Chrysler Extended Warranty Review

by Ray Shefska | Last updated Apr 24, 2023 | Extended Warranty Reviews, Manufacturer Extended Warranty Reviews

An extended warranty is a great way to avoid costly repair bills. While it’s not usually worth buying at the dealership, we still suggest that you think about adding an extended warranty to your new or certified pre-owned car. Should you buy the one from Chrysler? Find out in our Chrysler extended warranty review!

Today, we’re going to review the Chrysler extended warranty program. We’ll discuss the level of coverage offered, compare it to third-party options, and make our ultimate recommendation.

The Highlights:

• The Chrysler vehicle service contract is offered and managed by Mopar.
• Plans are extremely customizable, with four levels of coverage to choose from and a pool of mileage options.
• There are imitations on where you can take your car for repairs, while third-party vendors tend to offer more options.
• We recommend the Chrysler extended warranty because of the levels of customization available and the transparency of their partnership with Mopar.

Is It Worth Getting a Chrysler Extended Warranty?

Before we can say if the Chrysler extended protection plan is worth getting, we need to discuss what’s involved in the program.

Mopar has four levels of coverage to choose from:

1. Powertrain Care Plus:  As the name suggests, this plan covers everything involved with the powertrain, including the engine, transmission, and driveline. This is the lowest level of Chrysler’s extended warranty coverage.
2. Added Care:  This level includes everything in Powertrain Care Plus, but also adds brakes, engine cooling, and electrical systems to its coverage.
3. Added Care Plus:  This plan includes everything in the above plans, adding rear suspension, luxury group features, instrumentation, and expanded electrical coverage.
4. Maximum Care:  They sell this program with the slogan “if it’s mechanical, it’s covered.” The coverage list includes everything in the above plans, with the addition of body mechanisms, safety systems, and manual interior elements.

None of the Chrysler extended warranty plans offer coverage for maintenance services, like oil changes or air filters. They also do not cover the body, paint, or any wear-and-tear items (brake pads, rotors, belts, and windshield wipers).  

If you want to dive deeper into the features of any of these plans, you can view Mopar’s breakdown on page 5 of their extended warranty sales brochure.

As far as term lengths go, you can choose your mileage coverage in intervals. Plans are available for 12,000 miles, 15,000 miles, or even unlimited mileage. You can also pick the number of years that you want coverage for.

On top of their coverage, they offer a handful of useful perks:

• Rental car allowance up to $35 per day, with a $175 maximum
• 24/7 roadside assistance, including towing, battery jumps, and flat tire changes (you supply the spare)
• $1,000 trip interruption coverage to pay for meals, lodging, and rental cars for all covered mechanical failures that occur more than 100 miles away from your home
• Warranties are fully transferable, but there is a $50 transfer fee applied

We like perks as much as the next car owner, but we don’t think perks should be a substantial reason to choose an extended warranty.

Take note that we aren’t discussing pricing in our Chrysler extended warranty review. As we’ve discussed earlier, pricing for vehicle service contracts varies from car to car and is based on your VIN and mileage. You’ll need to obtain quotes from any warranty company that you’re interested in to compare prices.

Coverage begins when you buy the plan. Keep this in mind to avoid overlapping with your existing manufacturer’s warranty.

So is a Chrysler extended warranty worth it? We think that due to the highly customizable array of warranties that you can choose from, it’s well worth getting a quote. For the right price, the Chrysler vehicle service contract might be worth it.

Chrysler Factory Extended Warranty vs. Third-Party Extended Warranty

Even though the warranty is offered and managed by Mopar, which is a third party, it’s not treated like a third-party warranty. It’s more of a partnership between Chrysler and Mopar. The primary thing to note is that all repairs must be done at a Chrysler dealership.

Mopar does say that your repairs might be covered if you have issues when you are far from a Chrysler dealership. The process looks a bit complex, as you or the shop will have to contact Mopar for authorization before repairs start. Once done, you’ll have to submit a request for reimbursement. This means that you will be paying out of pocket and that there’s a chance that your reimbursement request could be denied.

On the other hand, a true third-party extended warranty will allow you to have your repairs completed at any number of shops around the country. Most third-party warranties ask you to take your car to a repair shop that is licensed by a reputable association, such as ASE, AAA, or RepairPal. If the shop is licensed, you can have your work done there. In most cases, the warranty company will also pay for the repairs over the phone instead of paying by yourself and then waiting for reimbursement.

