A vehicle protection plan as the name suggests is a form of vehicle coverage that deals with specific repairs listed in the contract. Supplied by the manufacturers as well as third-party providers, a vehicle protection plan, commonly known as an extended warranty, offers protection against future breakdowns and makes car ownership a relatively hassle-free process.

In this article, we will look at the different kinds of extended warranty providers and based on a multitude of criteria, rank our top picks to help you make an informed choice.

What Is A Vehicle Protection Plan?

A Vehicle Protection Plan (VPP) is a form of vehicle service contract designed to provide coverage similar to what is offered by a factory warranty, the only difference here is it can be purchased from either the manufacturer or a third-party provider and the coverage usually begins after the expiration of your vehicle's factory warranty.

Vehicle Protection Plan Mileage Comparison

The most challenging part of choosing a VPP is perhaps deciding between a factory extended warranty over a third-party plan. Independent providers try to make their plans more appealing and as a result, most top-rated providers offer longer coverage windows and top it up with other benefits such as the flexibility of choosing the garage of your choice amongst others. So here's a list of Vehicle Protection Plans for third-party and manufacturers along with the milage limits offered by them.


Type Of Provider

Company

Mileage Limit

Manufacturer

Ford

150,000

Manufacturer

Toyota

125,000

Manufacturer

Kia

120,000

Third-Party

Endurance

200,000+

Third-Party

CarShield

300,000

Third-Party

CARCHEX

250,000


What Are The Benefits Of A Vehicle Protection Plan?

Manufacturer warranties can last anywhere between a year and even upwards of five years in certain cases, however, the average warranty is never long enough and a significant amount of people suffer from the curse of running into major issues and repairs right after the factory warranty ends.

To save you from such a sticky situation, we recommend a good vehicle protection plan which will ensure uninterrupted coverage even after the manufacturer offered warranty runs out. Extended warranty plans offered by third-party providers can offer added benefits as well some of which are:

- Get roadside assistance, rental car, and trip interruption coverage

- Only pay your deductible for covered repairs

- Go to any repair shop of your choice

- Higher mileage cap than a factory warranty

- CARCHEX, Endurance, and CarShield offer fully transferable VPPs

Is A Vehicle Protection Plan Worth It?

A vehicle protection plan can come in handy if you don't want to spend money on repairs at a later stage or choose to purchase a vehicle that costs higher than usual to run and maintain. In cases of affordable and reliable cars, a VPP might not be as useful especially if you walk around with enough savings to cover occasional repair bills. Before buying a vehicle protection plan, make sure you evaluate providers based on cost, coverage, and convenience. Also, don't forget to compare policies and negotiate to get the best possible deal.

A manufacturer warranty program usually expects you to abide by the terms set by the manufacturer which restricts all kinds of services to authorized manufacturer dealerships and service centers. Aftermarket warranty providers, on the other hand, offer more flexibility in terms of where you can get your vehicle serviced, which is usually any in-network shop of your choice, which adds to the flexibility of a third-party warranty. No matter which option you go for, a vehicle protection plan gives you peace of mind by covering serious and possibly expensive repairs.


Car Make and Model

Repair Type

Average Cost Without Extended Warranty

Honda CR-V

Head Gasket Replacement

$1,316–$1,575

Toyota RAV4

Brake Line Replacement

$191–$216

Toyota Camry

Transmission Replacement

$5,200

Ford F-150

Transmission Case Shift Motor Replacement

$302–$311

Honda Civic

AC Compressor Replacement

$1,007–$1,061

Mazda CX-5

Daytime Running LED light failure

$1,130

Subaru Outback

Windshield Replacement

$880

Jeep Wrangler

Oil Housing Replacement

$710

Honda Accord

Starter Replacement

$710–$738

Subaru Forester

Suspension Coil Replacement

$1,060


Average costs are from RepairPal and CarComplaints.com

Are there Vehicle Protection Plan Requirements?

