As a car owner, you know how important it is to stay on top of vehicle repairs and get your car the service it needs as soon as an issue comes up. When a mechanical problem arises, though, you may not be able to afford the repair right away and might have to put it off longer than you should.

This can quickly turn small problems into big, expensive problems. That is why it is so important to have a protection plan on your side that you can use to get repairs done right away and get your vehicle back in top-notch condition.

When you buy a brand-new car off the lot, it almost always comes with a factory warranty provided by the manufacturer. This warranty helps protect you from repairs that arise due to factory problems or issues with the vehicle’s design.

Factory warranties usually last for anywhere between three years or 36,000 miles and ten years or 100,000 miles. Once this warranty is up, though, you will be solely responsible for any repairs that your car might need, which is where many people end up with financial hardships.

If you want help paying for repairs for your vehicle after the manufacturer’s warranty is up, a third-party extended warranty, more accurately called a vehicle service contract (VSC), is a great option. VSCs are provided by third-party companies and offer coverage for all kinds of mechanical issues and repairs that you might run into with your vehicle. It is incredibly important that you choose the right provider for your protection plan, and it can be helpful to see how various companies stack up.

Endurance and CarmaCare are two VSC providers with very different approaches to helping drivers get the repairs they need. Knowing how the companies compare and what each of them has to offer will help you make the right choice for yourself and your car.

Warranty Company Overviews

Endurance

Based in Illinois, Endurance has been helping drivers save on vehicle repairs for over 18 years. With a wide range of coverage options and top-tier customer service, Endurance has plans for nearly every type of vehicle and every driver. You can choose from an existing plan or get customized coverage designed specifically for your situation. This way, you can be certain that you will be covered for any kind of problem that might come up on your car.

Endurance is well-known for award-winning customer service and a mobile app that allows you to access your plan 24 hours a day. We also offer a large collection of standard perks and additional benefits to help ensure that you are protected whenever you are on the road. These include 24/7 roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and travel interruption coverage.

Every new Endurance customer can access Elite Benefits for a small activation fee, including tire repair or replacement, key fob replacement, $1,000 toward total loss protection, and more. Endurance also covers vehicles that other providers won’t, such as cars used for rideshare or delivery, salvage vehicles, and Canadian Gray Market cars.

Endurance also stands apart from other providers in terms of our mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) offerings. This plan is meant to protect California drivers who would otherwise be unable to get coverage due to strict state guidelines. Extended auto warranties or VSCs are not available there, but MBI acts as an insurance policy to help cover the cost of covered repairs due to mechanical breakdowns. Endurance offers comprehensive MBI coverage designed to protect California drivers just as much as drivers in other states.

CarmaCare

CarmaCare is a relatively new warranty provider founded in 2021 and markets itself as “healthcare for your car.” The company sets itself apart from other providers by trying to make the process of getting coverage and getting the auto repairs you need as easy as possible. CarmaCare offers three different levels of coverage as well as a few different additional standard benefits like roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement.

CarmaCare’s plans range from the most basic powertrain coverage to exclusionary bumper-to-bumper coverage. There are, however, some exceptions when it comes to what vehicles CarmaCare will cover. The company does not offer protection plans for vehicles that are used for commercial purposes like rideshare or delivery and will not offer plans on vehicles that have a salvage or damaged title.

If your vehicle falls into either of these categories, you will want to look elsewhere for your protection plan. The company also does not offer any plans with zero deductible, which might be an issue for some drivers, so it is a good idea to get all the details of your plan and shop around before you decide that CarmaCare is the right choice for you.

Auto Protection Options

Endurance

Endurance offers customized coverage for various drivers, automobiles, and budgets and set warranty plans to fit all kinds of drivers and cars. These are some of the main coverage options you can choose from:

• Supreme – The Supreme plan is the best option for people who want the most coverage possible for their vehicles. This exclusionary plan covers nearly every component, including the cooling system, electrical components, seals, gaskets, and tech features that other providers don’t generally include.
• Supreme for Highline Vehicles – The Supreme for Highline plan covers vehicles produced by major luxury brands like Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Alfa Romeo, as long as they have fewer than 80,000 miles on the odometer and are less than eight years old. This plan also offers a list of exclusions for ease of comprehension.
• Superior – The Superior plan offers vital component coverage on the parts most likely to break down, including the engine, transmission, A/C, and more.
• Select Premier – Getting coverage for a car with high mileage can be difficult. The Select Premier plan is specifically designed for vehicles with a lot of miles and covers cars other providers won’t.
• Secure Plus – The most essential components on your vehicle tend to be the most expensive to repair, and the Secure Plus plan offers affordable coverage for older cars. These include the engine, transmission, and drive axle.
• Secure – If you want coverage for your vehicle and are working with a strict budget, the Secure plan is right for you. This economical plan covers the crucial components of your vehicle’s powertrain to help you keep it running smoothly for many years.
• Advantage – Advantage offers comprehensive coverage and up to $3,500 in annual or routine maintenance costs, such as oil changes and oil filter replacements. This can save you a lot of money over the years while also giving you the highest level of protection.

