providers.
Maximum mileage limit for eligibility: 250,000 to 300,000 miles, depending on the vehicle.
Waiting period for coverage: 25 days and 500 miles or 40 days and 250 miles, whichever combination is met first.
Deductible: $1,000 for the first 90 days. After 90 days, it drops to $250, except for engine or transmission replacement, which is $500.
Aggregate limit: All claims and benefits for each one-month contract term can’t exceed $10,000.
BBB standing: CARCHEX advertises a BBB A+ rating, but the BBB website calls out “inaccurate advertising of BBB affiliation.” We contacted CARCHEX for clarification and received no response. Our final CARCHEX star rating reflects this discrepancy.
Plan options:
Titanium – exclusionary or bumper-to-bumper.
Platinum – stated components.
Powertrain Plus – powertrain with additional components.
Powertrain – basic powertrain.
Extra Care Coverage – crucial items outside of the powertrain, such as the electrical system, steering, suspensions and braking system.
Included benefits:
24-hour roadside assistance (towing, tires, lockout, battery, fuel).
Rental car coverage.
Trip interruption.
Carshield
What we like about Carshield
Carshield’s month-to-month structure can be appealing for used-car owners not wanting a long-term commitment. Since many used cars already have higher mileage, month-to-month coverage may be a budget-friendly way to get protection, without paying for a multi-year term you won’t use if you hit the mileage limit first.
What we don’t like about Carshield
Carshield doesn’t offer online quotes, and deductibles start high compared with some competitors. While Carshield’s quote for a newer car was among the lowest, its quote for an older vehicle was one of the highest for a stated component plan. Also, with month-to-month coverage, monthly premiums could increase over time.
Our final Carshield star rating was lowered due to a 2024 Federal Trade Commission charge of deceptive and misleading advertising and telemarketing practices, alleging that many repairs were not covered as promised; Carshield settled the case for $10 million.
Maximum mileage limit for eligibility: 250,000 to 300,000 miles, depending on the vehicle.
Waiting period for coverage: 25 days or 500 miles.
Deductible: $1,000 for the first 90 days. After 90 days, it drops to $250, except for engine or transmission replacement, which is $500.
Aggregate limit: All claims and benefits for each one-month contract term can’t exceed $10,000.
BBB standing: Accredited since 2024 with an A+ rating.
Plan options:
Diamond – exclusionary or bumper-to-bumper.
Platinum – stated components.
Gold Select – powertrain with additional components.
Silver – basic powertrain.
Aluminum – specialty coverage for electrical and computer-related problems.
Electric Vehicle – for fully electric vehicles.
Included benefits:
24-hour roadside assistance (towing, tires, lockout, battery, fuel).
Rental car coverage.
Trip interruption.
Other extended auto warranty companies we considered
These companies either scored below three out of five stars overall in our rating system or had red flags to be aware of.
Upfront, we were impressed with this company, but some digging revealed Toco filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2025. It’s continuing to operate while reorganizing finances, but we can’t recommend a company with questionable financial stability. We did like Toco’s easy, online quoting process, and we were impressed with the Toco representatives we chatted with. Toco takes a different approach to coverage, with one month-to-month, core plan broken into four mileage ranges (orange, yellow, blue and green). What’s covered depends on where your car’s mileage falls at claim time. Toco’s per-mile cost for a used car was in the middle when compared to other providers, but car owners could pay more for less coverage as mileage increases.
Our attempts to get pricing from Ox Car Care were the most frustrating of any provider we contacted. Because the company doesn’t offer online quotes, we had to call each time, and the conversations consistently involved high-pressure sales. The company wouldn’t send a written quote unless we made a payment first, and we continued to receive frequent calls, texts and emails. The deductible structure was also concerning — 30% of the repair cost or a $200 minimum during the first two years — and the contract states that total liability cannot exceed the vehicle’s actual cash value at the time of purchase or $7,500, whichever is lower.
American Dream Auto Protect
Our top-rated companies have sample agreements readily available on their websites. American Dream Auto does not, and reps would not send us one unless we put money down on a plan first. American Dream did give us one of the lowest per-mile, per-month quotes for a used car, but we were not able to verify what we were told on the phone with a sample agreement. American Dream is not BBB accredited and has a D rating.
What does an extended car warranty cover for a used car?
Most used-car extended warranties focus on protecting major mechanical components, especially the powertrain — the engine, transmission and drive axles. These parts are costly to repair and remain the core of most plans.
