If one thing’s for sure, it’s that every driver loves their vehicle. After all, who doesn’t enjoy the feeling of hitting the highway with the wind in your hair, free to go wherever you please whenever the moment takes you? Unfortunately, however, freedom isn’t free, and with the annual cost of car ownership recently passing the $12,000 mark, drivers across the country are looking for ways to keep their outgoings to a minimum.

An extended auto warranty offers effective protection from the cost of unexpected car repair bills, but there are so many providers out there that settling on one can prove a bit of a challenge. To help you make the right decision for your needs, our regular comparison series puts two of the leading names in vehicle service contracts head to head to see who comes out on top.

Today, we’ll compare Endurance and DriveSmart Warranty so you can see how they stack up.

What Is an Extended Warranty, and Why Do You Need One?

To put it in the simplest possible terms: an extended warranty can save you money on the overall cost of car ownership. But to give you the full picture, we need to go back to the beginning.

When you purchase a new factory vehicle, the manufacturer guarantees that no components will fail due to fault within a predetermined number of years/months (whichever comes first). This is what’s known as a factory warranty or manufacturer warranty, and how long it lasts will completely depend on the generosity of your manufacturer. Regardless, once it expires, you (as the owner) will be fully responsible for any future repair bills.

To continue enjoying the coverage you’ve become accustomed to, you have two options:

The first is a more traditional extended warranty, which is usually purchased via your dealership or directly from your manufacturer. These do exactly what the name implies and extend your factory warranty beyond the expiry date. There are some drawbacks to this kind of warranty, however. For example, you’re tied to dealerships for authorized repairs, which isn’t ideal if you break down hundreds of miles from one. To make matters worse, you must purchase your extended warranty while your factory warranty is still active. Leave it just a single day late, and you’ll no longer qualify for coverage.

Because of these pretty major flaws, most people opt for the second option, a vehicle service contract (VSC) from a third-party provider. Third parties are incentivized to offer almost like-for-like coverage at an even better price point. They also often throw in a whole bunch of added perks to sweeten the deal, and you can purchase a VSC regardless of your factory warranty status—making it an ideal option for used car owners. On top of all that, VSCs give you the freedom to have your vehicle repaired at any certified auto shop.

While we’re on the topic, it’s worth pointing out that an extended warranty is very different from auto insurance. While they’re both great at saving you money, they do so in different ways: a warranty specifically protects you from bills incurred due to unexpected component failure, while auto insurance protects you from bills incurred as a result of a collision or other such incident. The two work well together, so it’s always recommended that you invest in both for double the saving potential.

The Companies

So, now you know exactly what an extended warranty is and what it entails, it’s time we moved on to the companies in question:

Endurance Warranty Overview

Since opening our HQ in Northbrook, Illinois, way back in 2006, Endurance has helped thousands of U.S. drivers defend their finances from the cost of unexpected component failure. We offer a whole range of vehicle protection plans aimed at an even wider range of drivers, with something designed for casual commuters, rideshare drivers, luxury car owners, and almost everyone in between. We ensure eligibility, affordability, and flexibility, so if the base plans don’t quite tick all of the right boxes for your individual needs and budget, our team will tailor a bespoke plan that does.

If that wasn’t enough, we also offer some of the best added benefits in the business. Every Endurance auto protection plan comes with 24/7 roadside assistance (including towing, fuel delivery, and lockout services), rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage as standard. Our deductibles vary from $0 to $500, and we provide drivers with a 30-day free-look period.

New Endurance customers also get a year of access to our Elite Benefits package, which adds up to four tire repairs or replacements annually, key fob replacement, up to $500 in collision discounts, and $1,000 in total loss protection. Just pay a small activation fee, and you’re all set to enjoy these additional valuable perks.

There’s no pesky middleman to deal with when you want to make a claim either, as we’re the direct administrator of most of our plans. We have an award-winning customer service team on hand at all times, plus you can download the handy Endurance app to put all of the most important information in the palm of your hand. Endurance plans are also fully transferable, giving you extra selling power if you decide to part ways with your vehicle.

DriveSmart Warranty Overview

Founded in 2016, DriveSmart is an extended car warranty provider serving the whole of North America. They primarily offer vehicle service contracts, earning themselves a B rating from the BBB. Customer reviews put them at 4.06/5 on the BBB but just 3.2/5 on Trustpilot, putting them in a very average place regarding customer satisfaction.

There are three distinct classes of vehicle service contracts on the DriveSmart website, including a basic powertrain plan, a more comprehensive stated component plan, and an exclusionary option. These come packaged with a few additional benefits, including roadside assistance, car rental reimbursement, and trip interruption costs.

Reading customer reviews, the main complaints seem to be about customer service and difficulty canceling plans. While the DriveSmart website does look relatively well put together, it repeats a lot of the same information on each page, and they don’t appear to have any sort of app.

The Plans

Endurance and DriveSmart Warranty both offer a range of plans with varying levels of coverage:

Endurance Warranty Plans

Supreme

For all-inclusive coverage that’s as close to a factory warranty as you’re going to get, our Supreme plan is your top choice. Almost every part, component, and system in your vehicle is protected, including seals, gaskets, and some advanced components. If another provider you’re looking at offers a Titanium or Diamond plan, you can be confident that Supreme is at least as good, if not better.