What is Covered Under a Pre-Owned Chrysler Extended Warranty?

If you buy a Chrysler pre-owned vehicle, you have the option of covering it with a Chrysler extended protection plan through Mopar. However, you will only have the Maximum Care and Added Care Plus options available to you, which we discussed above.

Mopar also offers GAP insurance for certified pre-owned vehicles, which might be worth it depending on your situation. You’ll have to do some math to determine if you should purchase GAP insurance.

Do We Recommend a Chrysler Vehicle Service Contract?

What’s the final verdict of our Chrysler extended warranty review? We do recommend the Chrysler extended warranty. They are upfront and honest about who is offering and managing the warranty, instead of hiding it in the fine print of the contract like other automakers we’ve seen.

Their levels of coverage and customization allow you to craft a plan that works for your financial situation. The only downside comes from the limitations on where you can take your car for repairs.

If you’re looking for another option, we offer vehicle service contracts through our third-party vendors. Our pricing is transparent, and coverage is clearly laid out. We even offer free consultations to help you decide which warranty to select. Contact us today to set up a time to talk about coverage!

Chevrolet Extended Warranty Review

by Ray Shefska | Last updated Apr 24, 2023 | Extended Warranty Reviews, Manufacturer Extended Warranty Reviews

Chevy is known for building reliable cars and trucks, but they certainly aren’t free from defects in the manufacturing process. With the many moving parts involved in any vehicle, every automaker has the potential to make mistakes. That’s why Chevy offers an extended warranty…to cover you in case there are defects that result in a mechanical breakdown. Before you buy it, though, check out our Chevrolet extended warranty review.

Choosing a Chevrolet vehicle service contract calls for a thorough examination of everything involved, and that’s what we’re going to do today. We’ll discuss the coverage, term length options, and who administrates the warranty before giving you our final recommendations.

The Highlights:

• The Chevrolet extended warranty is managed by a company called AMT Warranty Corp., which is a business with little publicly available information.
• You must take your Chevy to a Chevy dealer for repairs.
• The Chevrolet extended protection plan offers two tiers of coverage with four term length options, allowing you to tailor the coverage you receive.
• A third-party warranty will let you take your car to a wider network of repair shops than the Chevrolet vehicle service contract.

Is It Worth Getting a Chevy Extended Warranty?

Before deciding if the Chevrolet vehicle service contract is worth it, we need to discuss what it entails. When you’re buying a car, this is always an important step to keep in mind!

The Chevrolet extended warranty, managed by AMT Warranty Corp., offers two levels of coverage:

• Platinum Plan:  The platinum plan is exclusion-based, which means that everything is covered except for what they declare in the contract as an exception. You can view their exclusion list on pages 5 and 6 of their sample contract. It’s an extensive list, and most of the items on the list are descriptions of situations in which the vehicle would not be covered, such as abusive use of the vehicle.
• Silver Plan:  The silver plan is inclusion-based, which means that a given component must be specified for it to be covered. You can view the complete list on their sample contract, pages 4 and 5. Covered components include the engine, drive axle, transfer case, and steering systems.

Neither of these plans provides any coverage for issues related to abuse, misuse, or neglect. The problem must stem from a manufacturer’s defect to be covered, much like the factory warranty that came with your car.

A Chevrolet extended warranty has a few different term lengths to select from:

• 24 months / 24,000 miles
• 36 months / 36,000 miles
• 48 months / 48,000 miles
• 60 months / 60,000 miles

With two tiers and four term lengths, you can really nail down the type of plan that you want.

There are other perks that come along with the Chevrolet extended warranty, such as lockout assistance and trip interruption coverage. These perks are excellent. However, we don’t think you should be swayed into making your decision based on perks.

The fact that the Chevrolet extended warranty is managed by AMT Warranty Corp. is concerning. We tried, and we can only find basic information about this company, such as their stock profile and Facebook page. They don’t even have a website (unless it’s hidden under another name). We don’t know why Chevy has partnered with them, and this partnership is only visible when examining the fine print of the contract.