Mid- and upper-tier used-car plans may add coverage for systems like air conditioning, steering and brakes. Brake coverage typically applies to major system parts, not wear items like pads or rotors. High-tech electronics or advanced safety features are often limited to the most comprehensive used-car plans or may require an add-on.
Common exclusions include tires, paint, upholstery, glass, filters and wiper blades. Always review the contract closely, since eligibility and coverage can vary more widely for used cars.
Coverage considerations when buying a used car extended warranty
Maximum mileage eligibility
Some providers cap the limit for coverage eligibility at around 150,000 miles. Other companies offer high-mileage plans with reduced coverage.
Pre-existing condition rules
Older cars often have existing wear. Issues present before your contract starts are excluded, and some companies require inspections.
Limited plan options
Exclusionary plans may not be available once mileage is high, leaving only named-component or powertrain plans.
Shorter usable contract terms
Time and mileage caps could expire quickly if your vehicle reaches mileage limits soon.
Higher premiums and deductibles
Warranty companies view older vehicles as higher risk, so costs increase with mileage.
Service history requirements
Strong maintenance documentation reduces claim disputes. Missing records can lead to denials.
Lower payout ceilings
Payouts often match the car’s actual cash value, which is lower for high-mileage cars.
Cost-benefit evaluation
For some vehicles, the price of coverage may approach the car’s value, making self-funded repairs more practical.
Types of extended used car warranty coverage
Extended car warranties or VSCs vary in scope and cost. Here are the main types you will find, plus notes on how they typically apply to used vehicles.
Exclusionary or bumper-to-bumper: Covers nearly every mechanical and electrical part except a short list of exclusions. This level of coverage is available for used cars, though it’s usually limited to newer, lower-mileage vehicles and tends to cost more.
Named component: Covers only the specific parts listed in the contract. Because it’s less comprehensive and more flexible to price, this type of plan is especially common for used cars.
Powertrain: Covers the engine, transmission and drivetrain — essential systems that keep your car running. Powertrain plans are widely used for older or higher-mileage vehicles since they focus on the most expensive repairs.
Wrap coverage: Adds protection to a powertrain warranty, “wrapping” around it to cover additional components. Dealers often use wrap plans to bring an older car closer to bumper-to-bumper coverage when true exclusionary plans aren’t available.
Specialty plans: Some third-party providers offer separate coverage for high-tech systems, hybrid components or luxury vehicles. Specialty coverage can be a practical add-on for used cars with aging electronics or hybrid batteries.
Frequently asked questions
Are extended warranties for used cars worth it?
It depends on your car’s age, mileage and repair risk — and on how comfortable you are covering surprise bills. A service contract may be worthwhile if your used car has higher mileage, an expensive powertrain or features that are costly to fix. But if you expect to spend less on repairs than you would on warranty payments, building a repair fund could be the better move.
How much does an extended used car warranty cost?
Used car warranty costs range widely, depending on numerous factors. We received quotes from about $70 a month for a used car with 80,000 miles, to more than $300 monthly for a car with 140,000 miles. Most providers let you pay monthly or in a lump sum (often with a discount for paying upfront). You may also have to make a down payment (usually equal to a monthly payment) and will pay a deductible throughout the contract.
Pay close attention to the contract’s duration. For example, a plan might cover 30 months or 40,000 miles, whichever comes first. Using your average monthly mileage, estimate which limit you’ll reach first to better understand how long your coverage will actually last and your true per-mile or per-month cost.
How we chose the best extended car warranty companies
Our team of home services experts follows an objective and robust methodology to rate companies and pick the best.
9
companies evaluated
We assessed 9 extended car warranty companies — including the top companies by search volume.
50
features assessed
Each company is evaluated across six weighted categories: coverage quality, consumer-friendly terms, transparency and customer experience, pricing and perks, company reputation and discretionary factors such as bankruptcy.
450
data points analyzed
We collect data from providers. Our process starts by gathering information from the provider’s website and contacting providers for further information where needed. This information makes up our proprietary assessment process that scores each provider’s performance.
We evaluate six categories and carefully weigh how each factor impacts your experience.
NerdWallet reviewed 9 extended car warranty companies that provide vehicle service contracts for U.S. customers.
We consider 50 features and 450 data points across the companies. Depending on the category, these include waiting periods, cancellation terms, sample car contracts, rental car coverage, Better Business Bureau accreditation and more.