Most VPPs will require you to wait for a certain amount of time before the coverage starts. This is a failsafe, designed to protect the warranty provider from cases where people buy the vehicle protection plan after discovering a major problem with their vehicle. This period is commonly 30 days and before you can buy a Vehicle Protection Plan, most providers will inspect your vehicle to ensure that it doesn't have any severe problems lurking under the hood.

How Much Does a Vehicle Protection Plan Cost?

Once you purchase a Vehicle Protection Plan, you should follow the provider's or the manufacturer suggested service intervals and install genuine parts as recommended by them. These steps are crucial and failing to maintain your vehicle as per the company terms could result in rejection of any future claims.

A Vehicle Protection Plan is designed to protect you from unexpected repairs, however, it does not cover the owner's negligence, hence we insist on getting your car serviced as per the company guidelines to avail all the benefits of your VPP if you ever run into a problem.

Standard maintenance isn't a complicated endeavor and includes simple steps like oil and fluid change, tire rotation, etc. apart from a couple of major services after the 60,000 and 90,000-mile mark to replace other useable like bushes, seals, etc. all of which are parts not covered under a VPP that get worn out with time.

Who Offers The Best Vehicle Protection Plan?

With the market swarming with third-party providers, it is hard to pick the best vehicle protection plan out of the lot, so here's a list of our top recommendations in the VPP space:

Uproar:

Uproar is based out of Seattle, Washington, but it’s not like any other extended car warranty company out there. Uproar bills itself as an innovator, which makes a lot of sense considering it’s the first extended warranty company to offer a 100-percent digital, subscription-based experience. The main highlights of uproar include an instant quote and signup online, same-day coverage, no long-term commitments, transparency, and no aggressive salespeople or robocalls. They are BBB accredited and have five-star ratings from both Google and Consumer Affairs.

Endurance:

They offer coverage for cars up to 20 years old which makes it ideal for used car owners. They offer hassle-free inspection after which the claim can be filed, making the entire process foolproof and they aim to ensure that you don't miss minor details which might cause you trouble in the future. They also offer membership benefits which add to the whole customer experience and help them secure the top spot.

- Coverage for cars up to 20 years old

- Basic powertrain warranty options are available

- Inspection is required before a claim can be filed

- Extra perks with all-inclusive membership

- Join & save $300 on a protection plan


Plan

What It Covers

Supreme

Exclusionary coverage comparable to a factory warranty

Superior

Covers hundreds of components stated on the contract

Secure Plus

Mid-level coverage option with shortest wait time

Select Premier

Powertrain and a few vital systems are covered

Secure

Basic coverage for the powertrain

EnduranceAdvantage™

Covers mechanical breakdowns as well as maintenance


Olive:

Olive is one of the newest players in the business, apart from extended warranty plans, it also offers mechanical breakdown insurance in California. It has also secured some of the best consumer ratings courtesy of its top-notch service and a wide range of plans that deliver timely resolution of claims.

- For cars up to 10 years old/ 140k miles

- 100% online extended warranty solution with customizable plans

- File claims online 24/7

- Affordable monthly payments

- Call for a quote & get a free $5 gift card


Plan

What it Covers

Olive Powertrain

Covers all major components including Air and Fuel Systems, seals, and gaskets

Powertrain Plus

Covers other vitals including suspension, air-con, and some electrical components

Complete Care

Covers all electrical and safety systems along with other benefits


CARCHEX

They offer coverage for cars with up to 250,000 miles which makes them a great choice for people who plan to purchase a warranty for their heavily used vehicles. They offer a wide range of policies some of which offer industry-leading claim filing processes. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, CARCHEX should be on your list when shopping for an extended warranty.

- Covers cars with up to 250k miles

- First-rate full-coverage protection for new and used vehicles

- The claim filing process depends on the policy

- No-haggle, low-price guarantee

- A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau


Plan

What It Covers

Titanium

The most comprehensive coverage plan that’s comparable to a factory warranty

Platinum

Highest stated-coverage plan with hundreds of covered parts

Gold

Coverage for all of the major systems on the vehicle

Silver

Powertrain plus coverage for many essential systems

Bronze

Basic coverage for the powertrain and engine