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Since 1998, Elite Warranty has sold vehicle service contracts through dealerships across the U.S. If you’re offered an Elite Warranty while buying a new car, should you purchase coverage, or is it better to search for a vehicle protection plan elsewhere?
It’s important to research any extended warranty company before signing a contract. To make it easier for consumers, our review team collects information on cost, plan details and customer service for the best extended car warranty companies in the industry. Read on to learn more about Elite Warranty, and click above to start comparing free quotes from our top recommended providers.
Is an Elite Warranty Worth It?
Elite Warranty is headquartered in Springville, Utah. It underwrites its own claims in-house and is backed by insurers with over $150 million in assets. The company has a good customer service reputation and doesn’t work through any middlemen. However, its contracts are sold exclusively through dealerships, which can be a pain.
Here’s an overview of our thoughts on the provider:
| Overall Star Rating | 4.0 out of 5.0 |
|---|---|
| Industry Standing | 4.1 out of 5.0 |
| Coverage | 4.0 out of 5.0 |
| Affordability | 3.9 out of 5.0 |
| Customer Experience | 4.0 out of 5.0 |
Is it worth it? Yes, it is worth considering an Elite Warranty if one is offered at your dealership.
Elite Warranty Coverage
Elite Warranty offers three coverage levels and terms lengths ranging from three months to six years. An Elite Warranty contract promises to pay repair costs for select mechanical and electrical parts after a breakdown. Coverage details for each plan are outlined in the chart below:
| Standard | Premium | Stated Care | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any vehicle | Vehicles with up to 120,000 miles | Vehicles up to 6 years old and with up to 75,000 miles | |
| Eligible Vehicles | x | x | x |
| Engine | x | x | x |
| Transmission | x | x | x |
| Four-Wheel Drive | x | x | x |
| Cooling System | x | x | x |
| Fuel System | x | x | x |
| Air Conditioner | x | x | x |
| Steering | x | x | |
| Seals and Gaskets | x | x | |
| Alternator | x | x | |
| Starter Motor | x | x | |
| Navigation | x | ||
| Exclusionary | x |
Elite Warranty also offers contracts for lifted and diesel vehicles. All plans include roadside assistance for services including towing, jump-starts, flat-tire assistance, fuel delivery and lockouts.
Cost of an Elite Warranty Vehicle Service Contract
Elite Warranty products are sold exclusively through dealerships, and contract quotes are not offered directly from Elite Warranty. The final cost of your contract may vary from dealership to dealership and will be mainly based on:
- Vehicle age and mileage
- Vehicle make and model
- Contract term
- Coverage level
- Deductible
- Location
The typical extended warranty can cost anywhere from $1,700 to $4,000 depending on the length and breadth of coverage.
How to Get a Quote and File a Claim
Elite Warranty promises to pay for the cost of labor and parts for all covered components. Payout amounts are based on standard repair times and local shop rates. All claims are administered in-house by Elite Warranty.
To keep warranty coverage valid, customers must maintain their vehicles in accordance with their factory-recommended maintenance schedules. When a covered repair is needed, vehicles can be taken to any facility certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®).
The shop should contact Elite Warranty for authorization before beginning repairs, and once your claim is approved, Elite Warranty pays the repair facility directly. You’ll only be responsible for paying your deductible.
Elite Warranty Reviews
Elite Warranty is accredited and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). It also has just over a 4.6 out of 5-star customer review score, based on about 40 reviews. The company has fielded fewer than five complaints in the past three years, which is exceptionally low for an extended car warranty provider.
Customers who did complain were upset by coverage limitations and claims denials, but Elite Warranty took the time to address each customer complaint–in most cases to the customer’s satisfaction.
Happy customers were pleased with quick claims servicing and the fact that Elite Warranty made good-faith efforts to address customer complaints and confusion.
Our Verdict on Elite Warranty: 4.0 / 5.0
Despite its 20-year history, Elite Warranty is not as established as some of the bigger names in the auto coverage industry. It does not have as large of an online customer review profile, but what does exist is promising. Elite Warranty offers reasonable coverage and treats customers well.
Our Picks for Best Extended Car Warranties
Elite Warranty is a good choice for your extended warranty needs. However, you may be able to find budget-friendly contracts that are just as comprehensive from other providers. The best way to find the lowest price for your extended car warranty is to shop around and compare quotes. Two reputable extended car warranty companies with low-cost contracts are CARCHEX and CarShield.
CARCHEX: Best Reputation
CARCHEX contracts are affordable and provide extensive coverage. When we asked CARCHEX for a quote on a Titanium plan – the provider’s highest level of coverage – for a 2021 Nissan Altima with 42,000 miles, we were offered the following terms:
- Term length: Unlimited/month-to-month
- Financing: $149.99 per month
- Deductible: $200.00
- Price per year of coverage: $1,319.88
We also asked for quotes on the CARCHEX basic powertrain plan, called Powertrain Plus coverage, for a 2015 Jeep Cherokee with 120,000 miles. We were offered the following quote:
- Term length: Unlimited/month-to-month
- Financing: $169.99 per month
- Deductible: $250.00
- Price per year of coverage: $1,799.88
Get your own free, personalized CARCHEX quote to see how much you would pay for coverage.
CarShield: Affordable Monthly Payments
Like Elite Warranty, CarShield reviews are largely positive. This may be attributed to the fact that CarShield offers comprehensive coverage at a low cost with generous financing terms. We asked CarShield to supply a quote for Diamond coverage, a bumper-to-bumper exclusionary warranty, for a 2021 Nissan Altima with 42,000 miles and were offered the following terms:
- Term length: Unlimited/month-to-month
- Financing: $149.99 per month
- Deductible: $200.00
- Price per year of coverage: $1,319.88
When we requested quotes for Gold coverage, CarShield’s basic powertrain warranty, for a 2015 Jeep Cherokee with 120,000 miles, we were offered a month-to-month contract with flexible term limits:
- Term length: Unlimited/month-to-month
- Financing: $149.99 per month
- Deductible: $250.00
- Price per year of coverage: $1,799.88
Although you’ll pay more for coverage in the long run with a month-to-month contract, it ensures you’re not locked into a long-term financial commitment. This can be beneficial for drivers with less stable financial situations.
See how much your own CarShield contract would cost by getting a free quote.
Our Methodology
Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best extended auto warranty providers.
- Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, availability, and years in business when giving this score.
- Coverage: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that a car warranty company offers an array of coverage options. We take into account the number of plans offered by each provider, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations to give this rating.
- Customer Service: Reputable extended car warranty companies operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