Chevy Factory Extended Warranty vs. Third-Party Extended Warranty

Third-party extended warranties, legally known as vehicle service contracts, are a great alternative to warranties provided by a manufacturer. The primary benefit of a third-party warranty is that you can take your car to almost any repair shop that you’d like, provided they are licensed by the right association.

On the other hand, a Chevrolet extended warranty demands that you bring your car back to an authorized Chevy dealership to have repairs completed. While this does mean that you’ll have specifically trained technicians and Chevy genuine parts, it can be a hassle.

You may have noticed that we aren’t talking about price anywhere in our Chevrolet extended warranty review. That’s because the prices of extended warranties, both from Chevy and third parties, vary from car to car. We’ve discussed this in detail earlier, but essentially, the price quoted is based on your VIN and mileage. It’s advised that you obtain several different quotes before making your decision, since you won’t be able to quickly compare prices online.

What is Covered Under a Certified Pre-Owned Chevy Extended Warranty?

Chevy does not mention certified pre-owned Chevrolets anywhere on their extended warranty documentation. This likely means that a Chevy CPO has the same options as any other Chevy, but you should clarify this with the dealership you’re working with.

You don’t want to miss out on added coverage or not have as much coverage as you’re expecting. You should always be aware of the coverage that you’re signing up for.

Do We Recommend a Chevy Vehicle Service Contract?

So what’s the final decision on our Chevrolet extended warranty review? We can’t recommend the Chevy extended protection plan solely because they are unclear about the entity that is managing the program. Their partnership with AMT Warranty Corp. caught us off guard when we were reviewing the contracts, and it left us with a bad impression of the entire vehicle service program.

Other than that, the Chevrolet extended protection plan seems worthwhile. They provide thorough coverage on their platinum plan and decent coverage on their silver plan. If they had only made their partnership with AMT Warranty Corp. clear on their website and highlighted it in the contract, we might give them a pass and recommend them.

If you’d like another choice, we offer vehicle service contracts through our reputable providers. Our vehicle service contracts have transparent pricing and clearly stated coverage. You’ll know exactly what you’re getting. We even offer free consultation calls to help you talk through your different options. Get in touch with us today, and we’ll help you find an excellent vehicle service contract.

Cadillac Extended Warranty Review

by Ray Shefska | Last updated Apr 24, 2023 | Extended Warranty Reviews, Manufacturer Extended Warranty Reviews

Cadillac is the authority in providing a smooth, luxurious ride. However, even well-crafted cars can have issues. Opting for a vehicle service contract, otherwise known as an extended warranty, can help you to prevent a massive repair bill if something happens to your vehicle. If you’re thinking about buying a dealer warranty, read through our Cadillac extended warranty review first!

We’re about to review the Cadillac extended warranty program, including the term lengths, the levels of coverage, and the administration of the warranty.

The Highlights:

• The Cadillac extended protection plan is administered by AMT Warranty Corp., a company with extraordinarily little public information.
• A third-party warranty will allow you to choose between more repair shops than a Cadillac extended warranty does.
• You’ll have your choice of two tiers and four term lengths, so you can customize your coverage.
• You must take your car to a Cadillac dealership for repairs.

Is It Worth Getting a Cadillac Extended Warranty?

There are two levels of coverage offered with a Cadillac extended warranty. Both plans provide extensive coverage. However, neither plan will cover any issues related to negligence, wear and tear, or abuse. For a repair to be covered under the Cadillac vehicle service contract, it must stem from a defect in manufacturing.

The two levels for plans are:

1. Platinum:  This level is exclusion-based, meaning that everything is covered except for what they specifically exclude. You can view their complete exclusion list on page 5 of their sample contract. The contract mainly covers various scenarios in which repairs will not be covered and typically excludes parts that will wear out over time.
2. Silver:  This level is inclusion-based, meaning that everything specifically mentioned is covered. If it’s not listed, it’s not covered. The complete inclusion list is located on pages 4 and 5 of their sample contract. There are thousands of included components, like the engine, transmission transfer case, drive axle, brakes, and the air conditioning system.

A Cadillac extended protection plan has several term lengths to choose from:

• 24 months / 24,000 miles
• 36 months / 36,000 miles
• 48 months / 48,000 miles
• 60 months / 60,000 miles

You have plenty of ways to customize your extended warranty between the two options and the four term lengths.