Supreme For Highline Vehicles

Luxury vehicles might look incredible, but they’re unfortunately lacking reliability. They’re also more expensive to repair, so we developed Supreme For Highline Vehicles to protect specific luxury vehicles under 80,000 miles on the clock and under eight years of age.

Advantage

Advantage is our most comprehensive plan, providing nearly unparalleled coverage during unexpected breakdowns. Better yet, it’s also the only protection program on the market to include up to $3,500 in annual maintenance costs, keeping your vehicle in top running condition and saving you even more money.

Superior

One step below Supreme, Superior is another comprehensive plan that covers a wide range of specified parts. It’s the ideal option for someone who uses their vehicle for daily commuting or anyone who enjoys the occasional road trip. A number of electronic parts are covered, with the option to add protection for more advanced technology.

Select Premier

Finding a provider covering a high-mileage vehicle can be tough, but Endurance is happy to help. Choose Select Premier for older cars with up to 150,000 miles on the clock, protecting essential engine components, transmission, and drive axle assembly components, as well as your cooling system, fuel system, and select air conditioning and electrical parts.

Secure

If you only want to protect the most crucial vehicle components, take a look at Secure. With prices starting at a low price each month, it looks out for those essential powertrain parts that cost the most to repair.

Secure Plus

Offering the same level of coverage options as the Secure plan and then some, Secure Plus also includes brakes, air conditioning, steering, and select electrical parts.

DriveSmart Warranty Plans

Voyager

Like most warranty companies, DriverSmart Warranty’s basic level of coverage specifically looks out for your powertrain.

Travelers

Travelers is a stated component plan that builds on Voyager by adding coverage for steering, some electrical components, and brakes.

Travelers MAX

Travelers MAX is an exclusionary plan that also protects your turbocharger, suspension, and additional electrical components.

Other Benefits

It’s common for vehicle service contract providers to offer additional benefits with their plans, and Endurance and DriveSmart Warranty are no exception:

Endurance Benefits

24/7 Roadside Assistance: No one wants to be stranded out on the road. All Endurance plans come with 24/7 roadside assistance, so you can get help whenever you might need it. This includes towing, fuel delivery, and lockout services.

Trip-interruption costs: If you break down far from home, we’ll cover trip-interruption costs to minimize the inconvenience.

Replacement travel reimbursement: Sometimes, cars can take a while to fix. We’ll cover replacement travel so you can get back on the road as soon as possible.

Maintenance costs: The market-leading Endurance Advantage plan is the only one around to offer $3,500 in annual maintenance costs.

Endurance Elite Benefits: Add on our optional Elite Benefits package, and you’ll get access to up to four tire repairs or replacements annually, key fob replacement, up to $500 in collision discounts, and up to $1,000 in total loss protection.

DriveSmart Warranty Benefits

Roadside Assistance: In the event of a breakdown, DriveSmart provides roadside assistance and will have your vehicle towed to the nearest licensed repair facility.

Car Rental Assistance: If your vehicle cannot be repaired on the same day and requires a rental car, DriveSmart will reimburse $30 per day for up to five days.

Trip Interruption: Break down over 100 miles from home, and DriveSmart will reimburse you for lodging and meals.

First-Year Maintenance Perks: During your first year of membership, DrivesSmart offers:

• Up to three complimentary oil changes (up to 5 quarts)
• Brake replacement up to $130 on select covered vehicles
• Complimentary cooling system drain and refill, pressure check, and inspection up to $40

Endurance Warranty vs. DriveSmart Warranty: Pros and Cons

To conclude our comparison, let’s quickly put the pros and cons of each provider side by side:

Endurance Warranty pros:

• America’s top service contract provider
• Direct administrator of most of its plans
• Market-leading eligibility, flexibility, and affordability
• Award-winning customer service team
• Fantastic benefits
• Fully transferable coverage
• Handy mobile app
• New customers get a year of Endurance Elite Benefits

Endurance Warranty cons:

• Not available outside the US

DriveSmart Warranty pros:

• Both comprehensive and powertrain plans available
• Good range of benefits
• Additional maintenance perks in the first year

DriveSmart Warranty cons:

• Not been in business very long
• Very average customer reviews
• Complaints about customer service
• Limited selection of coverage plans
• Difficult to cancel if you change your mind
• No smartphone app

For Quality Coverage, There’s Only One Name You Need to Know

With the cost of car ownership always rising, protecting yourself with an extended car warranty has never been more important. As cars become more technologically advanced, repairs are becoming more expensive, and you can bet when a breakdown inevitably happens, it will be at the worst possible moment. You need a trusted provider to watch your back to save yourself the stress (and a lot of money). And Endurance is America’s No. 1!

Across the web, experts rate us as the best vehicle service contract provider in the country, and we have thousands of five-star reviews from happy customers on sites like Consumer Affairs to back that up.

Take advantage of our low monthly payments and 30-day money-back guarantee. Call (800) 253-8203 to request a FREE quote. You can also shop online to see your price now.

Get in more reading before you leave – head over to our extended warranty blog for more helpful articles like comparisons with CarShield, CARCHEX, and more!