It’s no secret that car owners looking for extended warranty coverage have many providers to choose from. However, selecting the best coverage involves picking a reputable warranty company and a plan that meets your protection needs and budget.  Getting an extended car warranty is logical if your used car’s factory warranty has expired (or is expiring soon) and you’re looking for a safeguard against breakdowns and surprise repair bills.

We’ll cover two options: the Garantía Endurance and the PenFed Vehicle Protection Plan. Keep reading to learn about the coverage details for both programs. We’ll also examine how these companies handle customer service, administer claims, and disclose essential information.

But this comparison has a twist, as PenFed isn’t an extended warranty company like Endurance. Instead, the giant credit union resells warranties offered by Auto Service Company (ASC) through its sister company, Route 66 Warranty. So, we’ll cover PenFed for how and what it sells and then look at ASC for how it interacts with warranty customers.

Extended Warranties: Did You Know?

The term “extended warranty” is often used in the auto industry to describe coverage that kicks in after the original manufacturer’s warranty expires on your used car. You might also hear terms like “contrato de servicio de vehiculo” (VSC) or “auto protection plan,” which are used interchangeably with “extended warranty” and mean the same thing. The specifics of what an extended warranty covers depend on the purchased plan and the company providing the service. It is also worth noting that VSCs and extended warranties are not the same as auto insurance.

Comparing Companies

An Endurance versus PenFed/Auto Service Company comparison involves leading players in their respective fields. Northbrook, Illinois-based Endurance, has been part of the extended warranty industry for almost two decades. Since 2012, the company has paid hundreds of millions of customer claims.

Endurance enjoys acclaim for how it operates. In 2024, USA Today recognized the business as a ‘Top Workplaces’ company, following a similar award in 2023 by the Chicago Tribute. That was also the year Business Concept Magazine named Endurance the ‘Best Vehicle Service Contract Provider.’ There are numerous other awards, but the point is that running a good company and treating employees well leads to happy customers.

Established in 1935, McLean, Virginia-based PenFed (officially known as Pentagon Federal Credit Union) is one of America’s oldest and largest credit unions. With almost three million members and $35 billion in assets, calling PenFed large is an understatement.

Originally chartered as the War Department Federal Credit Union to serve members of the military, PenFed has expanded to serve the general public through a series of credit union acquisitions over the past decade.

Auto Services Company (ASC) was formed in 1986 and is headquartered in Mountain Home, Arkansas. While an established player in the extended warranty industry, ASC takes a different business approach by selling its services only through third parties, like car dealers and financial institutions. Consumers cannot purchase an ASC warranty directly through the company.

In addition, ASC operates a separate company, Route 66 Warranty, to handle its business with financial institutions. Consumers buying an extended warranty through PenFed will ultimately deal with Route 66 Warranty.

Opciones de cobertura

Examining coverage details from Endurance and PenFed starts with basic definitions, as both outfits offer stated component coverage and exclusionary plans. In simplest terms, a stated component extended warranty only covers the parts specified in the service agreement. It’s the most wallet-friendly option because the risks for the warranty company are spelled out upfront.

An exclusionary warranty flips the script. Unlike a stated component plan that lists what is covered, an exclusionary program defines what isn’t protected. In many respects, exclusionary coverage is similar to the garantía de parachoques a parachoques included with a new car. Just about everything is covered in the fine print — there are only a few exceptions. An exclusions plan costs more because it offers greater coverage.

Endurance offers seven coverage plans (see chart below) with options for stated component or exclusionary coverage. Car owners can pick a program that best meets their preferences or customize coverage. If all you’re concerned with is powertrain protection, then the basic Secure plan offers the most affordable way to acquire coverage. On the other hand, more extensive safeguards come from the Supreme program, an exclusionary offering. Endurance also offers seguro averia mecanica, similar to an extended warranty, for drivers in California.

In short, there are numerous ways to tailor an extended warranty to your location, needs, and budget:

In contrast, PenFed and Route 66 take a more one-size-fits-all approach to extended car warranties. Plus, these plans have narrow qualification and coverage windows. Here’s the breakdown:

For some, PenFed’s simplified offerings are appealing. However, choosing convenience over thoroughness can be costly in the long run. First, let’s look at coverage windows.

The Easy Street / Newer Cars plan is the most affordable because newer vehicles are less likely to have problems — that makes sense. But many new cars include a powertrain warranty lasting five years or 60,000. So, buying this plan through PenFed creates a narrow protection timeframe that may only last a year.

To be fair, buying an extended warranty early costs less, and this applies to Endurance plans, too. But a hard cut-off limits the value of the protection. The same issue applies to the Easy Street plan.

According to the federal government, the average driver is on the road for about 13,500 miles per year. Let’s say a car owner wants to secure extended warranty protection after five years (when most factory bumper-to-bumper y tren motriz warranties have expired). This means the typical five-year-old car has 67,500 miles on the odometer. Do the math in this scenario, and the Easy Street plan ends after another 32,500, which occurs in 2.4 years for the average driver. So, even though this coverage has a five-year timeframe, it will likely end sooner.

The Main Street plan could be more worthwhile because it skips odometer caps in favor of a defined period: three years or 36,000 miles. One thousand miles of driving per month is closer to the national average. However, this program has a significant shortfall: it doesn’t provide exclusionary coverage. In comparison, the Endurance Supreme plan is exclusionary, offering maximum protection for an older car.

