First, let’s start with a factory warranty. This is a contract between you and a company, often your car’s dealer or manufacturer, covering certain repairs within a specific time or mileage range. Typically, the warranty falls within the first 3 years or 60,000 miles and is usually a part of the overall cost of the vehicle.

Once the factory warranty expires, you can choose to purchase an extended warranty or a vehicle service contract (VSC) to cover repairs and replacements. Generally, warranties and VSCs do not cover theft, damage caused by natural disasters, or vandalism. That is what insurance is for.

You can purchase a full-coverage plan, sometimes called an exclusionary plan or a plan that only covers the major systems on your vehicles. It’s important to note Endurance offers vehicle service contracts, similar to extended warranties, though they are not officially warranties by definition.