Cadillac also offers other perks to tempt you towards using with their services, such as roadside assistance and trip interruption coverage. While these perks are nice, we don’t think they should sway you one way or the other. You should choose your warranty based on the cost, what’s covered, and how many repair facilities you can use.

It’s imperative that we highlight that a company called AMT WARRANTY CORP provides the warranty. There is little publicly available information about this company. Cadillac has partnered with them for their extended warranty instead of administering the warranty themselves. We only discovered this by analyzing the sample contract; they don’t make this information clear on their website.

If you’re near a Cadillac dealership and want your car repaired with genuine Cadillac parts, we think their extended warranty is worth it. Otherwise, you might be better off going for a true third-party warranty.

Cadillac Factory Extended Warranty vs. Third-Party Extended Warranty

The main difference between a Cadillac vehicle service contract and a third-party warranty is the number of options for where you can take your car for repairs. With a third-party warranty, you can repair your car almost anywhere. Each third-party vendor has its own requirements, but typically, if they’re licensed through a reputable association, you can take your car there.

Conversely, you need to take your car to a Cadillac dealership if you opt for a Cadillac extended warranty. The perk of doing this is that genuine Cadillac parts will always be used instead of aftermarket parts that will likely be used with other repair shops.

We should highlight why we aren’t talking about prices in our Cadillac extended warranty review. We’ve talked about extended warranties before and pointed out that quotes vary based on the individual car in question. Any extended warranty vendor will come up with a quote based on your VIN and mileage. That’s why you need to obtain several quotes from different providers and compare the costs and coverage.

What is Covered Under a Certified Pre-Owned Cadillac Extended Warranty?

Cadillac does not mention any special coverage for certified pre-owned vehicles anywhere on their website or within the sample contract. We assume this means that you have the same warranty options for a new or used car, but we don’t want to state that as fact.

You should talk to the dealership before buying a warranty for your certified pre-owned Cadillac to make sure that there isn’t any added or reduced coverage for used cars.

Do We Recommend a Cadillac Vehicle Service Contract?

So what’s the ultimate finding from our Cadillac extended warranty review? It’s hard to recommend a service when they don’t explicitly state who is administering their warranty. The fact that they sneak in the administration in the fine print of their contract rubs us the wrong way.

While the extended warranty itself looks great, we can’t get over the sneaky warranty administration. If the company in charge of the administration had more publicly available information, we might give this a pass. However, it’s a company that we can’t find much information on, so we cannot recommend the Cadillac extended warranty.

If you’re looking for another option, we offer vehicle service contracts through our reputable vendors. We offer transparent pricing and coverage, so you’ll always know exactly what you’re getting. We even offer free consultation calls to help you on the right options for you. Contact us today to get set up with your warranty today!

Buick Extended Warranty Review

by Ray Shefska | Last updated Apr 24, 2023 | Extended Warranty Reviews, Manufacturer Extended Warranty Reviews

Buick has a reputation for building solid, reliable vehicles. Even with that reputation, breakdowns still happen. Having an extended warranty helps to protect you from massive repair bills. If you’re thinking about a dealer warranty, take a look at our Buick extended warranty review first!

We’re about to cover everything you need to know about the Buick extended warranty, including service plans, coverage, and potential drawbacks.

The Highlights:

• The Buick extended warranty is administered by AMT Warranty Corp., a company with extraordinarily little public information.
• There are two tiers of plans and four term lengths to choose from.
• You’ll be restricted to taking your car to a Buick dealership for covered repairs.
• A third-party warranty will give you more options on where you can take your vehicle for repairs.

Is It Worth Getting a Buick Extended Warranty?

Our Buick extended warranty review wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t talk about the coverage options. Buick offers two levels of coverage, Platinum and Silver. They each provide extensive coverage, but both plans only cover issues related to manufacturer defects. Anything related to abuse, misuse, negligence, or standard wear and tear will not be covered.

Let’s dive a little deeper into these plans:

• Platinum coverage is an exclusion-based warranty, meaning they’ll cover any component that is not listed in the exclusions list. This list is quite thorough, and you can view it on page 5 of their sample contract. Most components in your vehicle will be covered, as the exclusions list mainly deals with scenarios in which repairs will not be covered, such as vandalism or theft.
• Silver coverage is an inclusion-based warranty, meaning that they’ll cover any component that has stated coverage. You can view the complete list on page 4 of their sample contract. The major highlights are coverage for the engine, transmission, steering, electrical, brakes, and air conditioner.