CarmaCare

CarmaCare offers three different levels of coverage to drivers, all of which have varying degrees of completeness when it comes to components. These plans include:

• Powertrain – This plan covers all of your vehicle’s most important powertrain components, including all internally lubricated parts, the engine block, the transmission, and the fuel pump.
• CarmaCare Plus – If you want coverage for more than just the essentials, CarmaCare Plus could be the right option. This plan covers some extra components like the suspension, steering, and some heating and air conditioning components.
• CarmaCare Complete – The CarmaCare Complete plan is made for people who want the most comprehensive coverage possible. This plan covers nearly every component of the car, including the electrical system and the entire HVAC system.

Customer Service Ratings and Customer Reviews

Endurance

If you are looking to work with a VSC provider with a reputation for stellar customer service, Endurance is your best option. Endurance’s customer service team is award-winning and has received many accolades from service organizations and customers alike over the years.

Endurance currently holds a high star rating on Trustpilot, with over 7,000 reviews in total and many reviewers commenting on the excellent service they have received. Customer reviewers have also called out the ease with which they were able to file their claims and how fast they could get their car repairs done so they could get their vehicles back in good working order as soon as possible. We also rank well on review sites such as Google and Consumer Affairs.

CarmaCare

CarmaCare is still a relatively new company, which means that reviews and testimonials are few and far between. The reviews they have on Google, though, are overwhelmingly positive. Many customers have had a good experience with CarmaCare’s customer service team and the way they handled any issues customers may have been having.

They also specifically mention how easy the website is to use and how affordable coverage is. While there still aren’t many reviews to judge from, this is a good indication that CarmaCare tries to keep customers happy whenever they have an issue or want to file a claim.

Claims Process

Endurance

When the time comes to get a repair done on your vehicle, Endurance tries to make everything as easy as possible. All you have to do is take your car to the shop of your choice and show them your Endurance membership. After that, the shop and Endurance will take care of the rest.

Endurance is a direct provider of coverage, which means you will not have to worry about any middlemen or miscommunications when the time comes to get your vehicle repaired. As long as the repair is covered in your plan, you will only have to pay your deductible unless your plan doesn’t require one. This, plus the availability of a knowledgeable customer service team, makes it simple to get your car fixed.

CarmaCare

CarmaCare has a similar claims process in that all you have to do is take your vehicle to an ASE Certified shop and let the service advisor know that you will be using your VSC to cover the cost. After that, the shop will inspect the vehicle and tell you what the issue is and what course of action they recommend. If the inspection requires disassembly, this will be covered by your plan as long as that particular repair is covered as well.

After the inspection has been done, the service advisor will then call CarmaCare and work out all the covered labor and parts. Then, the service advisor will let you know what you will owe at the end of the repair. All of CarmaCare’s plans have a deductible, so it is important to be prepared to pay that.

Additional Perks and Benefits

Endurance

Endurance plans come with all kinds of standard perks and benefits, no matter what plan you decide is right for you. These perks include 24/7 roadside assistance, rental car coverage, and travel interruption coverage. Plus, for a small activation fee, all new Endurance customers get access to Elite Benefits, which include tire repair or replacement, key fob replacement, $1,000 toward total loss protection, and much more. With an Endurance plan, you know that your vehicle is covered for repairs, as well as many of the trials and tribulations that can happen when you are out on the highway.

CarmaCare

CarmaCare plans also come with a few extra benefits that customers can use when they are on the road. These include 24/7 roadside assistance, towing coverage, trip interruption coverage, and rental car reimbursement. However, CarmaCare plans do not include any extra benefits like key fob replacement or total loss protection. This means that if you want to be fully protected in every possible way, it may be a good idea to take a look at what other providers are offering.

Cost and Value Considerations

Endurance

Endurance plans are generally customized to fit the specific needs of each driver and vehicle. The most basic powertrain coverage that Endurance offers starts at $99 per month and includes all the extra perks and benefits that come with the other plans. If you want to get the most out of your coverage plan, it is a good idea to build the cost of coverage into the total cost of ownership for your car. By having protection from expensive repairs, you can reduce the overall cost of owning your car, especially if you have a lot of miles on the odometer and expect some issues in the long run. Endurance deductibles range from $0 to $500 depending on your plan and your needs when you take your vehicle into the shop and make a claim.

CarmaCare

CarmaCare does not list prices for coverage plans, but it claims that plans start at $25 per month. Like any other VSC provider, what you pay will depend heavily on your car’s needs and things like its make, model, age, and mileage. CarmaCare also does not offer any zero-deductible plans and instead offers either $100 or $250 deductibles. If you would prefer to take care of all your repair expenses with your monthly protection plan payment, you might be better off looking for a provider that offers plans without any deductible at all.

Get the Best Extended Car Warranty for Your Vehicle

If you are going to make the right choice regarding your vehicle protection plan, you have to know what is available and what your different options have to offer. If you are looking for a provider with a top-notch customer service team and a wide range of perks and benefits on top of comprehensive coverage, Endurance is your best choice every time.

Endurance offers a wide range of customizable plans, the most complete protection on the market, and an amazing customer service team. With standard benefits and extra perks to give you peace of mind, we will help you keep your vehicle in great shape for many years.

Take advantage of our 30-day money-back guarantee – contact our award-winning customer service department at (800) 253-8203 for a FREE quote. You can also shop online to see your price right away.

Check out all things automotive, including comparisons with other providers like CarShield and CARCHEX, repair facility reviews, mechanical breakdown insurance, FAQs, and more on the Endurance Warranty blog.a