Plan Pricing and Deductibles

PenFed’s streamlined extended warranty program is supported by flat-rate pricing for each plan. Some car owners may appreciate this simplicity, but it could mean spending more than necessary. Endurance recognizes that every car and its owner are different. By providing an individualized quote for each vehicle, warranty buyers can be assured of getting a price tailored to their specific situations. Endurance also offers varying deductibles ranging from $0 to $200.

Another pricing aspect to consider when comparing Endurance and PenFed is buying direct versus third-party. With Endurance, car owners deal directly with the warranty company; there’s no intermediary or go-between.

That’s not how things work with PenFed. If you purchase an extended warranty this way, this credit union will take a cut from the transaction. On its website, Route 66 is upfront about the process, encouraging banks and credit unions to reach out “If you are a financial institution who is looking for additional fee income.”

Of course, there’s nothing unethical about PenFed making money this way. It just means that car owners are paying for coverage marked up to cover PenFed’s share.

Assess Customer Service

The essence of any extended warranty is the customer service that backs it up. Endurance and Route 66 have established customer service departments that can be reached by telephone or email. While both car warranty companies take a professional approach with their customers, Endurance’s efforts are validated by outside experts.

The company is a regular recipient of the Stevie Award, a business recognition program that calls attention to firms with outstanding customer interaction. In 2023, Endurance Warranty received a Silver Stevie for exceptional sales and customer service efforts.

Ease of Claims Processing?

From a customer standpoint, the key to a successful extended warranty claim is convenience and speed. Both companies offer claim filing by telephone or email, which is nothing unusual.

However, Endurance goes a step further with an exclusive smartphone app. Submitting a claim this way requires only answering a few questions and clicking a few on-screen buttons. The app also provides real-time claims status information. There’s no need to wait for an email or worry about missing a phone call. All the essential information is in your hands.

Both companies’ customers can take their cars to any licensed mechanic shop for covered repairs; that’s standard practice for most extended warranty agreements. So, you can use a neighborhood service station, a specialized repair shop, or your local dealership.

To make the repair process easier and quicker, Endurance has partnered with RepairPal to provide easy access to a network of over 2,800 certified service centers. These repair facilities meet specific customer service standards and have mechanics with minimum skill requirements. RepairPal network customers are also assured by a warranty that’s good for a minimum of 12 months or 12,000 miles.

Additional Extended Warranty Benefits

These days, there’s more to an extended car warranty than protection from breakdowns and unpredictable repair bills. Full-service warranty companies, like Endurance and Route 66, also provide roadside assistance services for towing, tire changes, lockout help, and fuel delivery. A rental car reimbursement program is also included with plans from both firms. Endurance expands on this by adding trip interruption protection to every agreement, offering additional support if your car breaks down more than 100 miles from home.

Endurance customers also get exclusive access to Beneficios de élite, a free year of services worth up to $2,000. A small activation fee opens perks like tire repairs and replacements (up to two tires per year due to road hazards), key fob replacement, collision repair discounts, and total loss protection.

Transparency in Customer Reviews

Researching and buying an extended warranty can be confusing and overwhelming. Success comes from choosing a provider that’s open and upfront about what it sells. In this respect, Endurance and PenFed share equal status as both companies post sample contracts for review.

However, car owners visiting the Endurance and PenFed websites will have very different experiences. Endurance’s sole business is extended car warranties, and its website reflects this. You’ll find an extensive FAQ section, a vast article library (Blog Endurance), tools for getting plan details and pricing (tienda en línea), and easy-to-access contact information.

Meanwhile, the PenFed website underscores that extended warranties are an afterthought to that organization. After combing through numerous financial products, you’ll find a single vehicle protection plan page listing the options and briefly describing features and benefits. There are no FAQs or details beyond downloadable sample contracts. You won’t even find any contact information. Call PenFed’s toll-free number for plan information, and you’ll be taken through a confusing phone tree that never mentions extended warranties. Customers are presented with these extended warranty options only after applying for and being approved for a car loan. They can then add an extended warranty and learn it’s offered through Route 66.

Online reviews can help gain insights into how a company treats its customers. A look at Google reviews shows almost 13,000 comments about Endurance and an average score of 4.1. Individual feedback includes comments like “Ten out of 10, and the service and promptness with a claim was smooth” and “Happy customer here and will continue to recommend Endurance.”

While PenFed also has glowing Google reviews, you won’t find any that discuss its extended warranty program. For that, you’ll have to turn to Route 66, but this company doesn’t have any Google reviews at all, making the task equally fruitless.

One place to make a comparison is the review site ConsumerAffairs.com. Endurance’s 4.5 out of 5 rating puts it in the upper echelon of warranty providers. In contrast, Route 66’s score of 2.0 puts it far below competing companies.

Get Protected With Endurance

Discover why Endurance’s direct and transparent approach to extended car warranties works for so many car owners. And take advantage of our 30-day money-back guarantee! Request a FREE quote o visitar el Endurance online store for instant price and plan details.

Have questions or need more information? An Endurance advisor is ready to help! Call (800) 253-8203 to experience award-winning customer service and customize an auto protection plan that fits your needs.

Read more coverage provider comparisons with CarShield, CARCHEX, autopom!, and others on the Blog Endurance.