A Buick vehicle service contract has several term length options:

• 24 months / 24,000 miles
• 36 months / 36,000 miles
• 48 months / 48,000 miles
• 60 months / 60,000 miles

Between the two levels of plans and four term lengths, you can customize the level of coverage that you’re after.

There are other perks as well, such as rental car coverage, towing, and road service. They even offer trip interruption coverage for situations in which your car breaks down when you’re more than 100 miles away from home.

We need to highlight that these warranties are administered by AMT Warranty Corp, as dictated in the service contract. This means that even though Buick is selling them as their own warranties, someone else administrates the plans. This gives us an uneasy feeling, especially because this is only disclosed in the fine print in the sample contract.

Overall, we think the Buick extended warranty is worth it if you’re located near a Buick dealership. Otherwise, you might be better off with a third-party extended warranty.

Buick Factory Extended Warranty vs. Third-Party Extended Warranty

The core difference between a Buick extended protection plan, and a third-party extended warranty is flexibility in where your car is fixed. Even though the Buick vehicle service contract is technically administered by a third-party, they still require that you take your car to a Buick dealership for repairs.

The benefit of taking your car to a dealership is that all repairs will be done with genuine Buick parts, instead of the aftermarket parts that will likely be used at another repair shop.

However, if the nearest Buick dealership is quite far away, it might be better to go for a third-party warranty so that you can take your vehicle to your favorite mechanic.

We aren’t discussing prices in our Buick extended warranty review because, as we’ve mentioned before, when discussing vehicle service contracts, prices are highly customized. No two cars will receive the same quote, even with the same coverage from the same company.

What is Covered Under a Certified Pre-Owned Buick Extended Warranty?

Buick does not make any special mention of certified pre-owned Buicks when discussing their warranty. We’ve searched both the sample contract and their extended warranty information page, and there’s no mention of a certified pre-owned extended warranty.

What this likely means is that the same warranties are available for certified pre-owned vehicles with no added or reduced coverage.

We highly suggest that you clarify the type of coverage your CPO vehicle is eligible for when you’re at the dealership buying your car, since they don’t make a clear distinction in coverage.

Do We Recommend a Buick Vehicle Service Contract?

We heavily dislike that the Buick extended protection plans are administered by a secondary company instead of directly through Buick. If this was clearly disclosed on their sales pages, it might not sting as much. Instead, we discovered this by examining the sample contract.

Other than this massive drawback, it seems like a perfectly fine extended warranty. The coverage comes in two tiers, and you have four term lengths to choose from. This makes their warranty offering flexible, which we appreciate.

So what’s the bottom line of our Buick extended warranty review? We cannot recommend the Buick extended warranty program in good conscience. We are put off by the fact that they secretly passed off their warranty administration to a third party and didn’t make this information obvious until you read the fine print in the contract.

If you’re looking for another option for a vehicle service contract, we offer VSCs through our reputable vendors. With our flat-rate markup and transparent pricing, we’d love to help you find the coverage you need. We even offer a free consultation to talk about options to create the right plan for you. Contact us today and we’ll find you a great extended warranty.

BMW Extended Warranty Review

by Ray Shefska | Last updated Apr 24, 2023 | Extended Warranty Reviews, Manufacturer Extended Warranty Reviews

BMW is one of the top names that come to mind when people think about luxury vehicles. Their cars are designed to last and to deliver top-of-the-line performance. Still, manufacturer defects can happen, even in these premium cars. If you’re thinking about buying an extended warranty, take a look at our BMW extended warranty review first!

A BMW extended protection plan offers coverage from hefty repair bills that are related to manufacturer’s defects. BMW offers extended warranties that we believe are well worth the cost. 

The Highlights:

• BMW offers three distinct levels of coverage, but only the top tier is available for CPO vehicles.
• You have several options for term length and mileage limitations.
• All repairs are completed with genuine parts.
• Third-party vendors will give you better options for choosing your own repair shop.

Is It Worth Getting a BMW Extended Warranty?

Buying a BMW extended warranty is worth it for anyone who plans to keep a vehicle for a longer time than the factory warranty covers. Because of the cost to make repairs on BMWs, having the added protection of an extended warranty will give you peace of mind.

We recommend that you don’t purchase this warranty from the dealership, though. Instead, add it to your car later. There’s no requirement that you must buy it at the time that you’re purchasing the vehicle.

BMW has a sleek warranty that is easy to understand. We love to see simplicity when it comes to warranties, as complex warranty plans often confuse consumers, leading them to make poor choices.

There are three types of BMW extended protection plans. The lower two levels are available for any new or used BMW vehicle. The highest level is also available for new and used BMWs, but it’s also the only option for a certified pre-owned BMW.

Each of the three plans has its own level of coverage:

• Platinum:  This top-tier plan offers comprehensive coverage for every major system in your vehicle, including the engine, transmission, electrical, and cooling systems. The only limited coverage is for the interior and exterior of the vehicle.
• Gold:  This mid-tier plan has the same coverage as the Platinum plan. However, there is limited coverage for electrical systems and no coverage for the “infotainment” system.
• Powertrain:  As the name suggests, this plan only covers components in the drive train, such as the engine, transmission, and transfer case.

Take note that only breakdowns that are related to manufacturers’ defects are covered. If repairs are needed because of misuse, abuse, or negligence, the repairs will not be covered.

We should highlight that you don’t need to buy an extended warranty when you’re buying your car. You can add it on later. Different automakers have stipulations on when such coverage can be added, so make sure to check with BMW on their specific limitations.

When it comes to the length of your warranty, BMW has surprisingly flexible options. You can purchase coverage for lengths ranging from four years to seven years. This is slightly more complicated for certified pre-owned vehicles, which we’ll discuss in detail later.  You’ll also be able to choose your mileage limitation, either 75,000 or 100,000 miles.

BMW Factory Extended Warranty vs. Third-Party Extended Warranty

Flexibility on where you can have repairs completed is the primary difference between a BMW extended warranty and a third-party extended warranty. All repairs covered by your BMW extended warranty must be completed at an authorized dealer. Meanwhile, third-party providers typically allow you to have repairs completed at any licensed repair shop.

Another key difference in coverage happens in the parts used for your repairs. BMW extended warranties call for using BMW genuine parts, whereas a repair shop will most likely use aftermarket parts. This is an important thing to consider when thinking about which option will be right for you.

We’ve previously discussed that extended warranty pricing varies from car to car, which is why we won’t talk about costs in our BMW extended warranty review. The pricing is based on your mileage and VIN. You’ll need to obtain several quotes and compare specific coverage to make an informed decision.

What is Covered Under a Certified Pre-Owned BMW Extended Warranty?

The certified pre-owned BMW extended warranty coverage is part of the Platinum plan discussed above. However, the term length varies based on the type of CPO that you’re purchasing.

This can be complicated, so let’s break it down based on the CPO offerings that BMW has:

• CPO:  Term length of 1-2 years, your choice
• CPO Elite:  Only 1 year of coverage is available
• CPO Wrap: Your choice of 3 or 4 years of coverage
• CPO Wrap Elite: Term length of 2 to 4 years

That might be a lot to wrap your head around, which is why we wanted to make sure to mention it in our BMW extended warranty review! Essentially, just keep in mind that your term length options will vary based on the CPO type that you end up purchasing.

Do We Recommend a BMW Vehicle Service Contract?

A BMW vehicle service contract will provide the coverage you need to give you peace of mind. We think that this makes extended warranties worthwhile for anyone who plans to keep their vehicle after the factory warranty expires.

As for the BMW vehicle service contract options, the coverage is quite thorough for the top two plans. The powertrain plan, which will be less expensive, doesn’t have extensive coverage, but it will still protect you from potentially expensive repairs.

So what’s the bottom line from our BMW extended warranty review? We recommend the BMW extended warranty program. They have three clear options with explicitly stated coverage. Repairs will be made using genuine BMW parts, which we greatly appreciate.

If you are looking for another option, contact us today. We offer vehicle service contracts through our partner vendors. We provide transparent pricing and an explicitly stated markup. We even offer free consultations to help you decide if our options are right for you.